Middleweight is one of the worst divisions in boxing at the moment. Just zero going on. Nothing. That said, the other divisions around it aren't all that loaded, either. You would probably have to scour all the top fighters from 147, 154, 160 and 168 ... just to put together a really good top 10. Canelo, Crawford, Ennis, Fundora, Tszyu, Janibek ... then it's just guys that are not so much. Benavidez and Morrell moved to 175, so they're out. You could fill it out, but not with middleweights. Janibek is about it at 160.
Oh please. He didn't hold anything hostage. All we missed were fights like Charlo-Mosley Jr. Charlo-Feigenbutz. Charlo-Adames. Adames made a name for himself beating Derevyanchenko. (Charlo already beat him.) Then Adames fought for the interim title against Montiel. (Charlo already beat him.) Then Adames defended against Julian Williams. (Charlo already beat him, too.) The division is nothing, that's why a guy can sit out for almost three years and it didn't really have much of an impact. The WBC #1 contender is Meiirim Nursultanov. That's who Adames will have to fight coming up. Is that who the belt was being held hostage from? Meiirim Nursultanov? Three years of backlog and that's the #1 contender? Terrible division.
As a fan, yeah it was way past time. Should've happened a long time ago. One thing I don't like is belts being stagnant, more than any fighter, I like boxing to progress and move forward and that can't be done when a champion is just sitting there idling.
Agreed that the division is in a terrible state, but fights are better than no fights and the champion has to defend his belt. Worst case, Charlo dispatches all these guys you say are no good and we get a new crop of contenders. Stagnation is horrible for the sport.
I do, too. Glad they stripped him. But there isn't a superstar there who was denied anything. Just a lot of average, non-descript dudes. The division is pretty barren.
Yeah I don't dispute that, there is a vacuum there. But I'd rather see the titles moving and changing hands than sat on, even if the guys aren't future HOF'ers.
When you hold out from fighting anyone and not defending your title for over 2 years, no matter how bad the competition and the division is, you are most definitely holding the belt hostage. No one should be considered a champion while being inactive. Have someone else fight for the title that's being placed on hold even if it's a barren wasteland. We don't need a fighter that's just a belt holder and doesn't care enough about staying active.
They don't have to e a superstar they paid their dues they deserve a title shot. The Charlo sisters have disrupted the game for way too long. Now you've started WBC order Canelo to defend his 168 trinkets against his #1 contender Benavidez by September or get stripped he's doing the same thing evading his legitimate challengers. I keep expecting to see Canelo- Zelennov soon