Davis said the growing resistance stems from punitive fees and what fighters see as a limited benefit in maintaining official recognition when major fights already establish a champion standing.
“The belt will expire if you don’t manage it properly,” Davis told MillCity Boxing. “Especially the WBC. The WBC will expire soon. The way they treat people will not last long.”
His comments came during the discussion of the sanctioning dispute involving Shakur Stevenson, highlighting the growing tension between elite fighters and the sanctioning bodies over money and respect. Davis questioned why fighters should continue to pay huge fines when their standing has already been established through big fights and tournament play.
“Why would I pay you to hold your belt while it’s sitting on my living room table?” Davis said. “I see it now. I’m paying $120,000 for the words. The title. That’s the word. That’s what I’m paying for.”
That view reflects a growing shift among elite fighters, especially those who have already earned championship honors in multiple divisions. Once a fighter reaches that level, Davis believes the belt itself becomes secondary to the fighter’s name and proven standing in the sport.
“At the end of the day, it boils down to the players,” Davis said. “If a fighter can see in certain situations that the championship belt doesn’t mean anything, you know, like Shakur right now, he’s still the world champion no matter what.”
Davis also pointed out differences between sanctions agencies, suggesting that some agencies maintain better working relationships with combatants, while others risk alienating them through financial demands and administrative decisions.
“The WBO is treating you well,” Davis said. “The penalty fees don’t seem that high. It’s just honesty.”
That autonomy currently only applies to a small group of elite fighters who receive purses large enough to operate without the penalty system. Most fighters still rely on championship belts to build their careers and increase their earning power.
Major fights are now run by broadcasters, promoters, and stars, reducing the influence that sanctioning bodies once had over champion recognition. When elite fighters compete for line recognition, Ring titles, or commercial value fights, official sanction recognition becomes optional rather than essential.
Elite fighters are increasingly choosing to fight more meaningfully in their careers, even if it means giving up official recognition.
Davis believes this trend will continue as fighters realize their potential.
“Once you’ve earned the belts and you’ve proven yourself, you don’t need all the titles,” Davis said.
His opinion reflects a changing sport, where the authority of the sanctioning bodies depends more on the participation of the contestants than anything else.
