I was thinking a bit after the Luke Campbell Ryan Garcia fight, and reflecting on where Lomachenko goes from here.
I hope the setback will force Loma to fight more of the young guns in the division, but that brings up a question, why should we have to have fighters lose to potentially get more access to the best fights? I say this because Loma had been dismissive of the young guns in the division all the way until Teofimo became a unification match for him. Had he won, I would have felt he wouldn't let the young guns fight him, but I could be wrong about that.
Loma has fought a few of the toughest fights available to him in the past no question, but there's this thing about some fighters being on top and us losing out on seeing the best fights.
Now for GGG, he was the boogeyman for a while, but after the Cashnelo fights, he hasn't focused on top fights besides another cash cow fight. Derevyanchenko probably wasn't assumed to be much of a threat until he did what he did in their fight.
Yes, there are promotional blocks for a Charlo fight (none for an Andrade or Saunders fight though).
In contrast, when other fighters haven't had the cash cow or absolute top of the division positions, we've seen them fight --seemingly-- the best available competition.
For example even with other eastern euros, Kovalev and Gvozdyk fought insane competition in short periods of time.
Yes they both lost, but their careers so far from a fan perspective put some amazing fights together.
TLDR:
1) I think loma losing might give us better fights (if he stays in the game as I hope) but why is that?
2)When will GGG fight the top guys in the division besides Canelo? He has the marquee name now.
3) Why are Kov/Gvozdyk different at the height of their careers still taking the big hard fights, is it because they didn't get spoiled by big money paydays and being p4p #1 accolades?
Your thoughts?
Btw I respect and am fans of all the fighters above but I always want the best fights possible.
lmfao I thought that was Hopkins, but I wouldn't put it past Toney.
You see his fight with Holyfield? I always laugh at the weigh in pictures.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/lQ5Nmv0wtfrBw2f8RMJiarykUgg5PLt-AJ8GHnqwzyLT5URa9GY5qbOigx9Dvii74QdQSQQDy1FTFJ2Z12EgD3tOUvocC-vCow
That said though, I'd never seen anyone pick Evander apart like Toney did.
oh ive seen it lol...and yeah i think u might be right it might have been bernard
while ive always loved toney i just loved teh real late version of him....just a 5-9 guy wanting to fight at heavyweight cause he gave no ****s about dieting and would always be doing interviews talking about jerrys deli(RIP)....just goin in there so out of shape fighting guys like sam peter...he gave no ****s...you just know toney is a guy you never wanted to fock with....wasnt he the one that called tarver a milk dud?
lmfao I thought that was Hopkins, but I wouldn't put it past Toney.
You see his fight with Holyfield? I always laugh at the weigh in pictures.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/lQ5Nmv0wtfrBw2f8RMJiarykUgg5PLt-AJ8GHnqwzyLT5URa9GY5qbOigx9Dvii74QdQSQQDy1FTFJ2Z12EgD3tOUvocC-vCow
That said though, I'd never seen anyone pick Evander apart like Toney did.
lmfao. Just watched an interview just to make sure I was remembering correctly. he said that when he came back to boxing (from football) he was about 205lbs and he wanted to compete at heavyweight but they told him he was too small and he had to fight at middleweight. He also mentioned struggling to make 152 in the ams (Amateur Welterweight Limit) which is just crazy to me.
And I'd pay to watch him go at Dion even today lol
while ive always loved toney i just loved teh real late version of him....just a 5-9 guy wanting to fight at heavyweight cause he gave no ****s about dieting and would always be doing interviews talking about jerrys deli(RIP)....just goin in there so out of shape fighting guys like sam peter...he gave no ****s...you just know toney is a guy you never wanted to fock with....wasnt he the one that called tarver a milk dud?
haha yup..remember him telling the story about laying out deion sanders at a michigan football camp?
lmfao. Just watched an interview just to make sure I was remembering correctly. he said that when he came back to boxing (from football) he was about 205lbs and he wanted to compete at heavyweight but they told him he was too small and he had to fight at middleweight. He also mentioned struggling to make 152 in the ams (Amateur Welterweight Limit) which is just crazy to me.
And I'd pay to watch him go at Dion even today lol
From what I remember early in his career he complained that he was a 200lb football player in highschool who starved himself down to 160 to box, so while that may have had something to do with it, his training was basically only sparring.
his one sided beatdown of Iran Barkley to win his title at 168 was amazing to watch.
haha yup..remember him telling the story about laying out deion sanders at a michigan football camp?
From what I remember early in his career he complained that he was a 200lb football player in highschool who starved himself down to 160 to box, so while that may have had something to do with it, his training was basically only sparring.
his one sided beatdown of Iran Barkley to win his title at 168 was amazing to watch.
Thanks, good info, and another good one to watch I'm sure
Yeah I think there is something in me that loses respect for guys when they can't even handle step 1 as far as what their job is - stay in shape.
I agree the talent was there though, that is evident in just a few film clips.
From what I remember early in his career he complained that he was a 200lb football player in highschool who starved himself down to 160 to box, so while that may have had something to do with it, his training was basically only sparring.
his one sided beatdown of Iran Barkley to win his title at 168 was amazing to watch.
That's fair. IMO Toney was the most gifted boxer I'd ever seen. If he stayed in shape and trained he would have been GOAT.
Yeah I think there is something in me that loses respect for guys when they can't even handle step 1 as far as what their job is - stay in shape.
I agree the talent was there though, that is evident in just a few film clips.
I just never became a huge fan of Toney and never watched many of his fights in total. I liked him as a fighter really, but he seemed like he didn't like to stay in shape obviously. I've never really got behind fighters like that.
But I'll have to give that one a look for sure. Good heads up
That's fair. IMO Toney was the most gifted boxer I'd ever seen. If he stayed in shape and trained he would have been GOAT.
You need to watch that damn fight! One of my all time favorites! In the last round, Manny Steward and Jim Lampley just stopped calling the fight and became fans cheering the action. Unreal fight.
I just never became a huge fan of Toney and never watched many of his fights in total. I liked him as a fighter really, but he seemed like he didn't like to stay in shape obviously. I've never really got behind fighters like that.
But I'll have to give that one a look for sure. Good heads up
Everyone can have their own little fantasy destruction. So have yours. Loma really brings nothing to the table for Davis. Still, I wouldn't mind if he gave Loma a shot, after a win. Thus the mention of a tune up for him.
I'm kinda feeling sorry for Loma.
Tank would be the tune up, lol. Unless he fights Gamboa again with 2 good wheels. OMG!!!!
Thanks man, not in its entirety, just highlights - I take it you recommend it? I've heard good things.
You need to watch that damn fight! One of my all time favorites! In the last round, Manny Steward and Jim Lampley just stopped calling the fight and became fans cheering the action. Unreal fight.
lets not act like making a fight with mikey was going to be easy for bob and loma...we all know how things get with bob and fighters that leave him.....we dont need to go over that history...bob was never going to give him what he was gonna make over at the pbc.....mikey didnt avoid loma or was scared...the relationship with bob was fractured(like many relationships with bob and fighters have been over the years)....look how quick cotto and floyd go together once cotto left top rank for a time.....it would be one thing if mikey went back to 135 or something....he hasnt
Cotto/Floyd was easier to make once Floyd came back from retirement.
And I never said anyone avoided anyone, I was making a joke about why Loma doesn't rank Mikey at the top of 135 anymore (because he's in a different weight class)
Yeah, I wonder why he doesn't rank Mikey at 135 anymore....hmmmmmm
lets not act like making a fight with mikey was going to be easy for bob and loma...we all know how things get with bob and fighters that leave him.....we dont need to go over that history...bob was never going to give him what he was gonna make over at the pbc.....mikey didnt avoid loma or was scared...the relationship with bob was fractured(like many relationships with bob and fighters have been over the years)....look how quick cotto and floyd go together once cotto left top rank for a time.....it would be one thing if mikey went back to 135 or something....he hasnt
The bold: Good observation.
Loma once was asked to rate 3 fighters for him to fight:
1. Mikey
2. Lopez
3. Davis
He dismissively with clear disgust said:
1. Mikey
2. Mikey
3. Mikey
Now he rates Davis as #1 at lightweight.
Yeah, I wonder why he doesn't rank Mikey at 135 anymore....hmmmmmm
im interested to see what golovkin does now that canelo has dropped his wba belt
golovkin was holding that ibf belt so he could make weak mando defenses while waiting on a canelo fight...canelo dropping that belt says something to me...maybe im reading more into it....but what does golovkin do from here if he knows canelo has basically dismissed him? i mean theres always a shot canelo makes a 3rd fight...but sometimes you try to read into it...and judging by some of the past comments canelo has made plus this i wonder if he hasnt just moved on.....then what does golovkin do?
if golovkin doesnt want to unify with charlo or andrade then what will that belt be of use to him?
if he goes for munguia and murata then it will have been obvious what this guy has been all about his entire career....i was hoping hed change my opinion of him...some might say hes "earned the right"...not to me....fight charlo or andrade or retire..or canelo i guess but youre going to get whooped and cry some more and your fans will say "well he was old anyway"
his fans are absolutely insane...theyll claim he should get a 3rd fight and they want it...but the minute canelo were to sign it theyd say "golovkin is old"....
I think a lot of those eastern euros come from a culture where they just fight whoever is in front of them. They come from countries where you don't really talk back to people in power. You could end up missing, permanently.
Point being, you point out that the Nail and Kovalev have taken tough fights. Well they had dance partners willing to step in and fight them. Stevenson had no real choice but to fight the Nail. Then the Nail and Artur mixed it up. Kovalev fought Ward twice, even going into the 2nd fight with no real concern other than wanting to get revenge. He didn't seem to care to negotiate many details in his favor at all.
And since then he hasn't shown a willingness to duck anyone, as you mentioned. He of course is an easier target now, after the Ward fights and especially the Eleider Alvarez fight took some shine off him.
Loma has literally fought whoever the best available opponent was that could be found at the time. His 2nd fight was for a world title lol. He moved up to 135 to test himself, and took on an explosive dangerous fighter that most guys in his position would have either avoided, or drained in weight etc.
GGG waited around for Canelo. But who can blame him? That was always destined to be his big money and legacy fight. It paid off very well for him in the money department. And even legacy, most people had to have scored both of those fights for GGG if they are being honest.
GGG was ducked by virtually everyone for forever. He was never an enticing fight for someone - you wouldn't get paid much to fight him, you would likely lose, you would likely get KOed, and very possibly hurt. And afterwards people would say you suck? Can you see why guys wouldn't want to fight a guy like that.
Honestly at this stage in his career I think GGG still wants the 3rd Canelo fight, more for legacy reasons but probably a bit for money as well. I could see him personally being a little more selective in who he fights because of that.
However, I think it's clear GGG is not calling the shots right now on who he fights. DAZN is. They want big money fights. They don't want to risk GGG in a tough fight that won't make them money, when he can maybe make them money vs Munguia. They ideally want GGG-Canelo 3 as that is a $100 million dollar fight. So everything they push for GGG will be with that in mind.
And again, it takes 2 to make a fight. I don't buy the line that Andrade or Charlo or most of those other guys around 160 really want to fight GGG. He is still dangerous, and doesn't bring much money. If you beat him now, you would get a little shine, and rightfully so. If you lose, and maybe get KOed, you were a guy who couldn't beat a 38 year old past-prime GGG who many are calling shot.
Everyone around 160 is wanting the Canelo payday. It sucks, but it is what it is.
Nice post. Have you seen Jirov-Toney?
5y ago
Expecting from GGG and Loma to fight the best available like Kovalev/Gvozdyk | BoxingScene Community