Fighter Turning Down Career Defining Fight Because He Was Too Green

[-Kev-]

Not green, but after Hatton beat Tszyu and Mayweather beat Gatti, Mayweather wanted Hatton at 140lbs. Hatton or his team turned down Mayweather and said they will do it down the line. Mayweather left 140 after Hatton didn’t want the fight.

The reason Mayweather called out Hatton was because, during the Bruseles post fight interview (in ring), Mayweather called out De La Hoya and Mosley for 147 fight. Both rejected it due to not wanting to do business with Arum - Mosley lied about the reason, citing a toothache and needing to go on vacation. DLH was straight up with Mayweather and told him he is not doing business with TR. To be fair to DLG, it was not a duck, because Arum did not want to do business with DLH either. As he rejected Mayweather’s request to fight him.

Mayweather, in the same interview, called out Tszyu and Gatti for a 140 fight. Tszyu chose Hatton and lost, Mayweather beat Gatti. Mayweather then turned his attention to Hatton.

[GrandpaBernard]

Literally those were his words calling it "unfair" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0ugadMjM9k

No not you

i meant it was bs like usual from the ggg camp

[Caxcan]

Abel said "I think that it's unfair to ask a fighter to move up a division when he hasn't conquered the division he is in ... I think he would match up well with Andre (Ward)."

There's nothing wrong with that statement. He didn't say GGG couldn't beat Ward. It's similar to how people asking Canelo to move up to 175 and fight Beterbiev isn't fair ... because Canelo hasn't conquered 168. If/when Canelo beats Plant and has cleaned out the division, then it is fair to see if he wants more challenges by moving up a weight class instead of fighting rematches or no-hopers at 168. Canelo has unfinished business at 168 though, currently, just as GGG had unfinished business at 160.

Team GGG said they were eager for a big fight and willing to face anyone between 154-168, but when it came to Ward, it was suddenly an unfair expectation. Abel was obviously tip toeing around his reluctance to throw him in the deep waters that Ward presented. At one point he said Ward has proven how good he is, but we won't know about GGG until he meets someone who can test him, so the obvious answer would be to push for the Ward fight.

And it's not at all comparable to Canelo who's already been there and done that moving up multiple divisions. GGG bragged about fighting from 154-168 without following through while Canelo got the job done and more as 154-175 champ. Moving up to face Beterbiev would be a next level move to solidify an ATG status. He's already the only ex welter since 6'2 Hearns to become a champ at 175.

[Thuglife Nelo]

Abel said "I think that it's unfair to ask a fighter to move up a division when he hasn't conquered the division he is in ... I think he would match up well with Andre (Ward)."

There's nothing wrong with that statement. He didn't say GGG couldn't beat Ward. It's similar to how people asking Canelo to move up to 175 and fight Beterbiev isn't fair ... because Canelo hasn't conquered 168. If/when Canelo beats Plant and has cleaned out the division, then it is fair to see if he wants more challenges by moving up a weight class instead of fighting rematches or no-hopers at 168. Canelo has unfinished business at 168 though, currently, just as GGG had unfinished business at 160.

Lol. “Similar.” Don’t compare Canelo’s to risk taking to Golovkin avoiding an inch above 160.

[Thuglife Nelo]

Team GGG said they were eager for a big fight and willing to face anyone between 154-168, but when it came to Ward, it was suddenly an unfair expectation. Abel was obviously tip toeing around his reluctance to throw him in the deep waters that Ward presented. At one point he said Ward has proven how good he is, but we won't know about GGG until he meets someone who can test him, so the obvious answer would be to push for the Ward fight.

And it's not at all comparable to Canelo who's already been there and done that moving up multiple divisions. GGG bragged about fighting from 154-168 without following through while Canelo got the job done and more as 154-175 champ. Moving up to face Beterbiev would be a next level move to solidify an ATG status. He's already the only ex welter since 6'2 Hearns to become a champ at 175.

Stop scaring the GGg diehards. They like to push any Caucasian looking Euro even if he’s Asian to look better than a Mexican.

[Jax teller]

AJ and Barry Hearn didn't think AJ was ready to fight Wilder back in the day.

“But I’m just going to do things my way, people just can’t rush my career, that’s what I’ve learnt.

“I’ve got a career I need to map it out, I’m going to take fights at the right time for me and if it’s next year or the year after or the year after when I fight him I’ll be in a position to beat him.”

"I started boxing 2010, Wilder turned pro 2009, so he’s been a pro one year longer than my whole career.

“So you can see why they’re rushing him for certain reasons and you can see why I’m taking my time for certain reasons.

“The fights are there, but as I say I’m going to do it in my own time when I feel ready."

This was after they'd offered Wilder a 5x career high payday?

[786]

I agree with the sentiment but it doesn't always work out. I think Lubin was rushed in against Charlo, same with David Reid and Fernando Vargas with tito. David Reid seemed to only have a short time in the sport due to his eye problems but that Trinidad fight definitely sped up the process, I also think the war Vargas had with Tito so early on probably shortened his career.

The fighters should absolutely have that attitude but it's the responsibility of their teams to manage that and make sure they're not putting them in too deep too soon in their careers.

[STREET CLEANER]

I agree with the sentiment but it doesn't always work out. I think Lubin was rushed in against Charlo, same with David Reid and Fernando Vargas with tito. David Reid seemed to only have a short time in the sport due to his eye problems but that Trinidad fight definitely sped up the process, I also think the war Vargas had with Tito so early on probably shortened his career.

The fighters should absolutely have that attitude but it's the responsibility of their teams to manage that and make sure they're not putting them in too deep too soon in their careers.

That could be true but there are other fighters that have overcome the established star. Recently Lopez and Taylor for having the few fights he has is actually the unified JrWW.

Some guys just dare to be great.

[786]

That could be true but there are other fighters that have overcome the established star. Recently Lopez and Taylor for having the few fights he has is actually the unified JrWW.

Some guys just dare to be great.

I totally agree. I'm just saying it doesn't always work out when the fighter is daring to be great. It's still the right attitude to have though.

[STREET CLEANER]

I totally agree. I'm just saying it doesn't always work out when the fighter is daring to be great. It's still the right attitude to have though.

Absolutely, I'm with you. It won't always work and the fighter might be ruined.