...That statement is just unbelievably insulting to Canelo. By claiming Berlanga's best win is no better/worse than Benavidez or Munguia's best (Angulo for example sake) win, you are implying that Canelo fought...
Plant aka equivalent to Angulo (it was a necessity in order to go undisputed so I personally got no qualms on it)
Bivol (the last time Canelo strived for greatness. Even though he lost it doesn't change the fact that he had the willingness to challenge himself)
GGG aka stay busy cash grab (old and overrated as we both seem to agree, basically a pre-retirement cash out)
Ryder aka equivalent to Angulo (Berlanga's best win)
Jermell aka stay busy cash grab (bloated up light middleweight, seems to be a cash out prior to early retirement so far)
Munguia (best win the equivalent of Angulo)
Berlanga (who's best win is...Angulo)
Canelo could've potentially had Plant for undisputed, Bivol for attempting greatness, GGG 3 (cash out), Benavidez, Morrell, then Munguia before having to start facing the likes of Berlanga to claim that he went undisputed, challenged for greatness, got a stay busy cashout, then cleaned out the division of all the leftover top contenders from top to bottom, then just killing time going down the list until he's ready to go take on the 175 beltholders again.
Overall I just see it unfortunate that his refusal to take on Benavidez or Morrell all but confirms that Canelo won't ever be fighting Bivol ever again considering he thought Benavidez/Morrell were too risky to fight despite being the favorite to win if they had faced eachother. It is all but a guarantee that the winner of Beterbiev/Bivol will wipe the floor with Benavidez/Morrell, but if Canelo didn't even want to touch the latter what makes you think he will actually fight Bivol again who is significantly better than both.
Take from my comment what you will.
To say Nelo should always fight the top guys available while these loveable boogeymen sit around waiting for their turn while beating up BUMS is exactly what's going on :)
Nelo never gets that ''it is what it is'' consideration.
Berlanga's best W is probably no better/worse than any other boogeyman's.
For some reason, "unbiased" fight fans have latched themselves onto Benny.
"He's long and lanky :boxing: !"
:haha:
...That statement is just unbelievably insulting to Canelo. By claiming Berlanga's best win is no better/worse than Benavidez or Munguia's best (Angulo for example sake) win, you are implying that Canelo fought...
Plant aka equivalent to Angulo (it was a necessity in order to go undisputed so I personally got no qualms on it)
Bivol (the last time Canelo strived for greatness. Even though he lost it doesn't change the fact that he had the willingness to challenge himself)
GGG aka stay busy cash grab (old and overrated as we both seem to agree, basically a pre-retirement cash out)
Ryder aka equivalent to Angulo (Berlanga's best win)
Jermell aka stay busy cash grab (bloated up light middleweight, seems to be a cash out prior to early retirement so far)
Munguia (best win the equivalent of Angulo)
Berlanga (who's best win is...Angulo)
Canelo could've potentially had Plant for undisputed, Bivol for attempting greatness, GGG 3 (cash out), Benavidez, Morrell, then Munguia before having to start facing the likes of Berlanga to claim that he went undisputed, challenged for greatness, got a stay busy cashout, then cleaned out the division of all the leftover top contenders from top to bottom, then just killing time going down the list until he's ready to go take on the 175 beltholders again.
Overall I just see it unfortunate that his refusal to take on Benavidez or Morrell all but confirms that Canelo won't ever be fighting Bivol ever again considering he thought Benavidez/Morrell were too risky to fight despite being the favorite to win if they had faced eachother. It is all but a guarantee that the winner of Beterbiev/Bivol will wipe the floor with Benavidez/Morrell, but if Canelo didn't even want to touch the latter what makes you think he will actually fight Bivol again who is significantly better than both.
Yeah, not that impressive but sometimes it is what it is. I guess that is why Canelo chose to fight Berlanga instead who had a win over...
...
...
...
...Serious question who is considered Berlanga's best win, the UD against Angulo who's notable achievement was lasting until the end 10R before retiring against Benavidez?
Nelo never gets that ''it is what it is'' consideration.
Berlanga's best W is probably no better/worse than any other boogeyman's.
For some reason, "unbiased" fight fans have latched themselves onto Benny.
"He's long and lanky :boxing: !"
:haha:
Berlang > Goodman
Munguia > Doheny
Charla >/ Tapales
Shotlovkin >/ Whotler
Plant > Shotnito
The Monster is so loved, doe :)
Some totally unnecessary d riding going on here...
Plant is that top guy's best W
Ikr :lol1:
Yeah, not that impressive but sometimes it is what it is. I guess that is why Canelo chose to fight Berlanga instead who had a win over...
...
...
...
...Serious question who is considered Berlanga's best win, the UD against Angulo who's notable achievement was lasting until the end 10R before retiring against Benavidez?
Unfortunately when someone is too good compared to the rest of the division, even simply fighting and clearing out all the top ranked fighter in each organization in order ends up becoming a mismatch. I guess I just need to be glad that atleast Inoue doesn't have a peculiar habit of ignoring the existence of a top contender who's been in your own division for multiple years even if it meant fighting a bloated guy brought up not one but TWO divisions below.
Plant is that top guy's best W
Ikr :lol1:
Back 2 back "stay busy" fights ?
Unfortunately when someone is too good compared to the rest of the division, even simply fighting and clearing out all the top ranked fighter in each organization in order ends up becoming a mismatch. I guess I just need to be glad that atleast Inoue doesn't have a peculiar habit of ignoring the existence of a top contender who's been in your own division for multiple years even if it meant fighting a bloated guy brought up not one but TWO divisions below.
They have literally already said they plan to have Naoya Inoue fight in the US in May or April. There's zero chance they do the Nakatani fight anywhere but Tokyo Dome. They have also that that they want Takuma and Nakatani to unify on the Inoue undercard in Vegas if they both win their fights in 10/11 days against Tsutsumi and Petch respectively.
It's going to be MJ in Vegas. That's the only fight that makes sense. Inoue won't move up to 126 and then back down to 122 for Nakatani, and they want undisputed on the line for the Nakatani megafight.
10/11 days from now:
Takuma Inoue vs Tstusumi, WBA 118 defense
Junto Nakatani vs Petch, WBC 118 defense
December in Tokyo:
Naoya Inoue vs Goodman
April/May in Vegas:
Naoya Inoue vs Akhmadaliev
Nakatani vs Takuma unification (assuming both win their upcoming fights)
later next year back in Tokyo:
Naoya Inoue vs Nakatani (assuming they both win in Vegas)
This is the plan. Unless somebody loses, this is what all the promoters have already said they want.
I know there are no definites in sports, but I think the path has a good chance of happening given the matchups.
My expectations:
Takuma-Tsutsumi: Takuma easy wide UD. Tsutsumi isn't a bad boxer in general but Takuma has the clear edge in everything except power. Physically they are near same height/reach and same age, but Takuma has better stamina, better defense, faster, more experience at world level, better resume of opponents as well. Tsutsumi can box switch but Takuma isn't extremely bad against southpaws to make it a huge advantage. For what its worth, they also fought as teenagers in highschool competition where Takuma won as well.
Nakatani-Petch: Nakatani early KO. Obvious staybusy/schedule adjustment fight against the next guy down the line on WBC due to last fight against mandatory Astrolabio being only 1R and other beltholders unavailable for unification.
Naoya-Goodman: Inoue first half KO. Probably observe Goodman for a round or two then kick up the engine for the kill.
Naoya-MJ: Inoue late KO. Will last longer than Goodman but still not anywhere enough for an upset.
Nakatani-Takuma: Nakatani wide UD or late TKO due to accumulation of damage. Takuma will give enough effort where Nakatani won't get an easy first half one punch KO win but the winner won't change.
If anything I can expect some casuals/haters to argue that Nakatani isn't that good/not ready for Naoya because he "struggled (ie he didn't steamroll through him early)" against Takuma but Naoya himself probably knows and rates Takuma high enough and will be more than willing to face Nakatani.
Has to be a bit awkward with the promoters already planning on essentially sacrificing Takuma to make a Naoya vs Nakatani fight bigger. Naoya is in a difficult position there; of course he wants his brother to win, but if he does that derails a much more lucrative megafight. And if Naoya gets the megafight it means his brother lost his world title.
Granted Takuma-Nakatani might actually be closer than people give credit to and work positively for Takuma too even in a loss.
Takuma's biggest weakness is his obvious featherfists that can't be helped, but at the 118 division he's got very good stamina to last the whole match (thanks to his many 12R UD matches), good fundamental skills capable to earn points, toughness to absorb damage (his flash KD from Ishida didn't really leave any actual damage, and was practically the only round he lost looking back), and he's got solid speed and defense overall. Of course he is worse than his brother in everything, but that is more a compliment on Naoya. I think he'll likely lose a closer than initially expected (but not close) fight to Nakatani, but would have a better than 50:50 chance against Nishida and would be the actual favorite against Takei, if they weren't from the same Gym.
And considering circumstances, given his current age, skills and bodybuild Nakatani would likely be the best opponent to lose to and still keep a decent ranking after a loss to aim for a belt again in the near future, plus Nakatani will likely stay at 126 after the Naoya fight regardless of result so there will be some vacancies available.
Takuma's already lost while he was young so don't have the "undefeated" BS to worry about (not that Japanese promoters care that much about the undefeated record compared to US to begin with).
Given practically every non-Inoue family seems to be expecting Nakatani to steamroll him, so just
Just making the distance while maybe even winning a few rounds for something like a 117-111 would actually raise his profile in the loss more than not fighting Nakatani at all.
And in an 1/1000 chance that somehow Takuma wins (there certainly is a higher chance than a meteor striking Tokyo Tower IMO), he's suddenly the universally accepted top dog at 118 and it also will raise Naoya's value indirectly and Shingo Inoue would become the Trainer of the Year by de facto.
Sounds good
Has to be a bit awkward with the promoters already planning on essentially sacrificing Takuma to make a Naoya vs Nakatani fight bigger. Naoya is in a difficult position there; of course he wants his brother to win, but if he does that derails a much more lucrative megafight. And if Naoya gets the megafight it means his brother lost his world title.
If the WBA force the Akhmadaliev fight they can just vacate the title. We don't really need that fight. One fight each before they fight each other.
They have literally already said they plan to have Naoya Inoue fight in the US in May or April. There's zero chance they do the Nakatani fight anywhere but Tokyo Dome. They have also that that they want Takuma and Nakatani to unify on the Inoue undercard in Vegas if they both win their fights in 10/11 days against Tsutsumi and Petch respectively.
It's going to be MJ in Vegas. That's the only fight that makes sense. Inoue won't move up to 126 and then back down to 122 for Nakatani, and they want undisputed on the line for the Nakatani megafight.
10/11 days from now:
Takuma Inoue vs Tstusumi, WBA 118 defense
Junto Nakatani vs Petch, WBC 118 defense
December in Tokyo:
Naoya Inoue vs Goodman
April/May in Vegas:
Naoya Inoue vs Akhmadaliev
Nakatani vs Takuma unification (assuming both win their upcoming fights)
later next year back in Tokyo:
Naoya Inoue vs Nakatani (assuming they both win in Vegas)
This is the plan. Unless somebody loses, this is what all the promoters have already said they want.
Long way to go before Nakatani.
First Nakatani and Takuma Inoue have to win their upcoming fights, then Naoya Inoue has to beat Goodman, then Nakatani has to beat Takuma while Naoya beats Akhmadaliev.
Then we can have Naoya vs Nakatani.
If the WBA force the Akhmadaliev fight they can just vacate the title. We don't really need that fight. One fight each before they fight each other.
Long way to go before Nakatani.
First Nakatani and Takuma Inoue have to win their upcoming fights, then Naoya Inoue has to beat Goodman, then Nakatani has to beat Takuma while Naoya beats Akhmadaliev.
Then we can have Naoya vs Nakatani.