candyslim wrote: ↑26 Jul 2021, 06:23
Enlightened-One wrote: ↑26 Jul 2021, 05:02
candyslim wrote: ↑24 Jul 2021, 05:27
I'd say the logical next step is an assault on the light-heavyweight division. People will have differing ideas about who is Canelo's biggest threat at that weight. I'd say probably Beterbiev provided the inevitable march of time hasn't caught up with him.
Would Canelo be criticised if he chooses to permanently remain at 168lbs, rather than making the jump to 175lbs, considering he initially campaigned at 140lbs and then gained success at world level as a 154lb-er?
Without mentioning any names, other fighters have persistently boasted about being capable of beating the very best from 154lbs to 175lbs (while also claiming to dominate world-level cruiserweights in sparring), but constantly refused to compete outside of their 160lbs comfort zone.
It’s rather interesting to see people demanding to see Canelo make the jump to 175lbs.
Fans don’t expect other fighters to change weight classes.
I think he would be criticised but that's not to say such criticism would be fair.
With exceptional talent comes exceptional expectation.
I agree to a certain extent.
The problem I have relates to when expectations are met as opposed to exceeded.
If Canelo beats Bivol and Beterbiev (based on their current form, this is very likely), then what next?
Are people going to start demanding that Canelo makes the jump to cruiserweight in order to face Mairis Briedis? Where do we draw the line?
If Canelo’s big-name 160lbs & 168lbs rivals stopped ducking each other, their reputations would grow. And there’d be no need for Canelo to keep jumping weight classes in order to engage in meaningful bouts.
And that’s the thing that frustrates me most, Canelo is being criticised, but the actual culprits (the Mexican’s risk averse rivals) are constantly being given free passes by fight fans, even though they're blatantly ducking each other! They aren't interested in EARNING the right to fight the Mexican superstar.
And I’m not even sure if Canelo’s status in the sport is responsible for fight fans’ ridiculously unrealistic expectations.
Except for Floyd Mayweather Jr., fight fans haven’t aggressively demanded previously pound-for-pound number one’s to keep making jumps to higher weight classes.