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Los Angeles, CA – With the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing around the corner, the only American boxer to capture a gold medal in the last Olympics continues to climb the ladder of the professional ranks toward world title contention. [details]
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For the only American boxer to win a gold medal, he sure isn't getting too much exposure. -
good opponent for andre, he will have to fight hard and smart for ten rounds
if he stops williams early it will be an impressive resultComment
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you just cant win nowadays, as this forum will prove, no matter how you bring a fighter forward people are gonna **** on him until he wins the damn world title.
wards people have been very up front about taking things slow, really putting the gym time and working hard to achieve quality performances everytime out. his manager said in an interview on this site that andre fought so hard and so often as an amateur that he didnt want to see him burnt out on boxing and wasnt going to take the normal route of putting his man out there every month for the first two years of his career for hear of him losing his edge.
the critics are gonna keep saying "why the hell doesent this guy fight more... blah blah blah blah... afraid of getting KTFO blah blah blah" but his performances have gotten consistently better the past two years so i cannot argue with how he is being managed.
on the other hand look at JCC Jr. he fights every 45 days or so... and thats not good enough either "he fights bums.... hed get owned by Cotto... he aint his dad... when is he gonna fight someone good..... blah blah blah"
these guys cant win, there is not right or wrong way to bring a prospect forward. every critic thinks they know how a fighter should be managed better than the people who get paid to do it and thats just preposterous.
these two examples are being managed in two completely opposite fashions, but at the same time being managed in the way that best suits them both.Comment
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I beg to differ just a bit. Once they get their title it just gets worse. Now they're ducking so and so, or not fighting in a way that we like. How do they compare to this person or that? I'm sure this guy would beat him.
They're going to hate no matter what.Comment
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you can always send me a gift, maybe a nice tankard of ale
but anyways, addressing what Random1 said above.
yes they will also garner the same types of criticisms when they are world champs, but they will also demand a certain level of respect. and they will have earned a reputation that will allow them to make money even after losing a fight or two.
but i really want to focus on how ignorant the average fan can be about the prospect status of a fighter. people lose sight of the fact that this is what these guys do for a living. just becoming a boxer is a risky investment, now ward and chavez are certainly gettin paid well compared to other youngsters but the fact remains that the real money only comes for real accomlplishments.
prospects cannot get lost in trying to appease the fans, taking too many fights, or a bad matchup on short notice can result in a demoralizing loss. when that happens 90% of the fans are going to turn their back on the fighter. television loves to show a fighters family on fight night but the fact of the matter is those families will still be there long after the gloves come off for good. i don't fault any fighter for doing things their way, as i said there is no right way. you've gotta manage your career like its a stock portfolio, if john duddy had lost to waleed smitchet his stock wouldve gone the route of enron.... straight down the proverbial toilet bowl... as it stands, just by sustaining a serious cut he has cost himself a 1.4 million dollar payday that he is not guranteed will ever come his way again.Comment
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I like Ward a lot. I'm looking forward to this fight.Comment
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