Comments Thread For: Hrgovic Still In Search Of Foe For IBF Eliminator; Gassiev, Ruiz Cite Injuries In Declining Offer

[aaronbnb]

There are champions and then fighters who become a champion. Ruiz is a feel good story in the later group. It's ok if he never pans out.

if Ruiz ends up with money saved and in the bank, he's a feel good story. if he goes broke, it's a tragedy.

[Willow The Wisp]

Totally agree! I have said this a few times about boxing in Asia. Japan & China are 2 countries that draw large crowds to big events. When that Fujimoto guy was ranked the WBO Parker considered making a voluntary defence against him in Japan. I think Dubois smashed him in England shortly after…

Zhang Zhilei has GOT TO be saved for a China in the world extravaganza! Call it simply, "The Big ****!"

Although Boxing has been the biggest pro sport across most of Asia for most of the time that professional sports have existed, much of the world's largest market is today virtually untapped relative to potential. Across the many cultures of pan Asia, they are just like everyone else. They like excitement and they like traditional world importance. They just need it packaged properly, advertised and sold at an affordable price. Something that "Boxing" would egarly do if it had a unified center interested in promoting itself, like MMA/UFC. Boxing has had a presence across Asia dating to the 19th century, and China would be a tremendous host for a Heavyweight world title fight featuring it's first great national champion in the role of a live challenger. Knowing how a boxer usually handles a traditional martial artist and how a Heavyweight generally handles a smaller man, its reasonable to state that Zhang Zhilei is the best actual figher the region boasting 60.3 percent of the world's people has ever produced; and in China he remains a national hero. An Olympic silver medalist in 2008 and a medalist at the world cup in 2007 and 2009 in the world's first international sport and still the most widespread professional spectator sport, China might wait a very long time for another opportunity like this.

[_Rexy_]

I didn’t realize this until just now, but the IBF is refusing to offer the shot to Charles Martin, who was #3 and is now #8 after losing to Ortiz??

I realize you don’t want to make a guy who was recently KOd a mandatory, but we’re now well outside the top ten here. They should offer it to Martin.

He would be on a medical suspension after the stoppage.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Michael Hunter, much like everyone else, didn't want to be paid peanuts.

So he went and got much more money from Triller instead.

Well, Hunter actually lost to Forrest in his last fight. He knew pretty well he would stand no chance against Hrgovic.

[ShoulderRoll]

Well, Hunter actually lost to Forrest in his last fight. He knew pretty well he would stand no chance against Hrgovic.

He got paid much more for "losing" to Forrest then he would have for fighting Hrgovic.

So he did the smart thing financially.

[Willow The Wisp]

He got paid much more for "losing" to Forrest then he would have for fighting Hrgovic.

So he did the smart thing financially.

This is true. Maybe fighters on the climb protecting their ranking is something the banditos need to consider when assembling their ridiculous rating.

[vital1983]

Give Charles another chance.

[Willow The Wisp]

More Respect for Tony Yoka every day over this. The only man in the ratings to walk towards the danger. We're all going to see allot more of this man in the years to come.

[PotentialToast]

Yeah excuses, excuses! Why they all so afraid of this guy?? He really doesn’t seem to be that good, he’s a bit sloppy in his defense, he can punch, sure but he ain’t no massive KO puncher. Must be a low reward, high risk type scenario? Either way, it’s ridiculous! I say just give Charles Martin the shot, I’m sure he will jump at the chance. Sure he is coming off a loss, but he is still at number 10 in the rankings and he gave a very good account of himself against Ortiz, he got caught…but that could happen to any heavyweight. Give him the chance, I’m sure he would take it and it wouldn’t surprise me if he beats Hrgovic either.

This. What has Martin got to lose?

[REDEEMER]

More Respect for Tony Yoka every day over this. The only man in the ratings to walk towards the danger. We're all going to see allot more of this man in the years to come.

He has rarely stepped foot outside France so he hasn’t actually walked far towards the danger where that’s well outside of his country .