And only two in the top 40 are currently scheduled. Check it out on BoxRec: [url]https://boxrec.com/en/schedule?c_go=&s%5BcountryCode%5D=&s%5Bdivision%5D=Heavyweight&s%5Bmedia%5D=&s%5Bsport%5D=proboxing&offset=60[/url] What's wrong with the promoters and managers? Why are they keeping the better heavyweights inactive? Sure, they've had Covid-19 to deal with. But still, a lot of these guys should be scheduled for summer, when things open up. This inactivity cannot be good for the fighters.
I think there are a few things at play here 1. Covid-19: Venues arent back to full capacity and in many countries like the UK the attendances allowed wont even allow a show to break even. Then there is the uncertainty about when things will be "back to normal" we had a false re-start last autumn, and no doubt people lost a lot of money over this. It is too early to plan a show 3 months in advance at this stage. 2. AJ-Fury. Will they or wont they? This fight being made is holding up everything else. Especially for anyone else who could possibly face either of those two. 3. The tendancy for established HWs to avoid new challengers who pose a threat. We are seeing the endless recycling of the likes of Parker, Chisora, Whyte, Povetkin and Pulev...If they face each other on the PPV carousel and lose then they cant be thrown off. Face a new face though, and the risk is a lot greater.
Chisora never refuses to fight if paycheck is enough decent and this really is rarity in HW boxing top. Then there are established boxers since Klits era who still are fighting vs top guys. Like Takam, Pulev, Chisora etc. Povetkin is very good boxer, he just is over the hill long years ago, soon he will be 42. HW division is very specific with large number of highly ranked boxers who are 37-40 + . Boxers, their teams and managers looks that take this as career job. For example why to risk to fight with someone ranked 20 th for the same purse as vs someone ranked 15 th? If your boxer will loss this one vs guy ranked 20 th, he will drop in rankings more than if he will loss vs guy ranked 15 th. Then there are old well known names, boxers who had fought for a title vs notable ppl. They not only now are older, so less risk, also they are more well known. Outcome: better to fight vs more well known and higher ranked boxer or vs some bum rather than vs dangerous boxer who doesn't have big name and is ranked lower. Live gates problem ofc impacts income a lot but this is more for not well known lads, especially ranked below top 25, top 50. More well known boxers might bring in money even without live gates: media does know their names.
Dinu/Dubois has the potential to be interesting. But not top 20s. I think if Dinu gives it's a go like he did against Pulev that an upset is possible. Not convinced 6 months is enough to fully recover from that dissection at the hands of Joyce - that eye could still be compromised. a few stiff jabs from Dinu could impact the fight in the early going.
Probably. Just playing devil's advocate. Dinu HAS the skills to cause problems here - it's just his heart and chin which are lacking.
Because the truth is there aren’t a lot of great heavyweights out there, and american heavyweight boxing is dead and maybe more than that. There is no excuse as to why out of a population of 331,000,000 there is just Wilder and Ruiz and they are just above average, Hunter and Martin are below average. That’s the truth, I don’t count any of these up and coming americans they are trying to hype up on espn because they won’t be any better than what we have now. We need an american heavyweight with charisma, skill, discipline and one that respects the ring.
I'll give Chisora and Whyte credit, they will fight. I think the majority of heavyweights spend their time ducking any sort of challenge. With one solid win guys like Mahkmudov and Hrgovic could be in line for a title shot. But guys like Ortiz, Wilder, Kownacki, Helenius, Martin and Hunter won't fight anybody and if they did it'd be Breazeale or Stiverne.
All that may be true, but some of the lesser known heavyweights could make a name for themselves by fighting each other. It's at least better than staying inactive.
These people need to be careful, all holding off waiting for the venues to open so they can make a bit more money, the downside will be that there will be a flood of events for everyone to go to and they might find theirs doesn't generate the revenue they expect. To be honest, when all this is over and done and I've got a choice to stay in and watch some **** Matchroom card or go out properly with friends and family I know which one I'm choosing. Very risky game for anyone below the absolute top draws. While we're all home with **** all else to do these promoters should get some stacked cards on PPV and generate some decent buzz and they'll make more money. Instead of these anorexic cards with masked weigh ins why not have heavyweight night and they could get the trash talking going and call each other out in the after fight interviews etc etc
You'd think a promoter would stage a night of heavyweights on PPV, have 3 really good matches on a single card instead of an entire year
Multiple reasons: 1. Covid-19 restrictions on fans attending 2. Some time back, even the gyms were closed. Can't even fly in your sparring partners 3. Not enough money from TV rights only. 4. Fighters nowadays are only concerned with their carefully choreographed record rather than competitive fights. 5. The good fighters like to "preserve" themselves. This means fighting fewer fights in the hope of prolonging their careers. Boxing, on the whole, has been in decline over the years. Sure, there are some great names but overall it is losing viewers.
Remember Foreman fought five bums in the same night? That's what these frauds need to do to get my respect, never mind hiding away because you won't be paid enough.
