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For a while now, and up until recently, I was excited about the LHW division. Even before COVID, I was frustrated at the lack of fights, given the immense amount of depth and talent.
Wherever you look, from prospects like Buatsi right through to journeyman like Badou Jack, Sullivan Barrera, and so on.
I submit that fights are happening, but the level of opposition and frequency from my perspective does not match up with the potential - I'm not talking ideal here, just realistic.
Let's take the current champions for example.
Dmitry Bivol burst on to the scene about 4-5 years ago to much fanfare, yet he hasn't fought since Oct 2019 against unheralded Lenin Castillo. (WBA)
Artur Beterbiev last fought in a unification bout against the now-retired Gvozdyk, also Oct 2019 for the WBC and IBF titles. He is scheduled to fight IBF #5, Adam Deines (19-1-1) on March 20 in Moscow.
The WBO is vacant with the Smith Jr v Eleider Alvarez fight (Smith KO 9) touted as an eliminator. Smith is assumed to fight #2 Maxim Vlasov? for the title sometime in the near future. (correct me if I'm wrong)
We all know Kovalev is probably done after his loss to Canelo, British hopeful and former Kovalev victim Yarde lost a split decision to fellow countryman Lyndon Arthur last December.
What concerns me most is it is fairly easy to argue that taking the COVID pandemic into account and regular boxing politics makes it look like nothing out of the ordinary.
I don't have any hard statistics or tangible evidence to support my premise other than a long time nagging feeling that there simply isn't enough quality fights in a diverse division.
Beterbiev is approaching the end of his prime and could conceivably retire with less than 20 pro fights. Bivol is 30 and has held the WBA belt since he was 26-27.
I'm aware that many fighters from the former Soviet Union have long amateur careers before turning pro such as Lomachenko and Madrimov, to name a few.
Am I seeing something that's not there or does anyone else share my concerns, and if so why?
All opinions welcome, just keep them above the belt. Cheers.
Wherever you look, from prospects like Buatsi right through to journeyman like Badou Jack, Sullivan Barrera, and so on.
I submit that fights are happening, but the level of opposition and frequency from my perspective does not match up with the potential - I'm not talking ideal here, just realistic.
Let's take the current champions for example.
Dmitry Bivol burst on to the scene about 4-5 years ago to much fanfare, yet he hasn't fought since Oct 2019 against unheralded Lenin Castillo. (WBA)
Artur Beterbiev last fought in a unification bout against the now-retired Gvozdyk, also Oct 2019 for the WBC and IBF titles. He is scheduled to fight IBF #5, Adam Deines (19-1-1) on March 20 in Moscow.
The WBO is vacant with the Smith Jr v Eleider Alvarez fight (Smith KO 9) touted as an eliminator. Smith is assumed to fight #2 Maxim Vlasov? for the title sometime in the near future. (correct me if I'm wrong)
We all know Kovalev is probably done after his loss to Canelo, British hopeful and former Kovalev victim Yarde lost a split decision to fellow countryman Lyndon Arthur last December.
What concerns me most is it is fairly easy to argue that taking the COVID pandemic into account and regular boxing politics makes it look like nothing out of the ordinary.
I don't have any hard statistics or tangible evidence to support my premise other than a long time nagging feeling that there simply isn't enough quality fights in a diverse division.
Beterbiev is approaching the end of his prime and could conceivably retire with less than 20 pro fights. Bivol is 30 and has held the WBA belt since he was 26-27.
I'm aware that many fighters from the former Soviet Union have long amateur careers before turning pro such as Lomachenko and Madrimov, to name a few.
Am I seeing something that's not there or does anyone else share my concerns, and if so why?
All opinions welcome, just keep them above the belt. Cheers.
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