Interim championship
Encyclopedia
An interim championship is a temporary world championship that is awarded in all four major sanctioning bodies of professional boxing
(WBA
, WBC
, and WBO
) and in other combat sport
s, such as kickboxing
and mixed martial arts
.The IBF have no Interim Champions
Occasionally, the world champion of a particular weight division is temporarily unable to defend his championship because of medical, legal, or other reasons that are beyond the champion's control. When this case occurs, two highly ranked contenders will fight for the interim championship of the same weight division—leading to two champions existing in the same weight division simultaneously. Once the world champion is able to return, he must fight against the interim champion. The winner of this bout reunifies the weight division as sole world champion. If the world champion cannot return or moves to a different weight division, the interim champion becomes the world champion.
Sanctioning bodies, however, often abuse the interim championship system. One example was in the WBC's flyweight
division in 2005–2006. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
had defended his world title 11 consecutive times. Number-one contender Jorge Arce
won an interim championship bout instead of receiving a title shot against Wonjongkam, who continued to defend his world title. Arce defended his interim championship four times before he vacated it in order to move up to super flyweight
. Wonjongkam eventually set the flyweight division record for consecutive title defenses, without ever fighting against interim champion Arce.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
(WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
, WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
, and WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
) and in other combat sport
Combat sport
A Combat sport, also known as a Fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport where two combatants fight against each other using certain rules of engagement , typically with the aim of simulating parts of real hand to hand combat...
s, such as kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
and mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
.The IBF have no Interim Champions
Occasionally, the world champion of a particular weight division is temporarily unable to defend his championship because of medical, legal, or other reasons that are beyond the champion's control. When this case occurs, two highly ranked contenders will fight for the interim championship of the same weight division—leading to two champions existing in the same weight division simultaneously. Once the world champion is able to return, he must fight against the interim champion. The winner of this bout reunifies the weight division as sole world champion. If the world champion cannot return or moves to a different weight division, the interim champion becomes the world champion.
Sanctioning bodies, however, often abuse the interim championship system. One example was in the WBC's flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
division in 2005–2006. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam is a professional southpaw boxer in the flyweight division. His record is 83-3-1 . He is the WBC Flyweight Champion, as well as The Ring World Flyweight Champion...
had defended his world title 11 consecutive times. Number-one contender Jorge Arce
Jorge Arce
Jorge Armando Arce Armenta is a Mexican professional boxer. Arce is the former WBO World Light Flyweight, WBC World Light Flyweight, Interim WBC World Flyweight, Interim WBA World Super Flyweight, WBO World Super Flyweight, WBO World Super Bantamweight, and is the current WBO World Bantamweight...
won an interim championship bout instead of receiving a title shot against Wonjongkam, who continued to defend his world title. Arce defended his interim championship four times before he vacated it in order to move up to super flyweight
Super flyweight
Super flyweight is a weight division in professional boxing. It is alternatively referred to as junior bantamweight and light bantamweight...
. Wonjongkam eventually set the flyweight division record for consecutive title defenses, without ever fighting against interim champion Arce.
See also
- List of current world boxing champions
- List of current mixed martial arts champions