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

[The Big Dunn]

i can see your point, to be honest there is only 1 or 2 fighters in the entire division who wouldn't be 8-1 underdogs and even then those guys will be underdogs of 3-1 or 4-1. PBP is right and i agree with him that he is too good and he is getting punished just like some other fighters do (or did) by not getting the big names. The only time GGG will not be favorite is if he gives up significant size and weight advantage against an equally great fighter but i think that is the only thing he can do if he isn't able to get Canelo and BJS by years end (or early next year).

As his fan i dont want him to lose, but i think it will be a bigger travesty not to see what he is capable of in his prime.

This is where HBO should be getting skewered by posters. Canelo and GGG make money fighting mismatches so HBO is willing to delay the fight as long as possible because one of their top fighters is going to lose and that could cut their earning ability afterwards.

[Irony123]

his fans nor his team believe he could have beat Ward...thats old news

as a GGG fan i believe he could have beat Ward, but i dont think he he would have been the favorite.

[JStill Unbiased]

Totally different scenarios. Both GGG and Ward were more than a weight class Apart. GGG fights at MW while Ward came back to the sport fighting at his own weight class of 172 which falls into LHW territory. This is what CW's were meant for. 2 fighters who are a weight class or so apart to meet at a midway point. GGG's team offered to meet a 164 and Ward declined. End of story. Both are now officially 2 weight classes apart.

GGG and Canelo FIGHT IN THE SAME WEIGHT CLASS. There should not be a CW for 2 fighters within the same weight class.

a fair weight to meet at for a MW and a "LHW" would have been 168. But you did'nt want that.

[Deevel916]

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.

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!

[Irony123]

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.

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.

[-PBP-]

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.

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.

[ruedboy]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and in boxing promotions that means imitating FM's stellar career. Floyd gamed the system. He knew who to fight and when to fight them.
Towards the end of his career it was all about Floyd's undefeated record and it was a great niche because lots of fans put down their money to see him lose.
FM made millions but so did Nevada and the boxing establishment.
So that's the blueprint, only fight guys you're sure you can beat, protect the 0 at all costs and wait for the mega fights.
The problem is the blueprint rules out great fights and great rivalries but hey, you can't have everything.

[JStill Unbiased]

don't be fooled, deevel916 and others shift their feelings on "ducking" depending on who the fighter is.

I get your point. That said other fighters are going to do what is in their best interest just like GGG does.

Posters get mad when a guy like BJS turns down GGG because he wants to stay unbeaten and in contention for a Canelo fight. A lot of posters criticize GGG because they feel this is what he did with Ward.

GGG doesn't get balmed for fighting mandatories, he gets blamed for using the belts and unification as shade from taking on a non mandatory that would be more difficult to defeat.

GGG is not responsible for Canelo, Cotto, BJS or Martinez not fighting him. He is responsible for fighting 12 straight 8-1 or worse underdogs.

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?

[therealpugilist]

as a GGG fan i believe he could have beat Ward, but i dont think he he would have been the favorite.

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

[Fetta]

So on NSB Frampton is a coward and pu**y for not wanting to fight Rigo and looking for a much more lucrative fight but GGG was in the right for avoiding Ward and only looking for a lucrative fight.....WOW!!!!

Make all the excuses and use all the spins you boys want to