Derek Chisora set to face Otto Wallin in February

As already discussed, this simply isn't true. They were willing to sue when Pulev has the WBA regular and Gassiev got the fight.

 

Nah. I'd rate Franklin as a bigger test than Gassiev or Pulev, and Itauma dispatched him relatively easily. Wait until Itauma actually announces his opponent before accusing him of ducking a former cruiserweight that lost to Otto Wallin.

 

Again, I am talking about what literally happened. It isn't about your opinion, or anybody else's, about whose better. They wanted the fight when it was Pulev, threatened legal action to get it, and abandoned the idea when Gassiev won. History,

 

And Itauma fought a more challenging opponent in Franklin. Gassiev wasn't a mandatory opponent so it's not a duck.

If you feel that strongly about it make a separate thread.

 

Not the issue.

This is the issue:

https://rtfight.com/news/warren-reacts-to-wba-allowing-pulev-gassiev

They wanted to sue to get Pulev. They don't want any part of Gassiev.

 

Because Gassiev is a poor opponent. It's not that deep. And again: If you feel that strongly about it make a separate thread.

 

No...he is manifestly better than Pulev. They wanted WBA regular, and the path to the real title, when they had a poorer opponent.

 

Itauma has tons of potential opponents to choose from that are more proven than Gassiev though.

So unless he actually fights someone less proven I don't see the issue

 

I don't really rate Gassiev either but I'm not sure if Franklin is better than Gassiev.

Franklin literally hasn't beaten anyone, and is a durable journeyman these days.

 

Again, and again, and again, and again, and again...

NOT THE ISSUE

The issue is that they were willing to sue to get a crack at the WBA regular when Pulev had it. Now that Gassiev has it...crickets. They can't get hold of him.

This would indicate that they see something they don't like in Gassiev.

 

Went 12 with both AJ and Whyte (who he arguably beat). He's durable and crafty. It's certainly more than Gassiev has achieved at heavyweight

 

Losing to Wallin is a bit of a stain, but I would suggest beating Pulev and being a CW champion is better than anything Franklin has accomplished.

 

Being a cruiserweight isn't an achievement at heavyweight. Most tend to fall short when they make the transition with some exceptional exceptions like Holyfield or Usyk.

Beating a washed 44 year old Pulev and losing to Wallin isn't better than a losing a close decision to Whyte, and going 12 rounds with AJ (who sparked Pulev and Wallin with relative ease, yet couldn't seem to dent Franklin).

 

The Pulev v Gassiev winner was ordered to fight Itauma,so not exactly sure on the latest info about that as the negotiation deadline has passed .

https://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/wba-approves-pulev-vs-gassiev-winner-must-face-itauma

 

Tbf even the crappy belt Gassiev holds is a better achievement that anything Franklin has done