My problem with moving through weight classes

[Ron Swanson]

What irks me about it is guys that moved up used to prove they were the best guy in some division before moving up. Maybe once they started moving up they continued without cleaning out subsequent divisions but they still had that 1 to point back to.

Crawford, Usyk, these guys have every right to move as Mayweather, Holyfield and Mosley did previously. But almost all now move without ever really doing much in that first division. Even PAC, with many lineal titles, which division did he prove he was the best in? Surely fighting in so many he proved he was best in 1?

[Spicoli]

At times it feels like the trinkets have delegitimized the competition of sport. This whole bouncing around for the sake of 'making history' solely based on low hanging fruit..pre positioning.. rather than the biggest baddest dog on the yard. Many have stiff competition in the division they leave and when they go up more stiff competition to work around. Worse they treat it like a simple pit stop and are allowed to retain top ranks in even two divisions. A Canelo has 2,3 fellow wba trinket holders at 168..Callum Smith is more than worthy..and hasn't faced a single contender at 175 but is allowed to waltz into a wbo opportunity. They do this a lot. It's an absurd game. Checkers not chess.

[TitoFan]

Who allows all this? The fans. Maybe a slow and subtle shift toward the type of fan who likes shiny objects and has a short attention span. If fans were to shun these crass cherry-pickers, maybe they'd stay in one place longer and prove their mettle against all worthy contenders in their own divisions instead of jumping around and targeting the Rocky Fieldings of the world.

[Fenster]

Canelo is only doing what the biggest stars have done since multi titles became the norm (Leonard and Hearns jumped up and down like yo-yos collecting trinkets).

The truth is, Kovalev-Canelo is a much, much bigger seller than anyone else Canelo can face at middle/super middle (barring GGG). DAZN didn't give him a billion quid to fight whoever he wants, they want marquee names.

Fans can hate Canelo all they like, however, he fought the two best middleweights and now the best/2nd best lightheavy. If Kovalev is such a cherry pick old drunk what does that say about the light-heavy division?

[Master]

I know Canelo is avoiding decent middleweights and Callum Smith by taking on Kovolev but it is still an intriguing fight which will be very good to watch.

There will be excuses whoever loses but I think Canelo is intending to win and is not a bridge too far.

This fight is going to be good.

I would personally prefer Canelo to fight GGG and Callum Smith but do not want to see Andrade or BJS.

Canelo is not the best super middleweight for beating Fielding (who Smith destroyed in a round) and I would not see him being the best light heavyweight for beating Kov.

It is still a good fight.

[Fenster]

If Charlo or Andrade or Smith or Saunders fought Kovalev would it be a "cherry pick?" Hmmmm...?

[TitoFan]

Before Ward, Kovalev was a destruction machine, feared by all.

After two losses to Ward and an embarrassing TKO loss to Alvarez, now he's clearly on the downside of his career and a guy who runs out of gas and doesn't like it to the body.

Would Canelo have ventured to fight the previous Kovalev? Hmmmmmm?

[powerpuncher]

If Charlo or Andrade or Smith or Saunders fought Kovalev would it be a "cherry pick?" Hmmmm...?

Depending the situation. I wouldn’t like any of them going up to fight Kovalev because they all have good fights at their own weights. Canelo basically has his pick to fight whoever he wants. If someone like Charlo was demanding fights and nobody would fight him, then I guess going up to fight Kovalev would make some sense.

[powerpuncher]

Canelo is only doing what the biggest stars have done since multi titles became the norm (Leonard and Hearns jumped up and down like yo-yos collecting trinkets).

The truth is, Kovalev-Canelo is a much, much bigger seller than anyone else Canelo can face at middle/super middle (barring GGG). DAZN didn't give him a billion quid to fight whoever he wants, they want marquee names.

Fans can hate Canelo all they like, however, he fought the two best middleweights and now the best/2nd best lightheavy. If Kovalev is such a cherry pick old drunk what does that say about the light-heavy division?

Which is exactly my point. They are making the fight because he is a big name AND they see that stylistically they could beat him. Worse comes to worst, he loses and just says that Kovalev was too big and he gets no backlash.

The other three title holders at that weight (Bivol, Gvozdyk, and Beterbiev) would all easily beat Canelo. Kovalev a few years ago would too. I think that stylistically Andrade, Saunders, and Smith are all tougher opponents.

It’s a cherry pick because he is specifically picking someone he knows he has a decent chance to beat with enough name recognition to bring more star power. It’s clear as day.

[Master]

Canelo is only doing what the biggest stars have done since multi titles became the norm (Leonard and Hearns jumped up and down like yo-yos collecting trinkets).

The truth is, Kovalev-Canelo is a much, much bigger seller than anyone else Canelo can face at middle/super middle (barring GGG). DAZN didn't give him a billion quid to fight whoever he wants, they want marquee names.

Fans can hate Canelo all they like, however, he fought the two best middleweights and now the best/2nd best lightheavy. If Kovalev is such a cherry pick old drunk what does that say about the light-heavy division?

Which is exactly my point. They are making the fight because he is a big name AND they see that stylistically they could beat him. Worse comes to worst, he loses and just says that Kovalev was too big and he gets no backlash.

The other three title holders at that weight (Bivol, Gvozdyk, and Beterbiev) would all easily beat Canelo. Kovalev a few years ago would too. I think that stylistically Andrade, Saunders, and Smith are all tougher opponents.

It’s a cherry pick because he is specifically picking someone he knows he has a decent chance to beat with enough name recognition to bring more star power. It’s clear as day.

You are correct Bivol, Gvozdyk, and Beterbiev would be tougher fights as would Callum Smith. But I do not think Canelo is fighting because it will give him an excuse should he lose. He has every intention of winning. His name would diminish should he lose.