Confess your unpopular opinions about Boxing

[margaret thatcher]

i mean, challengers can already ko champions, so im not sure how making it even more difficult for them to win would help things. would be a hell of a lot of spoiling champs!

[oogiebe]

I hate the fact that skills don't really matter inside the boxing world. The top guys are the top guys for decades, simply because they rarely fight. It's very likely that they are not the best boxers at all, but just once made that name and simply avoid all other top contenders unless they have a really really high age or other completely unfair advantages over him/her.
It's more like a popularity contest, a political contest or a way of bribing yourself into the top. Lennox Lewis, Deontay Wilder, Alexander Usyk, are examples of that, Good in politics, or popularity contests, or fight picking, but not actually good in the ring, they just receive the chances and avoid risky fights unless extremely well paid and refs in your advantage that's all.

Trolling hard there.

Americans think Mayweather is still a top boxer, while he essentially avoided a lot of good boxers, only fought them when they were young, or only fought them when they got old, usually after they already lost a fight. He also only fought in his comford zone, name it. Lennox Lewis retired at really young age because he knew he wasn't as good as his numbers made it look like. He knew he would lose against both Klitschko's and he knew he was the luckiest guy alive to have beaten one. I think a true boxer should lose his last fight, or otherwise fight till at least the age of 40. If you don't, you should simply admit you're not the best (any more). It's a legacy that has to move on and not your personal bull.... story. Acting like you're the best while you know you really aren't is sad. Everybody knew Lewis was nothing special and was just a sad guy who retired very soon after his prime and having an amazing amount of losses for someone only accepting fights he knew beforehand he would win 99% sure. All the opponents who defeated him gave him a rematch whenever he wanted, exactly like a real boxer should. As a person, I rate them all far above him. Somehow he acted like a cowardish pussy when he was losing badly and only won thanks to a massive pile of luck, he demanded outragious amounts of money and such right after. I guess it's what he's like, much talks, much show, nothing special in the ring and that's also what his fanboys are like.

[rob h]

I second the above

[high tower 1]

I agree with Price-Karriss. I see it a lot these days.

How come ?

[Cent0089]

I think similar topic was there some time ago. So here is mine unpopular opinions
- boxers from 80s and 90s were far more roided than guys today.
- past boxers are overrated and current boxers are underrated, just like "Usyk would not survive 2 rounds against Holyfield" and similar BS
- 99% of black fans would never really cheer for white fighter. 90% of white fans dont know sh""t about boxing
- amateur boxing is underrated
- Chris Eubank jr won against BJS
- Andre Ward dirty tactics was widely overlooked by refs and boxing "experts"
- Vasyl Lomachenko pro career is wasted potential
- there should be more point deductions for low blows
- amateurs should wear pro type gloves, more stoppages, less BS decisions
- weight divisions are just fine, belts are problem (this opinion is probably popular )
- boxing is best sport in the world (this opinion is unpopular everywhere outside boxing world )
- i understand why some fighters feel they won fight, even if they was schooled. Fighter seeing things different than fan. I have sparred with a guy few minutes, which was recorded. I had feeling we had great sparring until i watched video where i took over 20 clean hits and landed 6 or 7
- majority of boxrec users have great knowlege about boxing. Discussions here are very very good Plus lot of brits and americans here are very friendly to eastern european people like me, which is in contrast to what i saw in real life :(

[jimmystone]

- boxers from 80s and 90s were far more roided than guys today.

80s more than 90s. When steroids were made illegal in the USA (1991) the landscape changed dramatically. The tide actually turned when Ben Johnson pissed hot in Seoul. Because an American, Carl Lewis, had been wronged (or at least that's what the American public naively believed) steroids were cracked down on hard. I absolutely agree with you that all those greats we saw in the 80s e.g. Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Tyson, etc were juicing hard.

- past boxers are overrated and current boxers are underrated, just like "Usyk would not survive 2 rounds against Holyfield" and similar BS

There's some truth in that. The best now could hang in any era. Usyk, Canelo, Beterbiev and Fury because of the sheer size of him would be fine in any era.

- 99% of black fans would never really cheer for white fighter. 90% of white fans dont know sh""t about boxing

Probably true.

- amateur boxing is underrated

100% agree.

- Chris Eubank jr won against BJS

Disagree but it was close enough to have gone either way.

- Andre Ward dirty tactics was widely overlooked by refs and boxing "experts"

Maybe so but I see those as skills.

- Vasyl Lomachenko pro career is wasted potential

Agree.

- there should be more point deductions for low blows

There's an argument for it. They can swing a fight.

- amateurs should wear pro type gloves, more stoppages, less BS decisions

I scored stoppages as an amateur. There's nothing wrong with the gloves. The problem is crappy judging.

- weight divisions are just fine, belts are problem (this opinion is probably popular )

Belts are a problem and so are weight divisions. I would change them quite a bit.

- boxing is best sport in the world (this opinion is unpopular everywhere outside boxing world )

(I have stolen this) Boxing is everybody's favourite sport. If you got to a crossroads and on one corner some children were playing football, on another they were playing cricket, on another they were playing rugby, and on the last there was a fight. You'd look at the fight and so would everybody else.

- i understand why some fighters feel they won fight, even if they was schooled. Fighter seeing things different than fan. I have sparred with a guy few minutes, which was recorded. I had feeling we had great sparring until i watched video where i took over 20 clean hits and landed 6 or 7

To an extent this is true but the more experienced you get the better able you are to read the fight even when you are participating.

- majority of boxrec users have great knowlege about boxing. Discussions here are very very good Plus lot of brits and americans here are very friendly to eastern european people like me, which is in contrast to what i saw in real life :(

That's sad that you haven't had good experiences in real life with Brits and Americans. I have always got on well with Eastern Europeans, you folks are good company for the most part.

Good post.

[JamesPhilips]

I think similar topic was there some time ago. So here is mine unpopular opinions
- boxers from 80s and 90s were far more roided than guys today.
- past boxers are overrated and current boxers are underrated, just like "Usyk would not survive 2 rounds against Holyfield" and similar BS
- 99% of black fans would never really cheer for white fighter. 90% of white fans dont know sh""t about boxing
- amateur boxing is underrated
- Chris Eubank jr won against BJS
- Andre Ward dirty tactics was widely overlooked by refs and boxing "experts"
- Vasyl Lomachenko pro career is wasted potential
- there should be more point deductions for low blows
- amateurs should wear pro type gloves, more stoppages, less BS decisions
- weight divisions are just fine, belts are problem (this opinion is probably popular )
- boxing is best sport in the world (this opinion is unpopular everywhere outside boxing world )
- i understand why some fighters feel they won fight, even if they was schooled. Fighter seeing things different than fan. I have sparred with a guy few minutes, which was recorded. I had feeling we had great sparring until i watched video where i took over 20 clean hits and landed 6 or 7
- majority of boxrec users have great knowlege about boxing. Discussions here are very very good Plus lot of brits and americans here are very friendly to eastern european people like me, which is in contrast to what i saw in real life :(

[jimmystone]

- boxers from 80s and 90s were far more roided than guys today.

You are way wrong thinking he is wrong about that. I don't agree with him about the 90s but the 70s and 80s were a free for all in the USA. There was literally no testing in boxing and steroids were legal in the USA until 1991.

[JamesPhilips]

- boxers from 80s and 90s were far more roided than guys today.

You are way wrong thinking he is wrong about that. I don't agree with him about the 90s but the 70s and 80s were a free for all in the USA. There was literally no testing in boxing and steroids were legal in the USA until 1991.

I get that but so many fighters didn’t know how to use them, or were scared to. Look at the average physiques now compared to then. Now there’s so much knowledge and also ways to beat drug tests.

[JamesPhilips]

There is only one weight of importance in boxing.

[jimmystone]

- boxers from 80s and 90s were far more roided than guys today.

You are way wrong thinking he is wrong about that. I don't agree with him about the 90s but the 70s and 80s were a free for all in the USA. There was literally no testing in boxing and steroids were legal in the USA until 1991.

I get that but so many fighters didn’t know how to use them, or were scared to. Look at the average physiques now compared to then. Now there’s so much knowledge and also ways to beat drug tests.

Who was scared to take them that you know of?

There were plenty of great physiques back then and from floor work and boxing training rather than lifting (there's a few exceptions, Tyson lifted, Ken Norton, Mike Weaver and others). Guys like Leonard and Hagler had awesome physiques.

The knowledge now is to take just enough to stay within permitted tolerances. Then there was no limit because there was no testing. They could take as much as they wanted (and many did).

[JamesPhilips]

You are way wrong thinking he is wrong about that. I don't agree with him about the 90s but the 70s and 80s were a free for all in the USA. There was literally no testing in boxing and steroids were legal in the USA until 1991.

I get that but so many fighters didn’t know how to use them, or were scared to. Look at the average physiques now compared to then. Now there’s so much knowledge and also ways to beat drug tests.

Who was scared to take them that you know of?

There were plenty of great physiques back then and from floor work and boxing training rather than lifting (there's a few exceptions, Tyson lifted, Ken Norton, Mike Weaver and others). Guys like Leonard and Hagler had awesome physiques.

The knowledge now is to take just enough to stay within permitted tolerances. Then there was no limit because there was no testing. They could take as much as they wanted (and many did).

Can you tell me who the juicers were in your opinion in the 80s and 90s? Weaver? Norton? Jumbo Cummings? Bruno? I’m just trying to think of the musclebound guys. Obv Golota and Tommy Morrison in the 90s. Mike Tyson I think also.

I also think Ray Leonard had a very normal physique for a world class athlete. Hearns and Hagler were very muscly though.

[ashall]

Taylor beat Catterall.

Hatton was massively overrated.

[mickey1975]

Liam Smith is the best fighter in his family.

[jimmystone]

@JamesPhilips, I think lots were. Almost all the top Americans IMO. If they took e.g. Dianabol and didn't do weights and eat a calorie surplus they wouldn't end up with a bodybuilders physique. They would, though, get stronger, reduce bodyfat, gain endurance and have increased testosterone levels and all the benefits that come from that in a combat sport.

[mikebourkefan]

1. i liked Cliff Couser fights and would have been all for Cliff getting a match with Kimbo Slice like he once wanted

2. i would like to see more of the 105lbs division fights on ppv

[brilo33]

British journeymen are shit, not wanted and add nothing to the sport.
If you don’t come to win I cannot respect you as a boxer.
The one thing the States does better than us. Do not tolerate these mugs with 2-35 records.

Essential to the sport? Hahaha

i see that point of view mate youre not alone

[brilo33]

You are way wrong thinking he is wrong about that. I don't agree with him about the 90s but the 70s and 80s were a free for all in the USA. There was literally no testing in boxing and steroids were legal in the USA until 1991.

I get that but so many fighters didn’t know how to use them, or were scared to. Look at the average physiques now compared to then. Now there’s so much knowledge and also ways to beat drug tests.

Who was scared to take them that you know of?

There were plenty of great physiques back then and from floor work and boxing training rather than lifting (there's a few exceptions, Tyson lifted, Ken Norton, Mike Weaver and others). Guys like Leonard and Hagler had awesome physiques.

The knowledge now is to take just enough to stay within permitted tolerances. Then there was no limit because there was no testing. They could take as much as they wanted (and many did).

like fighters from Saad Muhammad era not saying he was but your boxers in them times were built,
i also dont think alot of fighters knew what they were taking if a coach says have this they will. this was the hight of the rocky era wwf wrestling the most juiced people to the max i mean even 20 21 22 these days are thick as sh....

[brilo33]

not a big ali fan get the same feeling watching his fights like when losing the remote and tv is stuck on murder she wrote
dont rate nigel benn
watching tyson back mike that is he knocked out a lot of stiffs

it wouldnt be unpopular opinions if you agreed mate

[Ruthless-RKO]

British journeymen are shit, not wanted and add nothing to the sport.
If you don’t come to win I cannot respect you as a boxer.
The one thing the States does better than us. Do not tolerate these mugs with 2-35 records.

Essential to the sport? Hahaha

i see that point of view mate youre not alone

I agree.. In the US you see cards... prospects fight guys that are 4-2 or 8-5..

Let's look at Nico Walsh for a second..

4-1-0 - first opponent
1-0-0
6-0-0
1-1-1
7-1-0
7-2-0

His opponents recon at the time he fought them..

Mark Chamberlain is fighting tonight.. he is 10-0..

lets see his opponents:

4-16-0 - 1st opponent.
2-2-0
10-16-5
7-48-4
10-16-4
3-4-0
10-1-0
11-31-2
11-4-1
11-3-1

[JamesPhilips]

Without PEDs Joshua would not even be in the top 50 in the world.

[Dioufy]

British journeymen are shit, not wanted and add nothing to the sport.
If you don’t come to win I cannot respect you as a boxer.
The one thing the States does better than us. Do not tolerate these mugs with 2-35 records.

Essential to the sport? Hahaha

i see that point of view mate youre not alone

I agree.. In the US you see cards... prospects fight guys that are 4-2 or 8-5..

Let's look at Nico Walsh for a second..

4-1-0 - first opponent
1-0-0
6-0-0
1-1-1
7-1-0
7-2-0

His opponents recon at the time he fought them..

Mark Chamberlain is fighting tonight.. he is 10-0..

lets see his opponents:

4-16-0 - 1st opponent.
2-2-0
10-16-5
7-48-4
10-16-4
3-4-0
10-1-0
11-31-2
11-4-1
11-3-1

Nothing more depressing in boxing when announcers won’t announce records but go with “entering his 35th professional bout” and “won his last contest” cobblers.

I think a loss in a professional ring should mean a 28 day suspension. I know that’s the rule of you get stopped but it should include any loss.

Jesus, some journeymen have like 4 fights lined up. No wonder they fight negatively. The have a few grand to protect.

[Old bones Ian]

I didn't buy into the Johnny Tapia heartstrings , he was a bully junkie

[JamesPhilips]

I didn't buy into the Johnny Tapia heartstrings , he was a bully junkie

Damn. That’s a tough one. Yes he was def a junkie but had a messed up life.

[Dioufy]

Barrera didn’t win Barrera v morales II despite not wanting to fight for 5/6 rounds.
Draw all day.