The Old Fighters are done

[bobbyjones]

As of the Roy Jones loss (which followed on the heels of the Lennox Lewis retirement, the Evander Holyfield degeneration, the Darius Michae***ski loss, the Mike Tyson losses, and the De La Hoya loss) it is official that the old men who so long held boxing in their strangle grip and tantalized fans with their fights are done. Unfortunately, it has not happened the way it has in the past. Great champions have not replaced great champions. Indeed, the time for champions to replace other champions was probably about 6 or 7 years ago. It has actually gotten to the point where great champions are losing to fighters who are relatively average in many respects. Even Vitali Klitchko is simply too old. He is nothing but a transition champion waiting for another Mike Tyson or Cassius Clay or even Evander Holyfield to rocket up the ranks and depose him from the throne.

[vB Martin]

agreed. boxing is definitely heading for a lull. The signs are all there.

The media champions like Jones and Oscar are gone now. Say what he wants, Oscar is not going to draw a million people on a PPV no matter who he fights. I don't think it was the body shot that did it as much as his reaction to it. He should have ****** it up a little and not shown so much pain. Combine that with the fact that an unheralded Sturm beat him up like a schoolgirl and the judges still gave him the win and his draw is over.

Jones KO'd twice in a row has ended his career at long last.

The heavyweight division has no "real" champion.

Vitali has proven he's tough, but he still has that Chris Byrd loss hanging over him. He quit in the middle of a fight e was winning because his shoulder hurt. wtf????

Chris Byrd lost to Oquendo regardless of what the judges said. He's not a money draw because he's not exciting to watch at all.

Lamon Brester? I don't think he will hold up against a real heavyweight fighter. Assuming one comes along.

John Ruiz... Here's someone I can't seem to get a handle on. Roy picked him to fight because he's plodding and slow. He's definitely tough, but easy to point against if you have any handspeed whatsoever.

What a dark day for boxing.

[tino]

agreed. boxing is definitely heading for a lull. The signs are all there.

The media champions like Jones and Oscar are gone now. Say what he wants, Oscar is not going to draw a million people on a PPV no matter who he fights. I don't think it was the body shot that did it as much as his reaction to it. He should have ****** it up a little and not shown so much pain. Combine that with the fact that an unheralded Sturm beat him up like a schoolgirl and the judges still gave him the win and his draw is over.

Jones KO'd twice in a row has ended his career at long last.

The heavyweight division has no "real" champion.

Vitali has proven he's tough, but he still has that Chris Byrd loss hanging over him. He quit in the middle of a fight e was winning because his shoulder hurt. wtf????

Chris Byrd lost to Oquendo regardless of what the judges said. He's not a money draw because he's not exciting to watch at all.

Lamon Brester? I don't think he will hold up against a real heavyweight fighter. Assuming one comes along.

John Ruiz... Here's someone I can't seem to get a handle on. Roy picked him to fight because he's plodding and slow. He's definitely tough, but easy to point against if you have any handspeed whatsoever.

What a dark day for boxing.

i agree but hey , miguel cotto , the return of tito , mayorga crazyness , floyd mayweather and even ricky hatton all make for futures stars and or superfights.

the loss of "too sharp" is a sign too , the guy was the most skilled fighter of this generation.

[bobbyjones]

i also have to add that I hate it when people take things away from fighters after they are relics. People watch Evander Holyfield and say "this guy was always second rate) they watch Jones and De La Hoya and say "this man is overrated". Its disgraceful. NO people Jones would not ahve been beaten by Tarver or Johnson or anyone else when he was in his prime. They are just not in the same league.

[NichtGeflechten]

Vitali saved his career he was smart.

[oldgringo]

I have plenty to look forward to. I will be interested in Vitali and how he will defend his belts. I look forward to seeing what Toney will do in the HW division. I'm looking forward to Miguel Cotto's takeover of boxing.

I also want to see how Morales/Barrera/Pac/JMM organize their fights amongst each other.

[vB Martin]

there are some exciting younger fighters out there, but it will take them a few more years to develop to the exciting levels that we have seen this year.

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton are both exciting fighters, but I kinda think Manny was exposed a little in the fight with Marquez. Then he blamed it on his socks? wtf?

Vitali saved his career he was smart.

Part of the original German fanbase speaks?
I think that Vitali has good skills. I think he would have beaten Lewis had the fight been allowed to continue, but that fight with Byrd sort of spelled out where his heart lies.
He was well ahead in that fight and could have continued to fight one-handed and won the fight, even if he lost the last 3 rounds. There was no danger of Chris Byrd knocking him out.
There was little danger, with only 9 minutes left to fight, that he would have injured his shoulder irreparably in that fight. He doesn't have the heart to fight through pain.
Before you say it, yes I saw how badly his face was cut vs Lewis, but cuts to the face like that, while terrible to look at, aren't really all that painful.
He should have continued on in that fight and to quit because of a twinge in the shoulder is inexcusable in a heavyweight champion. How many chamions have fought with broken hands, broken jaws, pulled muscles, etc, etc, etc, and still gone on to have a career?

[Neuraxis]

there are some exciting younger fighters out there, but it will take them a few more years to develop to the exciting levels that we have seen this year.

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton are both exciting fighters, but I kinda think Manny was exposed a little in the fight with Marquez. Then he blamed it on his socks? wtf?



Part of the original German fanbase speaks?
I think that Vitali has good skills. I think he would have beaten Lewis had the fight been allowed to continue, but that fight with Byrd sort of spelled out where his heart lies.
He was well ahead in that fight and could have continued to fight one-handed and won the fight, even if he lost the last 3 rounds. There was no danger of Chris Byrd knocking him out.
There was little danger, with only 9 minutes left to fight, that he would have injured his shoulder irreparably in that fight. He doesn't have the heart to fight through pain.
Before you say it, yes I saw how badly his face was cut vs Lewis, but cuts to the face like that, while terrible to look at, aren't really all that painful.
He should have continued on in that fight and to quit because of a twinge in the shoulder is inexcusable in a heavyweight champion. How many chamions have fought with broken hands, broken jaws, pulled muscles, etc, etc, etc, and still gone on to have a career?

There is a difference between those injuries and a torn rotator cuff which had he continued fighting with could have ruined his career.

[NichtGeflechten]

Part of the original German fanbase speaks?

What a complete ****tard.....

[Dr Cynical]

How many chamions have fought with broken hands, broken jaws, pulled muscles, etc, etc, etc, and still gone on to have a career?

Jesus Chavez fought Erik Morales with one arm.