BoxRec

The 2 Georgians are absolutely tiny!

They look like they should be on the yellow brick road. 8)

WOW now there's a shock, british fighters heavier than their eastern european opponents. That never happens.

James DeGale - 166.5 lbs
Frankie Gavin - 143.5 lbs
Billy Joe Saunders - 161.5 lbs

Asterix wrote:James DeGale - 166.5 lbs
Frankie Gavin - 143.5 lbs
Billy Joe Saunders - 161.5 lbs

Regarding Frankie's weight he isnt overweight at all - the match was made at 10st 4lb I think so he is bang on the money.

It goes to show that even with twice daily pro workouts he is at least a light welter (maybe even a welter in years to come) how he ever boiled down to win the worlds I don't know. It makes his achievement all the more remarkable.

I was surprised by Saunder's announced weight myself but it must be down to natural growth - he is a tall lad - there was no excess on him at the weigh in.

Their opponents were tiny in comparison - this is one side of boxing that disgusts me :x

With their amateur pedigree, they match them with guys who look atleast 2divisions smaller, what an advert that sends out to the occasional boxing fan.

Licensed bullying - def not a sport :(

tonyevs wrote:Their opponents were tiny in comparison - this is one side of boxing that disgusts me :x

With their amateur pedigree, they match them with guys who look atleast 2divisions smaller, what an advert that sends out to the occasional boxing fan.

Licensed bullying - def not a sport :(

Well paid bullying though

These guys are paid - and expected - to not last 2-3rnds, wheres the sport in that

Well paid they may well be - but the paying spectator isnt getting value for money are they :(

It may well be part of building a prospects record, but its about time this type of thing was stopped, it isn`t good for the people buying tickets, most won`t even bother coming from the bar to watch it ... it isn`t good for the tv viewer, it just looks like bullying ... and as we have recently seen from another hot-prospect ... too many easy fights won`t prepare you for when the guy in front of you hits back

Everyone is allowed a 'gimme' on their debut, surely Tony?

I am a paying spectator tonight and I am not outraged by the standard of opponent - it is to be expected as far as I am concerned.

Overall I am looking forward to the show. There is a lot of class on the right hand side of the bill and with a couple of 'proper' fights (Skelton v Rogie and McDermott v Bendall; also The Don might have a bit of work if his opponent is as good as his record seems) to really get stuck into, I cant see the problem.

No one wants to see lads as talented as Gavin etc wrapped in cotton wool for 10 - 15 fights but lets see how the opposition is graded through the first 5 - 10 fights before writing the match making off..

TerribleTerry wrote:Everyone is allowed a 'gimme' on their debut, surely Tony?..

Of course you want to protect the investment, just surely they could/should be made to make it more competitive?
Are these guys used to such one-sided matches when they were in the vest?
Their class should be enough to match them with somebody closer to their own physical size - that whilst not seriously risking upsetting the applecart .. would be expected to last the course trying.

TerribleTerry wrote:I am a paying spectator tonight and I am not outraged by the standard of opponent - it is to be expected as far as I am concerned...

Thats the point .. its expected because its the norm .. but that doesn`t make it right :(

TerribleTerry wrote:Overall I am looking forward to the show. There is a lot of class on the right hand side of the bill and with a couple of 'proper' fights (Skelton v Rogie and McDermott v Bendall; also The Don might have a bit of work if his opponent is as good as his record seems) to really get stuck into, I cant see the problem...

I too am looking forward to Skelton v Rogan .. two tough guys toughing it out .. fantastic

TerribleTerry wrote: No one wants to see lads as talented as Gavin etc wrapped in cotton wool for 10 - 15 fights but lets see how the opposition is graded through the first 5 - 10 fights before writing the match making off..

I just see them having the pedigree already to be matching them better.

Anyways, have a good night at the show tonight

I agree with Tony here, those fighters are way out of their depth, and not just in the weight department - I'm struggling to see how anyone can defend that type of matchmaking.

Our boys might be novice pro's but they are class fighters, and are not going to learn a thing blowing out bill and ben the flowerpot men.

Total rubbish..

what weight was skelton and rogan???

What a terrible bunch of mismatches, but they have to happen. Warren can't risk having an Olympian lose a debut. If an Olympian loses a debut, their career is over before it started. American Olympians have never lost their pro debuts, ever.

boxerbob wrote:what weight was skelton and rogan???

rogan was 16"1 and i think skelton was 17"9

rmz wrote:What a terrible bunch of mismatches, but they have to happen. Warren can't risk having an Olympian lose a debut. If an Olympian loses a debut, their career is over before it started. American Olympians have never lost their pro debuts, ever.

Well Pete Radamacher did, obviously