I am starting to see a trend in it's infancy. We have guys like Lomachenko and Beterbiev fighting the fights that matter very early in their careers. This is a bit odd for this sport at this point in time. I really hope that these two do well and pave the way for a new trend in boxing.
As it stands in this sport, the norm is for a fighter with potential to pad their record for a few years, and face soft competition to try and ensure themselves a record that may enable them to cash out in the latter part of their careers. This is one of the problems with boxing. Hopefully this is the start of a new trend where a fighter's worth isn't based on the numbers on their record, and more on who they have faced.
Think about it. If fighters start off their career facing relatively top competition, they will grow that much better and gain that much more experience that much faster. And it will garner them more interest. However, it will also expose the frauds that much quicker.... which is why I understand why managers do what they do with certain fighters.
This is a reason why I feel PBC is good for boxing. They are a growing stable. And if they can get a hold of most of the fighters, they can call the shots on who fights who. Boxing has established itself enough that the fighters who should be getting the big bucks will still get that money. And I have not heard any fighter complain about the pay outs from Haymon Inc... as of yet. Many people don't like Haymon, but I think he is trying his hardest to make boxing better. But, it will take some time with where the state boxing is at right now...
Artur Beterbiev
Re: Artur Beterbiev
Beterbiev hasn't stepped up yet contrary to what you may believe. Cloud and Campillo were shot to pieces. And his next opponent is also a no contest. Lomo, on the other hand, was thrown in with a top guy divisions bigger than him.
Re: Artur Beterbiev
I think Loma had an early championship fight as a condition for signing with Arum. Beterbiev didn't have that leverage, so he is being moved in a little more traditional way. If it was up to him, he would be fighting Kovalev or Stevenson now.
Re: Artur Beterbiev
Cloud and Campillo were still significantly higher quality competition than is the norm in a pro's first 10 fights.diddy wrote:Beterbiev hasn't stepped up yet contrary to what you may believe. Cloud and Campillo were shot to pieces. And his next opponent is also a no contest. Lomo, on the other hand, was thrown in with a top guy divisions bigger than him.