Vasyl Lomachenko is P4P #1

[Alpha]

Andy Lee summed it up I think "He (Brook) actually showed enough that he can compete at middleweight but it's just that Golovkin is a future hall of famer."

[Master]

Andy Lee summed it up I think "He (Brook) actually showed enough that he can compete at middleweight but it's just that Golovkin is a future hall of famer."

That was because he wanted to set up a big fight with the welterweight who he could beat and make some easy money.

[TitoFan]

Whatever happened to going through 154 first? Seems like the logical progression to me. Forget the perceived lack of names there... and the glitter at 160. You want to move in weight in a sport that requires 5-7 pound divisions? One step at a time, I would think. People have been regurgitating names from the past. Yes... lots of guys have made that welter to middle journey... including my all-time favorite Trinidad. Was pretty successful too, until he met up with Hopkins. But guys normally don't jump over divisions to face arguably the greatest middle of his generation. How to argue that you can hang with the middles, when you've never proven yourself at junior middle. This is part of the argument, IMO.

[Alpha]

Andy Lee summed it up I think "He (Brook) actually showed enough that he can compete at middleweight but it's just that Golovkin is a future hall of famer."

That was because he wanted to set up a big fight with the welterweight who he could beat and make some easy money.

No he was wanting to secure a fight with GGG.

Whatever happened to going through 154 first? Seems like the logical progression to me. Forget the perceived lack of names there... and the glitter at 160. You want to move in weight in a sport that requires 5-7 pound divisions? One step at a time, I would think. People have been regurgitating names from the past. Yes... lots of guys have made that welter to middle journey... including my all-time favorite Trinidad. Was pretty successful too, until he met up with Hopkins. But guys normally don't jump over divisions to face arguably the greatest middle of his generation. How to argue that you can hang with the middles, when you've never proven yourself at junior middle. This is part of the argument, IMO.

Like you said guys have done it (although gradually) and been successful. There's no reason to believe that Brook couldn't be as well. If Trinidad had of skipped 154 I think he still would have had success at 160. Inoue jumped 2 divisions and seven pounds to destroy the long reigning #1 guy at 115. Hopkins jumped 15 pounds to defeat the lineal champion at 175. Roy jumped almost 20 pounds to defeat a heavyweight belt holder. Also as I mentioned Napoles jumped to 160 to challenge the lineal middleweight champ before returning to 147. Marquez to Mayweather. Pac to De La Hoya. Spinks to Holmes and many many more. It's also hard to argue against as history has shown it time and again that it is possible. Like I said just becuase Brook lost to GGG doesn't mean he couldn't be competitive with other middleweights.

[Alpha]

I heard Lomachenko vs Salido II is set for the summer. Vasyl apparently demanded it.

[Spicoli]

Might be unpopular opinion but lets just be clear, Brook jumping up was more about him wanting to be as big a star than he thought himself a superior fighter than GGG. Initially at least and honestly cannot blame him. But he put gloves on him. Facing Spence immediately off may again be more heart than mind but it's more respectable than some pampered wanker demanding catch weights in an already absurd Jr division madness. To many it's a pit stop. Tito demolished his way to 160 legitimacy if you ask me. The joke was on the majority of "experts" who failed to acknowledge Hopkins all along though.

[Master]

Might be unpopular opinion but lets just be clear, Brook jumping up was more about him wanting to be as big a star than he thought himself a superior fighter than GGG. Initially at least and honestly cannot blame him. But he put gloves on him. Facing Spence immediately off may again be more heart than mind but it's more respectable than some pampered wanker demanding catch weights in an already absurd Jr division madness. To many it's a pit stop. Tito demolished his way to 160 legitimacy if you ask me. The joke was on the majority of "experts" who failed to acknowledge Hopkins all along though.

That is all true but Brook has had some stinker defences after he impressively beat Porter. So the way I see it he cornered himself to take on these big challenges because he chose easy defences.

[TitoFan]

Might be unpopular opinion but lets just be clear, Brook jumping up was more about him wanting to be as big a star than he thought himself a superior fighter than GGG. Initially at least and honestly cannot blame him. But he put gloves on him. Facing Spence immediately off may again be more heart than mind but it's more respectable than some pampered wanker demanding catch weights in an already absurd Jr division madness. To many it's a pit stop. Tito demolished his way to 160 legitimacy if you ask me. The joke was on the majority of "experts" who failed to acknowledge Hopkins all along though.

Good post and good points all. The bolded statement is completely true and, although I've always been a big Brook fan and give him kudos for fighting respectably against GGG.... the truth of the matter is he JUMPED. He went directly from 147 to 160 with no tuneup fights... no fighting at 154... no facing someone at a slightly lower level than GGG. It was all about the "star impact", which is why many of us hesitate before trying to make Brook into something he's not..... a legitimate middleweight.

[Ron Swanson]

I heard Lomachenko vs Salido II is set for the summer. Vasyl apparently demanded it.

I'm not happy about this. Salido hasn't won a fight since 2014! I like Loma but same as I am with other top guys, I expect more. Get back only matters if the opponent still matters. They should have at least explored bigger fights before settling on this.

[Alpha]

I heard Lomachenko vs Salido II is set for the summer. Vasyl apparently demanded it.

I'm not happy about this. Salido hasn't won a fight since 2014! I like Loma but same as I am with other top guys, I expect more. Get back only matters if the opponent still matters. They should have at least explored bigger fights before settling on this.

I'm ok with it as I'm sure he will pursue bigger fights once he has avenged the loss on his record.

[Master]

I heard Lomachenko vs Salido II is set for the summer. Vasyl apparently demanded it.

I'm not happy about this. Salido hasn't won a fight since 2014! I like Loma but same as I am with other top guys, I expect more. Get back only matters if the opponent still matters. They should have at least explored bigger fights before settling on this.

I think avenging a loss can be important for a fighter. Lennox Lewis did it and enhanced his legacy.

Khan did not because Prescott kept on losing his big fights so there was no need.

[Ron Swanson]

Whatever happened to going through 154 first? Seems like the logical progression to me. Forget the perceived lack of names there... and the glitter at 160. You want to move in weight in a sport that requires 5-7 pound divisions? One step at a time, I would think. People have been regurgitating names from the past. Yes... lots of guys have made that welter to middle journey... including my all-time favorite Trinidad. Was pretty successful too, until he met up with Hopkins. But guys normally don't jump over divisions to face arguably the greatest middle of his generation. How to argue that you can hang with the middles, when you've never proven yourself at junior middle. This is part of the argument, IMO.

This is easy. 154 has tough matchups that don't earn. 6 foot, 6'2" guys that bring no money. Nobody is looking for that. That's why you get Canelo-weight