People claiming eastern euro "phase" is "done", sad news for you..

[jmrf4435]

Notable up and coming "eastern Euros":


Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Ivan Baranchyk, vasyli lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Dmitry Mikhaylenko, artur beterbiev, dmitry bivol, GGG..Krzysztof Glowack.and I'm missing a bunch


Wlad and kov lost and people are freaking out, pump the breaks. Wlad and Kov lost 50/50 fights as well. Not to mention the nature in which sergei lost.

[////]

Eastern Europe's population is shrinking while their wealth is rising. There just won't be enough broke young men to support a boxing program soon. I think we will see a couple more waves, but not long term.

However on a numbers VS titles/accomplishments ratio... And the sport only being legalized there in the '90s... They had to have the most impressive rise of any. Completely washed out everything from 160-HW at one point.

Western response was bitterly pretending those divisions no longer existed. It was childish.

BTW what ushered in the 'end' of the current wave?
Kovalev going 1-1 in extremely controversial bouts with Ward?

People are mighty fond of extreme exaggeration...

[Hatesrats]

Future PPV kings fa sho... Even Drago was the B-Side in his own country.

[Pigeons]

IDK why anyone would want this phase to end. Eastern Euros are good for boxing, as is any other nation that produces quality, exciting fighters.

[jmrf4435]

Eastern Europe's population is shrinking while their wealth is rising. There just won't be enough broke young men to support a boxing program soon. I think we will see a couple more waves, but not long term.

However on a numbers VS titles/accomplishments ratio... And the sport only being legalized there in the '90s... They had to have the most impressive rise of any. Completely washed out everything from 160-HW at one point.

Yeah. People forget how much communism hindered access to international sports, gyms etc. It's been an EXTREMELY impressive rise from central and eastern European fighters.

[Citizen Koba]

IDK why anyone would want this phase to end. Eastern Euros are good for boxing, as is any other nation that produces quality, exciting fighters.

This ^. The absolute best thing for the sport is the greatest diversity possible. Hell I'd love to see the sport take off in China and India as well, and for some of the African nations to get more organised programs together.

Unfortunately the toxic racial opinions of a few have polarised opinions on NSB and the good of the sport often seems to come a distant second to scoring points over each other.

[-PBP-]

They have some great amateur programs. That region will always produce superstar fighters. Kovalev has been a very solid pro. There is no shame in going 0-2 vs a fighter the caliber of Andre Ward.

I think the key is transitioning from amateur rules, where inside fighting is not a major factor and ref involvement is extreme to the pro game where the ref lets them fight in the trenches.

That's the make or break factor. Being a complete fighter that can be effective from all ranges.

I would like to see the fighters turn pro earlier so they can develop these skills that they will need to not only win titles but maintain dominance and be prepared when facing different styles.

[Citizen Koba]

They have some great amateur programs. That region will always produce superstar fighters. Kovalev has been a very solid pro. There is no shame in going 0-2 vs a fighter the caliber of Andre Ward.

I think the key is transitioning from amateur rules, where inside fighting is not a major factor and ref involvement is extreme to the pro game where the ref lets them fight in the trenches.

That's the make or break factor. Being a complete fighter that can be effective from all ranges.

I would like to see the fighters turn pro earlier so they can develop these skills that they will need to not only win titles but maintain dominance and be prepared when facing different styles.

Some good observations, man. Have some green.

It's a slow transition but signs are that there is movement in that direction. Certainly the antipathy towards the pro-sport that existed in the immediate post-Soviet period seems to be being gradually broken down. The question that remains is whether the strong amateur foundations will become eroded over time. If fewer top talents choose the amateur route will the extensive funding and support for the boxing programs gradually dry up?

[Jedi Vader]

IDK why anyone would want this phase to end. Eastern Euros are good for boxing, as is any other nation that produces quality, exciting fighters.

This ^^^^^^^

[Vlad_]

They euro boxers need to practice being more "borderline".