168: European champions, American contenders

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by BigBone, May 20, 2009.


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  1. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Super Middleweight is the hottest division in boxing today and there's a unique situation in the category: all alphabet champions are European born, while the top contenders are from North America, mainly from the US.

    Champions, where are they from (where they fight)
    WBC: Carl Froch, UK (UK, USA)
    WBA: Mikkel Kessler, DEN (DEN, GER)
    IBF: Lucian Bute, ROM (CAN)
    WBO: Karoly Balzsay, HUN (GER)

    Top 5 contenders:
    Andre Ward, USA (USA)
    Librado Andrade, MEX (USA, CAN)
    Jermain Taylor, USA (USA)
    Andre Dirrell, USA (USA)
    Allan Green, USA (USA)

    * Arthur Abraham, GER/ARM (GER, USA)

    The future is pretty obvious: at some point, and pretty soon, the European champions will have to face American contenders, in fact, this is already happening (Bute-Andrade I, Froch-Taylor). Some of the American contenders have the name to get a shot (Taylor), others have the mandatory position (Andrade, Dirrell, Ward) to force their chance. Of course I’m not forgetting about the avoided Sakio Bika or Edison Miranda and other exciting contenders, but they are not the ones in line for a title.

    So, we’re looking ahead for a very interesting 'intercontinental' competition in the following years, and I want to know your opinion on where is this exciting and unique division is heading to!

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Okay, so how about a poll for fun? I guarantee the result is gonna be interesting. Dream card, Europe vs. North America. Styles make fights, I understand, but I'd like to ask you to either pick fights randomly, or pick ALL fights and simply divide the result for the poll’s sake, and vote what the result would such a card produce in your opinion!

    * For the poll’s sake, let’s include Arthur Abraham, joining the division shortly, to have 5 fights on this dream card, but I can make a '4 champions, 4 fights' poll as well if requested.

    As you see Andrade is there and Lacy isn’t. That’s because I wanted an intercontinental competition, not a continent vs. a single country, and Andrade is the more legit contender today.

    So, what result would a 5-fight Europe vs. North America card produce?
     
    BigBone, May 20, 2009
    BigBone, May 20, 2009
    #1
  2. Lewisbell

    Lewisbell Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Froch, Bute and Kessler beat any American

    Taylor and Dirrell beat Balzasy
     
    Lewisbell, May 20, 2009
    Lewisbell, May 20, 2009
    #2
  3. Combinaçion

    Combinaçion Active Member Full Member

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    This.


    Though I don't put Taylor under the bracket of 'any American'.
    Taylor was whooping Froch's ass... but as typical, gassed & that lack of boxing intelligence reared its ugly head once again! (that fight deserves a re-match).

    The thing with Kessler is he's untested before or after Calzaghe (with exception of Andrade.. who's pretty good but not champion-good!... err, when you ignore Balzasy's status as a Champ :D)... but I still think he takes care of every American contender without trouble.. except Taylor, who is a great fight going either way.
     
    Combinaçion, May 20, 2009
    Combinaçion, May 20, 2009
    #3
  4. marting

    marting Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The strong crop of contenders rising in the division pose problems for all the champs. No easy way out with these young guns especially Dirrell and Ward. I think Green might be underestimated a bit as well. And Andrade has shown improvement and nearly grabbed Bute's belt. Froch might get it done against Bute but I lean towards Bute retaining his belt.

    The big question mark for me is Kessler. He's had a couple of relatively easy fights since his loss to Calzaghe. He needs to get back into the mix soon.
     
    marting, May 20, 2009
    marting, May 20, 2009
    #4
  5. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Kessler needs to get rid of his promoter first, then get back into the mix. I'm pretty sure Showtime is very interested in him, as well in the other champs. Balzsay is the one who yet to appear on US television, but I think either Ward or Dirrell will go the WBO path, so I think even the Universum fighter will join the mix.
     
    BigBone, May 20, 2009
    BigBone, May 20, 2009
    #5
  6. Paulie

    Paulie Well-Known Member Full Member

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    If Ward and Dirrell goes for Balzsay, they might have a big surprise. Balzsay is not a bad fighter him self.
     
    Paulie, May 20, 2009
    Paulie, May 20, 2009
    #6
  7. doubleplaidinum

    doubleplaidinum Maravilla Full Member

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    are people really voting 5-0 and 4-1 europe? jesus... the only way that happens is cause the american fighters are just a little too green. i just noticed the title is european CHAMPIONS, american CONTENDERS. that explains that i guess. depending on the match ups i would have to vote either 4-1 or 3-2 for the U.S. especially if ward dirrell and green got a few more quality fights under their belts. as long as youre throwing andrade in there, why not bute?
     
    doubleplaidinum, May 20, 2009
    doubleplaidinum, May 20, 2009
    #7
  8. doubleplaidinum

    doubleplaidinum Maravilla Full Member

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    ahhh you've got bute under the europe category. got it.
     
    doubleplaidinum, May 20, 2009
    doubleplaidinum, May 20, 2009
    #8
  9. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah, he's Romanian. V. Klitschko lives in the US, but he still counts as Ukranian.
     
    BigBone, May 21, 2009
    BigBone, May 21, 2009
    #9
  10. JoeAverage

    JoeAverage Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It will be very interesting. Direll, Ward, Taylor can beat anyone, but Kessler, Bute and perhapos Froch can also beat anyone. Andrade is dangerous to anyone and could also beat anyone. Green and Balzay are the only two without much chance to get topdog - the others have legitimate hopes.
     
    JoeAverage, May 21, 2009
    JoeAverage, May 21, 2009
    #10
  11. Machine

    Machine Active Member Full Member

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    Kessler and Bute beat any of the Americans. The Americans beat all other Europeans. 3-2 America. (I'm not American).
     
    Machine, May 21, 2009
    Machine, May 21, 2009
    #11
  12. ApatheticLeader

    ApatheticLeader is bringing ***y back. Full Member

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    I don't think Froch beats Dirrell.
     
    ApatheticLeader, May 21, 2009
    ApatheticLeader, May 21, 2009
    #12
  13. Combinaçion

    Combinaçion Active Member Full Member

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    Taylor is a class above the rest of his American compatriots, though!
     
    Combinaçion, May 21, 2009
    Combinaçion, May 21, 2009
    #13
  14. beecho1988

    beecho1988 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    4-1 Europe
     
    beecho1988, May 21, 2009
    beecho1988, May 21, 2009
    #14
  15. David UK

    David UK Boxing Addict banned

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    Froch isn't 'European'. He's British. Big difference!!

    But for the purposes of the poll I understand the geographical arrangement, and therefore voted 4-1 Europe. Balzay loses all of the Americans and maybe Taylor would beat either Bute or Kessler, so maybe 3-2
     
    David UK, May 21, 2009
    David UK, May 21, 2009
    #15
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