Why don't European fighters fight good fighters?

[Mr. Ryan]

I have in the past been accused of being anti-European, despite the fact I am half Italian-Irish-Scottish-German, so I want the European guys here to tell me whats really good.
I recently read that Nicolay Valuev KO'ed Clifford Ettienne in the 3rd round, Woah! The man is 41-0 (31 KO), but largely against non-descript opposition. Why aren't they matched tougher? If an American heavyweight goes 41-0 against Valuev's opposition, they would probably revoke his license for making the Athletic Commisions sick, unless they are from Tennessee.
How about this Mahyar Monshipour character? He is 27-2-2 (18 KO), holds the WBA 122 Lb. strap, yet I have never heard of any of the guys he's fought. Why? Because he doesn't fight good opposition.
You tell me if I am prejudice or if I have a point.


P.S.
Oh yeah, Brian Nielsen!

[SacTown1]

I have in the past been accused of being anti-European, despite the fact I am half Italian-Irish-Scottish-German, so I want the European guys here to tell me whats really good.
I recently read that Nicolay Valuev KO'ed Clifford Ettienne in the 3rd round, Woah! The man is 41-0 (31 KO), but largely against non-descript opposition. Why aren't they matched tougher? If an American heavyweight goes 41-0 against Valuev's opposition, they would probably revoke his license for making the Athletic Commisions sick, unless they are from Tennessee.
How about this Mahyar Monshipour character? He is 27-2-2 (18 KO), holds the WBA 122 Lb. strap, yet I have never heard of any of the guys he's fought. Why? Because he doesn't fight good opposition.
You tell me if I am prejudice or if I have a point.


P.S.
Oh yeah, Brian Nielsen!

You have a great point, many European fighters try to make a name for themselves by defeating American has-been's, and then the promoters try to proclaim those Europeans as great prizefighters, for example:

Joey Calzone vs. Byron Mitchell, Charles Brewer, Omar Shieka

Valuev vs. Ettienne

Michelczewski vs. Griffin

I'll try to think of a few more examples....

these guys fight Americans who are 3-4 years past their prime, then try to act as if those victories mean something, it's a joke, and it shows that the quality level of the fighters overseas is 2nd rate


just to be fair, some Europeans clean out their division overseas, then come to the US to find glory, Prince Naseem and the Pocket Rocket are 2 examples

[Mr. Ryan]

just to be fair, some Europeans clean out their division overseas, then come to the US to find glory, Prince Naseem and the Pocket Rocket are 2 examples

No doubt, there are certainly some European fighters who I respect. In fact, I can name them all:

Naseem Hamed
Wayne McCullough
Lennox Lewis
Leonard Dorin
Vitali Klitschko

Thats about it. The rest, they kind of make me sick. Ricky Hatton does get some props for going after Kostya Tszyu. He could've easily went after Vivian Harris or Gatti and gotten an easier time for a recognized belt, but he went after the man. But the rest, **** 'em.

[triggerhappy]

Nicolay Valuev is 7'0 tall that is the tallest boxer i ever seen. is he any good

[The Pretender]

Not many good euro fighters to fight.

[Mr. Ryan]

Not many good euro fighters to fight.

Not many good euro fighters. Period.

[Martin (Top Knowledge)]

You have a great point, many European fighters try to make a name for themselves by defeating American has-been's, and then the promoters try to proclaim those Europeans as great prizefighters, for example:

Joey Calzone vs. Byron Mitchell, Charles Brewer, Omar Shieka

I strongly diss-agree!!!... Joe Calzaghe is one of the best fighters in the World today. He's challenged everyone from RJJ to Hopkins, They won't fight him!

When RJJ was fighting Glenn Kelly and Clinton Woods, Calzaghe was jumping up and down trying to get RJJ to fight him... Roy actually said that he will never fight Joe Calzaghe BECAUSE Joe Calzaghe was too dangerous. He said, "Why fight an unbeaten guy like that when I can defend my belts against an easier nights work?"

Joe Calzaghe offered RJJ £6,000,000 (That's pounds sterling not US doller) to fight him in Las Vegas. Joe would have taken £250,000 of the purse and the comments above were what RJJ said.

Don't knock these guy's, At least Byron Mitchell, Charles Brewer, Omar Sheika had the courage to face him...

[Mr. Ryan]

I strongly diss-agree!!!... Joe Calzaghe is one of the best fighters in the World today. He's challenged everyone from RJJ to Hopkins, They won't fight him!

When RJJ was fighting Glenn Kelly and Clinton Woods, Calzaghe was jumping up and down trying to get RJJ to fight him... Roy actually said that he will never fight Joe Calzaghe BECAUSE Joe Calzaghe was too dangerous. He said, "Why fight an unbeaten guy like that when I can defend my belts against an easier nights work?"

Joe Calzaghe offered RJJ £6,000,000 (That's pounds sterling not US doller) to fight him in Las Vegas. Joe would have taken £250,000 of the purse and the comments above were what RJJ said.

Don't knock these guy's, At least Byron Mitchell, Charles Brewer, Omar Sheika had the courage to face him...

Joe Calzaghe, ain't that the guy who's been fighting Mario Veit and Kabary Salem? I almost forgot to say he sucks as well. Lets see him fight in America and then we'll talk.

[SacTown1]

I strongly diss-agree!!!... Joe Calzaghe is one of the best fighters in the World today. He's challenged everyone from RJJ to Hopkins, They won't fight him!

When RJJ was fighting Glenn Kelly and Clinton Woods, Calzaghe was jumping up and down trying to get RJJ to fight him... Roy actually said that he will never fight Joe Calzaghe BECAUSE Joe Calzaghe was too dangerous. He said, "Why fight an unbeaten guy like that when I can defend my belts against an easier nights work?"

Joe Calzaghe offered RJJ £6,000,000 (That's pounds sterling not US doller) to fight him in Las Vegas. Joe would have taken £250,000 of the purse and the comments above were what RJJ said.

Don't knock these guy's, At least Byron Mitchell, Charles Brewer, Omar Sheika had the courage to face him...

the term "challenged" is thrown around quite a bit these days, and it carries very little value... in all seriousness, Joe's management team would have never struck a deal with Jones, because European promoters always try to get options on American opponents when they sign fight contracts, and Roy's not going to give any promoter any options, especially if they are challenging for his belts....if Calzaghe's team really wanted a Jones fight, then Joe would have dumped his WBogus belt, fought an eliminator at 175, won, and been installed as the #1 contender, which would have GUARANTEED him a fight with RJJ (to the credit of Clinton Woods' team, this is exactly what they did to get their man a shot at Jones, Tarver's team did the same thing as well)....so the verbal "challenges" that team Calzaghe threw out thru the British tabloid media aren't really credible

[Neuraxis]

You have a great point, many European fighters try to make a name for themselves by defeating American has-been's, and then the promoters try to proclaim those Europeans as great prizefighters, for example:

Joey Calzone vs. Byron Mitchell, Charles Brewer, Omar Shieka

Valuev vs. Ettienne

Michelczewski vs. Griffin

I'll try to think of a few more examples....

these guys fight Americans who are 3-4 years past their prime, then try to act as if those victories mean something, it's a joke, and it shows that the quality level of the fighters overseas is 2nd rate


just to be fair, some Europeans clean out their division overseas, then come to the US to find glory, Prince Naseem and the Pocket Rocket are 2 examples

LOL Griffin was really a has been when DM beat him.