BoxRec

Here’s a list of world-rated fighters that have been inactive for a very long time:

• Andrew Tabiti
• Sergey Kovalev
• Jean Pascal
• Ryota Murata
• Manny Pacquiao
• Keith Thurman
• Rey Vargas
• Zolani Tete
• Eleider Alvarez
• Julian Williams
• Shawn Porter
• Mikey Garcia
• Viktor Postol
• Tevin Farmer
• Gary Russell Jr.
• Jessie Magdaleno
• Guillermo Rigondeaux
• Khalid Yafai
• Artem Dalakian
• Sho Kimura
• Luis Concepcion
• Wilfredo Mendez
• Knockout CP Freshmart

As far as I’m concerned, very few of these guys have fights lined up, with the rest of them doing absolutely nothing with their careers.

Should we stop considering these guys as being top-ten world-rated fighters until we see them emerge victorious from their next outing?

After all, time doesn’t stand still. We shouldn’t reward their inactivity.

What do you think?

Guillermo Rigondeaux is literally fighting this weekend.

also Manny Pacquiao this month.

But yeh, not fought for a long time.

Difference between these two and the rest, is at least they have a fight scheduled.

Tyson fury ....the most inactive Heavyweight champion in history of boxing

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 08:44 Guillermo Rigondeaux is literally fighting this weekend.

also Manny Pacquiao this month.

But yeh, not fought for a long time.

Difference between these two and the rest, is at least they have a fight scheduled.

I agree.

We could potentially make an exception with those that have fights lined-up.

That said, the likelihood with the majority of these guys, is that a combination of their age, coupled with their inactivity, would have probably resulted in a decline of their fighting ability.

For instance, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Manny Pacquiao are both in their forties and haven’t fought for a very long time. They’re not going to be as good as they were a couple of years ago.

Some of the other inactive fighters, such as Shawn Porter, Mikey Garcia and Keith Thurman are approaching their mid-thirties.

They’d be considered past-their-primes even if they were busy.

And then you have other world-rated guys, like Danny Garcia, who might have fought fairly recently, but haven’t won a fight for more than 18 months.

There are also aging fighters that were inactive for a prolonged period, but only fought once within the last couple of years or so, but engaged in horrendous mismatches (i.e. Luis Ortiz and Terence Crawford).

I think that boxing is going through a transition period, whereby many long established big-names are no longer world-class fighters. They’ve probably been surpassed by younger guys that kept busy.

What we might see over the next six months (definitely at welterweight and light heavyweight) is a changing of the guard, where today’s big-names pass the torch onto younger fighters, resulting in a dramatic change of the world rankings.

Boxtune wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 08:54 Tyson fury ....the most inactive Heavyweight champion in history of boxing

By the time Tyson Fury steps foot inside the ring against Deontay Wilder on the 9th October, he would be performing only his first title defence (spanning two reigns) of the world heavyweight championship he’s held for a combined total of 914 days.

I’m not quite sure if that surpasses Joe Louis’ record (since his title reign was interrupted by World War II). I don't think The Brown Bomber engaged in a legit fight for more than four years.

I guess that depends on your thoughts about the Joe Louis-Johnny Davis fight, who might be the one of the worst title challengers in history.


Newspapers described the bout as an exhibition and Joe Louis' opponent was stopped within 53 seconds of the first round.

If the bout really was an exhibition, then Joe Louis held the title for 1,545 days without defending it.

Farmer had some hand issues in his last fight related to his gunshot wound. Probably good that he takes some time off.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 09:41

Boxtune wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 08:54 Tyson fury ....the most inactive Heavyweight champion in history of boxing

By the time Tyson Fury steps foot inside the ring against Deontay Wilder on the 9th October, he would be performing only his first title defence (spanning two reigns) of the world heavyweight championship he’s held for a combined total of 914 days.

I’m not quite sure if that surpasses Joe Louis’ record (since his title reign was interrupted by World War II). I don't think The Brown Bomber engaged in a legit fight for more than four years.

Newspapers described the bout as an exhibition and Joe Louis' opponent was stopped within 53 seconds of the first round.

If the bout really was an exhibition, then Joe Louis held the title for 1,545 days without defending it.

At least Two headed Dragons Klitchkos Bro were giving us 5-6 title fights a year at least ... like them or not, but
challengers didn't had to wait to get their shot at the title

Keith Thurman is the one who gets my goat the most.

One would think that a man who was the unified 147 champion as recently as 2019 would have got out there at least once in the past two years, or at the very least, have a fight on the horizon.

I know he's had injuries, but there seems to be a lack of urgency about him returning.

He was champion over a smoking hot division; the division is still smoking and he's not old, so he's probably still got a lot to offer.

All these primadonnas and fraudulent fighters, can't say that I really care if many of them fight or not.

• Andrew Tabiti
Never heard of him.
• Sergey Kovalev
Pathetic Canelo and Ward ko victim.
• Jean Pascal
Some hasbeen that really never was.
• Ryota Murata
Isnt he a good undefeated mw? Yeah sounds like wasted talent.
• Manny Pacquiao
Semi retired. Doesn't matter if he fights or not but acctually is stepping into the ring soon doesn’t belong on this list.
• Keith Thurman
Loud mouth that lost to grandpa. One of these fake pbc fighters. Would rather watch paint dry.
• Rey Vargas
Who?
• Zolani Tete
What?
• Eleider Alvarez
Good fighter but isn't he like a gatekeeper kind of fellow?
• Julian Williams
No idea.
• Shawn Porter
Lousy fraud.
• Mikey Garcia
Overhyped pbc fighter that never got a signature win and now never will.
• Viktor Postol
Didn't he already lose a couple of shots at world champions? Do we really need to see more losses pile up on his record?
• Tevin Farmer
Say what?
• Gary Russell Jr.
Hmmm.
• Jessie Magdaleno
Who?
• Guillermo Rigondeaux
Nahhh. Nothing out there for him.
• Khalid Yafai
Who the f?
• Artem Dalakian
What?
• Sho Kimura
Show em titties sounds better.
• Luis Concepcion
The conception of Luis?
• Wilfredo Mendez
Quiero cerveza.
• Knockout CP Freshmart
Wtf.

So yeah out of this huge list there is only one fighter on it that I'd be interested in seeing step up.

H8Usernames wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 19:39 All these primadonnas and fraudulent fighters, can't say that I really care if many of them fight or not.

• Andrew Tabiti
Never heard of him.
• Sergey Kovalev
Pathetic Canelo and Ward ko victim.
• Jean Pascal
Some hasbeen that really never was.
• Ryota Murata
Isnt he a good undefeated mw? Yeah sounds like wasted talent.
• Manny Pacquiao
Semi retired. Doesn't matter if he fights or not but acctually is stepping into the ring soon doesn’t belong on this list.
• Keith Thurman
Loud mouth that lost to grandpa. One of these fake pbc fighters. Would rather watch paint dry.
• Rey Vargas
Who?
• Zolani Tete
What?
• Eleider Alvarez
Good fighter but isn't he like a gatekeeper kind of fellow?
• Julian Williams
No idea.
• Shawn Porter
Lousy fraud.
• Mikey Garcia
Overhyped pbc fighter that never got a signature win and now never will.
• Viktor Postol
Didn't he already lose a couple of shots at world champions? Do we really need to see more losses pile up on his record?
• Tevin Farmer
Say what?
• Gary Russell Jr.
Hmmm.
• Jessie Magdaleno
Who?
• Guillermo Rigondeaux
Nahhh. Nothing out there for him.
• Khalid Yafai
Who the f?
• Artem Dalakian
What?
• Sho Kimura
Show em titties sounds better.
• Luis Concepcion
The conception of Luis?
• Wilfredo Mendez
Quiero cerveza.
• Knockout CP Freshmart
Wtf.

So yeah out of this huge list there is only one fighter on it that I'd be interested in seeing step up.

All the men I listed are considered by The RING, ESPN & TBRB as top-ten world-rated fighters in their respective weight divisions.

I could have listed the names of more fighters that have been similarly inactive.

It's a shame you're unfamiliar with so many of them.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 19:48

H8Usernames wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 19:39 All these primadonnas and fraudulent fighters, can't say that I really care if many of them fight or not.

• Andrew Tabiti
Never heard of him.
• Sergey Kovalev
Pathetic Canelo and Ward ko victim.
• Jean Pascal
Some hasbeen that really never was.
• Ryota Murata
Isnt he a good undefeated mw? Yeah sounds like wasted talent.
• Manny Pacquiao
Semi retired. Doesn't matter if he fights or not but acctually is stepping into the ring soon doesn’t belong on this list.
• Keith Thurman
Loud mouth that lost to grandpa. One of these fake pbc fighters. Would rather watch paint dry.
• Rey Vargas
Who?
• Zolani Tete
What?
• Eleider Alvarez
Good fighter but isn't he like a gatekeeper kind of fellow?
• Julian Williams
No idea.
• Shawn Porter
Lousy fraud.
• Mikey Garcia
Overhyped pbc fighter that never got a signature win and now never will.
• Viktor Postol
Didn't he already lose a couple of shots at world champions? Do we really need to see more losses pile up on his record?
• Tevin Farmer
Say what?
• Gary Russell Jr.
Hmmm.
• Jessie Magdaleno
Who?
• Guillermo Rigondeaux
Nahhh. Nothing out there for him.
• Khalid Yafai
Who the f?
• Artem Dalakian
What?
• Sho Kimura
Show em titties sounds better.
• Luis Concepcion
The conception of Luis?
• Wilfredo Mendez
Quiero cerveza.
• Knockout CP Freshmart
Wtf.

So yeah out of this huge list there is only one fighter on it that I'd be interested in seeing step up.

All the men I listed are considered by The RING, ESPN & TBRB as top-ten world-rated fighters in their respective weight divisions.

I could have listed the names of more fighters that have been similarly inactive.

It's a shame you're unfamiliar with so many of them.

Either he's not bothered, or he's a bitter fan.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑10 Aug 2021, 05:48

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 19:48

H8Usernames wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 19:39 All these primadonnas and fraudulent fighters, can't say that I really care if many of them fight or not.

• Andrew Tabiti
Never heard of him.
• Sergey Kovalev
Pathetic Canelo and Ward ko victim.
• Jean Pascal
Some hasbeen that really never was.
• Ryota Murata
Isnt he a good undefeated mw? Yeah sounds like wasted talent.
• Manny Pacquiao
Semi retired. Doesn't matter if he fights or not but acctually is stepping into the ring soon doesn’t belong on this list.
• Keith Thurman
Loud mouth that lost to grandpa. One of these fake pbc fighters. Would rather watch paint dry.
• Rey Vargas
Who?
• Zolani Tete
What?
• Eleider Alvarez
Good fighter but isn't he like a gatekeeper kind of fellow?
• Julian Williams
No idea.
• Shawn Porter
Lousy fraud.
• Mikey Garcia
Overhyped pbc fighter that never got a signature win and now never will.
• Viktor Postol
Didn't he already lose a couple of shots at world champions? Do we really need to see more losses pile up on his record?
• Tevin Farmer
Say what?
• Gary Russell Jr.
Hmmm.
• Jessie Magdaleno
Who?
• Guillermo Rigondeaux
Nahhh. Nothing out there for him.
• Khalid Yafai
Who the f?
• Artem Dalakian
What?
• Sho Kimura
Show em titties sounds better.
• Luis Concepcion
The conception of Luis?
• Wilfredo Mendez
Quiero cerveza.
• Knockout CP Freshmart
Wtf.

So yeah out of this huge list there is only one fighter on it that I'd be interested in seeing step up.

All the men I listed are considered by The RING, ESPN & TBRB as top-ten world-rated fighters in their respective weight divisions.

I could have listed the names of more fighters that have been similarly inactive.

It's a shame you're unfamiliar with so many of them.

Either he's not bothered, or he's a bitter fan.

Possibly.

He's definitely a malignant shit biscuit though.

I certainly didn't destroy the sport of boxing. I never got the chance to. Not my fault that the sport is in the toilet. You dislike me for saying that the emperor has no clothes? I'm just telling it like it is, not my fault that he's naked.

Boxtune wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 08:54 Tyson fury ....the most inactive Heavyweight champion in history of boxing

Jack Dempsey took 3 years off in an era when fighters were expected to fight frequently.

Not that it excuses Fury, who took almost 3 years off to do cocaine or whatever.

Another way of looking at things is that Tyson Fury became lineal champ in november 2015 when he schooled Wlad and that he has since then fought 6 times thereby defending his title 6 times without losing it or once per year and with the Wilder defence coming up soon hitting a 1.17 defense ratio per year.

Also one has to take into account that Fury isn't just some heavyweight champion. The guy is a giant making Michael Grant, Wlad and Vitaly look small. A giant with decent good boxing skills. Lets assume that he dedicated himself 100% to the sport and did 24 defenses per year obviously with a 100% ko ratio. What would be the fun in watching that nonsense?

Would it also be fun to watch Canelo ko the top 50 lightweights in a span of two years?

Inactivity is killing boxing. Lucky if most fight once a year twice max now. Crazy

Syntax Error wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 14:06 Keith Thurman is the one who gets my goat the most.

One would think that a man who was the unified 147 champion as recently as 2019 would have got out there at least once in the past two years, or at the very least, have a fight on the horizon.

I know he's had injuries, but there seems to be a lack of urgency about him returning.

He was champion over a smoking hot division; the division is still smoking and he's not old, so he's probably still got a lot to offer.

Agreed. Find him to be very overrated. Time for the next generation of Welterweights.

bobcatbox wrote: ↑11 Aug 2021, 12:14

Syntax Error wrote: ↑09 Aug 2021, 14:06 Keith Thurman is the one who gets my goat the most.

One would think that a man who was the unified 147 champion as recently as 2019 would have got out there at least once in the past two years, or at the very least, have a fight on the horizon.

I know he's had injuries, but there seems to be a lack of urgency about him returning.

He was champion over a smoking hot division; the division is still smoking and he's not old, so he's probably still got a lot to offer.

Agreed. Find him to be very overrated. Time for the next generation of Welterweights.

Shame.. Thurman has 2 very good wins at WW.. was at the top more or less..

Then took a long time out, had to let go of the WBC belt, which then his leftovers Porter and Garcia fought for.

peter barlow wrote: ↑11 Aug 2021, 09:53 Inactivity is killing boxing. Lucky if most fight once a year twice max now. Crazy

Its hard to keep a fanbase when you fight once a year.
Several times I've forgotten how good Gary Russell Jr is, because it's been so long since I've seen him fight, and so much has gone on in the mean time. I know that one time I do see Gary Russell Jr and forget how good he is won't matter, because like a lot of little fellas, he will slide between fights.
He has been marginally busier lately..

peter barlow wrote: ↑11 Aug 2021, 09:53 Inactivity is killing boxing. Lucky if most fight once a year twice max now. Crazy

Exactly.

Pay-per-view cash-cows are twice a year max these days.

Okay, the days of the big boys fighting 4x or so a year are long gone, but I see no reason why the likes of Joshua and Canelo, for example, cannot fight 3x a year.

Syntax Error wrote: ↑11 Aug 2021, 18:14

peter barlow wrote: ↑11 Aug 2021, 09:53 Inactivity is killing boxing. Lucky if most fight once a year twice max now. Crazy

Exactly.

Pay-per-view cash-cows are twice a year max these days.

Okay, the days of the big boys fighting 4x or so a year are long gone, but I see no reason why the likes of Joshua and Canelo, for example, cannot fight 3x a year.

Yep.

Also anyone world ranked, how many are fighting 4 times a year anymore. It really isn't that much when you consider how short the career is. Most don't even fight 2-3 times a year.

How can they expect a legacy or fanbase.
Just look how UFC has grown, their guys are out regularly so people get to know them.

I don't know, are boxers now demanding too high paychecks and promoters can't afford to have them out regularly. There's only a handful of big boxing promoters left. Something has to give and fast.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑11 Aug 2021, 16:39

peter barlow wrote: ↑11 Aug 2021, 09:53 Inactivity is killing boxing. Lucky if most fight once a year twice max now. Crazy

Its hard to keep a fanbase when you fight once a year.
Several times I've forgotten how good Gary Russell Jr is, because it's been so long since I've seen him fight, and so much has gone on in the mean time. I know that one time I do see Gary Russell Jr and forget how good he is won't matter, because like a lot of little fellas, he will slide between fights.
He has been marginally busier lately..

I don't understand Russell jr etc, and there's many many others the same.

Imagine training and working hard enough to be a world level boxer from a young age and then when you get there the years tick away and you barely fight once a year at most.

Then bam before you know it your prime is gone. Some of the guys may look back when older and think they should have achieved so much more if they fought more often.