Anderson just another hype job crushed

Very true.

And yet... Just because no prospect is proven yet doesn't mean they should get hyped hard for achieving fairly little.

I don't mind seeing cautious optimism or measured praise for how they're developing...

But it's very rarely that. I've lost count of how many times we see "ABC would smash XYZ contender because XYZ is overrated and ABC is the next big thing" - whilst in reality XYZ has beaten legit contenders and ABC hasn't beaten a single gatekeeper or even decent journeyman yet.
Or how often we see absolute certainty that a particular prospect will be a future belt holder when they're not remotely close to getting there.

It's like far too many posters are desperate to back the next big thing before they make it - whatever happened to just following the sport and having realistic appreciation for where guys actually are instead of fantasizing about what they are in fantasy futures?

 

Credit to Anderson stepping up against a quality opponent on his 18 fight, it took Wilder over 10 fights before he fought someone of Bakole's quality.

 

On the flip side, whats wrong with backing someone and enjoying the ride? It´s fun seeing a prospect grow and eventually challenge themselves.

Name a single heavyweight prospect that has been universally loved here. Come on, do it.

 

Bakoles the closest thing to Foreman in years

 

Nothing wrong with that... But it certainly doesn't need the unrealistic hype and expectations.

For example, I enjoyed Dubois as a prospect - clearly had power and ability but he was being hyped up as a contender by the time he fought Joyce, which he clearly wasn't yet... I was then impressed at how he kept at it and came back better (and equally very unimpressed with his deliberate fouling Vs Usyk, for example).

I've even said that given his age and what he's done already, I'd almost be surprised if he doesn't get to a belt at some point - but he's far further along the line now than some of the prospects who get hyped hard on here (including some, like Jalolov, Hrgovic, etc, who are several years older and have done far less in the pro's).

Oh absolutely - but then there's never been a single fighter at any weight who's been universally loved whilst they're active.

I just prefer to have things in perspective and overinflated hype irritates me

 

Bit off more than he could chew, too green. He knew it too. He looked psyched out before round 1.

 

I actually think Itauma looks much more talented than Anderson and he's only 19.

 

Indeed.

I just wish that more here could just be realistic in how we enjoy him?

He's clearly got some real potential but he's also very young and he's green... On top of which, there's a very long time to go before his prime - who else might appear between now and then?!

It's great to see potential, it's great to enjoy seeing guys come through and even rooting for them to do well...
I don't get why so many want to add so much weight of expectation by hyping these prospects as future champions and/or present contenders before they've even gone through the levels.

 

He`s only 18 and has far more power than Anderson.

 

He`s 6`4 like Wallin and only has a 78.5 reach.

 

Agreed, he isn't just fast and powerful, he has some actual technical skills to go with the raw talent unlike Anderson.

But we need to be tempered in our praise of him, he's looked superb in beating guys who represent no offensive challenge are are just there to show up for a pay check. We need to see how Itauma deals with adversity, what happens when his best shots bounce off an opponents chin and they keep coming, can he take a punch, what's his stamina like etc.

But the potential is there for what could be a top heavyweight but in the end what decides his success he how he develops, 2 years from now if he's the same fighter doing the same thing then he probably won't reach the top level, but if he's shown progression, added different facets to his game then we can start getting excited.

 

It also depends who else comes along - who his competition might be (even if he achieves what it looks like his potential might be) and how good they are is entirely unclear as yet... There could be someone great who comes from nowhere, or from the amateur scene in a country very few are looking at, etc.

You're not wrong though - how he's managed, how he learns and how he reacts in the trenches are all largely unknowns just yet.

 

Absolute bollocks.

 

Why? Nothing I have written is false. Peculiar response.

 

16 fights in Helenius had already beaten 3 former world title holders. Fury at that point had lost to John McDermott. They weren’t even in the same stratosphere. Like I say though. Things can change fast in boxing.