Who started this? - Pad ur record, win a belt, defend against bums

[fourtheboys96]

This is becoming a trend.
Fighters padding their record against bums then try to win a belt.
Then they either defend against bums or demand lots of money as if they are on Mayweather/Pacman level.

I mean even Mayweather and Pac fought some tough contenders before becoming top earners.

And now we have boxers demanding top money for tune-up level fights or just plainly fighting undeserving fighters for their title defense.

[imperial1]

The promoters ..They are in charge of making the fights .. Some protect their fighters and milk them before throwing them in with someone credible

[roxy]

It started in the last couple decades. Multiple titles and no one has to fight the best in their division. Pick and choose your opponents.

[Bram]

I don't think it's a new concept at all. You can look at fighters coming up with absolutely insane records before anyone actually hears of them and some of them can fight and some of them can't, but that's been going on for years and it has become more prevalent now and I don't think it's going anywhere. I do think the 'belt' part of the equation may slowly be phased out, but yeah people are going to continue to pad records in hopes of getting big money fights before proving whether or not they can actually fight.

[boliodogs]

That sounds like Wilder. He fought one number 10 world rated guy to get a belt. Everybody else he ever fought was rated 30th or lower. He is title defenses have also been against guys rated 30th or lower.

[boliodogs]

With the WBC, the WBA, the IBF and the WBO champions in each weight class you have 4 chances of a weak champion. When they are building up a Broner or a Wilder they aim for the weakest belt holder. Even better is to have the guy they are building up fight a weak opponent for a vacant belt. Broner just beat a very weak opponent for a vacant belt. Is Broner as good as Postol or Crawford? I doubt it.

[The plunger man]

becoming a trend?

is breathing air and drinking water becoming a trend as well?

this is how it's always been bruh . . .

No it's not been like this before with demanding 155 catchweight mandatorys at 160 and that is simply a first and before you say yes there's been catchweights but never demanding it when they have to face a mandatory. ..yeah you have had plenty of fighters go the easy route and pad there record even Joe Louis had bum of the month on his record, but he never demanded max Baer come in at 200lbs did he, so yeah I believe what I see it's getting worse with fighters giving up belts, with jumping networks to avoid certain fighters, with fighters blatantly not weighing what they should do for that weight, Chavez jnr,Paul smith,deontay wilder,Santa cruz, Stevenson etc and canelo and cotto to that list as well

[-PBP-]

How long have you been following the sport? This is how boxing works. Even Mike Tyson's punchout on Nintendo worked this way. You beat bums like Glass Joe and Don Flamenco before you get your title shot at the end.

You have to realize, in a 40-50 fight career, there will only be 3-4 elite, hall of fame caliber opponents available. The rest of it is title defenses against top contenders.

[removed]

Dunno, but Deontay Wilder has perfected it!

[mick1303]

I've started to notice it during Sven Ottke "reign".