By Norm Frauenheim-
PHOENIX – An interim title blew into this desert city like debris in a dust storm Thursday with a World Boxing Association version of that heavyweight belt suddenly available to the winner of the BJ Flores-Trevor Bryan bout Saturday night at Celebrity Theatre.
Trevor promoter Don King announced that the interim – aren’t they all? – piece of plastic and tin would be at stake because of litigation involving Manuel Charr and Fres Qquendo.
“These two warriors are both very hungry and they both dream of becoming a heavyweight champion,” King said in a statement from his office in Deerfield Beach, Fla. “This should be a classic battle on Saturday night with the title on the line. We’ll decide the title in the ring, while the courts decide on what they will do with Charr and Oquendo.”
Charr is one of the WBA’s heavyweight champs. If you didn’t know that, please take a bow. There’s only one WBA heavyweight champion worth knowing. He’s Anthony Joshua, the real champ.
Anyway, Charr was expected to defend the WBA’s secondary version of the title against Oquendo on Sept. 29. But if that never comes off, the WBA has a backup belt and another way to charge a sanctioning fee. This is the same organization that had announced a plan to eliminate belts. Make that an interim plan, at least that’s what it looks like in the wake of Thursday’s news.
Both Flores and Bryan enter Saturday’s night’s non-televised card (5 p.m. PT) ranked among the WBA’s top five heavyweights, according to ratings released on Aug. 1. Bryan (19-0, 13 KOs) is at No 4; Flores (34-3-1, 21 KOs) is at No. 5.
Flores, who is as well-known for his work as a television analyst as he is for ring skill, has a hometown advantage. He is from Chandler, a Phoenix suburb. He has been living and training in Las Vegas for the last few years. The 39-year-old former cruiserweight contender will be making his third straight appearance at Celebrity.
The unbeaten Bryan, of Schenectady, NY, has the advantage of youth. He’ll turn 29 on August 23.
