Dramatic Increase in WBA Champions
The World Boxing Association (WBA) has seen a significant surge in the number of its champions, escalating from 27 to 34, with more anticipated. This change comes as the WBA reintroduces Gold titleholders and interim belts, despite previous commitments to streamline their championship titles.
The 2021 Promise: A Broken Commitment
In 2021, the WBA assured the boxing community it would phase out interim champions, consolidate ‘Regular’ titleholders, and remove ‘Gold’ champions from its list. However, recent actions indicate a reversal of this promise. Interim titles have made a robust comeback, ‘Regular’ champions are proliferating, and ‘Gold’ titleholders are back in the mix.
Immediate Changes: The Interim Title Purge
Initially, the WBA followed through by stripping all interim champions, leaving those fighters without titles. Fast forward three years, and the organization has crowned new champions, including a recent addition to the ‘Regular’ light heavyweight champion roster.
David Morrell Jr.: A Dual Champion
David Morrell Jr. has now secured a championship at 175 pounds after previously holding the same secondary belt at 168 pounds. His elevation highlights the fluid nature of the WBA’s title designations and the ongoing adjustments within their ranks.
Upcoming Titles: Plant vs. McCumby
The WBA announced that the winner of the Caleb Plant vs. Trevor McCumby fight on the Canelo vs. Berlanga undercard will be crowned the interim super middleweight champion. This decision follows Morrell’s move to a higher weight class, opening up the super middleweight title for contention.
Gilberto Mendoza’s Good Intentions
Gilberto Mendoza, the WBA President, initially aimed to create a singular champion per division. At one point, the WBA had reduced the number of champions to 23. However, recent developments indicate a departure from these intentions, with the champion count now at 34 and climbing.
The Bridgerweight Division: An Added Complexity
The introduction of the bridgerweight division has further complicated the championship landscape. This new division, aligned with the WBC’s classification, has contributed to the ballooning number of WBA champions, now spanning 18 weight classes.
The Fan Reaction: A Mixed Response
The WBA’s actions have stirred mixed reactions among boxing enthusiasts. While some appreciate the expanded opportunities for fighters, others criticize the dilution of championship prestige. The decision to reintroduce multiple titleholders in each division has sparked debates about the organization’s direction and priorities.
The Full List of WBA Champions
As of August 2024, the WBA champions list is as follows:
Heavyweight
- Super Champion: Oleksandr Usyk
- World Champion: Mahmoud Charr
- Gold Champion: Michael Hunter
Bridgerweight
- World Champion: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov
- Gold Champion: Julio Cesar La Cruz
Cruiserweight
- World Champion: Gilberto Ramirez
- Gold Champion: Firat Arslan
Light Heavyweight
- Super Champion: Dmitry Bivol
- World Champion: David Morrell Jr.
Super Middleweight
- Super Champion: Saul Alvarez
- Gold Champion: Uwel Hernandez
Middleweight
- World Champion: Erislandy Lara
- Gold Champion: Thomas Lamanna
Super Welterweight
- World Champion: Terence Crawford
- Champion in Recess: Jermell Charlo
Welterweight
- Super Champion: Terence Crawford
- World Champion: Eimantas Stanionis
Super Lightweight
- World Champion: Rayo Valenzuela
- Interim Champion: Ismael Barroso
- Gold Champion: Zhankozh Turarov
Lightweight
- World Champion: Gervonta Davis
Super Featherweight
- World Champion: Lamont Roach Jr.
- Interim Champion: Albert Batyrgaziev
Featherweight
- World Champion: Nick Ball
Super Bantamweight
- Super Champion: Naoya Inoue
- Gold Champion: Noel Reyes Cepeda
Bantamweight
- World Champion: Takuma Inoue
Super Flyweight
- World Champion: Fernando Martinez
- Interim Champion: David Jimenez
- Gold Champion: Elton Dharry
Flyweight
- World Champion: Seigo Yuri Akui
The Future of WBA Championships
With the WBA continuing to add champions, the future remains uncertain. Will the organization commit to a streamlined approach, or will it continue to expand its roster? The next few months will be crucial in determining the direction of the WBA and its impact on the boxing world.
