Do Fights and Fighters Need To Build?

[DLT]

The "build" word has came up alot recently from promoters and or fans. When promoters have 2 young guys they never put them in together. Instead they always talk about building the fight up. Also, alot of young fighters now wont have a really really hard fight until they are 26 or 28 years old. What happened to the days of a 23yo Leonard facing a 20 year old Benitez? What about a 21yo Floyd facing Hernandez or a 23 yo undefeated Mayweather facing a 24yo undefeated Chico? Those type of fights never happened anymore. Now we always have to wait for something to big or we have to wait until guys are in there prime before they have any kind of tough fight. The problem is that everyone thinks guys are bums now whenever they lose.

It use to be nothing to have 2 young studs meet in there early 20's with one guy losing because he got the experience and would always come back. You dont want to be dumb and throw a 19 fight Vargas in there with a prime legend like Tito but there are other fights that can happened. It shouldnt kill a fighter if he loses but weve made it that way. Thats why guys like Gamboa & Lopez cant fight now even though they are also older. Thats why I like Demarco at 24 challanging Valero and Alexander at 22 taking these tough fights but we dont really talk about those guys enough

[madsweeney]

Its because people are overly critical of a loss or two on a record. Its almost as if fans prefer padded resumes over though ones.

[-The Glove-]

Promoters became more business savvy and greedier. Plus with the Internet and other technological forums available nowadays, everybody has an opportunity for greater exposure. And with more exposure comes more money.

In other words, they're all money hungry snakes.

[ИATAS]

bob arum is just trying to milk gamboa and lopez as long as possible, "building" is code word for that.

but yeah, you're right - not enough good young guys fighting other good young guys. It's rare you see to undefeated prospects or rising stars go at it. Chris Arreola vs Chazz Witherspoon was one that comes to mind recently. Not too many others though. Victor Ortiz vs Maidana is probably a perfect example as why you don't see it much...

[Sloth]

It's all visual to the casual fan.. Someone who casually watches boxing, will watch the big name, the hyped name. One loss on the record can really visually hurt the appearance, and marketability of a fighter in a casual fans eyes.

[El Protagonista]

bob arum is just trying to milk gamboa and lopez as long as possible, "building" is code word for that.

but yeah, you're right - not enough good young guys fighting other good young guys. It's rare you see to undefeated prospects or rising stars go at it. Chris Arreola vs Chazz Witherspoon was one that comes to mind recently. Not too many others though. Victor Ortiz vs Maidana is probably a perfect example as why you don't see it much...

I agree but I think it's our fault. We are too harsh on a guy losing. Take Ricky Hatton for example. One minute he's on top of the world, the next he's a has-been. Why? Because of only two losses to the best two fighters on earth.

[DC Fight Fan]

All fighters are different. All have different skill levels at different times. The biggest faults I find with the way promoters build fighters now a days is that they are overly careful not to let prospects fight against guys who are regarded as heavy handed punchers. Even if the so called puncher has a suspect record. Then a young prospect gets his first opportunity on the big stage and his chin has never been tested. It is a coin flip at that point whether or not the prospect can take a clean shot or if he even knows how to hold on or get up in a critical situation.

Good thread DLT