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It seems as though, fighters are all unwilling to go through the appropriate steps to become great. There's always some nonsense being pushed to make them relevant.
Yes there are those select few who have been able to fight on a bigger stage out the gate due to them having an Olympic pedigree, but most fighter have to start their pro careers from the bottom and eventually build their name into a brand respected by the mass.
Every time I turn around I see yet another "no named" prospect claiming someone is "avoiding them" and that is literally their plan for marketing themselves. Not just moving up the ranks by fighting other contenders until they get their opportunity, but by making it seem like they are being brushed to the side by those who are in the position they want to be in.
It's beginning to get nerve racking to hear every fighters who've done nothing great claiming that they are being avoided by individuals who either have something they want and/or are pushing to gain the same thing.
Biggest example is Jaron Ennis. A fighter who clearly passes the eye test by both casual and blue blood fans. His style is marketable and has a persona that people will gravitate to naturally, but truthfully, his opposition has been nothing spectacular yet. His biggest wins are vs a couple former 140lbers trying to move up to welterweight and make noise. Lipinets good fighter, not elite, but good fighter. Dulorme, well passed his prime, same man who was stopped by Terence Crawford years ago when Crawford was a 135lber trying to move up. Dulorme has lost 5 of his next 8 fights since. the resume of Ennis is nothing to beat your chest about, not saying he isn't a great talent but truthfully, he's done nothing more than the next prospect to deserve a title shot, yet the notion pushed by his camp and his fans is that elites are trying to avoid the challenge he presents in the ring.
I don't feel anyone accomplishes what Crawford/Spence has accomplished by being afraid of a test. Truthfully, there isn't a reason for either of those 2 fighters to push for a fight vs Ennis being that he isn't a money fight nor does he have a title. It's not a champions job to go after challengers.
I only use Ennis's name as an example because his name is easily one of the most frequent names thrown out there when this subject comes to mind. There are other fighters like Blair Cobbs, Frank Martin, Conor Benn, Vergil Ortiz Jr, etc who've made similar claims themselves or their fan base. And when you look at their competition, you'll see zero opponents of whom are ranked around or above their own ranking. Just seems everyone feels they should just get title shot opportunities and big money based on number of wins and popularity rather than what they actually have done in the ring vs legit opponents.
I've seen Crawford go from fighting in a "barn" or family festival type even to fighting at the MGM winning titles in 3 divisions. I've watched Shakur Stevenson go from the Olympic stage to chasing down mandatory opponents and fighting champions for their titles. And he's done it through 2 divisions thus far trying to accomplish it in a 3rd currently. I just want to see these talented athletes respect the process and not try to create a smoke screen that these other more proven fighters don't deserve what they worked hard for just because they haven't given you an opportunity as of yet.
Yes there are those select few who have been able to fight on a bigger stage out the gate due to them having an Olympic pedigree, but most fighter have to start their pro careers from the bottom and eventually build their name into a brand respected by the mass.
Every time I turn around I see yet another "no named" prospect claiming someone is "avoiding them" and that is literally their plan for marketing themselves. Not just moving up the ranks by fighting other contenders until they get their opportunity, but by making it seem like they are being brushed to the side by those who are in the position they want to be in.
It's beginning to get nerve racking to hear every fighters who've done nothing great claiming that they are being avoided by individuals who either have something they want and/or are pushing to gain the same thing.
Biggest example is Jaron Ennis. A fighter who clearly passes the eye test by both casual and blue blood fans. His style is marketable and has a persona that people will gravitate to naturally, but truthfully, his opposition has been nothing spectacular yet. His biggest wins are vs a couple former 140lbers trying to move up to welterweight and make noise. Lipinets good fighter, not elite, but good fighter. Dulorme, well passed his prime, same man who was stopped by Terence Crawford years ago when Crawford was a 135lber trying to move up. Dulorme has lost 5 of his next 8 fights since. the resume of Ennis is nothing to beat your chest about, not saying he isn't a great talent but truthfully, he's done nothing more than the next prospect to deserve a title shot, yet the notion pushed by his camp and his fans is that elites are trying to avoid the challenge he presents in the ring.
I don't feel anyone accomplishes what Crawford/Spence has accomplished by being afraid of a test. Truthfully, there isn't a reason for either of those 2 fighters to push for a fight vs Ennis being that he isn't a money fight nor does he have a title. It's not a champions job to go after challengers.
I only use Ennis's name as an example because his name is easily one of the most frequent names thrown out there when this subject comes to mind. There are other fighters like Blair Cobbs, Frank Martin, Conor Benn, Vergil Ortiz Jr, etc who've made similar claims themselves or their fan base. And when you look at their competition, you'll see zero opponents of whom are ranked around or above their own ranking. Just seems everyone feels they should just get title shot opportunities and big money based on number of wins and popularity rather than what they actually have done in the ring vs legit opponents.
I've seen Crawford go from fighting in a "barn" or family festival type even to fighting at the MGM winning titles in 3 divisions. I've watched Shakur Stevenson go from the Olympic stage to chasing down mandatory opponents and fighting champions for their titles. And he's done it through 2 divisions thus far trying to accomplish it in a 3rd currently. I just want to see these talented athletes respect the process and not try to create a smoke screen that these other more proven fighters don't deserve what they worked hard for just because they haven't given you an opportunity as of yet.
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