gilgamesh wrote:Callum Smith is the favorite in the Super Middleweight bracket in my mind at the moment, but we'll see how it goes.
It's not as if George Groves is some world beater that can't potentially be upset by some of these lesser known guys in the Tournament.
Skoglund may handle coming down to Super Middle ok, but I don't expect much from Braehmer to be honest.
Would have been nice if Ramirez and Benavidez could have eliminated the need for Skoglund and Braehmer to suck down. The winner of that tournament would also break into the p4p top ten, imo.
Wishful thinking.
Even so I'd say there's enough good names here that at the very least the winner of this Tournament has a strong case for being the #1 guy at Super Middleweight.
Depending on what Degale does between now and the end of the Tournament. Winner of this certainly is #2 in the division right behind Degale at the very least.
Cox, Skoglund, Brant, and Braehmer don't have too much credibility at SMW right now for me, but with Groves and Smith in the tournament the winner will probably grab at least one big victory. Yilidirim is solid, but more of a lower top 12 guy IMO.
The champion's resume will certainly get a nice boost, but with the current names there's more potential at 168 for someone to have an argument for a top spot without being in the tournament.
I think the super middleweight tournament is bad because it delays the Degale v Groves rematch which needs to happen now. I can't see it happening unfortunately.
I don't mind Callum smith as apart from Groves he is probably better than everyone else confirmed ........but he has turned down the Dirrell fight
The super middleweight one just doesn't have significance at the top level.
Where as the cruiserweight one is outstanding. At the end we will have a new undisputed cruiserweight champion.
handsofstone wrote:Fvck the Super Middleweights when we've got the Cruiserweight bossing it
CW is certainly superior but even in its current form the SMW tourney is interesting. I would prefer Ramirez or DeGale in that eighth spot, obviously.
TBH mate Ive never heard of 2 of the fellas who were announced today, Groves and Smith are good additions, Braehmer was a major curveball, he's always looked good for his age apart from his last fight against Cleverly, its hard to see him looking good down a division but who knows? Glen Johnson done the same in the Super 6, Cox either looks a machine or devoid of any ring intelligence whatsoever, he's never fought at this level before, Skoglund has always impressed me, i'd put good money on Eubank Jr pulling out even after he inevitably beats Abraham
It'll be competitive I'm sure but apart from Groves and Braehmer, have any of the others fought a world class opponent ever?
Naandrew wrote:I think the super middleweight tournament is bad because it delays the Degale v Groves rematch which needs to happen now. I can't see it happening unfortunately.
Am I the only one who isn't that excited about that fight happening?
handsofstone wrote:Fvck the Super Middleweights when we've got the Cruiserweight bossing it
CW is certainly superior but even in its current form the SMW tourney is interesting. I would prefer Ramirez or DeGale in that eighth spot, obviously.
TBH mate Ive never heard of 2 of the fellas who were announced today, Groves and Smith are good additions, Braehmer was a major curveball, he's always looked good for his age apart from his last fight against Cleverly, its hard to see him looking good down a division but who knows? Glen Johnson done the same in the Super 6, Cox either looks a machine or devoid of any ring intelligence whatsoever, he's never fought at this level before, Skoglund has always impressed me, i'd put good money on Eubank Jr pulling out even after he inevitably beats Abraham
It'll be competitive I'm sure but apart from Groves and Braehmer, have any of the others fought a world class opponent ever?
Cannot disagree at all, but that is also what makes it interesting. Certainly I would have preferred -
DeGale
Ramirez
Groves
Smith
Benavidez
Anthony Dirrel
Eubank v Abraham winner
Uzcategui(?)
The winner of that fantasy tourney would be top ten p4p.
Naandrew wrote:Unless Degale is the final entrant.
I think the super middleweight tournament is bad because it delays the Degale v Groves rematch which needs to happen now. I can't see it happening unfortunately.
I don't mind Callum smith as apart from Groves he is probably better than everyone else confirmed ........but he has turned down the Dirrell fight
The super middleweight one just doesn't have significance at the top level.
Where as the cruiserweight one is outstanding. At the end we will have a new undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Tarkus wrote:I dont rate Perez's chances at CW. Still its a bonus for the tourney, adds a bit of mystic.
Callum Smith is a big boost for SMW. Now if only they could get Ramirez.
Anyone knows which US channel is showing it? I guess Sky will pick it up in the UK.
Yeah there's a few fighters i'd take over Perez but you just never know with they nutters in that division, even Usyk is one big punch from being flattened and bang, all bets are off
Tarkus wrote:I dont rate Perez's chances at CW. Still its a bonus for the tourney, adds a bit of mystic.
Callum Smith is a big boost for SMW. Now if only they could get Ramirez.
Anyone knows which US channel is showing it? I guess Sky will pick it up in the UK.
Yeah there's a few fighters i'd take over Perez but you just never know with they nutters in that division, even Usyk is one big punch from being flattened and bang, all bets are off
If you look at the format it makes sense. Say someone can't compete after the first round, glowacki is a great replacement.
I'd like to see Groves v Cox first. At least it could be built up well but groves will smash him to pieces, or at the very least outclass him for the full 12. The most we can hope for is that Groves meets smith somewhere down the line but its so hard to keep fighters fit and on track for three straight bouts, that there's all sorts of complications which could prevent it happening. Both Groves and Degale are going to have some miles on the clock by the time this thing finishes (1.5 years maybe), got to think the re-match wont happen now.
mickey1975 wrote:I don't think I can praise the cruiserweight line up enough. This is basically what we have all wanted for years.
People have spoken of the depth of the 200lb division for quite some time.
It really does highlight it when you see the quality line up.
You could make an argument at having Lebedev and Glowacki in there but I'd struggle to pick 2 to take out of it
The management/promotional side of the game isn't my strong point but is there a chance that the powers that be and the casual fans disregard for the Cruiserweight division in general is the main reason why this CW tourney has been so successful?
I'm struggling to write what I mean but is it maybe the fact that the managers/promoters/TV networks don't care enough about these guys to drag their heels in negotioations and refuse to allow their guys to take part , I cant see the Heavyeweights, Middleweights or Welterweights having a more talented tournament without some prick(s) in a suit throwing a spanner in the works
handsofstone wrote:The management/promotional side of the game isn't my strong point but is there a chance that the powers that be and the casual fans disregard for the Cruiserweight division in general is the main reason why this CW tourney has been so successful?
I'm struggling to write what I mean but is it maybe the fact that the managers/promoters/TV networks don't care enough about these guys to drag their heels in negotioations and refuse to allow their guys to take part , I cant see the Heavyeweights, Middleweights or Welterweights having a more talented tournament without some prick(s) in a suit throwing a spanner in the works
I know what you mean, the CW division isn't a glamour division. It doesn't attract the media attention, the money or the status of say, WW, MW or HW.
There are no big Vegas CW fights and not many names are household names in the USA, so it's easier to make.
