People claiming eastern euro "phase" is "done", sad news for you..

Govovkin works on inside fighting a lot as you can see in his training videos with Abel. That's one of the reasons why I think he has been one of the more successful fighters. But I think in general, fighters coming out of the amateurs have struggled with inside fighting. Even Lara and Khan who were great amateurs struggled to learn that facet of the game. I am interested to see if these new fighters coming out of the amateurs are better equipped for the pro game. You're right that the out-fighter to in-fighter ratio is a little more skewed in favour of out-fighters in the ams, probably as a vestige from the old point scoring system, but all I'm saying is that in-fighting definitely gets a fair representation these days. Cuba and the UK are two countries notorious for neglecting this side of the game - far more so than the Russians and co. - yet even they have fighters like Arlen Lopez, Robeisy Ramirez and Joe Joyce who thrive in the trenches. If you tune in to the World Championships at the end of August - which is now a better tournament than the Olympics since the latter will be removing two men's weight classes in 2020 - I'm sure you will see plenty of battles taking place up close and personal And yeah I think the fighters for whom the majority of their amateur career came after 2013 will be able to adapt to the pro game much quicker than in the past

As long as the Eastern Europeans, or more appropriately the former Soviet countries, keep pumping out Olympic Medals and World Championships, the "Eastern European Phase" will never end. They'll always have the next man up. Keep in mind that Kovalev flamed out as an amateur and wasn't good enough to make the Olympic team, nor did he win any championships.

IDK why anyone would want this phase to end. Eastern Euros are good for boxing, as is any other nation that produces quality, exciting fighters.Well said and true. It won't end. It's just getting started.

These EE fighters will be nothing but cannon fodder for Black American fighters to make their name off of by kicking their a.sses, this is nothing new. they did the same with other ethnic fighters (Irish, Italians, Mexicans). because they were stuck behind that iron curtain they weren't exposed to the pro-style of the Black American fighters. They are learning just like ALL others before them there are levels to this sh.i.t! the only cemented american p4p fighter came out of a white penis bro sad times http://img.wennermedia.com/480-width/mj-ff1083a9dd05b5f72a372bda93fc540e.jpg all those pure brothas fell like dominos to white lightning ward and his slow-twitch groinshots

How come Kazakhstan is eastern euro? OK, Eu is not a continent thus doesn't have clear cut borders but how come you can call a central Asian country a European one? Same is applied for Ukraine. Caucasians, Middle East and Asia are not Eu (also africa and americas, in case you don't know). I usually go with former soviet fighters. I think thats what most mean anyway because not all of them are Russian or Europeans but they get associated with Russian because they speak it.

Every country or region has their dominance in this sport, and eventually lose it. There was Pacquiao, and Donaire from Philippines; Martinez, Maidana, and Matthysse from Argentina; Barrera, Morales, Marquez from Mexico. Each lost their dominance now it appears to be USA, and Great Britain. That is one of the beautiful things about this sport every region is represented and can shine (at least in a weight class). Its not like basketball, football, soccer, hockey, baseball, rugby where a few regions dominate the sport and the other countries might as well be spectators.

These EE fighters will be nothing but cannon fodder for Black American fighters to make their name off of by kicking their a.sses, this is nothing new. they did the same with other ethnic fighters (Irish, Italians, Mexicans). because they were stuck behind that iron curtain they weren't exposed to the pro-style of the Black American fighters. They are learning just like ALL others before them there are levels to this sh.i.t!

AIBA has already bridged that gap to a large extent. Amateurs these days fight under the 10-point must system with no headgear and pros are allowed to compete if they want to (a couple got their arses handed to them in Rio, in fact). The only major difference remaining is the length of the fights, and even on that count there is the WSB which is five rounds Also there are plenty of fighters from that part of the world already in the pros who can fight in the trenches. Beterbiev, Shafikov, Gassiev, Chudinov, Zhakiyanov, Golovkin, etc. There is not really a single style that can be used to describe all Eastern Euros and Central Asians. For example the Kazakh school and Uzbek school are different and there is even variation within these countries (Golovkin's style for example is actually not a typical Kazakh style compared to the most famous amateurs like Sapiyev and Yeleussinov) USA will always out-perform any single EE/CA nation as long as it has the largest talent pool. There are many more American fighters than Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, etc. It would be surprising if the USA wasn't #1 Govovkin works on inside fighting a lot as you can see in his training videos with Abel. That's one of the reasons why I think he has been one of the more successful fighters. But I think in general, fighters coming out of the amateurs have struggled with inside fighting. Even Lara and Khan who were great amateurs struggled to learn that facet of the game. I am interested to see if these new fighters coming out of the amateurs are better equipped for the pro game.

I for one like the diversity in the sport. However, I don't like being told everyday the next big thing in boxing is coming from the region. Just like I don't want to hear that any defensive fighter we see is the next Floyd Mayweather.

It's over bros!

Notable up and coming "eastern Euros": Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Ivan Baranchyk, vasyli lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Dmitry Mikhaylenko, artur beterbiev, dmitry bivol, GGG..Krzysztof Glowack.and I'm missing a bunch Wlad and kov lost and people are freaking out, pump the breaks. Wlad and Kov lost 50/50 fights as well. Not to mention the nature in which sergei lost.It's not all that bad boss. GGG is expected to beat the breaks off Canelo come September of this year.

Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Ivan Baranchyk, vasyli lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Dmitry Mikhaylenko, artur beterbiev, dmitry bivol, GGG..Krzysztof Glowack.and I'm missing a bunch Kavaliauskas and Baranchyk, although exciting, are not quite cut out for the world level and Mikhaylenko and Glowacki are far from being "up-and-comers". Mikhaylenko is facing a Central Asian up-and-comer on the Lebedev undercard in a few weeks though

i don't think any true heart to heart boxing fan wants eastern europe to faze out. look at lomachenko. But the realty is the superstars have taken a major hit kovalov just god dogged and mauled (no inside fight gameplan whats so ever) and golovkin just arguably lost to jacobs. wlad got tko'd. lomachenko and a few up in comers who don't look all that impressive is really left. the name of the game of boxing is not up in comers all the time. you need your hall of famers also. (it solidifies the mark of the nation) wlad is a hall of famer. but apart from him who else? golovkin? no hell no. kovalov had the chance if he beat ward & superman, now it is ward who is already a hall of famer, he is in the postion to be a brilliant ATG. hopkins, mayweather, jones jr (if he freaking retires already) toney (if he freaking retires already) all hall of famers. theres no knock on on eastern europe. but people exaggerated it's dominance. from fans, to an entire network (HBO) we all have slow periods. no knock on that. but the nation truly needs more hall of famers to make a stamp at the pro level.

They have some great amateur programs. That region will always produce superstar fighters. Kovalev has been a very solid pro. There is no shame in going 0-2 vs a fighter the caliber of Andre Ward. I think the key is transitioning from amateur rules, where inside fighting is not a major factor and ref involvement is extreme to the pro game where the ref lets them fight in the trenches. That's the make or break factor. Being a complete fighter that can be effective from all ranges. I would like to see the fighters turn pro earlier so they can develop these skills that they will need to not only win titles but maintain dominance and be prepared when facing different styles. :hail::hail:

Some of these dudes with V's & K's in their names need to fight eachother doe... #DuckingTheirOwn

IDK why anyone would want this phase to end. Eastern Euros are good for boxing, as is any other nation that produces quality, exciting fighters. Good post.

think the key is transitioning from amateur rules, where inside fighting is not a major factor and ref involvement is extreme to the pro game where the ref lets them fight in the trenches. That's the make or break factor. Being a complete fighter that can be effective from all ranges. I would like to see the fighters turn pro earlier so they can develop these skills that they will need to not only win titles but maintain dominance and be prepared when facing different styles. AIBA has already bridged that gap to a large extent. Amateurs these days fight under the 10-point must system with no headgear and pros are allowed to compete if they want to (a couple got their arses handed to them in Rio, in fact). The only major difference remaining is the length of the fights, and even on that count there is the WSB which is five rounds Also there are plenty of fighters from that part of the world already in the pros who can fight in the trenches. Beterbiev, Shafikov, Gassiev, Chudinov, Zhakiyanov, Golovkin, etc. There is not really a single style that can be used to describe all Eastern Euros and Central Asians. For example the Kazakh school and Uzbek school are different and there is even variation within these countries (Golovkin's style for example is actually not a typical Kazakh style compared to the most famous amateurs like Sapiyev and Yeleussinov) USA will always out-perform any single EE/CA nation as long as it has the largest talent pool. There are many more American fighters than Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, etc. It would be surprising if the USA wasn't #1

How come Kazakhstan is eastern euro? OK, Eu is not a continent thus doesn't have clear cut borders but how come you can call a central Asian country a European one? Same is applied for Ukraine. Caucasians, Middle East and Asia are not Eu (also africa and americas, in case you don't know).

IDK why anyone would want this phase to end. Eastern Euros are good for boxing, as is any other nation that produces quality, exciting fighters. This ^^^^^^^

They have some great amateur programs. That region will always produce superstar fighters. Kovalev has been a very solid pro. There is no shame in going 0-2 vs a fighter the caliber of Andre Ward. I think the key is transitioning from amateur rules, where inside fighting is not a major factor and ref involvement is extreme to the pro game where the ref lets them fight in the trenches. That's the make or break factor. Being a complete fighter that can be effective from all ranges. I would like to see the fighters turn pro earlier so they can develop these skills that they will need to not only win titles but maintain dominance and be prepared when facing different styles. Some good observations, man. Have some green. It's a slow transition but signs are that there is movement in that direction. Certainly the antipathy towards the pro-sport that existed in the immediate post-Soviet period seems to be being gradually broken down. The question that remains is whether the strong amateur foundations will become eroded over time. If fewer top talents choose the amateur route will the extensive funding and support for the boxing programs gradually dry up?