Ryan Rhodes is furious with the WBC

[Kev]

Ryan Rhodes is irrelevant, it's the whole fact that Manny just 'steps up' into the light middleweight division and is given an automatic title shot.

I just don't get this at all. Who is more deserving of a world title shot than a guy who has won world titles in more weight classes than any other fighter in history?

Manny is already a top 20, maybe top 10 p4p fighter of ALL TIME, of course he should get priority in a title shot over mediocre nobodies like Ryan Rhodes.

Boxing is a business, and it's also entertainment. We, the fans (most of us) want to see the biggest and best fights being made. Sadly, for Manny that would be Floyd, but as that clearly isn't happening any time soon, I'm sure as hell excited to see if he can move yet another weight class and beat a guy with a massive size and reach advantage on hi,

Considering Margarito also KO'd Cotto and beat down Clottey, Manny's last two opponents, this makes for an intriguing matchup imo.

Letting it be for a world title belt is just a victory for commonsense over beaurocratic nonsense.

Boxing should be about the best fighting the best. Although Margarito isn't the best I'd sure rather have him and Manny fighting for the light middle weight title than Rhodes and Powell for example.

It's a big fight.

[0james0]

It just confirms that the titles don't actaully mean shit.

The only fair solution would have been if Manny and Margarito didn't fight for that title, especially as it looks like it will be under a catch weight anyway (don't even get me started on that subject........)

They should still fight each other as that is what everyone wants to now see, but it shouldn't be for a title, especially when they aren't even fighting at the correct weight.

Manny would destroy Rhodes inside a couple of rounds and it would be no fun for anyone. But I do agree it's harsh that the rankings mean shit.

[boxingbantz]

It just confirms that the titles don't actaully mean shit.

The only fair solution would have been if Manny and Margarito didn't fight for that title, especially as it looks like it will be under a catch weight anyway (don't even get me started on that subject........)

They should still fight each other as that is what everyone wants to now see, but it shouldn't be for a title, especially when they aren't even fighting at the correct weight.

Manny would destroy Rhodes inside a couple of rounds and it would be no fun for anyone. But I do agree it's harsh that the rankings mean shit.

This is my point. I agree with everything you said bilbo, my point was the ranking don't mean shit if people can just jump others when they don't even fight in that weight. At least make Pac fight at 154 if he wants to fight for the strap, too. Obviously I don't wanna see Pac vs Rhodes as it would be over within one, if not, two rounds.

[Kirkland Laing]

Rhodes knows how the boxing business works, he's not furious at all. He's only mentioning himself in relation to those guys so that the press write about him in relation to those guys. It's all just publicity like all the 140 pounders on Twitter.

[Kev]

It just confirms that the titles don't actaully mean shit.

The only fair solution would have been if Manny and Margarito didn't fight for that title, especially as it looks like it will be under a catch weight anyway (don't even get me started on that subject........)

They should still fight each other as that is what everyone wants to now see, but it shouldn't be for a title, especially when they aren't even fighting at the correct weight.

Manny would destroy Rhodes inside a couple of rounds and it would be no fun for anyone. But I do agree it's harsh that the rankings mean shit.

This is my point. I agree with everything you said bilbo, my point was the ranking don't mean shit if people can just jump others when they don't even fight in that weight. At least make Pac fight at 154 if he wants to fight for the strap, too. Obviously I don't wanna see Pac vs Rhodes as it would be over within one, if not, two rounds.

I don't really agree here. The point is the rankings were ok without Manny in the division. Take Manny out and the rankings can be useful to get legitimate contenders for the title. But when a world superstar enters the division clearly his acomplishments eclipse everything the rest have done so he should jump the queue imo. If not then any title fight for that belt would be a farce as he'd clearly smack the shit out of whoever won.

So in this case Manny and Margarito (himself a three time welterweight champ) are absolutely the right guys to be fighting for this title. After they have had their bout and presumabely Manny vacates, the rankings will be useful again.

We should never let beaurocracy interfere with the best fights being made and Manny is far far far more deserving of a title shot than Rhodes or anyone else. To have him in the weight class and somebody else fighting for the title of world champ is clearly absurd.

[0james0]

Apart from he's not really in the weight class as he's fighting at a restricted weight for the title, which isn't right.

[0james0]

My problem isn't so much with the fight being made, I'm happy with that. It's more of an annoyance that Margarito gets the big fight and a title shot.

Just because he's a former champ, doesn't give him the right to jump the que. If Prince Naz returned now, should he go straight to the front?

[Master]

My problem isn't so much with the fight being made, I'm happy with that. It's more of an annoyance that Margarito gets the big fight and a title shot.

Just because he's a former champ, doesn't give him the right to jump the que. If Prince Naz returned now, should he go straight to the front?

Vitali did after many years, so did Tyson a head of Lewis. Sick and stupid.

[milmascaras1]

this practice of allowing fighters moving up in class to bypass top contenders and be given a title shot isn't new. all of the sanctioning bodies do it, that's why boxing is so corrupt.

[TitoFan]

My problem isn't so much with the fight being made, I'm happy with that. It's more of an annoyance that Margarito gets the big fight and a title shot.

Just because he's a former champ, doesn't give him the right to jump the que. If Prince Naz returned now, should he go straight to the front?

I don't think there's a TRUE boxing fan out there that doesn't second your feelings. And what compounds the situation is that Margarito is a convicted cheater. Just goes to show the "reward" system in boxing. And yeah... it DOES set a dangerous precedent. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry can expect to be leapfrogged over more deserving contenders who have EARNED their shot.

Boxing has a funny way of shooting itself in the foot every now and then.

[superheavyrhun]

I don't really agree here. The point is the rankings were ok without Manny in the division. Take Manny out and the rankings can be useful to get legitimate contenders for the title. But when a world superstar enters the division clearly his acomplishments eclipse everything the rest have done so he should jump the queue imo. If not then any title fight for that belt would be a farce as he'd clearly smack the shit out of whoever won.

So in this case Manny and Margarito (himself a three time welterweight champ) are absolutely the right guys to be fighting for this title. After they have had their bout and presumabely Manny vacates, the rankings will be useful again.

We should never let beaurocracy interfere with the best fights being made and Manny is far far far more deserving of a title shot than Rhodes or anyone else. To have him in the weight class and somebody else fighting for the title of world champ is clearly absurd.

I don't really have a problem with Manny Pacquiao coming up, and I agree with what has been posted elsewhere that consideration should be given to what has been achieved in the lower divisions in terms of where they come in, and I agree that Pacquiao should be considered in the title mix in the division. My problem is with Margarito winning one fight against a guy with no pedigree and going straight into a title shot. If he's coming back from a ban for cheating, especially in terms of hardening his wraps, then he should have to build his career again, not take an extended holiday and go straight back in to the big time.