This division has sort of been an after thought essentially since Ward moved up and Froch/Kessler retired. Right now though, you have the golden boy of boxing setting uo camp there in Canelo, a few legitimate high end opponents for him and some of the best prospects in boxing. You have BJS, Plant and Benavidez all undefeated and willing to fighting Canelo. You have guys just underneath like Ryder, Gongora, even Jacobs. Then you have some blue chip prospects like Morrell, Bully, and Berlanga, and even Shishkin, even if he is a bit older. Add to that, the possibility of Charlo, GGG and Andrade being willing to move up and the next couple of years could be very entertaining at 168.
The Super Six tournmanent was a break through; promoters stopped protecting their fighters and let them slug it out. That was the last "golden" age. Froch-Groves was the last time I really paid attention. Since then its been stale and networks and promoters protecting their fighters.
100%..and 168 is ****ing dreadful right now... Benavidez is the only one legit of note and he's massive... And a coke head.. Canelo is frauding his way through divisions yet people continue to suck it up. BJS is shite at 168. Plant is also **** and not as slick as everyone thinks. Jacobs is beyond overrated and this showed in his fight against Rosado. GGG is 38 and Charlo should have lost against Trout, Deryvachenko and 100% korobov. Trash division that's made to look good (when it's definitely not) by incredibly misleading promotion
It's got a lot going for it right now, Benavidez and Berlanga are both young and exciting, prime Canelo, probably prime Jermall Charlo soon enough, Morrell could be very good. One thing holding it back is that it's well stocked with semi-credible opponents, so the big names will be able to avoid each other and keep busy with guys like Gavril, Fox, Mosley Jr, the ghost of Anthony Dirrell, etc.
Cherry picking? He fought the consensus #1 guy in the division 2 months ago, and is fighting BJS in a few months and most likely Plant after that. Some cherries
m a completely shot Kovalev and yildirim who eubank jr smashed already. how come he didn’t unify with beterbiev??
168 is a mirage. Has talent....but is actually garbage. Nobody fights anybody. Plant, Benavidez are not getting any seasoning fighting no hope bums. Plant was like a 70-1 favorite against Truax. Hot garbage. Clenelo will eat these lambs. He has the experience to just disembowel these paper tigers.
It's pretty much always been a jumping off point for LHW. The Super 6 brought it some prestige, but it's not the place where guys go to stay. Most of the guys mentioned will end up making more hay at LHW, IMO.
DAZN has basically played a chess match and moved their star players into protected prima donnas (GGG and Canelo) while choking the division.