Protection of A-Sides

[Tony Trick-Pony]

When I think of A-sides, I don't think much before the year 2000. I suppose they may have always been around but I definitely see this hit on a lot more these days than in the past. Mayweather, Pacquiao, Canelo, GGG, Ward and others. When they fight, they are expected to win without exception nearly every time out. With all of this money behind them and all of this promotion and build-up, I think it's pretty safe to say that in order to beat them, you have to do more than win a close fight.

Now this is difficult since these guys were all pretty damn good fighters. Getting a decision would be tough in a fight where it might possibly go the other way. You can forget that. They are all also pretty hard to hurt or land on cleanly. Even so, they all also seem to have solid beards. So if you can't knock them out or hurt them that badly or score knockdowns, well, it's a pretty tough assignment to beat them that way. So we come down to a decision.

Now in this case, you have to beat them but you have to beat them very convincingly. How convincingly? Very convincingly. I thought GGG definitely won his fight with Jacobs, but was it close? Yes. Was it going to go the other way? I say definitely not. Canelo-Lara? Canelo had it in a close fight. Pac-Marquez? Pac had it. Mayweather-Maidana? Maidana would have had to do the impossible to win there. Ward-Kovalev? It was close, but as we see, Kovalev got no benefit of the doubt, even being the champion.

So what is a B-Side to do?

[Thraxox]

A-sides used to be just 60/40, 75-25,35-65 negotiations of money but now it has come to Judges faociring the a-sides, refs, gloves etc.

Sugar Ray Leonard had created the craft of A-side advantages, but it was Floyd Mayweather perfected it.

[daggum]

thats why a lot of a-sides will just clinch it up and fight a low contact type fight. they know they will win. you got these same garbage judges and incompetent refs who stand there with their mouths gaping open as the fighter cheats constantly.

[GhostofDempsey]

PBC has long used the formula of protecting their A-side by milking their titles and undefeated records against C-rate fighters. After losing $500M dollars over three years they are now forced to match their A-sides against other A-sides. This should be an interesting year or two ahead.

[The Big Dunn]

When I think of A-sides, I don't think much before the year 2000. I suppose they may have always been around but I definitely see this hit on a lot more these days than in the past. Mayweather, Pacquiao, Canelo, GGG, Ward and others. When they fight, they are expected to win without exception nearly every time out. With all of this money behind them and all of this promotion and build-up, I think it's pretty safe to say that in order to beat them, you have to do more than win a close fight.

Now this is difficult since these guys were all pretty damn good fighters. Getting a decision would be tough in a fight where it might possibly go the other way. You can forget that. They are all also pretty hard to hurt or land on cleanly. Even so, they all also seem to have solid beards. So if you can't knock them out or hurt them that badly or score knockdowns, well, it's a pretty tough assignment to beat them that way. So we come down to a decision.

Now in this case, you have to beat them but you have to beat them very convincingly. How convincingly? Very convincingly. I thought GGG definitely won his fight with Jacobs, but was it close? Yes. Was it going to go the other way? I say definitely not. Canelo-Lara? Canelo had it in a close fight. Pac-Marquez? Pac had it. Mayweather-Maidana? Maidana would have had to do the impossible to win there. Ward-Kovalev? It was close, but as we see, Kovalev got no benefit of the doubt, even being the champion.

So what is a B-Side to do?

You forgot to point out the weight advantage clauses-like Pac/Cotto @145, Pac/margs @151, Floyd/Canelo @152 and ODH/Bhop at 157-this is often how a sides are protected.

I understand your point but B sides do win- Floyd beat ODH, Raheem beat Morales-when they stick to the plan and do wjhat they do best. Sometimes the a side is just the better fighter.

[j0zef]

I think the premise of your thread is invalid. Being the A-side or fan favorite does have some affect on the judging, but to say it's very difficult to beat them is false. Using your examples:

1. Golovkin was the clear A-side against Jacobs. He won by 1 or 2 rounds +KD, which is the proper score. Giving Danny 7 rounds is extremely unrealistic and difficult.
2. Kovalev vs. Ward had no A Side. Ward was cheered because he was American, but Kovalev had a good following too. The judging was swayed by Kovalev's early success and fighters' reputation. The narrative before the fight was that Kovalev was a strong brawler and Ward is a technician. Kovalev dominated early, but as soon as it became an even boxing match, EVERYONE started giving rounds to Ward, because they're expected to.
3. Pac was robbed in Bradley fight despite being the clear, undisputed A side
4. Floyd was the celar A side against Canelo, but someone turned in a 114-114 scorecard despite a dominant performance.
5. Fury was the clear B side in Klitchko's favorite arena in Germany. The scoring was spot on, and despite initial fears that Fury will get robbed in Germany, it was perfectly judged and scored.
6. Lara is difficult to score for - it's why he has so many close fights against all kinds of opposition. He fights in bursts and shells up a lot. Him not getting a win against Canelo has nothing to do with judging, but everything to do with him.
7. Maidana was not getting the ring generalship credit against Floyd. His style is not conductive for that, which is why he needs to do more to win. Brawlers always do, they appear less in control than someone like Floyd. It's why before Jadobs, Golovkin won almost 100% of his rounds - he was the clear and absolute ring general. When he started respecting his opponent a lot, it became more difficult to give him rounds because he was not the clear ring general.

It has nothing to do with A-Side or B-Side - it's about styles. My $0.02

[Tony Trick-Pony]

I think the premise of your thread is invalid. Being the A-side or fan favorite does have some affect on the judging, but to say it's very difficult to beat them is false. Using your examples:

1. Golovkin was the clear A-side against Jacobs. He won by 1 or 2 rounds +KD, which is the proper score. Giving Danny 7 rounds is extremely unrealistic and difficult.
2. Kovalev vs. Ward had no A Side. Ward was cheered because he was American, but Kovalev had a good following too. The judging was swayed by Kovalev's early success and fighters' reputation. The narrative before the fight was that Kovalev was a strong brawler and Ward is a technician. Kovalev dominated early, but as soon as it became an even boxing match, EVERYONE started giving rounds to Ward, because they're expected to.
3. Pac was robbed in Bradley fight despite being the clear, undisputed A side
4. Floyd was the celar A side against Canelo, but someone turned in a 114-114 scorecard despite a dominant performance.
5. Fury was the clear B side in Klitchko's favorite arena in Germany. The scoring was spot on, and despite initial fears that Fury will get robbed in Germany, it was perfectly judged and scored.
6. Lara is difficult to score for - it's why he has so many close fights against all kinds of opposition. He fights in bursts and shells up a lot. Him not getting a win against Canelo has nothing to do with judging, but everything to do with him.
7. Maidana was not getting the ring generalship credit against Floyd. His style is not conductive for that, which is why he needs to do more to win. Brawlers always do, they appear less in control than someone like Floyd. It's why before Jadobs, Golovkin won almost 100% of his rounds - he was the clear and absolute ring general. When he started respecting his opponent a lot, it became more difficult to give him rounds because he was not the clear ring general.

It has nothing to do with A-Side or B-Side - it's about styles. My $0.02

And why are they expected to give him rounds?

[Ray*]

Oscar was an A-side and we all how that went in some fights.

[Mammoth]

Oscar was an A-side and we all how that went in some fights.

Like when he beat Sturm?

[Ray*]

Like when he beat Sturm?

Exactly my thoughts.