State of the Middleweight Division

It's not deep at all and hasn't been in a long time I said in the martinez pavlik williams days when everyone was hyping them that the 160 division was shallow and it's still SHALLOW.

So yes ggg is a good fighter but look at who he has to beat they are pretty mediocre.I like murray but he couldn't punch a hole through wet paper and that was what lost him the fight just doesn't have the pop or workrate to give ggg trouble.

 

People who say it is shallow... compared to what?

Most people cannot tell the difference between marketing and skill. 147 and 154 were marketed, but while 147 probably has more slightly more depth than 160 154 has less. And 147 depth is only slight, I mean though I like Thurman he was being talked about as a top opponent - Manny had to fight Rios and Algieri etc...


In absolute terms, I'd say 160 is more or less the same as most divisions. Martinez decline, Pavlik fading to alcohol, Chavez derailing his career etc hurt interest and activity in recent years though.

In historical terms, you can make a strong case that any division is weak compared to what it has been at certain points in history. But thats because top guys used to fight each other a lot more period.

 

Not a poll option but "fair" (between average and good)

 

I would say average but in addition to guys moving up the actual MW prospects like Khytrov, Murata, Derevyanchenko, Quigley will likely provide depth the division hasn't seen for more than two decades since before Hopkins time in the late 80's early 90's.

GGG
Canelo
Murray
N'Dam
Lemeiux
Lee
Geale
Quillin
Andrade
Khytrov
Murata
Derevyanchenko
Quigley
Jacobs
Chudinov
Saunders
Heiland
T.Johnson

If GGG gets the WBC belt later this year and perhaps the IBF or WBO next year depending how N'Dam/Lemieux and Lee/Quillin go and starts defending against that list it could be very respectable.

 

Historically I would say thats about right. Sadly I think about the same of each division 130 and above, with the exception of 147 being "good"

 

:good

 

It's not a weak division, there are a good number of decent fighters (B level fighters) but it's lacking in A level fighters of which there really is only one.

 

It's "weak but..."

There a LOT of potential there however those with potential haven't really developed fully on it yet and a lot of the contenders are less than great.

 

Voted average as some belt holders are running scared and won't fight the best available opponents so that's going to drag it down

 

Below average.

Take GGG to 168lbs

Its a division full of average fighters.

 

I forgot but Khytrov and Dervyanchenko signed with Haymon so they'll be in his league and kept away from Golovkin so nevermind that. FFS

 

The fact that you named a bunch of fighters that might go to MW shows the current MW division is ****. It's full of recycled fighters that didn't do good in the last era and GGG. ( meaning GGG is isn't recycled)

 

compared to other divisions and past eras