Do top level fighters fight often enough today?

[Roger Mellie]

I am not so sure. There are exceptions,but I will use Paul Williams and Mikkel Kessler as examples. It is all too easy to say that they werent that good anyway,and I would expect not much else from 80% of posters here, but they looked so much better when they were fighting regularly. I'm taking nothing away from Andre Ward as he fought a superb fight and surprised the hell out of me, but Kessler looked like a shadow of his former self,and as for Williams, I think not testing himself regularly has been detrimental to him.

I am sure there are other examples too. What do you think?

[Easy-E]

Well they fight less often, but that also is because promotion and marketibility are such important aspects of the sport. You cant have guys with 15, 20 and 25 losses fighting on PPV anymore.
It is not realistic.

[Roger Mellie]

Well they fight less often, but that also is because promotion and marketibility are such important aspects of the sport. You cant have guys with 15, 20 and 25 losses fighting on PPV anymore.
It is not realistic.

Yeah,of course not, but some fighters are only having 1 serious fight per year,and surely that is not going to help. It really isnt that outrageous to expect them to fight 3 times at least a year is it? Williams seemingly had the boxing worlds attention when he avenged his Quintana loss and then not much else in the time between that and the Martinez fight.

[bklynboy]

Well they fight less often, but that also is because promotion and marketibility are such important aspects of the sport. You cant have guys with 15, 20 and 25 losses fighting on PPV anymore.
It is not realistic.

True, but fighting only 3 or 4 fights a year? Unless you've been in a war you should be able to fight every 12 weeks. Fighters 50 years ago commonly fought 10+ times a year; (Let's not count Greb who fought 50 times in one year) and many fighters climbing up the ranks fight once every 4-6 weeks. As champs they should fight at least 3-4 times a year, if not more. The only exception is injury. We don't want to go back to the days where fighters fought injured, or not completely healed, simply to put food on the table and a roof over their head.

[Roger Mellie]

True, but fighting only 3 or 4 fights a year? Unless you've been in a war you should be able to fight every 12 weeks. Fighters 50 years ago commonly fought 10+ times a year; (Let's not count Greb who fought 50 times in one year) and many fighters climbing up the ranks fight once every 4-6 weeks. As champs they should fight at least 3-4 times a year, if not more. The only exception is injury. We don't want to go back to the days where fighters fought injured, or not completely healed, simply to put food on the table and a roof over their head.

I think that boxing is almost a different sport from back when they were fighting 20 odd times a year, but I think you are right. What I am saying is that whilst It may be good for a boxer health wise,I also think not being tested often actually ends up taking something away from a fighter.

[bklynboy]

I think that boxing is almost a different sport from back when they were fighting 20 odd times a year, but I think you are right. What I am saying is that whilst It may be good for a boxer health wise,I also think not being tested often actually ends up taking something away from a fighter.

I agree, I also thinks it takes away from a fighter and the sport. Even if the champion doesn't face the toughest competition every time out simply being in the ring, facing another man for real, with his belt on the line counts for something.

[Pullcounter]

I am not so sure. There are exceptions,but I will use Paul Williams and Mikkel Kessler as examples. It is all too easy to say that they werent that good anyway,and I would expect not much else from 80% of posters here, but they looked so much better when they were fighting regularly. I'm taking nothing away from Andre Ward as he fought a superb fight and surprised the hell out of me, but Kessler looked like a shadow of his former self,and as for Williams, I think not testing himself regularly has been detrimental to him.

I am sure there are other examples too. What do you think?

they are all fighting for HBO dates.

[Roger Mellie]

You must lose your edge and your sharpness if you arent being tested regularly,and then when you come up against a sharp,hungry fighter(as in the case of Ward and Martinez) Something seems to be missing.