Comments Thread For: Joshua: Wilder vs. Fury is On Too Early For Me - I'll Be Sleeping

I'm not really interested in the post Lewis era, I'm talking about before that in history - Tyson, Holmes, Lewis, Ali all held the WBC belt. I stand by the fact that fighters want that belt more than any other, regardless of politics. I've seen many fighters both at heavyweight and in different weight categories say they want to win the green and gold belt, because they saw it being competed for and held by great champions during their youth. You brought up Bruce Seldon, not me. You neglected to mention the great Frank Bruno holding the WBC round about the same time, but of course that doesn't count 😉. You also brought up Holmes who dropped the belt, leaving it for Witherspoon, Thomas and Berbick. The idea that there were no politics involved in Floyd's association with the WBC is frankly naive; it's been their M.O. to associate with and accommodate prominent and lucrative champions and promoters from King and Ali to Canelo Alvarez. Fighters grow up seeing the green belt and think "that's the one" because that's what they've been marketed. But hey, you're entitled to your feelings. Love is blind and all that

Got my champs mixed up there, apologies. The point I was making is that Holmes didn't hold the WBC throughout his reign, dropping it for the IBF. Witherspoon then became WBC champ, a fighter you referred to as an example of the WBA being second rate. He would then lose it to Pinklon Thomas, all while Holmes was considered the man. By your logic the WBC would have lost some prestige during this period, no? Then you have the post Vitali period. When he retired, Stiverne v Arreola did not represent the best in the division. Neither did Deontay Wilder if you're being honest; Wlad was clearly the best guy. I'm not claiming that the WBA is more prestigious, just that it's no better or worse than the WBC. The value of the belt comes from the fighter holding it, not the colour of its leather. I'm not really interested in the post Lewis era, I'm talking about before that in history - Tyson, Holmes, Lewis, Ali all held the WBC belt. I stand by the fact that fighters want that belt more than any other, regardless of politics. I've seen many fighters both at heavyweight and in different weight categories say they want to win the green and gold belt, because they saw it being competed for and held by great champions during their youth.

the WBC would be bankrupt if a german fighter didn't relent on the sum he was awarded in a lawsuit. do you know the story? the short version is that roy jones dropped a belt, two fighters fought for it when it was vacant, and the WBC later stripped the winner and awarded jones the belt again. they claimed in court that it was due to typographical errors. "typos." they obviously lost, the fighter was reinstated as champion, and they were penalized 31 million bucks. they declared bankruptcy, and would have gone under if the "boxing community" didn't "pressure" the fighter into settling for a smaller sum. this is a true, super well documented story, as everything played out in a US court. the idea that one of these colored leather belts is worth more than another is truly absurd. we know who the top fighters in the division are. it was fury off of the strength of the wladimir lineage, but he retired. the "championship" is vacant. joshua is the best HW on the planet. wilder is the second. wilder - fury winner will fight joshya, and the winner will regain the vacant lineage. he will be the HW champion of the world. Yeah fine, but it comes down to the fact that if you ask pro fighters which belt they would like to hold more than any other, it's the WBC. Boxing fans who see them as corrupt or whatever may not agree, but that's a fact, and I've seen countless different pro's say they want the green and gold belt, held by the best fighters in history. Mayweather only went for the WBC in every division, and that's not for any political reason - it was because it was the premier belt.

I don't really give a damn if he watches the fight or not...But his point of the fight being on too early is what makes it so impressive that a lot of Brits watch these US shows at 4 or 5 am damn near every weekend. Props.

pathetic and scary, isn't it my ffriend? i think it's that they really aren't boxing fans and don't really undestand that wilder and joshua might not happen in their primes. and they don't get that it can be one of the great HW fights EVER and put boxing on teh f3cking map if it does. no two fighters of this size and athleticism and with this kind of power have ever fought in their primes. it has not happened. you don't don't let eddie hearn take that away from you. yeah bro its pretty sad, seems like they are more interested in bragging on his riches, instagram followers, and attendance at his fights, etc than seeing him fight wilder.

A few pubs are having lock ins. All nighter, breakfast before you go home. Odd things is that it is so much more socially acceptable to drink Guiness at 5 in morning than cider. ... jesus f#cking christ that sounds like living :rofl: Got a pass from the missus. Said I was out with the lads watching the boxing on Saturday which she was cool with. Might have forget to mentioned the 5am start.

Why guiness over cider at 5am? Care to explain? Watched the Lions tour (in New Zealand) a while back and it was a 6am start in the local. Everybody drinking Guiness. Why, I have no idea.

oh boy, this is the new age boxing fan..... pathetic and scary, isn't it my ffriend? i think it's that they really aren't boxing fans and don't really undestand that wilder and joshua might not happen in their primes. and they don't get that it can be one of the great HW fights EVER and put boxing on teh f3cking map if it does. no two fighters of this size and athleticism and with this kind of power have ever fought in their primes. it has not happened. you don't don't let eddie hearn take that away from you.

A few pubs are having lock ins. All nighter, breakfast before you go home. Odd things is that it is so much more socially acceptable to drink Guiness at 5 in morning than cider. jesus f#cking christ that sounds like living :rofl:

I will say this about AJ though, he is stacking up his money lol You can't knock the hustle he did put himself in position to get those belts and now he's pretty much set to call his own shots. He can fight pretty much whoever he wants and fill up a stadium and make millions. He might as well keep riding the money train. oh boy, this is the new age boxing fan.....

Again, I didn't actually say that Witherspoon only held the WBA did I? The point I'm making still stands, the WBC has superseded the WBA title in prestige, despite the WBA being slightly older. the WBC would be bankrupt if a german fighter didn't relent on the sum he was awarded in a lawsuit. do you know the story? the short version is that roy jones dropped a belt, two fighters fought for it when it was vacant, and the WBC later stripped the winner and awarded jones the belt again. they claimed in court that it was due to typographical errors. "typos." they obviously lost, the fighter was reinstated as champion, and they were penalized 31 million bucks. they declared bankruptcy, and would have gone under if the "boxing community" didn't "pressure" the fighter into settling for a smaller sum. this is a true, super well documented story, as everything played out in a US court. the idea that one of these colored leather belts is worth more than another is truly absurd. we know who the top fighters in the division are. it was fury off of the strength of the wladimir lineage, but he retired. the "championship" is vacant. joshua is the best HW on the planet. wilder is the second. wilder - fury winner will fight joshya, and the winner will regain the vacant lineage. he will be the HW champion of the world.

eddie wants this fight next :rofl: here's the scary one: england wants this fight next :rofl:

I would say no, which reinforces my original point. Page held the WBA, Holmes held the WBC. Got my champs mixed up there, apologies. The point I was making is that Holmes didn't hold the WBC throughout his reign, dropping it for the IBF. Witherspoon then became WBC champ, a fighter you referred to as an example of the WBA being second rate. He would then lose it to Pinklon Thomas, all while Holmes was considered the man. By your logic the WBC would have lost some prestige during this period, no? Then you have the post Vitali period. When he retired, Stiverne v Arreola did not represent the best in the division. Neither did Deontay Wilder if you're being honest; Wlad was clearly the best guy. I'm not claiming that the WBA is more prestigious, just that it's no better or worse than the WBC. The value of the belt comes from the fighter holding it, not the colour of its leather.

Was Greg Page better than Larry Holmes? I would say no, which reinforces my original point. Page held the WBA, Holmes held the WBC.

Witherspoon has held both titles. I believe he was the first to do so Again, I didn't actually say that Witherspoon only held the WBA did I? The point I'm making still stands, the WBC has superseded the WBA title in prestige, despite the WBA being slightly older.

Yes they did, but Ali held the WBC one on it's own for quite a long time. You can't deny that the WBC belt is more prestigious than the WBA belt. I never said it was the oldest. The WBA has lost some of it's prestige down the years, with champions like John Ruiz, Seldon, guys who weren't the best of their era - I'm pretty sure Witherspoon had it, Dokes etc. The WBC has been held by the best guys in that era. Witherspoon has held both titles. I believe he was the first to do so

Yes they did, but Ali held the WBC one on it's own for quite a long time. You can't deny that the WBC belt is more prestigious than the WBA belt. I never said it was the oldest. The WBA has lost some of it's prestige down the years, with champions like John Ruiz, Seldon, guys who weren't the best of their era - I'm pretty sure Witherspoon had it, Dokes etc. The WBC has been held by the best guys in that era. Was Greg Page better than Larry Holmes?

A few pubs are having lock ins. All nighter, breakfast before you go home. Odd things is that it is so much more socially acceptable to drink Guiness at 5 in morning than cider. Why guiness over cider at 5am? Care to explain?

The WBA was an expansion of the NBA (National Boxing Association) which was based in the US and started in 1921. All those champions you named held the WBA championship also, as did Joe Louis. Yes they did, but Ali held the WBC one on it's own for quite a long time. You can't deny that the WBC belt is more prestigious than the WBA belt. I never said it was the oldest. The WBA has lost some of it's prestige down the years, with champions like John Ruiz, Seldon, guys who weren't the best of their era - I'm pretty sure Witherspoon had it, Dokes etc. The WBC has been held by the best guys in that era.

I guess most brits will be sleeping and watch replay? A few pubs are having lock ins. All nighter, breakfast before you go home. Odd things is that it is so much more socially acceptable to drink Guiness at 5 in morning than cider.