Terrible post. Nothing is a foregone conclusion when it comes to matchmaking, not one fight. This tournament gives us a (nothing is 100%) guarantee to see great fights. I love the tournament, it is a great idea. Furthermore, what is wrong with the tournament being a marketing vehicle? How else do we get the mainstream to recognize the fighters off the sport?
No. You've completely missed the point. The tournament actually stands in the way of the unification of the division. So it is relatively bad for boxing compared to what could/should have been. What could/should have been is this: Bute v. Andrade and Kessler v. Froch - both fights this year. The two winners fighting to become undisputed Champion in Spring 2010. But it's not Showtime's fault this is not happening. It's HBO's and Gary Shaw's. HBO have ****ed up by not seizing the opportunity of making a unification fight between Kessler and Froch happen asap. Gary Shaw on the other hand realised that Taylor was on the scrapheap and he couldn't take that. So he concocted this plan with Abraham's manager, Sauerland. Abraham's manager is a very intelligent guy. He realised this was a great way in for Abraham. Together, they convinved Showtime to formalise this thing. Showtime have invested a lot in Dirrell and Ward, so they insisted on showcasing them. Kessler was happy just to get a fight. Froch agreed too. This is how this thing was spawned. As I said, what the fans really would have wanted is this: 1. Abraham to prove himself at SMW, e.g. against Taylor - it's happening anyway. 2. Dirrell and Ward to prove themselves against Top 20 opposition, e.g. against the likes of Allan Green and Bika, before fighting for titles - unrealistic, because they're already in mandatory challenger position. so e.g. Green v. Ward and Bika v. Dirrell 3. Bute v. Andrade rematch 4. Kessler v. Froch unification 5. Winner of 3 v. winner of 4. to become undisputed champ 6. IF Ward and Dirrell had won against Green and Bika, they fight against one another. 7. Undisputed SMW champ fights Abraham (after Abraham beats Taylor) 8. Undisputed SMW champ fights Ward v. Dirrell winner after he beats Abraham. Only HBO could have delivered that, but they have dropped the ball big time. Gary Shaw has won. Boxing fans have not won half as much as people like you imagine.
It's an appropriate picture, isn't it? He's been on trial and has been condemned by everyone, after putting in a classical performance. Yet, he is boxing through and through, good bits and bad bits. That's life.
1. Negative. 2. What's bad for boxing is people giving too much credence to a slew of alphabet belts. I MUCH prefer great fights to worrying about the obscenely problematic ranking systems and unifications that rarely come off without a hitch. 3. What "could/should be" is beside the point. What happens happens, and it often disappoints. I'll take a Super Six tournament of this calibre any day versus your dreamchasing.
Some of the fights are far apart. Is there a reason for that ? Is it for them to squeeze in other possible fights ? Example Dirrell fights again in January 2010, then its only September ?