There have ALWAYS been protected fighters, but not to the extent that it's done now.
The result is some undeveloped fighters fighting for titles.
When the new Champ finally gets in deep against a serious opponent, they don't have the answers, they don't know how to adjust, they don't have the tools in their toolkit. That stuff used to be worked out while a guy was developing. It's why old, multi-dimensional dudes who came up the old way like Hopkins and Juan Manuel Marquez can outslick and out-think some of these current young, prime guys even though Hopkins and Marquez are way past their physical best...[/QUOTE]

If your theory were true all the old timers could still compete, not just Marquez and Hopkins. Hopkins and Marquez are smarter through experience but the are exceptions because they are exceptional.

To add further your point make no sense when discussing Floyd in the protected age, he was a champ in less than two years. He wasn't slow played, he was thrown into the fire.