MW Division is Depressing

[{Pito}]

The best MW Golovkin isn't going to ever get to prove it in the ring because all the other pretenders will avoid him.

Barker - Eddie Hearn already said that he would only fight Golovkin if there were no other possible options and now Barker has a belt they're going to milk it. Domestic showdown, mandatory, domestic showdown, maybe Geale rematch

Quillin - Safe and sound over on Showtime thanks to the network dispute knowing he's protected from the top guys especially Golovkin.

Martinez - Will take another tune up bout coming off a injury then probably look for a Cotto money fight while continuing to hold the lineal claim hostage fighting #9 and 10 ranked guys.

Best hope is now that Geale doesn't have a belt he'll be willing or now Pirog is healthy he'll be willing to next year after a comback fight.

Let me ask you I know youve obvuously got a triple G sig and assuming so would back him but in a fight with a healthy Pirog who have you got and why?

[Mikhnienko]

I think we've had a very productive past year of top middleweights fighting each other.

Martinez vs Murray
Martinez vs Chavez
Golovkin vs Proksa
Golovkin vs Macklin
Geale vs Sturm
Quillin vs N'dam
Geale vs Barker

I think before 2012, the division was really only made up of Sergio Martinez alone. Everyone else were just "who the **** knows how good they are?" type of contenders because nobody was fighting each other. It was impossible to have best vs best because we didn't really know who the best were. Now we have a ton more clarity and the division is heating up. I just don't see what's so depressing about it.

When you list all of them i admit it had been a productive year for the division with some good fights. Looking ahead to 2014

Martinez - He'll have a tune up then hopefully Golovkin. If he goes for a Cotto money fight then retires without ever putting his MW claim on the line against a top 3 guy i'll personally view his entire reign as a waste of time and fraudulent. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that doesn't happen.

Barker - Sturm, then a domestic showdown against Murray would be most meaningful. If he wins that he'll hopefully unify but if Murray wins the process will start all over again with another 2 or 3 fight delay before unification. All of this while hoping Barker doesn't get injured again and hold onto the belt while sitting out Sergio style

Quillin - Hopefully he keeps defending against meaningful contenders with Murray, Geale, or a healthy Pirog being the best possible outcomes with unifications extremely doubtful in the near future unless Barker decides to unify with him rather than Sergio or Golovkin or the winner if they face off.

Geale - Perhaps he'll be more likely to fight Golovkin now without his belt but Soliman money fight, Quillin or Barker rematch are all more likely

Pirog - is a welcome return and hopefully he stays healthy and can get back in the mix right away after a warm up fight.

Korobov - After a year hiatus he comes back in 2013 and has beat Nunez, stopped Duran (for the first time in his career) and is facing Brewer in Oct. If he gets someone like Lee, Adama, Rubio after that he could become a contender by early 2014

Jacobs - Is facing Lorenzo tomorrow (didn't realize so soon, monday card) and a win will likely get him a Quillin title shot.

N'jikam, Khurtsidze, Bursak, Sturm are all guys who could become contenders again with one solid win

Chudinov, Saunders, Uzcategui, Lemieux are all prospects who could potentially emerge next year if they test themselves and pass.

[BafanaBafana]

Martinez - He'll have a tune up then hopefully Golovkin. If he goes for a Cotto money fight then retires without ever putting his MW claim on the line against a top 3 guy i'll personally view his entire reign as a waste of time and fraudulent. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that doesn't happen.

So you don't think Williams (#1), Chavez Jr (#1), and Macklin (#3) were top 3 contenders when Sergio fought them. He also inherited the recognition as the lineal champion after he beat Pavlik, so he's actually the only real champion in the division, but we all know that of course.

After Sergio fought Pavlik, Williams was considered the greatest threat to Sergio's reign in the division. When Sergio fought Macklin, Matthew was coming off a would be win over the #1 contender Sturm--Macklin had also been a top 10 middleweight since 2009. When Sergio fought Chavez Jr, the latter was considered Sergio's greatest threat in the division.

Golovkin will probably get his shot at Martinez in the second half of 2014 unless Sergio fights a more lucrative opponent (seems unlikely unless it's Cotto since Sergio won't move up for Chavez). In the meanwhile he can fight the likes of Stevens (now), Mora, Pirog, N'Dam, Murray, Lee, Rubio, Guerrero, Geale, etc. and build up his resume.

[Kris Silver]

Here's a dream playout.

Barker defends against Sturm.

Now one of the British MW's has a belt they'll be some domestic fights for it for big money, like Murray pointed out would happen.

Murray beats Barker. Murray rematches Martinez this time winning and unifying.

Murray's willing to face GGG, and GGG wins, unifies, and bosses MW.

[Spray_resistant]

GGG can't be considered no.1 at 160 until he either beat Sergio, Sergio moves out of the weight class or hangs them up because he has the lineage as MW champ and no one can make any claim as champion other than him. He beat Pavlik who beat Taylor who beat Hopkins who cleaned out 160.

That said there are plenty of good fights ahead and I'm sure GGG and Sergio will fight eventually.

[BafanaBafana]

Here's a dream playout.

Barker defends against Sturm.

Now one of the British MW's has a belt they'll be some domestic fights for it for big money, like Murray pointed out would happen.

Murray beats Barker. Murray rematches Martinez this time winning and unifying.

Murray's willing to face GGG, and GGG wins, unifies, and bosses MW.

A fit Martinez (no broken carpals and injury free hand) KO's Murray or at the very least hurts him badly.

An ideal scenario would be Sergio (now healthy and fit) fighting a decent tune-up and looks great (brutally stopping his opponent). GGG KO's Stevens, Mora, Pirog, Geale etc. (4 or 5 guys in a row) and warms up a fight with Sergio for late 2014 (Sept-Nov date?). GGG and Martinez fight for the lineal title in a big PPV fight.

Meanwhile, on December 2013 Barker fights and soundly beats Sturm in London (maybe by stoppage). At around the same time Macklin and Lee fight each other in New York. Around March-May, Barker fights Geale or Murray (after an impressive performance in a comeback/tune-up fight). The Barker v. Murray/Geale winner faces the Macklin v. Lee winner. In early 2015, the winner becomes the legitimate challenger to the Martinez v. GGG winner or just GGG since Sergio may be retired by then.

Bracket A:
late-2013 to mid-2014
Golovkin v. 4-5 contenders (starting w/Stevens, maybe Pirog at some point)
Martinez v. decent tune-up opponent

late-2014
Martinez v. Golovkin - for the WBC/WBA/RING titles



Bracket B:
late-2013
Barker v. Sturm (Sturm must lose!)
Macklin v. Lee (could also happen on St. Patrick's 2014)

mid-2014
Barker v. Murray/Geale

late-2014
Macklin/Lee v. Barker/Murray/Geale for the IBF and possible #1 contender status


2015
GGG v. Bracket B Winner (Sergio will probably be retired by this point)

By this point GGG will have a thick resume at 160 and can probably move up to 168 as a big draw.

Quillin and his WBO title will likely remain isolated unless a non-GDB opponent beats him or the GDB/HBO feud ends.

[Mikhnienko]

Let me ask you I know youve obvuously got a triple G sig and assuming so would back him but in a fight with a healthy Pirog who have you got and why?

I wouldn't really be backing either guy against the other i just hope they would both show their best and would be absolutely thrilled to witness it.

Pirog isnt a boxer or counter puncher that fights going backwards he either pressures you like the Jacobs fight if you try to box him or if you're willing to stand in front of him he fights his fight right there and is a volume puncher. He's elusive with a good defense and would get hit less than any other MW, even Martinez at this point, but he's still going to get hit alot and i don't see anyone going 12 rounds with Golovkin. Even if his chin and body can take it his face/skin won't hold up. Both of them have excellent varity and combinations and it would be beautiful to watch but i have a hard time seeing Pirog winning it. 60/40 Golovkin and i do think it's the hardest fight for Gena at 160.

So you don't think Williams (#1), Chavez Jr (#1), and Macklin (#3) were top 3 contenders when Sergio fought them. He also inherited the recognition as the lineal champion after he beat Pavlik, so he's actually the only real champion in the division, but we all know that of course.

After Sergio fought Pavlik, Williams was considered the greatest threat to Sergio's reign in the division. When Sergio fought Macklin, Matthew was coming off a would be win over the #1 contender Sturm--Macklin had also been a top 10 middleweight since 2009. When Sergio fought Chavez Jr, the latter was considered Sergio's greatest threat in the division.

Golovkin will probably get his shot at Martinez in the second half of 2014 unless Sergio fights a more lucrative opponent (seems unlikely unless it's Cotto since Sergio won't move up for Chavez). In the meanwhile he can fight the likes of Stevens (now), Mora, Pirog, N'Dam, Murray, Lee, Rubio, Guerrero, Geale, etc. and build up his resume.

All credit for the Pavlik win and Macklin was his best defense. Williams was not a MW, did nothing in the division and it was only his ungodly hype that had people proclaiming he could beat everyone 147-168 that got Martinez his P4P status. I honestly remember people saying he would beat Kessler and Froch.

Lulz the greatest threat in the division. Chavez was Mexican hype and star power who lost a clear decision to Zbik. Lee and Rubio were decent wins but he was probably cheating to do it with his personal Texas commission not drug testing.

[SD180sx]

A Middleweight tournament of the 4 current champion would be nice. And we would have an undisputed MW champion again.

[BafanaBafana]

I wouldn't really be backing either guy against the other i just hope they would both show their best and would be absolutely thrilled to witness it.

Pirog isnt a boxer or counter puncher that fights going backwards he either pressures you like the Jacobs fight if you try to box him or if you're willing to stand in front of him he fights his fight right there and is a volume puncher. He's elusive with a good defense and would get hit less than any other MW, even Martinez at this point, but he's still going to get hit alot and i don't see anyone going 12 rounds with Golovkin. Even if his chin and body can take it his face/skin won't hold up. Both of them have excellent varity and combinations and it would be beautiful to watch but i have a hard time seeing Pirog winning it. 60/40 Golovkin and i do think it's the hardest fight for Gena at 160.

Didn't Pirog get hit like 300 times against Ishida? I think he's a decent fighter even though we haven't seen him against top talent, but I don't think he's special.

I also think Golovkin's toughest fight at 160 could be a fit Sergio Martinez, who has excellent footwork and can pop with the counter left. A guy like Chavez Jr (maybe eve Rubio) would probably give Golovkin problems, specially if after the first five rounds they're still there applying their weight and pressure on GGG. It woud be a very physically demanding fight for GGG. At this point Chavez can't make 160 though so if it happened it would have to happen at 168 where Chavez would likely be even more dangerous (for GGG). I think GGG's stamina may be his greatest problem as he steps up in competition against guys who won't bow out in the first few rounds (this could happen at 160 or 168).

All credit for the Pavlik win and Macklin was his best defense. Williams was not a MW, did nothing in the division and it was only his ungodly hype that had people proclaiming he could beat everyone 147-168 that got Martinez his P4P status. I honestly remember people saying he would beat Kessler and Froch.

When Sergio KO'd Williams, P. Will already had 3 fights at 160 including a KO1 against Andy Kolle, a shuout UD against Winky Whright and a SD win over Sergio Martinez.

Lulz the greatest threat in the division. Chavez was Mexican hype and star power who lost a clear decision to Zbik. Lee and Rubio were decent wins but he was probably cheating to do it with his personal Texas commission not drug testing.

I actually thought he beat Zbik, and it was pretty obvious to anyone following him that he was getting better in a fight by fight basis as he gained experience (just like all other fighters) and had more time working with Roach and Ariza, who had just started working with him. Chavez Jr's resume at the time was probably second only to Sergio Martinez and Felix Sturm as most of the top guys at the time weren't fighting each other. Further, Chavez Jr's size, chin, and pressure made him a tough opponent. However, Sergio was probably the worst style match-up possible for him. Assuming he made the weight I'm pretty sure Chavez could beat just about any top middleweight outside of Sergio Martinez.

[mathed]

who do you think is better? lemme guess, Martinez? lmao he's irrelevant.

Kind of like Danny's gonna be in a couple of weeks.