BoxRec

Ok, lets follow this step by step.

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

Thomas Mcdonagh LOSES an eliminator for the British title.

So what is his next fight?

A challenge for the British title.



In what other sport would this sort of thing be acceptable?

Even allowing for the concept of "voluntary defence" it makes a bit of a mockery of what was once a prestigous belt, and the concept of "champion".

If McDonagh wins, what next? A defence, as champion, against the man who beat him in the eliminator?

Yeah, unfortunately its not just British titles who have this problem. Look at Esham Pickering's European title fight recently, on the back of losing a British title shot.

stujones wrote:Yeah, unfortunately its not just British titles who have this problem. Look at Esham Pickering's European title fight recently, on the back of losing a British title shot.

indeed- I've mentioned that myself- look at the other "challengers" that champion has fought.

it happened when mcdonagh beat concepcion for an eliminator but he didnt get a shot at the title

mcdonagh has only had 2 loses in 39 fights yet never had a crack at the british title

think he deserves his chance

im goin for a mcdonagh win against small

dylan119 wrote:it happened when mcdonagh beat concepcion for an eliminator but he didnt get a shot at the title

mcdonagh has only had 2 loses in 39 fights yet never had a crack at the british title

think he deserves his chance

That is true, but never the less, it does seem somewhat odd that the loser of an eliminator is the one who gets the title shot!

Have you considered that Thomas may be the highest ranking British fighter prepared, or in a position to fight Small ?

I think the match is not bad its a voluntary defence. He beaten Pryce who Small lost to. He lost to Webb and Alexander drew with Facey.

twenty six wrote:Have you considered that Thomas may be the highest ranking British fighter prepared, or in a position to fight Small ?

But them if thats the case, why stage "eliminators" at all?

The problem is, it just doesn't seem to make sense.

No worse case than Bert Gilroy's, how do you think he felt?

Whicker,
I think you're missing the point.
This is a voluntary defence, needs to take place by end of November (even Mr Small needs to put food on the table).
Now go through the British rankings and cross off those unavailable due to upcoming fights etc.
Then cross off those who wouldn't want a piece of Small.
Narrows the options - yes ?
Apart from the fact that Richard will have made it worthwhile financially for Mr Small.

twenty six wrote:Whicker,
I think you're missing the point.
This is a voluntary defence, needs to take place by end of November (even Mr Small needs to put food on the table).
Now go through the British rankings and cross off those unavailable due to upcoming fights etc.
Then cross off those who wouldn't want a piece of Small.
Narrows the options - yes ?
Apart from the fact that Richard will have made it worthwhile financially for Mr Small.

Yeah, I understand why it happens as it does- and all the politics and business of boxing etc.


I'm just saying, In what other sport would this sort of thing be acceptable?

Pretty depressing really that the only person available to fight for the British title is a guy who LOST an eliminator for said title.

It's hard to explain to non-fnas why this happens.


...

It's not just this fight. Other questions- why has Kevin Mitchell been allowed to go so long without defending his belt? etc...

Wrestlers have title challanges when they have losing undeserving records

To be honest though as long as it makes for a competitive match up I don't really care. Of course they shouldn't have crap records, not even average records but there are some boxers who have unbeaten records who get beat far too easy to be a championship contender.

I think back to the fight between Thaxton and Glover, I know it wasn't a championship fight but he beat someone that his record suggests he shouldn't of beat.

Sam Webb's got a bottom of the bill fight with a French journeyman on the Rhodes-Moore show. It would be interesting to see what he thinks of this.

Sam Webb should fight for title next year!

Jason Rowland was inactive for a large part of his reign as British Champion (apart from a non title job against Alan Temple). What he craved was a return against Bernard Paul..... for whatever reason it didn't happen....

WestEndRiot wrote:Sam Webb's got a bottom of the bill fight with a French journeyman on the Rhodes-Moore show. It would be interesting to see what he thinks of this.

Why isn't he fighting Small , is there a reason?

Its not gone to puse bids. The board does allow voluntaries!

leforge wrote:Its not gone to puse bids. The board does allow voluntaries!

And this hooks back nicely to the original point- makes the concept of an "eliminator" a bit pointless, where the person "eliminated" (so to speak) can be offered a shot at the title on a "voluntary" basis.

Have you ever considered that perhaps those you believe as being more deserving may have turned the fight down ?
Little things like money and terms often get in the way of boxing running in the perfect manner that you crave for.
Apart from Management and Promotional issues.
Bottom line is that a Promotor has offered Mr Small a good pay day to face his man in a voluntary defence.
Simple as.
Get over it.
Your argument may carry some weight when it comes to the mandatory ordered by the Board in the next defence - assuming of course Mr Small prevails.

twenty six wrote:Little things like money and terms often get in the way of boxing running in the perfect manner that you crave for.
Apart from Management and Promotional issues.
Bottom line is that a Promotor has offered Mr Small a good pay day to face his man in a voluntary defence.
Simple as.
Get over it.

Yes, as I say, all that may be beyond doubt.

But my point is, I think this situation is bad for the sport.

The current situation seems to be that basically anyone can fight anyone if the money is right.

Which makes a mockery of the concept of being a Champion, and indeed belittles the concept of "challenging for the title". As said early, it's getting like professional wrestling.


The point is, with boxing in decline in the UK, this sort of thing isn't helping it's popularity in my opinion.

Or, to put it directly, it's getting boring and title bouts are pointless. This isn't just about this fight. Look at Esham Pickerings European title challenge, or lots of recent challengers for the British title (most recently Thaxton.)

I think the fight ok. I rather have him fighting Webb but the boiad have not called for it yet I don't why!

leforge wrote:I think the fight ok. I rather have him fighting Webb but the boiad have not called for it yet I don't why!

The fight is OK, but as a main event and British Title fight, it's poor. Even ignoring the specifics, a fighter coming off a loss probably shouldn't be heading straight into a title fight.

I think your being too critical of this fight. Mcdonagh should have had a British shot by now anyway I don't think its that bad. Not like Pickering the fight!

leforge wrote:I think your being too critical of this fight. Mcdonagh should have had a British shot by now anyway I don't think its that bad. Not like Pickering the fight!

Yeah, the fight is more an example of the current state of the game, I don't mean to "pick on it" specifically.

Even so, I can't recall a fight in which a fighter whoes last bout was a defeat in a "British title eliminator" went on to challenge for the British title.

Makes a mockery of billing the fight as a "British Title Eliminator."

The Board should releases rankings and only fighters in top five can fight for British title imo.