Fighters who need to step up!

[Dan...]

Mikkel Kessler is the guy that really stands out to me. A couple of years ago I would have said he was going to be one of the dominant fighters of the next 5 years. He is doing a damn good job of making me look a fool at the moment.

[Froch You]

Peterson Bros
Khan

Champs who need to step up and fight better competition
Erdei
Valero
Chris John

[Clegg]

Not sure why people are criticising Wlad's opposition. Who else is there to fight? Chagaev has been injured, and Valuev has only just won the title back.

Thompson and Ibragimov are both good fighters and among the most deserving of a shot.

[Live Dog]

Peterson Bros
Khan

Champs who need to step up and fight better competition
Erdei
Valero
Chris John

Valero needs to fight better comp but I don't think it's his fault. Not being able to fight in the US is a big road block.

[Dan...]

Not sure why people are criticising Wlad's opposition. Who else is there to fight? Chagaev has been injured, and Valuev has only just won the title back.

Thompson and Ibragimov are both good fighters and among the most deserving of a shot.

Its just plain old hate over logic.

[Migs]

Berto
Peterson brothers
Vanes
Kirkman

I second this notion.

[Ryn0]

Mikkel Kessler is the guy that really stands out to me. A couple of years ago I would have said he was going to be one of the dominant fighters of the next 5 years. He is doing a damn good job of making me look a fool at the moment.

TBF look at his opposition in his last 7 fights
Sartison, Calzaghe, Andrade, Beyer, Lucas, Mundine, Sicia.

Sicia, Mundine, Beyer, Calzaghe and Andrade all either have a title, held one at the time Kessler fought them went on to win one of are fighting for one in there next fight.

After being beaten comprehensively by Calzaghe he wanted a relatively easy fight in Sartison. Can you blame him he lost all his titles. His opposition is alot stronger than most people think and he's only 29.

[Jimmy Dean]

Not sure why people are criticising Wlad's opposition. Who else is there to fight? Chagaev has been injured, and Valuev has only just won the title back.

Thompson and Ibragimov are both good fighters and among the most deserving of a shot.

Its just plain old hate over logic.

Wlad's last 5 are:

Thompson
Sultan
Austin
Brock
Brewster

That's a productive 5 in that he avenged a loss, unified a belt, and fought a mandatory. But, those guys aren't the tops in the division and I'm saying that now he should go for those guys. So yeah, I think he needs to step up his comp.

[Clegg]

Wlad's last 5 are:

Thompson
Sultan
Austin
Brock
Brewster

That's a productive 5 in that he avenged a loss, unified a belt, and fought a mandatory. But, those guys aren't the tops in the division and I'm saying that now he should go for those guys. So yeah, I think he needs to step up his comp.

I think that someone who has just fought 2 of the toughest guys available is doing just fine. 4 of the five you list were very good opposition.

Thompson=top challenger
Sultan=Unbeaten+unification fight
Brewster=Avenging a defeat, former champion
Brock=Undefeated top challenger

Austin was not that great, but he had earned a shot at the IBF belt that Wlad held.

Who would you have preferred to see him fight? Chagaev is injured. Valuev was already busy, fighting for the vacant belt. Wlad already beat Sam Peter. So who should he be fighting?

[Dan...]

TBF look at his opposition in his last 7 fights
Sartison, Calzaghe, Andrade, Beyer, Lucas, Mundine, Sicia.

Sicia, Mundine, Beyer, Calzaghe and Andrade all either have a title, held one at the time Kessler fought them went on to win one of are fighting for one in there next fight.

After being beaten comprehensively by Calzaghe he wanted a relatively easy fight in Sartison. Can you blame him he lost all his titles. His opposition is alot stronger than most people think and he's only 29.

I've had this debate a million times so I will only post once on it.

Siaca - not even close to a top level fighter. Pretty much all of the reputation he does have is based on beating an injured Anthony Mundine.

Mundine - kessler's best name on his resume, which speaks for itself in a way. Not a bad win though.

Beyer - I don't care what anyone says this guy was a certified bum who only fought kessler for the money. He was beaten fair and square by the average fighter that is Danny Green prior to this fight. He is a poor man's Sven Ottke.

Calzaghe - yeah, fair opposition. But he went and lost.

Andrade - this guy is tough sure but he presents no real threat and isn't even close to a top guy. durable fighter yes but not an impressive name to have on your resume IMO.

Sartison - has beaten nobody to suggest he is anything but another protected European fighter.

So basically, with the exception of Calzaghe I don't think Mikkel's recent competition has been at the level that it should be given his immense talent. If he doesn't step it up in the next 24 months he will end up 35, looking back at his career and thinking "**** did I waste my prime". He has all the potential in the world but he isn't going to realise it fighting Sartison and haussler or whatever the **** that nobody's name is.