When did the WBO become a major world boxing title?

When did the WBO become a major world boxing title? A look back on some of the history of the WBO and how it started as a minor trinket and evolved into a recognized major world boxing title. Also a look at some of the WBO pioneers who helped make that transition possible, like Dariusz Michalczewski, Joe Calzaghe, and the Klitschko brothers Vitali and Wladimir.
www.boxingnews24.com/
This episode of Rummy's Corner was written, narrated, and produced by Geoffrey Ciani (aka - Rummy).

[@PadChennington]

Nothing like a rummy upload at 1am lol.. keep up the great content my friend!

[@WanderingBrushArt]

Who else is here after watching Crawford stop Porter? That was a better scrap than I expected tbh

[@sticknmove8251]

WBO nowadays is way more respectable than the WBC’s abundance of “Witness Protection” Belts (Franchise, Bridger, Silver, Interim, etc)

[@shamekajackson7627]

rite......kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoemZGCmgpJ-nrM

[@pristinefitness9268]

They will get there eventually just like the WBA. The Wbo was propped up by Bob Arum giving his fighters that belt by fighting for WBO vacant titles against guys that didn’t deserve to be fighting for a title

[@dudem.7515]

Nice timing rummy. Right after that Crawford porter fight I was wondering when the hell this fourth one came in especially since arum’s been holding that damn belt for the past decade (at welterweight)

[@georgeh5745]

Naz deserves a mention, defended the WBO over a dozen times and kept it after unifying the other three alphabets. Also Chris Eubank did wonders for that org, just a year or so after the BBBofC recognised it as a legit title. Good video.

[@joshuaprice8501]

Rummy I'd love for you to do a history of each weight division (i.e. when they came into existence).

[@bookaufman9643]

Joe Calzaghe s one of my very favorite boxers of the last 20 years that great mixture of speed and power and the way he was willing to take on all comers. A great champion.

[@yourlegalassistant]

Rummy you should have mentioned Naseem Hamed, Eubank and Benn - they did lots to help the WBO in the early 90 and mid 90s especially in the UK

[@pink43560]

The WBO in UK was Warren’s arm mainly. Meant very little in World terms even then.

[@ibrahim-sj2cr]

@@pink43560 Warrens fighters have an easy route thru the WBO rankings "TO THIS DAY"

[@J0HNJ0RDAN]

We always use the term "credibility" loosely, when talking about sanctioning bodies 😂

[@jamesrobert4106]

They almost make the Olmpic committee and FIFA look like choirboys, and that is a BOLD statement considering the grotesque levels of corruption they blatantly carry out.

[@modernguitarist1992]

Outstanding video as usual Rummy. For some reason, i always thought Mercer and Morrison were considered proper hw champions. In any case, those two were a lot better than some of the guys who held the more "major" belts (i.e. Leon Spinks, Bonecrusher, etc.) I would love to see what Mercer and Morrison could have done in today's era.

[@majimamike4097]

I agree. Those two were top fighters, just a notch below the goats like Holyfield and Lewis. Mercer gave hell to both of them though.

[@anthonyanderson9303]

Great video as always Rummy. One thing that wasn't mentioned that also brought credibility to the WBO was some of the lighter weight divisions in the early 2000's. Guys like Naseen Hamed, Marco Antionio Barrera, Eric Morales, Joel Casamayor, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, etc.. all guys who had big time fights for the WBO title and even unification fights with other titles. To me that was when the WBO started gaining some credibility, at least in the smaller weight classes. The Hopkins-DLH fight was definitely a pivotal moment and the fact that Hopkins was allowed to hold on to all the belts for a little while afterwards without boxing politics taking over was a good thing. It's funny how Hopkins was the last 4-belt undisputed champion to actually defend all 4 belts in subsequent fights. I believe Taylor had one of his belts stripped for taking the Hopkins rematch. Crawford moved up to 147 immediately afterwards and I honestly don't remember if Usyk had a title defense with all 4 or not? I know he fought Bellew but don't remember if he still had all 4 belts. Josh Taylor has a defense coming up and I highly doubt Canelo will still have all 4 of his belts, that is if he even fights at 168 again. At any rate, I think Undisputed is a great feather in the cap to have as a fighter. I just wish it was emphasized more than it is, but boxing politics puts a sour on everything.

[@thelevisullivan]

Usyk had all the belts when he fought Bellew. That was the only defense he made of all the titles.

[@kwato]

Great video I think Prince Naseem also deserves an honourable mention for holding the WBO belt after winning the IBF & WBC titles

[@Golden_PJL]

Always interesting to learn the history of boxing!

[@smitywerbenmanjensen5265]

Looking forward to Crawford-Porter review

[@TroystonB]

The wbo got a lot of recognition on the 90's in europe particularly in the super middleweight ranks.

[@Jim17735]

I think the British middleweights Benn, Eubank and Calzaghe really helped the WBO gain credibility, even today though I still view the WBO title as slightly less than the other 3, probably unfairly as they have had some good champions

[@billyyoung5363]

Another great video thanks for posting 👌🏻, one thing I was a little gutted about not mentioned was our Nigel Benn came over to the US & brought back the WBO Middleweight belt in 1989 which went on to the great fight with Chris Eubank in 1990

[@chriswilliamson7694]

I like and quite rate Michalczewski as a fighter, and agree he had a major hand in the WBO eventually gaining credibility. But I think his 'lineal' claim, often taken as fact nowadays, was pretty contestable. This lineage was broken when Spinks vacated all the titles in 1985 and for over a decade afterwards nobody won a unification bout at 175. Meanwhile Ring Magazine also stopped awarding belts during this period. Did Hill beating Maske really make him the lineal champ of consensus top man at 175? I think that's debatable as Jones won his first Light-Heavy strap a few weeks before and pretty much everyone knew that Jones was the better fighter. If you follow the Dariusz line of lineal thinking then fair enough, but if so you'd have to conclude that Zsolt Erdei was also the 'lineal' or 'true' champion at 175 from 2004-09 ahead of guys like Johnson, Tarver or Dawson, yet nobody does (albeit by then Ring Magazine had introduced their belts again for consensus champions). Also, I think it's a stretch (to put it mildly) to compare the appetite for Michalczewski-Jones with that for Pacquiao-Mayweather. Jones spent a decade considered one of (often the) tip-top pound for pound fighters in the world. Michalczewski was never held in anything like that esteem and there are precious few performances on his ledger which make you think he'd have a chance against Roy. His opposition after Hill was generally average and I think for Jones it would have been one to satisfy the critics, rather than a huge legacy booster. On the other hand Pacquiao-Mayweather was by far the biggest fight in the whole sport, not just for them as individuals, and they were the runaway top two pound for pound for a good while. I don't think the demand, intrigue or potential spoils were even in the same stratosphere. But anyway, I'm rambling. Great video as ever, Rummy.

[@rodolforiverajr_]

Love these history lessons Rummy, have a nice rest of your weekend

[@judgedredd3568]

Great piece on this Belt Rummy ....I'm 55 and remember it surfacing a while back and honestly revered it as an (almost) belt...I think I really started to notice it via Tommy Morrison...like this alphabet soup needed any more noodles...its bad enough with all the alternative weight classes super this or junior that....well if the belts legitimise a fight and bring in bigger gates and purses it makes sense for the business... Like another poster mentioned...I'd love to this you do a show on the origin of all the major belts and when the alternative weight classes came about.....Great show Rummy!!

[@pink43560]

Awesome summary. Especially liked the HBO reminder of not recognising the WBO, as it was common place in US boxing then, in KO & Ring magazines too..I still look at the WBO as the 4th belt however shite the other 3 are too.

[@Richard_Straker]

I am still reluctant to recognise it but that’s personal and I accept it’s been widely embraced. As for people asking about the IBO, I don’t think it will become a major title because it doesn’t enforce mandatories and the other four keep IBO title holders in their rankings. Great video.

[@robertspencer3694]

Another great video!

[@cookiebozo]

Damn, you make some good boxing videos!!! If this was on TV I'd watch it religiously.

[@5thAve718]

I love this channel because of the historical accuracy and it's always articulate and detailed. Excellent job as usual.. Thanks Rummy

[@wraithstrongopark]

history lesson appreciated. big up! one of my favorite channels!

[@davidscott2771]

4.58 - Incorrect. That only applies to within the United Stated, by the early 90's the WBO was a recognised sanctioning body which while not on the same level as it's bigger brothers had some excellent champions such as Chris Eubank, Marco Antonio Barrera, Naseem Hamed, Steve Collins, Dariusz Michalczewski and the names mentioned in the video at Heavyweight like Bowe, Mercer and Morrison.

[@Cryptokat]

so much insight, so much pure boxing knowlege. Lots of Love and Respect from London Rummy! Keep up the AMAZING work.

[@zhihaoxu756]

Boxing historian! I absolutely enjor all your videos!

[@cgaffney920]

Keep grinding Rummy. Quality stuff, right here.

[@omarm2426]

Love your uploads Rummy

[@Littlephill]

Love these type of videos keep up the great work

[@bareknuckles2u]

Terrific video!

[@GiovangelPerez]

I love your content man.

[@bareknuckles2u]

Amazing video.

[@jonnybravo3055]

Really great research and knowledge as always.👍🏼🇬🇧

[@purvalama6540]

LOVE THIS CHANNEL

[@anonym58063]

While I don't have the exact date, I believe it was 1997. This was the year where WBO titlists were finally allowed to unify, and some, like Naseem Hamed and Michalczewski, succeeded in their attempts. So for me it's 1997

[@voscowbinder9458]

Great documentary as always

[@sergiogutierrez1859]

Excellent video!

[@smokeynh5916]

How do you not have millions of subs..you're like the best thing on boxing on youtube. Sound like the old boxing docs of the 90's.

[@angusdog22]

Rummy’s the Best commentator in all of boxing . An encyclopedia of knowledge. Great video

[@suchasin]

I love these boxing history video's

[@pugil1st]

Well-researched and erudite, as always!

[@thejoojooman6538]

Gr8 video dude.

[@armitron1100]

Awesome video

[@silverguy3077]

Great video

[@tanjanazari]

Rummy your videos are the best. Undefeated boxinghistory champion.

[@toddlicata7071]

Before I start watching this video I'm gonna think it was 2 things. 1. A lot of the top European fighters around 20 yrs ago held the WBO and it started feeling like the 4th most important belt. 2. De la Hoya fought Felix Sturm for the Wbo and claimed to have won a title in a record 6 weight divisions. Oscar was the biggest star below the heavyweight division at the time.

[@elmylopez7317]

you should make a video of all the champions that have been unified in the history of boxing and how always your video without any waste you are the best Rommys 🔥🔥🔥

[@mailboy79]

Excellent video. Best part was including the very common Jim Lampley disclaimer.

[@adrianr4591]

I’ve learned so much from ya brotha. Thanks and please keep up the good work 😎🍻🤙🤕🥊 CHEERS MATE

[@twoheadeddatascientist3289]

Thank you for this video. You are always analytical.

[@twoheadeddatascientist3289]

I just realised something. You made a KZbin video, and answered your own question. You have a very methodical approach in answering questions. Thank you again:).

[@jabber67]

This will be a good one

[@dennisfboston4543]

Nice piece Rummy

[@ronburgundy8423]

when i think of WBO i think of the british middle/super boxing scene when Benn, Eubank, Watson, Collins all continually put on great battle for it in the early to mid 90's

[@BizAndProductReviews]

Hey Rummy, you need to do a longer video on the history of the four major world boxing organizations. I saw a video from another KZbinr that went into the history of each but I think that you would do the best video on that subject.

[@daveyboy_]

Always thought the WBO was kinda second rate . IBC too

[@LegendInThaMakin]

I always knew the answer was 2004 but I didn’t know how or what date or the specific fight. I knew the ibf became a major title in ‘83, but I didn’t know it was because of Larry Holmes and Marvin hagler. Thanks rummy, great video!

[@Pawel_Strong]

Hi Rummy. Will you ever make a video about the IBO belt? International Boxing Organization also had some interesting names on its heavyweight list. Many people still do not understand why Usyk and previous HW champions before him proudly carry the IBO belt on their hips despite the fact that this belt is not considered one of the main ones. I know the history of IBO well, but it would be nice if you could make a video of it and explain it to people who don't understand what it is about. I am also curious if you think that IBO will one day join the Big Four Regards

[@shawndellbailey4032]

Rummy that was a great video. History lessons are needed for fight fans. Especially fan boys. They need to know shit.

[@slavekp420]

love your channel, never really understood a lot of these alphabet belts, but this makes things a bit clearer. Good stuff.

[@edwardsantiago6433]

Excellent boxing history lesson

[@peterrobson9920]

I’ll always say that it’s the holders of said titles that elevate the organisations, I remember Ricky Hatton holding the unknown WBU title but making it more recognised at the time because of him..pretty much the same with the IBO when AJ held it

[@jawilsio]

Be interested to see if Rummy thinks that Chris Eubank wasn't a proper world champion or if Calzaghe's title defences only count after he defeated Lacey

[@DJ_Joe_DC]

Nice one rummy

[@leemunoz9617]

When it come to WBO I think of Hamed and Barrera especially during his standoff with the WBC.

[@njclondon2009]

I know this is a video on the heavyweight WBO title, but for me chris eubank really put the WBO on the map, fighting 19 WBO title fights between 90-95 in a classic era of british boxing (eubank, watson, benn)

[@franc101978]

Excellent video. One of the best. Like Holmes and Hagler star power gave the IBF credibility, the WBO must thank Oscar star power for bringing credibility to the organization.

[@surgicalboxing1551]

Rummy always dropping gems for boxing fans

[@TheCharlesJackson]

The timing of this is interesting. Real world parallel, to be asked one day down the line.

[@tempestvideos9834]

You've always held quality opinions.

[@grahamt33]

Now, we have the IBO - I would love you to do a piece on that !

[@jonathanparks107]

Great boxing knowledge rum rum

[@sugarrayrags4320]

Technically O’Neil bell was Undisputed it was just short lived due to The WBO being Recognized shortly after. Not trying to devalue your work tho it’s great stuff.

[@killalot9682]

Great video, will it be possible to talk about the IBO belt and how come it became apart of the the other four titles.

[@josemarquez09]

I think Marco Antonio Barrera deserves a mention on this video as a pioneer. He was a WBO holder and defender who at that time refused the WBC

[@ynotefil]

@RUMMY Thank You. I Love Learning New Thing's Especially If It Involves Sports.

[@paggyD2024]

Rummy dropping that knowledge. True boxing aficionado.

[@dennisfboston4543]

I remember Ring magazine used to call it the world body odor

[@donrebel1340]

great vidi

[@chancedelgado6520]

Good video

[@theduthies9381]

Great vid. In my head Barrera was always the flag bearer for the WBO. The WBO reinstated him after Morales loss and it was such a big fight in 2000. Calzaghe as well had so many defences of it but he definitely only got respect after the Lacy win.

[@eugenegardnerjr1815]

WBO. I remember was considered a overseas 🇬🇧 UK world champship belt!! Best UK fighters world champion!!! IBO almost became big!!! But didn't get the right top fighters to hold it long enough!!!

[@swampthing94]

Great stuff as always! Could we perhaps get a video on the other alphabet trinkets? Mainly the IBO but also the minimal titles that tried to get recognized by latching on to a major boxer like the WBU and the IBA.

[@KBox1991]

There is a WBF and IBU and IBC.

[@kalinganations7029]

I remembered that people are saying the belt as WBogus.

[@bossplaya1110]

Rummy has a great narration voice he should be on TV 🥊

[@ceez2140]

Come on Rummy we need more content!!!!!!

[@MaccaveliPL]

WBA and IBF did Michalczewski dirty, no doubt. At some point, he held a claim to all major titles.

[@abhijiththampi7960]

I don't know much about these titles. I do know there are 5 of them, and one of them is by a magazine. Thanks for the informative video, sir.

[@Aerojet01]

Nigel Benn's win over Iran Barkley back in 1990 for the WBO Middleweight crown was a defining fight. It put the WBO on the map. Throughout the 90's, prominent fighters such as Chris Eubank Antonio Barrera, Naseem Hamed, Oscar De la Hoya, Ronald Winky Wright and Steve Collins built it as a credible championship belt. The WBU almost broke into the four elite titles with the help from George Forman, Thomas Hearns, Ricky Hatton, Colin Dunne and Micky Ward, but when their founder died, the sanctioning body vanished from the boxing scene to reappear in 2011under different ownership. It has never managed to achieve its original status. Johnny Nelson's run as the WBO cruiserweight champion gave it a lot of prestige, along side Joe Calzaghe.

[@euanwilkie4785]

Think Chris Eubank deserves a mention for his WBO reign in the early 90s.

[@bradjohnson482]

WBO was the little step-brother of belts for most of my life. I was wondering why it got to be where it is now.

[@Dav1d15196]

Can you make @Rummy's Corner video about which organization is best from your opinion ? That would be cool.

[@runningsuperska]

I remember Frank Warren's boxers always seemed to get shots at the WBO belt.

[@BillyLapTop]

What a great voice!

[@juliuscastillon9554]

I think PACQUIAO also one of the pioneer of WBO because his the P4P that time when he TKO Cotto and he won 3 times that WBO belt

[@fredericks3756]

Loving the content Rummy, saved this instantly. Could you possibly do a video in the future about the history of ALL the sanctions over the years, however big, small and pointless!

[@fredericks3756]

NYSAC, NABF, WBA, WBC, WBO, IBO, IBF, The Ring,......

[@PJP812]

The first time i remember hearing about the WBO was Tommy Hearns v James Kinchen back in 1988

[@danolive5307]

I think Chris Eubank and Prince Naseem in the 90s gave the WBO a lot of credibility too, in Britain particularly