Lee and Lemieux were world class opponents. Legitimate world champions. Saunders beat both clearly, the latter being a boxing masterclass. I can understand people disliking Saunders. However, I can't understand the ignoring or belittling of achievements that happened right before our very eyes. Crazy carry on. Totally unfair.
Whilst I agree it was very evident that Lemieux was definitely not the fighter he was and he was not in great condition on the night. That said BJS did exactly the right things and executed his plan perfectly with, as you say, a masterclass. It's his utter stupidity, lack of activity and general disrespectful behaviour that annoys people, if he was active he other two wouldn't really matter but the fact that he's so inactive just frustrates everyone so much.
Froch put every bit the same boxing masterclass on against Arthur Abraham that BJS put on against an out of shape and poorly motivated Lemieux and I rate Abraham far more highly than Lemieux. Lemieux has had similar problems around his dedication to the sport as what BJS has. The only time Froch ever dropped the ball and took an opponent lightly, was against Groves in their first fight and took everything that Groves could throw at him and still managed the win, and although the circumstances surrounding the win were a bit dodgy, he had still turned a corner from the 7th onward and was starting to take over. BJS has struggled against domestic level at the time opposîtion such as Eubank Jnr. and Ryder and I think that BJS would have an absolute mare against the vastly improved and much stronger Ryder now. In fact, Ryder's resume shits all over BJS's over the last 2 years. BJS would have to show me something I've not yet seen against a genuine, elite level fighter, like a Canelo or prime GGG before I give him a genuine hope against a prime, fully focused Froch.
Abraham was a blown up middleweight past his best. How do you know Lemieux was out of shape and poorly motivated? Seemed very motivated in the pre-fight build up, making all sorts of threats. Belittling that win is ridiculous. It's a fantastic win. Billy was very young rising through the British ranks and remained unbeaten. Lets just ignore that fact. Billy isn't getting a fair shake on here, that's for sure.
Just to point out, going into the Froch fight Abraham was a 31-1 thirty year old. Going into the Saunders fight Lemieux was 38-3 and a week short of his twenty-ninth birthday. Abraham had also been a pro for only seven years. Lemieux for a decade. Not actually much between them if you're thinking that Lemieux was some young kid and Abraham an old guy.
I never stated as much. Abraham was a small supermiddleweight, past his best. That's a fact. Unbeaten at middleweight, six losses at supermiddleweight.
i don't give BJS a fair shake because to be brutally honest, he doesn't deserve it. He has a God given gift in his talent and boxing ability and he's done more than most to **** it up the wall. Since his Lemieux win, he's done absolutely nothing of note and this chance at winning the WBO Supermiddleweight belt is frankly a ****ing joke. His opponent has done absolutely nothing to warrant his lofty position of fighting for a vacant world title. It's just another case of the Warren Boxing Organisation gifting one of Bricktop's fighters a belt. When BJS challenges a Canelo, GGG, Mundo, Andrade or even takes on Derevyenchenko or Charlo brother, I may start getting high on him again, win lose or draw.
Nuff said. Also, why would BJS turn down a great opportunity to win a vacant title at a second weight class? Your issue is with Warren, not Saunders. But hey, it's all well and good when Eddie manipulates the WBA rankings....
All boxing promoters are quite capable of being a complete shower, I just don't recall anyone trying to kill Hearn recently.....
