Young fighters need to step up to the plate?

[FeFist]

Maybe it is just me but I think it is embarrassing that more than half of the top 10 fighters are in their mid late 30s. It is nice seeing guys like Bernard Hopkins compete at the age of the 40s but you think to yourself ''Could he do this with the competition that was around in the 90s'' and the answer is no, the likes Toney and Roy Jones would make him look like an old fossil, irregardless of his ring savy.

You look at Floyd and Pacquiao, they have been on the top 2 spot for over half a decade now, in that time no one has seriously challenges them. In terms of ability/athleticism no one really comes close to them and I fully expect Bradley to get smoked June 9th.

[Jayallday9]

Good point, I think it's because of the way the game is structured for example; people don't really care about a fighter unless he has a good record. That's the first thing we look at before we even begin to care who they are. So promoters who invest money into a young fighter try to keep these young guys away from real challenges, until they build up the fighter to seem like the real deal. Look at Canelo and Chavez jr; both have like 40 fights, championship belts and still have yet to face top opposition. Promoters know that them fighting serious competition now means cashing out too soon (meaning they might lose and people will know they were never really good to begin with)!! Just the way the game is IMO.

[4Corners]

Gary Russell Jr, Mikey Garcia, Kell Brook, Brad Solomon, Mike Jones, Saul Alvarez, Vanes Martirosyan, Austin Trout, Peter Quillin, Lucian Bute, Anthony Dirrell, Nathan Cleverly, Seth Mitchell, Mike Perez, Deontay Wilder......those are names that come to mind of guys that need to fight much better competition this year.

[Bushbaby]

I'm sorry, but your point isn't good. Young fighters cannot step up to the plate if the two headed monsters don't want to fight them. Floyd finally gave a young guy a shot, now it's Pacman's turn. Bradley will outbox him & lose a controversial decision. Remember where you heard it 1st.

[Jayallday9]

Good point, I think it's because of the way the game is structured for example; people don't really care about a fighter unless he has a good record. That's the first thing we look at before we even begin to care who they are. So promoters who invest money into a young fighter try to keep these young guys away from real challenges, until they build up the fighter to seem like the real deal. Look at Canelo and Chavez jr; both have like 40 fights, championship belts and still have yet to face top opposition. Promoters know that them fighting serious competition now means cashing out too soon (meaning they might lose and people will know they were never really good to begin with)!! Just the way the game is IMO.

I forgot to add that the established fighters need to step up and stop making excuses when they see these youngsters as a threat to them too!! As soon as they see a young kids who they think may beat them they say he's nobody, he has no fan base, blah blah blah. Just the way the way the game is IMO.

[CasualBoxingFan]

Maybe it is just me but I think it is embarrassing that more than half of the top 10 fighters are in their mid late 30s. It is nice seeing guys like Bernard Hopkins compete at the age of the 40s but you think to yourself ''Could he do this with the competition that was around in the 90s'' and the answer is no, the likes Toney and Roy Jones would make him look like an old fossil, irregardless of his ring savy.

You look at Floyd and Pacquiao, they have been on the top 2 spot for over half a decade now, in that time no one has seriously challenges them. In terms of ability/athleticism no one really comes close to them and I fully expect Bradley to get smoked June 9th.

But those motherfAkers like Pacquiao/Floyd don't give the young guns a d@mn chance, They're looking for fighters who already got a name. Im sure if you give them a chance, they will meet our expectations.
And a loss means too damn much, it's overrated. The top p4p fighters might not fight the young fighters because they lost their "0", no wounder these guys aren't fighting each other, they're worried of loosing their payday.
Also boxing is lacking great trainers, there's only a hand full that really know their stuff.

[4Corners]

A big problem is that these young guys want a shot at the biggest names in the sport, without fighting anybody.

Victor Ortiz had to beat Andre Berto to become the next best WW after Floyd and Manny, and he got his shot. Timothy Bradley built a resume fighting Witter, Holt, Abregu, Peterson, Alexander, and he gets his shot.

What young fighter around 140-154 deserves a shot at Floyd or Manny right now??? If Khan beats Peterson and than the Berto-Ortiz II winner or the Alexander-Maidana winner, than yes he deserves a shot.

You can't expect someone to just give you anything, you have to take it.

[Bushbaby]

A big problem is that these young guys want a shot at the biggest names in the sport, without fighting anybody.

Victor Ortiz had to beat Andre Berto to become the next best WW after Floyd and Manny, and he got his shot. Timothy Bradley built a resume fighting Witter, Holt, Abregu, Peterson, Alexander, and he gets his shot.

What young fighter around 140-154 deserves a shot at Floyd or Manny right now??? If Khan beats Peterson and than the Berto-Ortiz II winner or the Alexander-Maidana winner, than yes he deserves a shot.

You can't expect someone to just give you anything, you have to take it.

I couldn't agree any less with this post bro. Bradley absolutely deserves his shot & luckily he's getting it. However look at Pacman's last 4-5 fights. The only fighter that he fought that deserved to fight him was Marquez. Who had to give in to every demand that Pacman wanted & was still robbed. Clottey, Margarito & Mosley did not deserve to be Pacman's dance partner, but they were chosen. No young fighter can be blamed for that.

At least Floyd went to the Berto-Ortiz bout to scout a young guy to fight. Ortiz put on a great show & in my eyes at least earned himself a fight with Floyd. Too bad he squandered it with the help of Cortez.

[FeFist]

I'm sorry, but your point isn't good. Young fighters cannot step up to the plate if the two headed monsters don't want to fight them. Floyd finally gave a young guy a shot, now it's Pacman's turn. Bradley will outbox him & lose a controversial decision. Remember where you heard it 1st.

It's not a case of the ''two headed monsters'' not wanting to fight them. List the young fighters who Floyd and Pacquiao evaded. The fact of the matter is they fail to make themselves a viable option.

When they become a viable option the fight gets made. Mayweather v Ortiz ( Beat Berto to earn the fight) and Pacquiao v Bradley ( Dominant fighter in his decision).

The fact that Pacquiao and Mayweather haven't fought enough young fighters is a sign that not enough of them are stepping up to the plate. Right now Amir Khan could be fighting Floyd instead of Cotto but he fell short against Peterson.

And it is the thread doesn't concern Pacquiao alone. Bernard Hopkins will go down as an all time great but the fact that he is still dominant at age 44 is an embarrassment on the young fighters in his division.

[Hougigo]

Tactical buildups