Today's Boxing Problem

I wouldn't mind them taking the odd tomato can if the top fighters fought more frequently. Sugar Ray Robinson would take on nobodies pretty much as pratice, sometimes several in a row, once a week, to stay in game shape for the big fights. When a guy takes five months off and then fights some nobody mandatory, and then waits another five months and takes on another one, and then only five months after that does he match up again with a live opponent, it becomes very frustrating for the fans who he picked up when he scored his first big win. As for only matching up with top-flight fighters, though, I don't necessarily think that that's necessary. Hell, the best NFL teams get the odd week off when they face weak divisional opponents, or whatever. But they also have to play a game every week. i have no problem with that just don't try to pass it off on me as a big fight ....put the damn thing on FOX not PPV :mad: like alot of them are

How is this bad? July '05 - Bernard Hopkins December '05 - Bernard Hopkins March '06 - Top 15 guy (mandatory) August '06 - Winky Wright Also, who is exactly out there for Taylor to fight other than Winky? The Middleweight division isn't exactly full of big time guys.

Bro, learn to use the quote button. Why should I learn something I already know when I can learn you a thing or two or three?

Bro, learn to use the quote button. It's not a big deal. Maybe you should grab some brains peewee.

============Boxing fans complain when they pay for PPV and get lesser fights and now they are just going to allow Lou to spell it out for them like this?================= ** Sorry Ice, but I've already pointed out that you don't know who Taylor will fight next, nor do you know if it will be on PPV. Let's face it, Hopkins was never really a PPV fighter. He needed a Tito or Oscar to get him over the hump, and anybody with brains knows the way he fights and would stay away from his Taylor fights where he'd use all his trickery to survive and make Taylor look as bad as possible. Bro, learn to use the quote button.

============Boxing fans complain when they pay for PPV and get lesser fights and now they are just going to allow Lou to spell it out for them like this?================= ** Sorry Ice, but I've already pointed out that you don't know who Taylor will fight next, nor do you know if it will be on PPV. Let's face it, Hopkins was never really a PPV fighter. He needed a Tito or Oscar to get him over the hump, and anybody with brains knows the way he fights and would stay away from his Taylor fights where he'd use all his trickery to survive and make Taylor look as bad as possible.

THAT is the point, my man... U are SUPPOSED to fight the best available until you lose.. they don't do it that way and it cheats the public and devalues the word CHAMPION... and Dibella actually SAYS he will get Jermain an easy fight and he will expect HBO to pay JT millions for it and he will tie up a VALUABLE HBO date that could go toward sputting another couple of willing fighters on. Its BUSINESS ... and the business sucks. Boxing fans complain when they pay for PPV and get lesser fights and now they are just going to allow Lou to spell it out for them like this? I believe the problem is still not wtih Jermain...let him fight in Arkansas in front of the home folks...the problem is with HBO being so afraid to let go of Jermain, they do it with Floyd, they did it with Roy and they have done it with Wlad-placate to there every need while getting little in return that is. HBO needs to sack up and say hey Lou/Jermain we are gonna pass on this fight and work towards a Winky Wright fight. Have fun in front of your hometown crowd you have earned this and we will see you back on our airwaves in 6 months. Dont forget right or wrong you need to market fighters correctly and watching Taylor on HBO in 3 months one punch some guy would probably mean more interest come time for his showdown with Winky Wright...more interest amongst casual fans that is. To me it sounds like you have more of a problem with HBO for using up one of the valuable dates then you do with a guy like Jermain for taking 1 soft fight. If I was an HBO exec and I was talking with Floyd Jr. and Arum and we set in stone a fight with Castillo and Judah within in the next year and a half and they came back and said thats fine there is just 1 stipulation...in between those fights we want a fight in Grand Rapids against an opponent of are choosing on your air...I would say thats fine...its not the ideal scenario but its pretty damn good. Bernard Hopkins twice and Winky Wright in about a year and a half is pretty solid, you would be hardpressed to find a tougher road taken by any other fighter in the world! I am beginning to see your point however. Keep in mind im pretty slow.

THAT is the point, my man... U are SUPPOSED to fight the best available until you lose.. they don't do it that way and it cheats the public and devalues the word CHAMPION... and Dibella actually SAYS he will get Jermain an easy fight and he will expect HBO to pay JT millions for it and he will tie up a VALUABLE HBO date that could go toward sputting another couple of willing fighters on. Its BUSINESS ... and the business sucks. Boxing fans complain when they pay for PPV and get lesser fights and now they are just going to allow Lou to spell it out for them like this?

SCAP, Jermain is THE example..read fightnews.. Lou Dibella is QUOTED as saying he will get Jermain an easy fight "because after the two fights with Bernard he needs a break".. please.. a BREAK? You are the WORLD CHAMPION..there ARE NO breaks Wrong wrong wrong! You are gonna tell me that Jermain Taylor over the course of a year and half is gonna fight Nard twice, a tomato can once and Winky Wright and he is the example of a fighter who is not defending his title or not active against top fighters? Give me an example of a champion who fought number 1 guy after number 1 guy after number 1 guy?

SCAP, Jermain is THE example..read fightnews.. Lou Dibella is QUOTED as saying he will get Jermain an easy fight "because after the two fights with Bernard he needs a break".. please.. a BREAK? You are the WORLD CHAMPION..there ARE NO breaks

All right, but when exactly did this golden era you speak of end? I don't think the 80s were as great as you seem to claim. For example, I don't think that you could claim that every single opponent of Larry Holmes was a top-flight prospect. As for Hagler, his 2 post-Duran fights weren't exactly against memorable names, and while he fought Mugabi after Hearns, he took nearly a full year to do so, and then another yaer passed before he took on Leonard. If Taylor fights a nobody next fight and then takes on a bigger name after that, probably about a year will have passed so he will be fighting top contenders at the same rate as Hagler. Exactly! If you want to comb thru all of the great fighters you will find that they all take on fighters that are not as deserving as others...it is just part of the sport and it is nothing new-oh how time makes us forget. On top of that Jermain Taylor is a horrible example to put forth...Zab Judah would be a good example of what Ice's is talking about but Jermain....WRONG.

Bombardier... see, these guys are THE BEST in the world and that is why they have a top 10... number ONE and two are not supposed to wait until number TEN gets a shot. The world chmpionship isn't supposed to be protected and used and played with... it is supposed to be DEFENDED All right, but when exactly did this golden era you speak of end? I don't think the 80s were as great as you seem to claim. For example, I don't think that you could claim that every single opponent of Larry Holmes was a top-flight prospect. As for Hagler, his 2 post-Duran fights weren't exactly against memorable names, and while he fought Mugabi after Hearns, he took nearly a full year to do so, and then another yaer passed before he took on Leonard. If Taylor fights a nobody next fight and then takes on a bigger name after that, probably about a year will have passed so he will be fighting top contenders at the same rate as Hagler.

Bombardier... see, these guys are THE BEST in the world and that is why they have a top 10... number ONE and two are not supposed to wait until number TEN gets a shot. The world chmpionship isn't supposed to be protected and used and played with... it is supposed to be DEFENDED

I agree Iceman.........I am glad my boy lacy is not like that yet at least and hopefully never will be.

I would agree that if a fighter fights Tomato can followed by tomato can that hurts the sport but using Jermain as the example is WRONG. If Jermain Taylor fights Hopkins twice, 1 tomato can then Winky Wright all in the span of about a year he is the model for boxing success and he has nothing to do with what has been described in the thread topic.

What is the bonus to taking an easier fight? We're not talking Gatti-Ward here. Gatti gets mauled and virtually dies in the ring. Hey Arturo, please, take an easy one. But c'mon, the most draining thing about this second Hopkins fight was the fact that it went 12 rounds. Yes the mental pressure is high and the preparation is intense. But that's why training takes months. Take a month off, hey take 3, give yourself time, then fight someone worthwhile. Feel free not to, but don't expect to be respected or paid much for this fight. Yes, I believe he beat Hopkins and when he fights a CHALLENGER I'll watch his fights. Otherwize, it's sparring. Unless he's fighting Sturm, Winky or others that are actually contenders, there's no prestige, no challenge and no point. A title is an obligation and a privilage. Taking it from someone is not enough.

I wouldn't mind them taking the odd tomato can if the top fighters fought more frequently. Sugar Ray Robinson would take on nobodies pretty much as pratice, sometimes several in a row, once a week, to stay in game shape for the big fights. When a guy takes five months off and then fights some nobody mandatory, and then waits another five months and takes on another one, and then only five months after that does he match up again with a live opponent, it becomes very frustrating for the fans who he picked up when he scored his first big win. As for only matching up with top-flight fighters, though, I don't necessarily think that that's necessary. Hell, the best NFL teams get the odd week off when they face weak divisional opponents, or whatever. But they also have to play a game every week.

Well that has been a problem for a while now.Atleast there is a couple of old-school fighters left.The kind that doesnt duck anyone and run their mouth all over the place. "Left Hook" mutha phukkers!!!

I think its fait to jump all over a promoter who outright says as a fact that he plans to have his boxer, a WORLD CHAMPION MIND YOU- take a tune up fight. Tune up fights arent million dollar fights on HBO. If he wants him to have a tune up fight then dont tie up an HBO date with it and take away from a Castillo or Corrales who would gladly fight ion that network against KING KONG for much less money

I think you all look too deeply in this. If he fights a mandatory "which in todays terms 90% are tomato cans" then fights wright followed by the next big star, will you really complain? He's in the same boat as Bernard was not much to go with, he said he'll fight Wright in the summer, and a fight inbetween that means hes fighting every 3-4 months is it not? Look at PBF's recent resume and jump all over him, I just dont think it's fair to jump all over a guy until you see what he does for 1-2 years. If he ends up not fighting wright, not fighting lacy, or anyone else important for that matter, then by all means tear him apart. For now just sit back and see what transpires.