Another step toward glory, another thrilling challenge for our own Michael Magnesi. Yesterday, the WBC released its usual monthly bulletin outlining the status of its most prestigious belts division by division, and those who read it certainly noticed the reference to the Italian fighter. In the super featherweight section, in addition to confirming O’Shaquie Foster as world champion, the WBC specified that Michael Magnesi and Ryan Garner will fight on June 20 in the United Kingdom for the Interim World Title.
What is an “Interim World Title”?
Like many other inventions of modern boxing, the “Interim World Title” was initially introduced with valid reasons before international federations began to abuse it, distorting its original purpose.
The idea behind its creation is to protect world champions who, for reasons beyond their control (typically injuries or illnesses), are unable to defend their belt within a reasonable time frame.
In order not to unfairly strip them of their status without any fault on their part, it was decided, in such circumstances, to appoint a temporary champion (“ad interim,” in Latin, literally means “temporarily”), until the official champion is able to return to the ring. At that point, the two champions would face each other to restore the unity of the title.
Noble intentions, therefore—but as the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” And indeed, within a few years, interim titles began to multiply, and today they are awarded even when the world champion is in perfect health and fully able to defend their belt.
To understand the extent of the situation, suffice it to say that, as of now, within the WBC alone there are no fewer than nine interim world champions (the winner between Magnesi and Garner will be the tenth). Inevitably, the most authoritative international media tend to regard such belts as titles of lesser value compared to full world championships.
The Magnesi case: hypotheses and prospects
Why, then, will Michael Magnesi—WBC number one contender and current Silver champion—be fighting for the Interim World Title instead of the actual world title, given that reigning champion O’Shaquie Foster is neither injured nor unable to compete?
Our hypothesis, which we obviously cannot prove, is that the American fighter has expressed to the WBC his intention to defend his title against compatriot Raymond Ford, ranked No. 2, in a bout with strong commercial appeal that has already been discussed in the U.S. media.
Since granting such a request would have required the WBC to bypass Magnesi, giving the Italian fighter the opportunity to fight for the interim belt is a clever way to keep everyone satisfied.
Moving from a Silver title to an Interim title may appear to be a purely formal change, but in reality, a victory over Garner would provide Michael Magnesi with even more appealing prospects—and not only because it would be a win on foreign soil against a solid and undefeated opponent.
Should O’Shaquie Foster vacate his belt in the future for any reason (for instance, by moving up in weight), the interim champion could be automatically elevated, gaining full world champion status.
What should we expect on June 20?
There’s no point beating around the bush: Michael faces a tough challenge. Garner has been flawless as a professional so far and has built his reputation by successfully battling fellow countrymen, climbing the traditional ladder toward the top of world boxing. The Southampton fighter has already captured the WBC International Title, the British Title, and the European Title.
That said, it’s worth noting that Magnesi has already experienced the heated atmosphere of British rings. It was in September 2022 when our fighter delivered an outstanding performance against the excellent Irish boxer Anthony Cacace, losing only by split decision at the Manchester Arena.
In our opinion, Cacace is a superior fighter compared to Garner. Not surprisingly, after narrowly defeating Magnesi, the Irishman went on to win world titles twice in the division—first the IBF and then the WBA. Moreover, Michael has gained further experience since that battle and is now a more mature and complete athlete, with more tools at his disposal.
Magnesi vs Garner promises to be a fight to follow with great excitement, with no predetermined outcome. All that remains is to circle June 20 on our calendars and get ready to cheer for Lone Wolf!