Comments Thread For: The Mess in The Middleweight Division

[zerosixthree]

I think GGG would destroy Lara. But, Lara is certainly a better test than anything GGG will have gotten in the ring with this year. Plus, its an interesting style match-up. Outside of power, GGG's ability to cut the ring off is what he's credited most for. And he does it well. Lara is the ultimate test for that particular skill set. Its easy to cut the ring off against guys that aren't natural movers. And are only moving because they can't deal with the incoming. Do I think Lara beats GGG? Nope. Do I think the potential is there for Lara to stink the joint out and make GGG look less than spectacular? Absolutely. Which is why Team GGG doesn't want the fight.

As for Ward, he comepletely dismantles GGG. The fight isn't competitive at all. And that's why thay fight will never happen. Ward's style, combined with the size and stregnth advantage exploits every weakness I've seen in GGG's game. Team GGG knowa it. And that's why we'll never see it.

Considering how long Lara has been calling him out, who he's been fighting in the meantime and the quality of Golovkin's mandatory challengers in that time I don't see no reason why Lara could not have forced a fight if he really wanted it. To me, that's how boxing should work. You want to fight the champion you fight your way to a mandatory position. It's clear that this has not been the reality for some time if indeed it was ever true. If fighters had to fight everyone who called them out on twitter then Golovkin would indeed be fighting cab drivers and whoever else chats nonsense on social media sites.

I'm interested though, considering how much of a mismatch you think Golovkin / Ward is do you want them to fight?

[ИATAS]

It is a complete mess at 160 and I'm tired of all these guys ducking. It's absolute bull****. At the very least, if they are going to duck Golovkin, fight each other, but we can't even get that. No Canelo vs Jacobs or Jacob vs Eubank and so on.

As for GGG, I agree with the authors conclusion. If he can't get Saunders, Jacobs next, he should go to 168. He's going to be in the same exact position as long as these guys won't fight him.

[elgu]

OK... Martinez passed the belt in exchange for his only big money fight. Cotto wanted Floyd more, but eventually passed it to Canelo in exchange for his only big money fight available.

I don't understand why the Russian from Kazakhstan doesn't look to find financial support from his own fatherland... Golovkin simply can't generate big money fights in the U.S.

Boxing's prize fight method at it again. I swear there's no sport that continuously fails to deliver competitive events like boxing. It's the worst sport to be a fan.

[hitking]

Considering how long Lara has been calling him out, who he's been fighting in the meantime and the quality of Golovkin's mandatory challengers in that time I don't see no reason why Lara could not have forced a fight if he really wanted it. To me, that's how boxing should work. You want to fight the champion you fight your way to a mandatory position. It's clear that this has not been the reality for some time if indeed it was ever true. If fighters had to fight everyone who called them out on twitter then Golovkin would indeed be fighting cab drivers and whoever else chats nonsense on social media sites.

I'm interested though, considering how much of a mismatch you think Golovkin / Ward is do you want them to fight?

The whole, "fight to become the mandatory" sounds all well and good. But in all fairness to Lara, he is a world champion in his own division. And depending on how you saw the Canelo fight, he's arguably the top guy in his division. So its not like he's making a permanent move to middleweight. He's simply willing to go to middleweight for a big fight. And the flip side of that argument is that GGG has fought a lotta guys not as good as Lara without them being his mandatory. So why put Lara through all the hoops?

As for Ward- GGG. Am I dying to see the fight? Na. If everything goes according to plans, I'm a see Ward in with the guy I most wanna see him fight come Nov. But after that, of course I would like to see that fight. Personally, I don't base fights I wanna see or don't on what I think outcome will be. I just wanna see the best fight the best. They say Ward is one of the best. They say GGG is one of the best. They're in the same weight range. Match em up. Ita that simple for me. Hell, I think GGG-Lara is a mismatch. I still wanna see it though.

[mathed]

Boxing's prize fight method at it again. I swear there's no sport that continuously fails to deliver competitive events like boxing. It's the worst sport to be a fan.

It's crazy, last night I saw over 19,000 people packed in to see that UFC 200 card. There were a few decent fights but nothing overly impressive.....how the hell can UFC bring in numbers like that and boxing can't do schit?

[zerosixthree]

The whole, "fight to become the mandatory" sounds all well and good. But in all fairness to Lara, he is a world champion in his own division. And depending on how you saw the Canelo fight, he's arguably the top guy in his division. So its not like he's making a permanent move to middleweight. He's simply willing to go to middleweight for a big fight. And the flip side of that argument is that GGG has fought a lotta guys not as good as Lara without them being his mandatory. So why put Lara through all the hoops?

As for Ward- GGG. Am I dying to see the fight? Na. If everything goes according to plans, I'm a see Ward in with the guy I most wanna see him fight come Nov. But after that, of course I would like to see that fight. Personally, I don't base fights I wanna see or don't on what I think outcome will be. I just wanna see the best fight the best. They say Ward is one of the best. They say GGG is one of the best. They're in the same weight range. Match em up. Ita that simple for me. Hell, I think GGG-Lara is a mismatch. I still wanna see it though.

Well, perhaps Lara might consider asking Golovkin how waiting around to get a big fight with an opponent who seemingly doesn't want any has worked for him.

Personally I think Golovkin is wasting his time at middle weight. He definitely doesn't want to be fighting anyone from the lower divisions. It'll be a challenge but I think he has it in him to clear up at 168. Should he come through that then put him with Ward. I don't think he'll win but I do think it will be competitive.

[LittleMacAttack]

Golovkin should fight Ward. He would probably lose, but he would still get respect for trying, and if he somehow managed to win he would become a super star. The way I see it it's a win/win huge situation.

[aboutfkntime]

Why is it that everyone knocking GGG conveniently ignores the one thing that has remained a constant throughout his career - he wants all the belts at middleweight. If he moves up in weight it will likely be permanent and thus dash his plans. If anyone is to blame for his current stagnation it's the other players in the division.

Let's just compare with the last MW who dared to be great, Bernard Hopkins.

20 title defences over 10 years, unified in 13th fight, undisputed at 19th, lost titles at 20th. First three defences against nobodies, the first of those against a career 140lber.

Two good fights (Jackson/Johnson) then two more fights against LMW's who couldn't win a title at the lower weight class or indeed at MW. Then six more decent fights with true MWs but half of them are rematches. Then a fight against a LMW title holder.

Then the big one, a career WW titleholder, great fighter moving up but ultimately a step too far in Tito Trinidad. Then a couple more so-so fights, including another pointless rematch until we get to De La Hoya, a guy who started at SFW, beaten at both WW and LMW, gifted a title a MW for the unification meet with Hopkins.

Followed by euro level Eastman who went straight on to lose against both Abraham and Miranda. Hopkins finally losing his titles in a couple of close ones with Taylor (who again went on to fight a few LMWs and hardly set the division alight until Pavlik did everyone a favour and deposed him).

Hopkins' only real career defining fights at MW were against a couple of big name smaller fighters who had no business fighting at MW and an early loss against another eventual p4p great in Roy Jones. This a 6'1 guy who started his career at LHW/SMW and now known as one the greatest MW's of the modern era, who eventually went up and did great things at LHW too and ultimately is himself regarded as one the greatest p4p fighters of recent times.


GGG deserves a bit more respect than he is getting in not only trying to emulate an all time great, but to outdo him. He's certainly far more feared and avoided than Hopkins ever was and on course to better Hopkins MW reign in less than half the time coupled with a KO run and percentage that makes your eyes water. All while being one of the most charming and endearing boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves.

Brook will never better Trinidad/De La Hoya by way of perceived threat to GGG or even cash cow potential for the event but at least he is stepping up willingly. Alvarez is probably the only close comparison but that fight is never going to happen, he doesn't have the stones. Their odds against GGG are much worse only because GGG is far more dangerous than Hopkins ever was at MW.

GGG will get that final WBO belt in a couple more fights then move up himself. By that time hopefully the SMW/LHW divisions have crowned some new undisputed kings (this generations Jones', Tarvers, Calzaghes, Pavliks) who won't be scared be take on the challenge of a former undisputed, lineal MW champion in the hope of stamping their own greatness into the annuals of the sport. GGG certainly won't fear trying.

In the next year or two we'll finally get some of the cracking fights and huge events we have been waiting all this time for.

Until then, just keep on enjoying the ride

Bull****, that comment surfaced immediately after they turned down the Ward fight last year.

Before that, they were calling out "anyone from 154-168" (how could you conveniently forget that? LMAO)..... Mayweather, Froch, Chavez..... last year they even mentioned fighting Hopkins, Ramirez..... they even approached Chudinov TWICE during 2015.

They have flip-flopped on that excuse so many times it's not funny.

Look.....

Immediately following Lemieux, before Ward officially moved up to 175, Team Bull**** started spinning that "staying at 160 to unify" line.....

Gennady Golovkin eyes unification of all middleweight titles.....

http://www.ibtimes.com.au/boxing-news-gennady-golovkin-eyes-unification-all-middleweight-titles-1476074

But then 1 month later, they just couldn't help themselves.....

Golovkin Will Go Anywhere To Face Carl Froch!.....

http://www.boxingscene.com/sanchez-golovkin-go-anywhere-face-carl-froch--97726

Stop being so gullible, they are taking the fights they think they can win, and they are happily passing on the rest..... just like everyone else.

When you parrot those lame excuses, all you are achieving is enabling them to continue to hoodwink the fans.

[aboutfkntime]

The only obvious answer is that Golovkin can't actually go below 160lbs.

People make a lot of noise about the whole '154-168' thing but it's obvious that this was only to tempt PBF into a mega money fight.

I don't care about it. Weight draining is a blight on the sport along with peds and politics. I don't remember the last fight that a fighter dropped below their usual weight and didn't get beat and look crappy.

That catchweight demand on Ward was fkn lame...... it was as lame as Canelo's catchweight demand of 155..... it was no better, and no worse, it was exactly the same..... "a blight on the sport".

Team Golovkin suddenly got concerned about the integrity of boxing, and about the holy sanctity of the weight divisions, when it disadvantaged them..... until then, they were more than happy to do their thing LMAO

My issue is this.....

,..... you just admitted that Team Golovkin lied, and by the way, they ran with that line for FOUR YEARS LMAO..... and I do not understand why a human being is not held 100% responsible/accountable for his words/actions.

They LIED to the fans..... so now we should just say ok, and give them a free-pass?

According to their OWN WORDS, they ducked the Canelo fight.

e.g.

We could have fought him (anyone from 154-168), but we chose not to.

They are either liars, or ducks...... they must be one or the other, they cannot be neither LMAO

[aboutfkntime]

Great article. I've been waiting for a writer to buckle down and put this mockery of a weight class on blast.

The problem is all 4 fighters: GGG, Canelo, Jacobs and Hoe are:

1. Well taken care of and eating well

2. Are the most valuable piece in this division under their current promotional banner

3. Have enough fan support to be able to fight unknown B-side with little backlash.


When you factor in these issues, you have 4 fighters who don't need each other and have no incentive to take risks.

I always thought that calling for boycott's was lame, and disingenuous.

But if the fans keep watching, they will keep churning out that rubbish.

Why watch that turd of a fight, essentially supporting it, essentially guaranteeing another turd-fight next?

Fans have gotta smarten up and stop listening to that "dey duckin me doe" crap.