So can we agree letting a fight "marinate" is dumb af?

So many mega fights that should have happened: Lennox vs Bowe, Khan vs brook, wilder vs Joshua, Crawford vs Spence, Spence vs Thurman, etc

Not to mention fights that did actually happen but it was a letdown because they took too long such as may vs pac, or Tyson vs Holyfield (Douglas and prison derailed).

Now we recently have the ruined potentially $100 million dollar mega fight between fury and Joshua. Congrats to Usyk, but this threw a wet towel on a division that was on fire. Boxing had just started to make a bit of a comeback and the HWs we're looking great for a while, but so much ducking, arguing over money, and delays ruined it. Covid can't be used as a scape goat because this has been an ongoing problem for several years.

When are fighters and promoters going to wake up and stop being dumb? They need to stop trying to milk things out and follow the may vs pac blueprint, that was a once in a century jackpot and it left the fans betrayed.

It's a symptom of an even greater problem which is that so many of the best simply aren't fighting the best. To get paid as a prize fighter, you need to fight. Nobody wants to pay boxers to fight a bunch of Jesus Soto Karasses or Chris Areolas when there are prime ranked fighters in the division.

 

marinate usually rather means avoid, duck or postpone for easier paydays and avoid a loss and marketability.

 

Of course it’s a dumb idea, but ultimately if a better fighter throws a spanner in the works that all works out for us fans surely? We end up with a potentially better and more competitive fight? OK, might not be a mega-event or whatever, but who cares? You’re not seeing a penny of that money.

With Usyk beating Joshua we now how a more intriguing and evenly-matched potential fight against Fury. That’s all to the good as far as I’m concerned.

 

Yup

Now all we need is Fury to get chinned by Wilder and all the mega fights worth a lick disappear only to be replaced by Wilder returning to his PBC "bum of the month" club, Fury going back to 400lbs and Joshua spending the next few years looking for his confidence.

 

Yes. Fights should only "marinate" during a build up.

 

Pac fought Maynever..6 years after Hatton/Cotto

Simply unacceptable..

 

Marinate in boxing means wait till the other guy starts to show vulnerability

 

Yes usyk vs fury is intriguing on paper. But it probably won't be particularly exciting outside of the fact it may be for undisputed if fury gets past wilder again.

It's not about me seeing a penny. The point is BOTH the fans and fighters suffer if the best don't fight the best. We get lots of boring fights or mismatches and potentially great matchups are delayed or ruined.

Wilder vs Joshua was exciting because it was two undefeated hard hitters in their prime fighting for all the belts.

Fury vs Joshua was exciting because it was the first time a true British showdown occured for the HW title in eons. Plus the style clash was interesting.

It's quite possible neither of these fights happen ever now. If wilder loses again, he'll likely be mentally shot and could disappear. And there's no guarantee Joshua will ever return to form either. Fury is also a head case and who knows what he'll do.

 

I don't think Usyk beating AJ has thrown a wet towel on the division - au contraire - I think it's the big shake up the division has needed.

 

Exactly this,seems like good business at the time but clearly isn’t .

 

"Marinate" is promoter speak for, "I think there is a good chance my guy will loose, and I want to make more money by having him fight as many bums as possible before I cash him out"

 

Really? I think it's terrible. It further delays unification because of the rematch clause, and the ultimate fight for undisputed looks like a dud matchup. Fury vs Usyk is not the stuff dreams are made of. Joshua/Wilder in 2019 would have been an epic event, and 2021 Joshua/Fury also would have been great. Not there's a delay for something that isn't that great to begin with.

Imo, there's more money in Joshua/Wilder next summer than Usyk/Fury. It's a better matchup with some residual bad blood. If I were AJ, I'd drop the rematch and free up Usyk and Fury to unify. Then, if he can beat Wilder, get his shot at the title. If he loses again to Usyk, he will have to rebuild.

 

Was about to type exaclty this.

 

I agree, fury vs usyk is not a very exciting matchup. Fury should have gotten the stupid wilder rematch over with, he might have been able to fight Joshua and pay usyk step aside money.

Buncha freaking drama queen boxers and money grubbing promoters. They always have to make things complicated.

 

Unfortunately it doesn't work out like that. Usyk v Fury does a fraction of the money of Joshua v Fury had Joshua won

To the casual sports fan, Usyk isn't that marketable.