Fu##ing WBC!

[Spicoli]

Its one thing to get a shot so early and lightly tested but to also have it seem a literal set up, the fight just a formality (see Berto's trinket win) is another thing. I just dont think it does a fighter anygood and it short changes them when they have to mature on higher championship level. Not to mention it screws other more deserving guys.

To be fair the matchup was made first, it was only after the fight was made that the WBC let it be for a title shot.

People have got it about face, if they are thinking Alvarez got the title shot arranged first, and then handpicked an opponent.

The matchup was already made.

Thats even worse really. Sounds like one hand washing the other between Oscar and Arum. Its a parlor trick to me but then again they have always played musical chairs with the rankings. In an ideal world....reality....#1 and #2 should meet for vacant strap.

Well the thing is boxing isn't like other sports that have organised fixtures and league tables. They sell events. The promoters and world ranking bodies want world champions that they can sell. Alvarez is such a guy. Ryan Rhodes most definitely is not.

Is it fair? Not really, but ultimately the fans are as much to blame as we want to see the glamour fighters fight each other and Alvarez has that star potential. They want to get him a belt so that they can market him on HBO and create hopefully a big star for the future.

I would rather see Alavarez on HBO than Ryan Rhodes any day of the week so as a pragmatist I'm not too bothered.

It might be tough on the others who got excluded but this sport is all about smashing the opposition out of the way so it's quite apt.

Your opposition and the visibility they bring goes much further then the notoriety some trinket will bring you. They got Berto a strap in hopes to make a huge star...hasn't translated into huge fights quite yet. He's a preme champion in a state of limbo. HBO promotes fighters looking for stars... not belts. Seeing Alvarez is great...but fighting crap is fighting crap yeh? Fans should call bullshit on this sensationalism at every opportunity, not excuse it. Top vs Top = Champion...otherwise your just a warmer.

[Kev]

Its one thing to get a shot so early and lightly tested but to also have it seem a literal set up, the fight just a formality (see Berto's trinket win) is another thing. I just dont think it does a fighter anygood and it short changes them when they have to mature on higher championship level. Not to mention it screws other more deserving guys.

To be fair the matchup was made first, it was only after the fight was made that the WBC let it be for a title shot.

People have got it about face, if they are thinking Alvarez got the title shot arranged first, and then handpicked an opponent.

The matchup was already made.

Thats even worse really. Sounds like one hand washing the other between Oscar and Arum. Its a parlor trick to me but then again they have always played musical chairs with the rankings. In an ideal world....reality....#1 and #2 should meet for vacant strap.

Well the thing is boxing isn't like other sports that have organised fixtures and league tables. They sell events. The promoters and world ranking bodies want world champions that they can sell. Alvarez is such a guy. Ryan Rhodes most definitely is not.

Is it fair? Not really, but ultimately the fans are as much to blame as we want to see the glamour fighters fight each other and Alvarez has that star potential. They want to get him a belt so that they can market him on HBO and create hopefully a big star for the future.

I would rather see Alavarez on HBO than Ryan Rhodes any day of the week so as a pragmatist I'm not too bothered.

It might be tough on the others who got excluded but this sport is all about smashing the opposition out of the way so it's quite apt.

Your opposition and the visibility they bring goes much further then the notoriety some trinket will bring you. They got Berto a strap in hopes to make a huge star...hasn't translated into huge fights quite yet. He's a preme champion in a state of limbo. HBO promotes fighters looking for stars... not belts. Seeing Alvarez is great...but fighting crap is fighting crap yeh? Fans should call bullshit on this sensationalism at every opportunity, not excuse it. Top vs Top = Champion...otherwise your just a warmer.

Yeah I agree they need opposition. But you guys are forgetting Alvarez is just a kid not even old enought to drink in the states. The good opposition will come later. Right now they just want to get him noticed, and have a fight to sell. The thing you guys are missing is the television aspect.

The WBC could have been fair and got Ryan Rhodes and somebody else to fight for the title, but then it wouldn't have been on HBO.

HBO want a fight they can sell and Alvarez vs the brother of Ricky Hatton, and a European champ on a 10 fight unbeaten run sells, whereas Alvarez vs a completely unknown Brit doesn't, no matter if we know it's probably the better fight.

All Goldenboy and HBO want is to put Alvarez in with a credible name, with an angle they can use to sell the fight, and with the type of opponent Alvarez can hopefully look good against. Him fighting the brother of by far the best known British light welter worldwide for years is a decent angle, and he will likely look good in knocking him out, which is what they want.

Yes it's discrimination, but there are far worse kinds in the world. Boxing fights are events, and are as much to do with popularity as anything else.

Hopefully Alvarez puts on a show, looks good and then defends his catchweight won vacant strap against J M Marquez.