Fighters who have yet to step it up?

[ElTerribleMorales]

Was just thinking about how there are a bunch of fighters who have yet to step it up despite plenty of high profile televised fights on HBO and Showtime, and what will happen when they finally do. Obviously the first example to jump into my mind was Chavez Jr until recently, and how horribly that went for him against Martinez, but he's not the only fighter who has either never stepped in with a decent opponent or hasn't in way too long. A couple more that come to mind are Martirosyan, Broner, Canelo, Donaire (up till recently), Rigondeaux, Cleverly and plenty more, so question is, who should they be fighting?

[Rantcatrat]

Was just thinking about how there are a bunch of fighters who have yet to step it up despite plenty of high profile televised fights on HBO and Showtime, and what will happen when they finally do. Obviously the first example to jump into my mind was Chavez Jr until recently, and how horribly that went for him against Martinez, but he's not the only fighter who has either never stepped in with a decent opponent or hasn't in way too long. A couple more that come to mind are Martirosyan, Broner, Canelo, Donaire (up till recently), Rigondeaux, Cleverly and plenty more, so question is, who should they be fighting?

No offense but you are glaringly wrong on Donaire. Among others he defeated, Vic (2007), Hernan (2010) and Fernando (2011) were highly ranked prior to suffering defeats against Donaire. Narvaez (2011) was moving up in weight, but he was the top- ranked junior bantamweight when Donaire beat him (still is). Mathebula (2012) and Vasquez Jr. (2012) were both top-ten ranked bantamweights too at the time that they faced Donaire.

Martirosyan is scheduled to face Lara.

Canelo should face a highly-ranked junior middleweight. It doesn't even need to be Cotto, Mayweather, or Martinez. It could be Gabriel Rosado, Cornelius Bundrage, or the winner of Martirosyan/Lara.

Cleverly should face Shumenov.

Speaking of Shumenov, I'd like to see him step it up soon too, although because he doesn't have a major promoter and isn't American, he hasn't been on any major network here yet.

I would like to see Edwin Rodriguez step it up. He's been on HBO a couple of times now. Arguably, he ducked Adonis Stevenson, but that's the exact kind of match he needs, or someone like Anthony Dirrell.

Mateusz Masternak at cruiserweight should step up soon. He's got 28 wins, no losses, but against no real competition. He should take on Fragomeni, or another experienced veteran on his way out.

At heavyweight, how about Boystov? When will he take the step up in competition?

[Spicoli]

Hbo and Showtime need to hold the stage they provide and some of the fighters the promote to higher standards. Recently as mentioned Rodriquez needs to decide what division he wants to be in, spr middle or lt hvy. Broner is stepping up I'll give him that, now make weight. Deontay Wilder has done next to nothing for being a Olympic medalist except fight televised club fights. Canelo is in dire need of a breakthrough piss or get off the pot fight, enough with the grooming.

[ElTerribleMorales]

Was just thinking about how there are a bunch of fighters who have yet to step it up despite plenty of high profile televised fights on HBO and Showtime, and what will happen when they finally do. Obviously the first example to jump into my mind was Chavez Jr until recently, and how horribly that went for him against Martinez, but he's not the only fighter who has either never stepped in with a decent opponent or hasn't in way too long. A couple more that come to mind are Martirosyan, Broner, Canelo, Donaire (up till recently), Rigondeaux, Cleverly and plenty more, so question is, who should they be fighting?

No offense but you are glaringly wrong on Donaire. Among others he defeated, Vic (2007), Hernan (2010) and Fernando (2011) were highly ranked prior to suffering defeats against Donaire. Narvaez (2011) was moving up in weight, but he was the top- ranked junior bantamweight when Donaire beat him (still is). Mathebula (2012) and Vasquez Jr. (2012) were both top-ten ranked bantamweights too at the time that they faced Donaire.

Martirosyan is scheduled to face Lara.

Canelo should face a highly-ranked junior middleweight. It doesn't even need to be Cotto, Mayweather, or Martinez. It could be Gabriel Rosado, Cornelius Bundrage, or the winner of Martirosyan/Lara.

Cleverly should face Shumenov.

Speaking of Shumenov, I'd like to see him step it up soon too, although because he doesn't have a major promoter and isn't American, he hasn't been on any major network here yet.

I would like to see Edwin Rodriguez step it up. He's been on HBO a couple of times now. Arguably, he ducked Adonis Stevenson, but that's the exact kind of match he needs, or someone like Anthony Dirrell.

Mateusz Masternak at cruiserweight should step up soon. He's got 28 wins, no losses, but against no real competition. He should take on Fragomeni, or another experienced veteran on his way out.

At heavyweight, how about Boystov? When will he take the step up in competition?

on Donaire, I know he took on Vic but then went on his streak of just picking up smaller guys, Marquez looked tiny compared to him, and that's why I said until recently, because he finally did take on a string of good/decent opposition closer to his size in Montiel, Mathebula (where I thought he lost), and Vazquez Jr, but Narvaez looked tiny against Donaire and also looked flat in all 3 performances, but I do take my hat off to Nonito for taking on Nishioka tonight

Boystov does have to step it up, so does Povetkin

[:::PSL:::]

Difinitely not Donaire.

[ElTerribleMorales]

Difinitely not Donaire.

like I said, Donaire NOW recently finally started to step it up, cause from his win against Darchinyan he fought a list of nobodies or smaller guys until finally picking it up and facing the likes of Montiel, Narvaez, Vazquez Jr, Mathebula (who IMO beat Donaire), and Nishioka, so not really bashing on him, I respect that he's stepping up in opposition and recognize that he's also made attempts to get the likes of Mares in the ring, although IMO Donaire has looked flat in most of his performances, most notably against Narvaez (who in his defense ran all night), Vazquez Jr, Mathebula (where again I felt Donaire lost), and last night against Nishioka up until the TKO

[p4pking]

Rigondeaux is by far the guy I want to see in a real fight soon, no reason he shouldn't go right for Donaire imo. Barring that the winner of Mares-Moreno would be great as well.

[shza]

Difinitely not Donaire.

like I said, Donaire NOW recently finally started to step it up, cause from his win against Darchinyan he fought a list of nobodies or smaller guys until finally picking it up and facing the likes of Montiel, Narvaez, Vazquez Jr, Mathebula (who IMO beat Donaire), and Nishioka, so not really bashing on him, I respect that he's stepping up in opposition and recognize that he's also made attempts to get the likes of Mares in the ring, although IMO Donaire has looked flat in most of his performances, most notably against Narvaez (who in his defense ran all night), Vazquez Jr, Mathebula (where again I felt Donaire lost), and last night against Nishioka up until the TKO

You thought Donaire lost to Mathebula?? What??

I thought he looked great against Nishioka, btw. Any "flatness" was due entirely to Nishioka's over-cautious approach. Donaire took what was there and was pitching an easy shut-out.

Gary Russel Jr. needs to step up. Nothing on the horizon at all there.

[beenKOed]

I'm not posting to start an argument or to be different, but you all seem to be suggesting these boxers are cheating, cowards or doing something illegal.
Everyone can't wear a championship belt--unless they keep adding belts--so the managers and promoters are always going to be scheming every way they can to get their fighter as close to the top as possible and to keep them there as long as possible. The top is where the big money is.
Boxing is a business and business is about money. My point is that most of these fighters you are bitching at are not in full control of their careers

[ElTerribleMorales]

I'm not posting to start an argument or to be different, but you all seem to be suggesting these boxers are cheating, cowards or doing something illegal.
Everyone can't wear a championship belt--unless they keep adding belts--so the managers and promoters are always going to be scheming every way they can to get their fighter as close to the top as possible and to keep them there as long as possible. The top is where the big money is.
Boxing is a business and business is about money. My point is that most of these fighters you are bitching at are not in full control of their careers

no one is suggesting that any of them are cheating, we're simply stating that there are a lot of them who are being billed as up coming superstars yet they aren't ever put in against any real threatening opposition, a real superstar in this sport is a fighter who can perform and look amazing at the top level, not against crap opposition