The Penalty For Being Too Good (Rigondeaux, Golovkin, Ward)

[JStill Unbiased]

BJS did what was best for his career, not fight GGG, stay unbeaten and in contention for a more lucrative unification with Canelo.

This relates to Ward/GGG because GGG showed a willingness to go to 168 for winnable fights to preserve his unbeaten record, but not for the fight where his unbeaten record was in the most jeopardy.

No 2 situations are exactly the same. What is the same is neither BJS or GGG showed a willingness to take a fight they were likely to lose.

simple mathematics.

[-PBP-]

Look what Kovalev did to get his opportunity:

Sergey Kovalev easily defeated Bernard Hopkins via unanimous decision in New Jersey last month, banking $500,000 on paper. But after taxes and fees he’ll ultimately only see a quarter of his purse.


The news comes from comments the IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight titlist made to Russian news agency Itar-Tass this week, where Kovalev explained that after he pays what’s required of him to the government, as well as his manager and trainer, he’ll only walk away with $125,000.
Read more at http://www.sherdog.com/blog/Taxes-Fe...D8QgB2wABiW.99

[Irony123]

as a boxing fan and friend of both...what was GGG gonna do? He cant outbox him? Ward is taller and naturally bigger man, hasnt lost since puberty and has been in with far better fighters than GGG has at this point, meaning Ward is better prepared for an elite fighter, he has fought a few. GGG has shown nothing to idicate he could beat someone as versatile as Ward. He wouldnt outmuscle Ward who has never been physically manhandled and on top of that Ward can fight inside, outside, angles, spoil, slug, etc.....GGG wouldve been beaten clearly like everyone else and HBO, K2 and Abel Sanchez was not having any part of that. Anyone can name call and say this and that but proof is in the pudding. Ward is levels above fighters GGG has fought and would beat him cleanly. Knocking out decent fighters is one thing but then fighting a top flight, undefeated, last usa gold medalist who hasnt lost since middle school isnt a win-win situation. GGG wouldve lost momentum, hype and his undefeated record. He is a good fighter in his own right but Ward was not the place to go

Ward would have been the favorite but GGG has a few skills that would give Ward trouble. 1) He is a good counter puncher who tries to take away your jab so if Ward was fighting from the outside he will get cought with counters. 2) GGG is good at controlling distance, just like Ward is, both man would have tried to fight at their most comfortable distance. 3) As strong as Ward is i think GGG is a better offensive fighter who would try and trap Ward and punish him to the body. If GGG was just a head hunter i would give him very little chance to beat Ward, but he is a vicious body puncher. 4) dare i say GGG has a better Jab... Ward has longer reach however so jab might be difficult to land for GGG but overall for his size his Jab is p4p one of the best in the business.

Win or lose i think GGG gives Ward the hardest fight of his career up to this point.

[The Big Dunn]

Not for more "winnable fights". Rather more "lucrative fights" that were worth then risk vs Froch or JCC Jr.

And please lets stop acting as if Ward was ready and willing to fight GGG right there and then. In case you forgot, his response was "I'm willing to fight GGG sometime next year after 2-3 tuneups".

Both are on different paths now. GGG is looking to unify the MW division while Ward is lined up to face Kovalev in the LHW division. Looking forward to both!

Well the discussions regarding a possible Bhop fight, which wouldn't be more lucrative then a Ward fight, kind of proves my point. The fights were both more lucrative and less likely to win.

It's really simple-either you do not mind when every fighter does what's best for them or you do.

[Irony123]

Look what Kovalev did to get his opportunity:

Kovalev definitely made major concessions.

GGG has done the same or at least tried in some cases.

[The Big Dunn]

Even though no fighter wants to go into a losing match i dont think that the fight between Ward vs. GGG didn't happen because GGG was scared to lose (my opinion) but because it wasn't a money making fight. for example Chavez turned down a career high payday vs. GGG, so did BJS. GGG vs. Ward fight didn't happen because 1) GGG had large pay day fight already signed with Lemiux and another large payday fight was being mandated (even though it completely turned into fucccccccckkkkery). Either way this one i am sure we can just agree to disagree on.

yes we disagree. lol

[The Big Dunn]

And to add, why would any of us demand to see that fight? BJS can't win. He and his promoter both know this.

These fighters are chasing guys that know they can't beat them. When you are good, you have to find guys that are confident that they can beat you.

Which means, fight bigger guys, drop a couple pounds, fight in their hometown, etc.

True. Khan decided the money was worth probably losing, BJS made the opposite decision-staying undefeated is better.

Journeys may not be the same, even though the destination is. Every MW is going to position themselves for a Canelo fight. Ideally, GGG fights him, the rest all fight each other and the winners fight. That isn't how the sport is operating right now.

[The Big Dunn]

How anyone can't undedrstand this is beyond me. "Cotto ducked him!" "Canelo's ducking him!" "Saunders is ducking him!", ok cool. Why aren't we talking about the guy's who are willing to fight him?

simple mathematics.

They get it, but if they talk about the guys willing to fight him they would have to criticize GGG (if they were honest) which isn't something many of them will do.

[kafkod]

Golovkin is a coward. He had a big fight available vs. Ward and he ducked it claiming he was too small. I have no problem with Cotto and Canelo avoiding Golovkin now. They are both junior middleweights. Just vacate the belt after the Khan fight and let Ducklovkin toil in irrelevance for the rest of his career.

You are such an idiot.

The OP's point is that Ward was avoided at 168 due to high risk low reward.

So what the heck would GGG have gained by moving up to fight him?

[-PBP-]

Kovalev definitely made major concessions.

GGG has done the same or at least tried in some cases.

That's hilarious. But there is no way Barker would have won that fight. These dudes won't step into the ring with you unless they believe they can beat you.

More fights would happen, if fighters and their teams felt they could win.