Do British HWs get moved too fast? In Britain many HW prospects that show potential get moved at a very fast pace and tend to get stepped up rather quickly. This happens with alot of European HWs in general. So what is the correct way. Is stepping fighters up into tough fights, draining and burning them out too fast? Look at how in 25 fights Fury faced - undefeated Chisora, undefeated Nascimento, undefeated Pajkic, Cunningham, K Johnson, Chisora again, Rogan, Ellis, Belshaw, undefeated Power, McDermott and McDermott again, W Klitschko Chisora in 24 fights fought - undefeated Fury, undefeated Helenius, undefeated Scott, undefeated ***ton, ***ton again, D Haye, V Klitschko, D Williams, Gerber, Johnson and had agreed to face Wlad Joshua in his 16th fight is challenging for a world title (we will get to this bit next). In 15 fights Joshua has faced M Skelton, undefeated Cornish, undefeated Whyte, Sprott, Johnson. So looking at Joshuas next opponent Martin (IBF champ), he has had 24 fights and arguably not fought as good a competition but has had more fights to build up to the big moment. D Wilder in 36 fights has not fought at as high a level as what Fury and Chisora have fought, so has this been good in that Deontay has stayed fresh because of this, where as a fighter in so many tough fights like Chisora may have become drained from such tough schedule. So what is the correct way?
I just think that with the lists you have just put down shows that you rate English and European journeymen/average fighters above USA's journeymen/average fighters. Your inclusion of John McDermott is an example. Any hint of a step up in his career has been to a defeat. I do believe Wilder has fought a sub-par level of opposition, but on top of that he has also been busy fighting more fights per year. Tyson Fury fought 10 fights in 3 years , between pro fight 13 and pro fight 23. Deontay Wilder fought during the same time 18 fights, between pro fight 14-32. So quality over quantity, or quantity over quality. Depends on how quickly that the fighters can recover and work of technical flaws post fights leading into the next. 50/50 call really, I think the optimum is 4 fights a year from pro fight 16-20 onwards, especially if the opposition is in the top 40. You need time to get over the fight, and work on technique, and study the next fighter in camp. So to answer your question, it really depends on the fighter, as some come in battle hardened from a good amatuer career, and some come in green with rough skills. The perfect example is Tyson and Joshua. Tyson has a natural boxing brain, and Joshua has rough power. If Tyson fully immersed himself into training like Joshua to lift workrate in his fights, he'd be near unstoppable...likewise if Joshua learnt the subtle skills involved in boxing, coupled with his power, he'd be near unstoppable. Sadly, I think both won't be ATG's as they are limited, but that's another story. Chisora for example is just a wildman with a good chin, destined to be a punching bag....but every sport has the "that guy".
At Joshuas stage in his career he hasnt got much left to learn in the gym its all about gaining experiences now. He learnt a very big lesson in round 2 against Whyte and your not guna learn much more if he then took a step back in standard of opposition. Not sure if he should be really fighting for a world title yet. Yes he may blow Martin away but then he will be the one with the belt and all then Wilder, Fury, Povetkin etc will all be focusing on him bit time. But then who can blame him and his team taking this oppertunity. Even saying what i just said i was hoping they would take it. So in short, no i dont think they get rushed in too quickly. If they were ever guna be good enough and they kept focused and proffesional they would be up to the top sooner or later.
Perhaps they do. The ironic thing is most Yanks jealous of Joshua's success believe he needs to be moved faster atsch If we look through history up until this point Joshua had been moved only slightly slower than Mike Tyson or Joe Louis, at the same pace as Muhammed Ali, Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe, faster than either Klitschko brother and WAY faster than Wilder (in fact, I don't think Wilder has faced anyone as good as Whyte, and would favour Whyte to batter Wilder into oblivion).
I don't think Fury was brought along too soon, he was a pro for almost 7 years when he fought Wlad and prior to that his opposition was carefully chosen to bring him along. Chisora was definitely thrown to the wolves quite early and matched up against some stiff opposition. Fury in his 15th fight, Helenius in his 17th and Vitali in his 18th. You could argue Price was brought along too soon as well. He fought Thompson in his 16th fight and Thompson had only lost to Wlad over the last decade at that point. Joshua is being pushed along quickly, 16th fight will be for a world title, though possibly the weakest title holder in a long, long, time. I think Harrison was brought along at a steady pace, facing Williams for the commonwealth title in his 20th fight. So I'd say some get rushed while others are brought along at steady pace, depends upon the fighter. As to which is the best approach, I think it depends upon the fighter. Bring them along too slowly and they stagnate or are past prime by the time they get a title shot or bring them along too quickly and risk derailing their development.
Fair post Do you think if Wilder in so few fights had the same fights as Chisora having fought undefeated Fury, undefeated Helenius, Vitali, Haye do you think he would be as fresh as he is now?
Perhaps not in terms of 15 fights v 15 fights, but it terms of time periods, after the same amount of time as a pro Tyson was a little ahead of where Joshua was after Whyte
Hans, do you have anything to add to this thread http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=559333 Its a new thread I have started
They get moved quickly, but I would like to add that the fighters don't lose their fanbase because of a loss like American fighters do. For example Lacy was a big fighter, loses to Calzaghe and he loses all of fanbase. Ricky Hatton loses and he still has a big fanbase and the same goes for Bruno. Americans love winners, whilst we love the boxers that have a great personality and therfore don't lose fans because of a loss.
people will call whyte a bum for being knocked out by a 17stone ripped herculean beast Like MBE AJ, but i think he would beat the breaks off most of the top 20. :good