The debate came to featherlight following Azim’s victory over Steve Claggett on Saturday. In a later speech, trainer Shane McGuigan indicated that the fight with Smith could be made even without a unification title, provided both sides felt that the terms were fair.

Hearn made it clear that he saw the situation very differently.

“It can certainly be achieved without unification, but then it is a voluntary defense. How can it be an equal division? Who has Adam Azim ever defeated?” Hearn told Stomping Ground.

Tell me about his best victory. Claggett.

Dalton Smith went to Up-to-date York and knocked out Subriel Matias to win the WBC world title. How can we even talk about equal distribution?”

Smith won the WBC title with a victory over Matias earlier this year, which established him as one of the top 140-pound fighters in the conversation. Azim remains undefeated and highly regarded, but Hearn argued that his record did not justify parity at the negotiating table.

The Matchroom chairman then turned his attention to Azim’s commercial value, criticizing the turnout at Saturday’s event and insisting that Smith offered the challenger a chance rather than negotiate on an equal footing.

“By the way, I love Adam Azim, I think he’s a wonderful kid and a great fighter. But as far as promotion goes, this is the worst job I’ve ever seen.” Hearn said,

It was empty there on Saturday [for Azim vs. Steve Claggett].

Don’t get me started on equal sharing. Get in line. Do what they tell you. You are a voluntary defense. We will make you an offer. If you believe you can win the world title and beat Dalton Smith, you can win it. If not, go and get the belt. We will achieve great unification.”

The Smith-Azim fight remains one of the biggest all-British fights available in the division, but Hearn’s comments suggest any negotiations could start with significant disagreement over who deserves a bigger share of the purse.

Former WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel has asked the Association of Boxing Commissions to take action over the WBA’s continued exploit of “regular” and “interim” world titles.

Valcarcel, one of boxing’s most experienced sanctioning body figures, has taken aim at the WBA after another period of confusion over secondary belts, stoppage rulings and title fights that have left fans in need of a flowchart.

The WBA has repeatedly promised to reduce the number of belts in circulation.

He still hasn’t cleaned up the mess.

Paco Valcarcel attacks WBA titles

“When will the Association of Boxing Commissions come to their senses and force the WBA to kill the stinking “regular” and “interim” titles?” – asked Valcarcel.

“Enact the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act now.”

Changes to the Ali Law currently proposed by TKO Group and Zuffa Boxing state only one champion per division will be allowed in the United States.

After calling for reform, Valcarcel then pointed to promises made years ago regarding the WBA belt reduction process.

“A few years ago, they promised to end the celebration of these titles, and the word was not kept,” he said.

“And this was promised not only to the fans, but also to ABC, which ordered the WBA to put an end to these titles under pain of not being able to receive sanction fees for fights held in the US.”

Confusion surrounding the WBA title is growing

WBN reported that as of November, the WBA had 38 super, lasting and interim champions in 18 boxing divisions.

The latest comments follow Paco Valcarcel’s “joking” verdict on the WBA title tussle, which comes after Seiya Tsutsumi publicly admitted he no longer knows where he stands in the WBA bantamweight title fight.

In 2013, then-WBA vice president Gilberto Mendoza told World Boxing News that the organization would review its “superchampion” system after years of criticism about too many belts.

A year later, Mendoza again informed WBN that the WBA super and interim titles “may change,” adding that officials were checking to see what would happen next.

More than a decade later, boxing still suffers from the same belt problem.

Gervonta Davis was moved to the “Champion in Recess” title before the WBA later ordered him to face Floyd Schofield.

Murat Gassiev holds the WBA Regular heavyweight title, while Tony Yoka has been included in the title fight despite spending years outside the sanctioning body’s top 15.

ABC pressure

It’s no longer just about fans mocking too many belts or fighters trying to explain their championship status. The former chairman of the sanctioning body points directly to the regulatory threat that once hung over the WBA’s secondary championships.

The WBA promised fewer belts, and the same elderly mess is back in various divisions.

Valcarcel’s question now is whether ABC will do something about it.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Roberto Duran believes one victory stands out even more than his triumph over Sugar Ray Leonard.

The Panamanian had a career to be proud of, earning world honors in four categories while also becoming only the second boxer in history to compete across five different decades.

In the 1980s, Duran was part of a cult group with Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler known collectively as “The Four Kings”, and the legendary quartet competed against each other in epic battles.

Leonard was most successful against the others, being the only man to defeat the other three members, but Duran was the only one of this group able to defeat Leonard, winning a unanimous decision in June 1980.

Despite this success, Duran made it happen revealed on One On One Boxing that he considers his victory over Ken Buchanan an even better achievement.

“The greatest achievement is my first world title against the best and fastest boxer in the world, because Ken Buchanan was much faster than Leonard and took many more shots than him. That first title was the greatest for me.”

Duran met Buchanan in a WBA lightweight title fight in June 1972, securing a 13th-round TKO victory, and at the age of just 21, he won world honors for the first time, although Buchanan’s team believed the fight ended in a low blow.

Buchanan maintained undisputed status for some time and finished his career with 61 victories in 69 fights, and his skill and quality show exactly why Duran values ​​this victory so highly.