BoxRec

The top guy, Ward, is constantly inactive and he won't ever fight outside of USA.
The second-from-top guys, Kessler and Froch, don't look like they will achieve much more, they're in the twilight of their careers.
Andre Dirrell got the potential to change the landscape, but the guy just doesn't like this sport very much.
The third-from-top guys, Abraham and Bika, don't look like they will achieve much more, they're in the twilight of their careers.
Groves and DeGale and maybe Anthony Dirrell (if he beats Bika) all got the youth to maybe change the landscape soon.

There are only few interesting fights that I think should happen in the division now... I can't imagine better fights than these.

If Bika beats Anthony, then Bika vs. Abraham.
If Anthony beats Bika, then Anthony vs. Abraham.
Kessler vs. Bika/Abraham/AndreDirrell/AnthonyDirrell/Groves/DeGale (any of those would be a good comeback fight for Kessler).
Froch vs. Ward, in Nottingham. Who else do you want Ward to fight at 168 lbs? This time, Froch's hometurf, Ward owes it to him.
If Groves has not lost his boxing confidence after the loss to Froch, then he and DeGale should rematch.
Groves or DeGale could also fight Robert Stieglitz.

Idk about dying. You just named a sh!tton of names that will keep it alive for the next few years & there are surely some guys on the rise that will be coming into their own in the next 1-3 years. Jesse Hart is a maybe a year or two from starting to make his impact felt on the division & I think he will make an impact of some sort. What sucks about 168 is you got a guy at the top who's so far ahead of the rest of the elite level guys so it lacks that competition @ the top which makes sh!t boring (not unlike Wlad @ HW), but idk about dying. "Dying" seems overly dramatic. Its boxing, people are always on the way out & new guys are always on the way up, thats just how sh!t works.

It's up to the young guys to boot the older boys from the top of the tree, Rodriguez failed against Ward, Groves fail against Froch (twice), Anthony Dirrell has another opportunity against Bika next week and Degale will no doubt get a shot sooner rather than later.
I'm sure we will see a changing of the guard in the next twelve months. If we dont, the blame will fall squarely on the shoulders of the younger generation for not making the most of these opportunities.

I am tired of hearing how Ward needs to fight his opponents in their backyard.
He is the champion and he does not need to bow to fans wishes.He will make the
demands.Champions are not required to fight in their oppositions neighborhood.

i'm not so sure abraham beats smith, tbo
i know smith was picked as an easy opponent, but he's better
than his record shows

tiny_acres wrote:I am tired of hearing how Ward needs to fight his opponents in their backyard.
He is the champion and he does not need to bow to fans wishes.He will make the
demands.Champions are not required to fight in their oppositions neighborhood.

Kessler was champ when he went to the then-not-a-champ Ward's backyard.

168 is waiting on Andre Dirrell, GGG and Chavez Jr to inject some new life.

BAD INTENTIONS wrote:168 is waiting on Andre Dirrell, GGG and Chavez Jr to inject some new life.

Personally, I'm just hoping that Ward will try to go to Froch's backyard.