Is this a new thing or is it just happening more due to multiple belts and sanctioning bodies being tied to a promoter. So Shakur Stevenson is vacating and moving up after beating another raw prospect in Joet Gonzalez.. So there #1 and #2 in the WBO 126 are Conlan and Ruben Villa which are still pretty much prospects. In the last couple of years this has been too common Gervonta Davis Jamie Mungia Shakur Stevenson Devin Haney Gilberto Ramirez Jose Ramirez(became legit champ) etc..
It has happened before. One that springs to mind is 1980's Light Middleweight Davey Moore. It could be argued that Mike Tyson was still a prospect when he beat Trevor Berbick and Wilfred Benitez was only 17 when he won his first World Title. It does seem to be common place at the moment though. My guess would be that it's down to big promoters pretty much owning sanctioning bodies.
Well Benitez can’t be considered that because he defeated Antonio Cervantes whom was the WBA and Lineal 140 champion for 4 years before losing to Benitez and became champion for another four years after Benitez moved up.. Even Tyson defeating Berbick was an legit win.. I’m talking like how these guys are now fighting for vacant belts against other prospects and fight soft comp after because they’re still technically a prospect.. AJ was still considered a prospect before the Martin fight but his competition level went up after becoming champion..
Sort of. Its been going on for the last 5-8 years I'd say I'm not really a fan of it To be honest I think it's really bad when they take the #1 or #2 guy and pair them with like #13 for a vacant belt.. if its gonna be paper at least have the top 2 compete for it I feel like berto and broner got very manufactured first belts and that goes back a way
Gervonta Davis comes to mind. Even tho he beat someone quite good in Pedraza, he was still seen as "being green". You might be young, but you are still a champion. If you call yourself a champ then act like one. Shakur´s case is hilarious. Dude will move up without having beaten anyone in the top 10
So basically you're saying there is nothing essentially legitimizing modern prospects, at least not like there used to be? Ya I can agree with that somewhat.
I don't like it. If you have a belt, that means you are ready to face the absolute best of the division. If you aren't, don't fight for a damn belt!!
One of the worst examples I can remember is Liam Smith winning his world title vs John Thompson. What the **** was that about?
Correct someone who wins a vacant belt as a prospect against another prospect. After winning the belt they are still carefully guided as a prospect not expected to take on good competition..
Andre Berto's reign, with dubious choices to defend versus, was part of the reason he failed to grow as a boxer. He got a belt, got hand fed opponents he could easily beat. Too much of that kept him as the level he was when he got the belt. Eventually it showed he had no ability to "Plan B" himself back in to a tough fight. Basically the same thing they did w/ Wilder once he got his belt.
I mean if they win it legit then whatever, but if they can fight for a title then we shouldn’t be hearing about them being too young or green to be fighting other champions.
I thought his vacancy fight was vs a stiff but he defended against other champs like collazo, Quintana and urango. I dont think that is all that bad