Are Brit boxers too eager to jump from European level into a world title fight?

A lot of them just seem to skip the Euro title and try to find a weak world champ to challenge instead.

Years ago they had to win the Euro (which usually meant they WERE the best in Europe) and mix in a couple of defences with non-title fights against top 10 Americans/ Latins. A much better way IMHO but that was all under a totally different set of circumstances I guess.

 

Ryan Rhodes- had no real choice if he stayed at European level he would of had to fight Konecny and that would be another hard fight.

Hatton- really isn't a prospect and jumped at the chance and i can't blame him really.

Jason Booth -already like Rhodes had tonnes of experience plus such a hard life if he turned it down he'd of been stupid. It was a fairytale fight and he had skills and experience to win but his body and hand gave up on him. Took fight at right time IMO.

McCloskey- No Comment..

Munroe- Personally worked his way up and if he kept fighting Europeans he'd not really learn a great deal other then adding more wear and tear. I think he took fight at right time but wrong champion to go for but he gave good showing.

I always say once you become the hunter to the hunted your in another world and it's hard to stay champion. Many of our younger fighters need more learning bouts with not just Europeans but against other styles like lower weights more Mexican/Latin type fighters and Asian fighters. In a ideal world i suppose..

Macklin- needs a bigger fight otherwise he'd lose motivation so i believe this has come at right time. He's not a longevity fighter either.

Barker- Could do with 1 more defence then one or two fights against Gatekeepers/Ex champipns. I think he could take Geale though but Martinez not a chance!.

 

Agree Rhodes had to (I'm still deflated) - as with Booth, last chance saloon. Moore was set up for a world title fight if he beat rhodes - alas.

Munroe - a contender in my eyes - did great until he got undone by one of the fastest punchers in the game. Munroe justified it IMO.

McClosky - hmmm - only cos it was (a Brit in) Khan, wouldn't have got another oppotunity against the other world champs I reckon - a 'why not' attitude by his team perhaps? I didn't read a lot about it to be fair.

Maklin/Barker - a year too early IMO - let hope I'm wrong.

Chisora v Vlad? Dear god - stay put Del - deffo to early.

EDIT: Hatton - not world level - never will be - why not chance your arm and get a bit of extra moolah.

 

Munroe got that final eliminator against Terrazas.

I do agree that British fighters don't fight enough quality foreign opposition before they reach world title level.

I mean these inter-bull**** belts could be useful if the opposition is top 10/15 in the division. More often than not our fighters aren't prepared for the world level fighters and jump in at the deep end. Yes, a lot of times they simply aren't good enough but a bit of seasoning can at least help us and the promoters determine the level fighters are at.

That's why I like the Brook-Ndou fight. With ******, Brook would have kept fighting nobodies before being put in a WBO title fight. At least against Ndou he's in against a solid gatekeeper type who'll give him rounds and test his stamina, durability etc.

If he comes through, guys like Soto-Karass or Alfonso Gomez would be solid tests before any title fights.

 

The problem with the Euro title is that many of the best Europeans don't actually bother with the European title.

How many of the European title holders are the best eligible fighter in the weight class without a world title to their name?

I reckon half, at best.

Munroe had a couple of decent challengers, Martinez and Maludrottu especially. Others end up with handpicked opponents that aren't up to much.

I think there's a transition from European title holder to world top 10 that has to be bridged by fighting some fringe opponents like the Alfonso Gomez's or Terazzas' of the division.

These fights give a lot better seasoning than beating a weak champion and going on a milk run.

 

I always say it's about quality of bouts not quantity. To many young fighters are padding out records that look nice but have no substance.

I personally feel the European title has lost it's value (not best word but can't think). To many vacant European title fights recently IMO. To many poor opponents who don't bring much to table so as nice as it sounds to defend it 5-6 times if you get chance for world title i don't blame a fighter for going for it. I prefer a fighter to defend European 3-4 times then have 1 or 2 learning fights against world class opposition.

 

I don't think you can slate Chisora. He was willing to get in the ring with the main man at heavyweight, exactly the same with Barker.

those opportunities don't present themselves too often.

 

Thats the point though, if you planned a career then it would be well too early. Rhodes/Booth yes, Chisora/Barker - not yet chaps. Chisora would have been another notch on Klitschko's bed post (no homo) like all the others, people aren't sure if he'll beat Fury.
A loss inst bad against a world champ but make sure you can mix it IMO.

 

Barker is 29 years old....he should know by now if he can mix it at that level (at world class in general, not Martinez in particular).

 

the likes of Barker though isn't going to get any better, he's almost 30 now if it doesn't take this challenge he will never know if he's good enough.

there is no shame losing to Martinez, and if Barker should lose and make a good account of himself then he knows he has it in him to come again.

 

Think of the world title fights as unexpected opportunities. Because they certainly were for McCloskey, Rhodes, Hatton, and now Barker. Even if they are likely to lose badly, they aren't likely to get that same chance at a big star ever again, so why not go for it?

 

Yep, agree with your point there as it goes, I forgot about his age.