World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has taken time out to explain just what a WBC Franchise boxer is and what that honor entails.
In his recent column, Mr. Sulaiman stated:
Since its formation in 1963, the WBC has dedicated all available efforts to finding avenues and tools to improve all aspects of boxing and make it a safer sport for all participants. The WBC has broken previously accepted boxing paradigms to make changes to improve the sport. In the process, the WBC has surmounted many challenges, all in benefiting boxers before, during, and after their glory days in the ring.
The WBC introduced the Franchise Boxer concept and the Rule a couple of years ago. The Franchise Boxer is a special designation and privileged status that the WBC may bestow on a current WBC World Champion, an elite boxer who has achieved and maintains the highest stature.
Under governing Rule 3.26, in its discretion, the WBC may designate in each weight category one WBC Franchise Boxer upon a 2/3rd vote of the Board of Governors.
A Franchise Boxer enjoys special status concerning their mandatory obligations, holding multiple titles and competing for titles of other organizations. The WBC Board of Governors considers petitions from elite boxers to receive the Franchise Boxer designation on a case-by-case basis.
Initially, the WBC established that the Franchise Boxer privileges were conferred and not won or lost due to a bout’s outcome.
RULE
As with any rule of importance, the WBC has modified its Franchise Boxer Rule to reflect the realities of our ever-evolving sport.
Just as the NFL, for example, continuously adjusts its parameters and introduces innovations, such as adding one game to the league’s schedule, the WBC continues to tweak its Franchise Boxer Rule to fit the Rule’s purposes and goals better.
A significant adjustment to the Rule came about when Teofimo Lopez requested to become Franchise Boxer if he defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko. Teofimo prevailed, and the WBC conferred to him the well-deserved Franchise Boxer designation in WBC Lightweight Division.
To continue developing the WBC Franchise Boxer concept and Rule, the updated WBC Franchise Boxer Rule will read as follows:
“3.26 Franchise Boxer. The Franchise Boxer is a special designation and privileged status that the WBC may bestow on a current WBC World Champion, an elite boxer who has achieved and maintains the highest statures in the sport.
At its discretion, the WBC may designate a WBC Franchise Boxer upon a 2/3rd vote of the Board of Governors.
A Franchise Boxer shall enjoy a unique, privileged status concerning their mandatory obligations, holding multiple titles and competing for titles of other organizations regardless of the weight category at which the contest is held, as the WBC Board of Governors, in its sole discretion, rules on a case-by-case basis.
FRANCHISE BENEFITS
A Franchise Boxer shall enjoy the highest preferential position to challenge for the World Championship in his division at any given time upon his written request to the WBC, regardless of whether the current World Champion has any mandatory obligations.
A boxer can only use the WBC Franchise Boxer designation to whom the WBC specifically bestows that designation.
The WBC will designate a Franchise Boxer as WBC Emeritus Champion once he officially retires from boxing.
While enjoying the designation, a WBC Franchise Boxer shall proudly represent the WBC in every single fight as a reigning WBC Champion, regardless of any specific conditions or titles being associated with any fights he participates in.
The WBC Franchise Boxer’s boxing activity shall be governed by the WBC Rules & Regulations.
The WBC shall approve the WBC Franchise Boxer’s opponents through the WBC Franchise Boxer’s promoter.
And the WBC Franchise Boxer shall also participate in a minimum of two social responsibility events every year, organized by, and in conjunction with, the WBC.
WORLD BOXING COUNCIL STATUS
During a WBC Franchise Boxer’s status, the WBC may not recognize another WBC Franchise Boxer in the division or divisions where the WBC Franchise Boxer currently competes.
Per petition of an eligible boxer and approval by the WBC Board of Governors by a 2/3rd vote, the WBC may award Franchise Boxer’s designation to the winner of a bout then-current Franchise Boxer participates.
In the aftermath of the unbelievable, recent fight-of-the-year candidate between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez, the boxing world immediately clamored for their rubber match to take place. Having a Mandatory Challenger of the division, who had already stepped aside to allow the Estrada v. Gonzalez II bout, the WBC communicated with all parties involved and issued a ruling that satisfied them. The WBC’s Ruling comprised the creation of a WBC Super Fly Tournament by ordering the following:
· Designation of Estrada as Franchise Boxer and order Estrada v. Gonzalez III.
· SriSaket Sor Rungvisai to fight Carlos Cuadras for the WBC Super Flyweight World Championship.
· The winner of each bout to fight each other to determine the sole WBC king in the Super Flyweight division.
There have been ten fights involving those four fighters, all of them of the highest quality.
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