Is there anything boxing can do about the inactivity in some boxers?

**p4pking** · 10-13-2015 05:20 AM

How is it hypocrisy? We all love good fights among the best, but it's not hard to see why fighters want to maximize their career and be paid well, that just sounds like being reasonable to me. You're the only one with the nerve? Come on man, speak for yourself with the sob stories. Yeesh. You're right that guys with belts should be mandated to defend them, but if they aren't it's hardly unfathomable that they wouldn't voluntarily give them up. Don't hate the playa, I guess..

I'm sure you still support Cotto throughout this iron clad stance of yours? He's been playing ball as much as any fighter in the last couple of years.

**TitoFan** · 10-13-2015 05:23 AM

I'm talking about inactivity.... and singling out the Wards of the boxing world.
Promotional issue excuses can only take you so far.

People might not like Cotto's antics. But he's active.

**p4pking** · 10-13-2015 08:27 AM

He's hasn't defended his title against legit challengers or even at the allowed weight for the division, why shouldn't he be stripped for that? Is Andre Ward even still the WBA champion at supermiddle? I thought he had already lost that, which he should have I'll grant you. He was stripped of the WBC at some point, and I don't think that was even when he was so inactive. I'm all for mandatory defences and stripping champions who don't honour them, but can't knock any fighter who fights rarely if they can still do well for themselves, that's what I'd do in their shoes, all I was saying.

**TitoFan** · 10-13-2015 11:25 AM

Well I've never bought into this catchweight crap... but then Cotto isn't the first to play that game, and he certainly won't be the last. TBH, I relish the matchups more than the trinkets. The fact that he's going to fight Canelo... especially given the drastic disappointment of Floyd-Pac... is in of itself an exciting event for boxing fans.

As far as inactivity's concerned... well if I was a fighter and could get away with fighting every two years... and still maintaining some level of standard of living.... hell, why not. Self-preservation is above all else, after all. All I'm saying is we the fans see precious little these days in the way of great fights between top, well-known fighters. We were let down by Floyd-Pac... we're still waiting for Wlad-Fury... and everything else, so... seeing a guy like Ward still get press while fighting every two years or so, rubs me the wrong way.

**p4pking** · 10-13-2015 12:34 PM

Hey I agree, but I think it more often falls upon promoters and networks when you talk about the general state of affairs. There are more than enough good fighters in this sport to be having great fights all the time, and I don't for a second believe the majority of elite fighters are afraid of each other. They are afraid of getting underpaid, locked into bad contracts, being discredited after a loss(another issue of course), and so on.

I'm not sure Ward does get that much press either? He's certainly never been a big seller or anything, so his inactivity is hurting him as much as anyone else. Obviously people will still talk about him as he's one of the best talents in the sport and hasn't lost.

Think of it this way... If Roger Federer had only entered one tournament every couple of years but he ALWAYS won, or Usain Bolt only competed in the olympics, I'm pretty sure people would still be interested, as much as they might not like it.