Unify the Cruiserweights!

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Camps, Feb 17, 2024.


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  1. Camps

    Camps Member Full Member

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    We've been waiting soooo many years for the belts finally to get unified at the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight levels that, other than the impressive activity from Jai Opetaia, the Cruiserweight division seems to have drifted below the radar. Perhaps understandably so given just how big are the talents (and in a couple of cases, personalities) in those surrounding weight classes and just how dispersed the Cruiser belts are (not to mention the difficulty of spelling some beltholders' names...).

    Right now the holders are (alphabetically by belt): Arsen Goulamirian (WBA), Noel Mikaelian (WBC), Chris Billam-Smith (WBO). The IBF currently has no Cruiser beltholder; its top 2 slots are vacant (what, the payoff checks didn't clear...? ;)) with soon-to-be-rematch-opponents Mairis Briedis and Opetaia checking in at #3 and #4, respectively. Opetaia tops The Ring's rankings followed by Briedis, Badou Jack and Billam-Smith; Mikaelian, Lawrence Okolie and Goulamirian rank # 4, #5 and #7, respectively.

    If one or more of these beltholders is holding out for bigger bucks before facing each other or, for that matter, Okolie, Jack or Opetaia, then hopefully our Riyadh friends can nudge things a little....
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2024
    Camps, Feb 17, 2024
    Camps, Feb 17, 2024
    #1
  2. Badbot

    Badbot I Am An Actual Pro. banned Full Member

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    I don´t really like Zurdo all that much but I expect him to beat Goulamirian and go for an unification match next.
    Zurdo always seemed like he was hungry for greatness and I believe he will try to fight the best at Cruiserweight.
     
    Badbot, Feb 17, 2024
    Badbot, Feb 17, 2024
    #2
    Pepsi Dioxide and Camps like this.
  3. Macedoine62

    Macedoine62 Active Member Full Member

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    Lol Goulamirian our only french champion in boxing will eats Zurdo.
     
    Macedoine62, Feb 25, 2024
    Macedoine62, Feb 25, 2024
    #3
  4. Macedoine62

    Macedoine62 Active Member Full Member

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    I hope that we will have a rematch for Masternak vs Chris Billam-Smith.

    The polish legend deserved this and he is a way better than CBS.
     
    Macedoine62, Feb 25, 2024
    Macedoine62, Feb 25, 2024
    #4
  5. lepinthehood

    lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone banned Full Member

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    Zurdo is getting battered up at 200lbs the fat *******.
     
    lepinthehood, Feb 25, 2024
    lepinthehood, Feb 25, 2024
    #5
    vast likes this.
  6. Badbot

    Badbot I Am An Actual Pro. banned Full Member

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    We will find out next month.
     
    Badbot, Feb 25, 2024
    Badbot, Feb 25, 2024
    #6
  7. The Cryptkeeper

    The Cryptkeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It’s Opetaia and then daylight.

    The question is how long will Opetaia stick around at CW? The Saudis love him and I suspect that once he is done with Briedis and possibly Bivol or Beterbiev he will step up and try his hand at heavyweight.
     
    The Cryptkeeper, Feb 25, 2024
    The Cryptkeeper, Feb 25, 2024
    #7
  8. ipitythefool

    ipitythefool Prediction ? Pain Full Member

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    Goulamirian is one of the most inactive beltholders ever.

    He should be forced to defend against The Octopus as a punishment
     
    ipitythefool, Feb 25, 2024
    ipitythefool, Feb 25, 2024
    #8
  9. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Division seems very weak right now.
     
    Slyk, Feb 25, 2024
    Slyk, Feb 25, 2024
    #9
  10. Camps

    Camps Member Full Member

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    You called it! :)

    Now let's get Zurdo paired up vs. Mikaelian or Billam-Smith (after he beats Riakporhe again) -- and let the winner(s) face the winner of Opetaia-Briedis 2 (likely Opetaia....)!
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2024
    Camps, Mar 31, 2024
    Camps, Mar 31, 2024
    #10
    Badbot likes this.
  11. Badbot

    Badbot I Am An Actual Pro. banned Full Member

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    I doubt Opetaia will unify with anyone. Seems like His Excellency has other ideas for him. They have talked about Bivol and moving to Heavyweight.
    And given the heavyweight scene in Saudi, I would be surprised if Opetaia remains at cruiser for even one more fight. Opetaia was paid 600k for his last fight, he would be making million dollar purses at heavyweight.
     
    Badbot, Mar 31, 2024
    Badbot, Mar 31, 2024
    #11
    Camps likes this.
  12. chaunceygardina

    chaunceygardina Member Full Member

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    It's a strange division. It suffers from either being a pathway to heavyweight (sometimes to some real great fighters), or a route to world title (easier than other divisions) for those not quite good or big enough for heavyweight... Bellew, Okolie, probably Riakporhe , possibly Opetaia.
     
    chaunceygardina, Mar 31, 2024
    chaunceygardina, Mar 31, 2024
    #12
  13. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Opetaia beats everyone and even though Briedis is 39 y/o and is past his best he still might be the second best and stand the best chance of beating Jai out of them all because he's a very complete fighter who is strong in virtually every department and he's extremely powerful and explosive, providing he's not declined even more since we last saw him that is which is a very real possibility. But overall the division is weak at the moment.
     
    Serge, Mar 31, 2024
    Serge, Mar 31, 2024
    #13
    catchwtboxing and Badbot like this.
  14. the commentator

    the commentator Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Casuals dont watch the cruiserweight division, Only boxing fans do. WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO are gonna make money off of their respective champions. Forget about unification talks.
     
    the commentator, Mar 31, 2024
    the commentator, Mar 31, 2024
    #14
  15. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    The division has been unified plenty of times in the past.
     
    lufcrazy, Apr 1, 2024
    lufcrazy, Apr 1, 2024
    #15
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