168lb division is sorta ...weak

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Sep 4, 2025.


  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    This weight class of course has the biggest upcoming event on the calendar in Canelo vs. Bud, a huge to-do that could properly mark the start of the Netflix era in boxing (since neither Paul vs. Tyson nor Taylor vs. Serrano III quite set the world ablaze). Beyond that, however?

    The winner of Bud vs. Canelo has precious few challengers of note. Sheeraz? Iglesias? M'Billi-Martínez winner? Jermallo? There's a handful more ranked & unbeaten guys (Simpson, Sadjo, Silyagin, Nurmaganbet, Pacheco, Plantić, Bank, Fendero...) and we still have vets like Bully Bek, Munguía, Derevyanchenko, Feigenbutz and Berlanga hanging around - but come on. None of those people would be favored over the Canelo vs. Bud winner, nor are they anywhere near that level of box office draw.

    Álvarez probably isn't far off retirement, so let's say he beats Crawford and makes a couple more successful defenses before calling it a day. What then? All those unified belts get fractured again, with a fairly mediocre crop divvying the vacant titles up and likely each hoarding their piece of the prize with gimme defenses instead of reunifying.

    The division that once gave us the Super Six is now at a point where, in a couple years' time, I can see it having not a single representative in a p4p top 40.
     
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  2. Darni187

    Darni187 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hamzah Sheeraz going to take this division over , and will be in the P4P top 10 soon enough ..
     
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  3. TNSNO1878

    TNSNO1878 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Not if Adames moves up as well.
     
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  4. Darni187

    Darni187 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hamzah would deal with Adames much differently at 168lbs as he won't be coming in the ring half dead at 160lbs lol
     
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  5. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    There's no sorta about it.:deal:
     
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  6. TNSNO1878

    TNSNO1878 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I don't think Hamzah is defensively good enough to get into the top 10 P4P. He should already have an L on his record against a B-grade fighter. Berlanga is woeful, and a win against him doesn't really give us a good idea of how Hamzah would do against the top names at 168, but I think he loses pretty easily to the likes of Iglesias, but it's unlikely a fight like that ever happens, his team aren't stupid.
     
  7. Darni187

    Darni187 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Wait and see lol Hamzah is going to blast all these guys at 168lbs then I will come back to post likes these and I told you so ..

    People get it twisted even Balanga actually did land some good shots on Hamzah with no effect on Hamzah and people can say what they want but Balanga was dangerous first few rounds at least..

    Iglesias would get ironed out inside 6 one sided rounds lol
     
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  8. Darni187

    Darni187 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No Hamzah would knock him out lol use his fists
     
  9. UnleashtheFURY

    UnleashtheFURY D'oh!

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    Yeah... No.
     
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  10. TNSNO1878

    TNSNO1878 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Berlanga is a club fighter mate, a top 50 fringe guy who should be fighting in ballrooms. Iglesias is a legitimate, precocious Cuban amateur southpaw. Hamzah will never fight him, but if they did, I agree, it would be one-sided, with Iglesias barely getting out of second gear. He couldn't even figure out Adames, never mind Iglesias.
     
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  11. Badbot

    Badbot You can just do things.

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    Sheerass is going to be at 175 sooner than you think.
    Nah, Berlanga is clearly better than a club fighter. He used to KO1 club fighters, and did so with ease. Hes a top 20ish guy, and so in a weak division. Solid power, some decent technique, plenty of heart, and IMO he even had a good gameplan for Canelo. I would say that his boxing IQ is above room temperature.
    But he is not a world class boxer. Well, he might beat 1 or maybe even 2 top ranked Super-Middleweights(Plant at the moment), but he would loose to the next 7 or 8.


    Preach it!
     
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  12. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Sheeraz would lose to Janibek
     
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  13. Darni187

    Darni187 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hahaha good one ..
     
  14. Darni187

    Darni187 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Let the guy come to 168 first .. everyone can get that smoke .. lol
     
  15. northpaw

    northpaw Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    168 seems extremely weak, for example: an arguably top 6ish guy in his last two fights went life and death with two guys who weren't even in the top 10 then actually lost to one of them. Then someone else who I believe is currently considered #2-3 depending on the sanctioning body looked pedestrian against one of those same not even top 10 guys. Not counting Canelo there's only one person in the division who may or may not be semi elite (and he looks kinda questionable as well). Then on top of it, a prospect from MW (which looks just as weak) came up after fleeing MW with a questionable draw and melted a (I don't know why but they were) top 10 ranked SMW who had just went 12 with the actual champion. Yeah SMW is quite weak.