Fighters who need to step up!

[Ray*]

You cant really mention WLAD on this list at all, Who are the people out there for him to step up to? None apart from his wn brother.

[Jimmy Dean]

You cant really mention WLAD on this list at all, Who are the people out there for him to step up to? None apart from his wn brother.

So you would rather see Wlad fight Ruiz (a top 10 ranked guy) over Peter?

[Dan...]

Lets have an argument, even though we mostly agree! To say Kessler's resume is very average is ludicrous IMO. Starting in his mid-twenties, Kessler literally went through all the best guys in his division with ease, capturing two belts along the way. Now, none of these guys are the best of the best by any stretch, but every division in boxing is packed with guys like this, and what distinguishes guys like them from guys like Kessler is his ability to whomp all of them without any difficulty. Someone like Mundine, who is a good boxer could not have done it, Kessler proved himself a cut above and built up what could only be described as a very good resume.

First off, I can't get into an argument. It is midnight here and I have a monster day tomorrow with like 3 deadlines to meet.

What I will say is this - I apply different criteria to different fighter's resume depending on who they are. I, as I know you do, believe Kessler to have the potential to be a truly elite fighter, a top 3 p4per. IMO his resume to this point, and the direction in which he is heading with regard to his level of opposition, is not going to get him to this level. So yes, looking at the whole picture is very solid, but not if you want to get where Kessler should be aiming.

[Clegg]

You think it's silly to say that Wlad should fight the #2 ranked HW in the world?

You can only name one guy that he should fight, and he has already beaten that guy. I think it's silly to act as if Wlad is one of the main guys in the entire sport who needs to step up.

and you think these guys are all top 10 fighters?

I'm telling you that at the time they fought Wlad, they were ranked in the top 10 by official sanctioning bodies and The Ring Magazine, so yes, they were top 10 guys.

[Dan...]

So you're happy with him fighting guys like Thompson?

Are you being ****n serious with this ****? You say he needs to step up then when asked who against you cite a fighter he has already beaten.

[Xyei]

Khan
Berto
Wlad

I agree except for Wladimir.. Who is he supposed to fight that he hasn't yet? He's fighting everyone, the division just isn't spectacular. If you were going to say Haye, I'm sure that fight will come off but Haye needs to fight at HW first before he gets an immediate title shot IMO.

I agree with a lot of you in that Kessler should step it up. Maybe I'm just being impatient but he needs to clean out the SMW division and then maybe move to 175. I realize that he is headed in that direction.

How about Felix Strum? To me, he seems to just be clutching to that belt and has no interest in unifying the division or even fighting someone who is a threat to him.

[Ryn0]

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.

What you say is true but Sicia and Beyer had titles, Kessler has to fight them if he wanted to unify. Who else was Kessler meant to fight at the time? There wasn't anyone else at 268 at the time. Bute wasn't at 168 and Miranda wasn't at 168. Pavlik wasn't a titlest and Taylor had been having trouble against Spinks and had a mandatory against Pavlik. There was no one else to fight. Now there are a wealth of people available to fight but at the time Kessler's opposition was pretty darn good.

[Jimmy Dean]

Are you being ****n serious with this ****? You say he needs to step up then when asked who against you cite a fighter he has already beaten.

He fought Peter 3 years ago and Peter is now the #2 ranked HW. Of course he should fight him.

[abadger]

First off, I can't get into an argument. It is midnight here and I have a monster day tomorrow with like 3 deadlines to meet.

What I will say is this - I apply different criteria to different fighter's resume depending on who they are. I, as I know you do, believe Kessler to have the potential to be a truly elite fighter, a top 3 p4per. IMO his resume to this point, and the direction in which he is heading with regard to his level of opposition, is not going to get him to this level. So yes, looking at the whole picture is very solid, but not if you want to get where Kessler should be aiming.

I agree with this. I'm just trying to bring some moderate viewpoints to NSB!

[Jimmy Dean]

You can only name one guy that he should fight, and he has already beaten that guy. I think it's silly to act as if Wlad is one of the main guys in the entire sport who needs to step up.

By your logic than I guess Raf should have "stepped up" after his first fight with Izzy and fought some guy lower in the division.

I'm telling you that at the time they fought Wlad, they were ranked in the top 10 by official sanctioning bodies and The Ring Magazine, so yes, they were top 10 guys.

I guess Lockett really was the #1 contender to Pavlik's belt.