oogiebe wrote: ↑01 Feb 2019, 13:22
IBF number one contender, Kubrat Pulev has emerged as an option for Joshua at Wembley on April 13. Whyte has insisted that 11 weeks is not enough time to prepare (he says he wants 14 weeks); Miller is delusional in some sort of alternative NFL contract; Fury and Wilder are close to announcing their rematch; Ortiz is scheduled to fight Christian Hammer. So what else is there? Pulev and Joshua could accept the 11 weeks to matchup and I believe that a Pulev fight would take care of a mandatory and AJ to fight three bouts this year would still be feasible.
I have been behind Whyte, but if this nonsense about needing more time to prepare is true, I might have to rethink.
This guy has fought his way to Joshua's doorstep, knowing all along that Joshua was the goal and now he is claiming that 11 weeks isn't enough?
What has he been doing?
He should have been preparing to fight Joshua all along, because he knew he was in the frame for a shot.
It's hardly Whytes fault. He's a Hearn fighter, they could have sorted all this out with him weeks or even months ago.
I agree, but there's no excuse for him not being ready for a fight in 11 weeks.
He's a leading contender who knew that he was in line for a possible title shot, so he should be training as if he is going to fight Joshua in April, potentially.
Besides, if they do offer him a decent deal for a fight, the 11 weeks applies to both fighters.
Tony1244 wrote: ↑01 Feb 2019, 17:31
Whyte, Miller, or Pulev are all good choices.
Agreed, what sucks is the April cancellation if it holds.
No consideration for the fans who may have pre booked hotels etc
I think as a fight fan, you have to accept these things happen. To be fair, only a date and venue were booked with no opponent confirmed. There's always the added risk of injury and illness. Hearn and Matchroom will be hit financially by cancelling the venue, so can imagine it will be done with a heavy heart.
oogiebe wrote: ↑01 Feb 2019, 13:22
IBF number one contender, Kubrat Pulev has emerged as an option for Joshua at Wembley on April 13. Whyte has insisted that 11 weeks is not enough time to prepare (he says he wants 14 weeks); Miller is delusional in some sort of alternative NFL contract; Fury and Wilder are close to announcing their rematch; Ortiz is scheduled to fight Christian Hammer. So what else is there? Pulev and Joshua could accept the 11 weeks to matchup and I believe that a Pulev fight would take care of a mandatory and AJ to fight three bouts this year would still be feasible.
I have been behind Whyte, but if this nonsense about needing more time to prepare is true, I might have to rethink.
This guy has fought his way to Joshua's doorstep, knowing all along that Joshua was the goal and now he is claiming that 11 weeks isn't enough?
What has he been doing?
He should have been preparing to fight Joshua all along, because he knew he was in the frame for a shot.
It's hardly Whytes fault. He's a Hearn fighter, they could have sorted all this out with him weeks or even months ago.
I agree, but there's no excuse for him not being ready for a fight in 11 weeks.
He's a leading contender who knew that he was in line for a possible title shot, so he should be training as if he is going to fight Joshua in April, potentially.
Besides, if they do offer him a decent deal for a fight, the 11 weeks applies to both fighters.
I get what ewenhay is saying. This fight could and should have been lined up properly, rather than Whyte being utilised as a back up. 11 weeks is a long time, but he will have a 14 week scheduled camp. Why should he have to compromise his preparation for someone else? He's not a journeyman, he's a competitor, and he will have his programmed preparation, as will Joshua.
Tony1244 wrote: ↑01 Feb 2019, 17:31
Whyte, Miller, or Pulev are all good choices.
Agreed, what sucks is the April cancellation if it holds.
No consideration for the fans who may have pre booked hotels etc
I think as a fight fan, you have to accept these things happen. To be fair, only a date and venue were booked with no opponent confirmed. There's always the added risk of injury and illness. Hearn and Matchroom will be hit financially by cancelling the venue, so can imagine it will be done with a heavy heart.
Yes that's true,just seems crazy to me that an opponent can't be found,it's all coming down to money,politics and satisfying the TV companies i suppose but most of us will remember Holmes,then Tyson,then Lewis etc,there never seemed to be an issue finding opponents then,they just kept lining them up and they took the gamble,i'm sure very few would have demanded more than 5 million for their chance of a lifetime at the heavyweight title.
Tony1244 wrote: ↑01 Feb 2019, 17:31
Whyte, Miller, or Pulev are all good choices.
Agreed, what sucks is the April cancellation if it holds.
No consideration for the fans who may have pre booked hotels etc
I think as a fight fan, you have to accept these things happen. To be fair, only a date and venue were booked with no opponent confirmed. There's always the added risk of injury and illness. Hearn and Matchroom will be hit financially by cancelling the venue, so can imagine it will be done with a heavy heart.
Yes that's true,just seems crazy to me that an opponent can't be found,it's all coming down to money,politics and satisfying the TV companies i suppose but most of us will remember Holmes,then Tyson,then Lewis etc,there never seemed to be an issue finding opponents then,they just kept lining them up and they took the gamble,i'm sure very few would have demanded more than 5 million for their chance of a lifetime at the heavyweight title.
The sport is moving into a new era where there are so many difficult circumstances to overcome. There are very few that would choose accolade over money nowadays. I understand where Hearn and Joshua are coming from. Joshua brings £X to the party, and Wilder bring $X. They are not the same. The idea is the split reflects what the monetary value of each fighter is. Then you throw into the mix that Wilder holds the WBC and Joshua the IBF, WBA, IBO and WBO belts. And then finally do you fight in the US, or do you fight in the UK?
It feels almost a bit like Brexit. Not something I personally would want to be responsible to deliver on.
Tony1244 wrote: ↑01 Feb 2019, 17:31
Whyte, Miller, or Pulev are all good choices.
Agreed, what sucks is the April cancellation if it holds.
No consideration for the fans who may have pre booked hotels etc
I think as a fight fan, you have to accept these things happen. To be fair, only a date and venue were booked with no opponent confirmed. There's always the added risk of injury and illness. Hearn and Matchroom will be hit financially by cancelling the venue, so can imagine it will be done with a heavy heart.
Yes that's true,just seems crazy to me that an opponent can't be found,it's all coming down to money,politics and satisfying the TV companies i suppose but most of us will remember Holmes,then Tyson,then Lewis etc,there never seemed to be an issue finding opponents then,they just kept lining them up and they took the gamble,i'm sure very few would have demanded more than 5 million for their chance of a lifetime at the heavyweight title.
The sport is moving into a new era where there are so many difficult circumstances to overcome. There are very few that would choose accolade over money nowadays. I understand where Hearn and Joshua are coming from. Joshua brings £X to the party, and Wilder bring $X. They are not the same. The idea is the split reflects what the monetary value of each fighter is. Then you throw into the mix that Wilder holds the WBC and Joshua the IBF, WBA, IBO and WBO belts. And then finally do you fight in the US, or do you fight in the UK?
It feels almost a bit like Brexit. Not something I personally would want to be responsible to deliver on.
For me personally the sport is being ruined by what you have mentioned above,money,drug tests,venues,who enters the ring first,rehydration clauses,catchweights,multi titles etc,it's moving in the wrong direction now.
