Why is Spence on p4p list?

[crimsonfalcon07]

Absolutely correct about the Thai weight classes! That is a great example. The main class for the champion Thai fighter is around Welter I believe... or just below. With sufficient pedigree yes many of these champs compete in boxing, some have a decent go of it. Actually Pacman was, and always fought like a Thai fighter. Dominant line, fast feet in and back off the line.

The Thai classes are only welter outside of Thailand. The main and most competitive Thai classes are 108-126...

That's why I suspect that the same weight classes in boxing are way more competitive than people think. Those Muay Thai fighters often have 200-300 fights by the time they're in their mid twenties. People here tend to dismiss those as just scrubs but fight experience counts, and it's common for the top guys to fight each other many times, so they're getting elite level experience.

There's a common mindset among US fans that's like "I don't pay attention to the lighter weight classes". That's short sighted, and also means they have no idea what they're talking about when they say champs at lighter weight classes aren't the equivalent of the bigger westerners. That attitude even pervades into the journalists, so it's way harder for the Ioka's and Inoue's and Nasukawa's and Nakatani's, to make P4P.

Lerdsila, for example, often didn't crack the Western view, despite putting together 100 straight wins, many of which were against world champions.

[billeau2]

The Thai classes are only welter outside of Thailand. The main and most competitive Thai classes are 108-126...

That's why I suspect that the same weight classes in boxing are way more competitive than people think. Those Muay Thai fighters often have 200-300 fights by the time they're in their mid twenties. People here tend to dismiss those as just scrubs but fight experience counts, and it's common for the top guys to fight each other many times, so they're getting elite level experience.

There's a common mindset among US fans that's like "I don't pay attention to the lighter weight classes". That's short sighted, and also means they have no idea what they're talking about when they say champs at lighter weight classes aren't the equivalent of the bigger westerners. That attitude even pervades into the journalists, so it's way harder for the Ioka's and Inoue's and Nasukawa's and Nakatani's, to make P4P.

Lerdsila, for example, often didn't crack the Western view, despite putting together 100 straight wins, many of which were against world champions.

Yup retirement at 30 lol. It was the same thing in the early days of boxing when the great Black Fighters had to fight each other many times. It built a lot of experience and more parity because there were seldom suprises after meeting a few times. Most educated fight fans wouldn't dismiss such things, especially if they knew the training routines these guys go through.

There are indeed a lot of prejudices and special interests in boxing. There is also a reverence for the heavyweight champ as boxing tradition. These need not be mutually exclusive by any means.

[hugh grant]

Spence has some decent wins but never really dominated opponents like you think a pf P fighter does. You think a pf P fighter all things being equal can compete with anyone, spence not proved that, by not dominating his maiden division. Do you really think if spence was usyk s size hed best usyk? I mean Spence v pac was seen as competitive fight, I mean how old was pac and a former flyweight.
It tells you everything.