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“Get Rid of the Rest”: HE Turki Alalshikh Introducing New Undisputed Belt for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk Winner Makes Fans Go Wild With Mixed Reactions

Published 01/16/2024, 4:21 AM EST

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The Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk tectonic clash is now just a month away. It’s a historic fight with far-reaching implications. The winner will become the first undisputed champion of boxing’s heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis was crowned in 1999.

As the 25-year drought finally concludes, it provides ample reason to celebrate this occasion in grand style. One of the measures taken – a specially designed belt for the new undisputed title holder. The Chairman of the General Authority for Entertainment in Saudi Arabia, where the fight will take place on February 17, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, reportedly presented it to the world. ‘The Undisputed Heavyweight Title Belt’ made of high-grade metal and top-end leather boasts encrusted gemstones, among other key features. When fans and followers saw a glimpse of the belt, they just couldn’t help themselves from sharing their two bits.

Can we have only one, please?

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The usual puns and jabs made their way into the stream of reactions. However, a common theme prevailed among the comments. Many pointed out restricting it to a one-belt system. According to this follower, ‘The Undisputed Heavyweight Title Belt’ should be the only one awarded to a new champion once he has taken the titles from the sanctioning bodies.

Echoing similar sentiments, this user also stated that this belt should be the only one that boxers should be concerned about in the heavyweight division. The rest should be done. The user further mentioned that the rule should be implemented across the weight divisions. Each category has only one belt. In one way or another, the format should resemble the one available in the UFC.

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To the following user, the belt resembled one used in the WWE.

Then this follower, while appreciating the belt overall, couldn’t help but point out how it reminded him of the Marvel comics character ‘Iron Man.’

Finally sounding doubtful, this user mentioned that, in all probability, the WBA and WBC might not get along with the new belt. So in a way, it would only render it irrelevant, like the ones awarded at the Misfit fights and for Jake Paul, the user posited.

For sure, fans and followers can disagree on the pros and cons of the new, undisputed belt. However, it cannot be denied either that a moment like this rarely comes in one’s lifetime. Hence, a little space could be allotted to consider special rewards.

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The Last

As of now, only Canelo Alvarez and Naoya Inoue remain the undisputed champions in men’s boxing. The latter followed Terence Crawford as only the second champion to become an undisputed title holder in two divisions. After his first match with Evander Holyfield on November 13, 1999, ended in a draw, Lennox Lewis drew the curtains when they met for a rematch eight months later. Apart from retaining his WBC belt, the Canadian-British champion grabbed the WBA, IBF, and the vacant IBF titles. Thereby, he became an undisputed boxing champion in the pre-four-belt era. In February, fans will finally witness a breakthrough in the nearly three-decade-long logjam.

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What’s your take on the reactions? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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Written by:

Jaideep R Unnithan

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Edited by:

Snigdhaa Jaiswal