Baptism By Fire? Young Fighters In The Boxing World

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by walk with me, Aug 19, 2008.


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  1. walk with me

    walk with me Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Before this thread starts...this has to deal with very intense content and if your not ready to discuss it like an adult just exit this thread because i want to have a fair, smart, intelligent discussion

    ok



    now





    As I study today's boxing world more and more, I have come to realize one thing. People have a hard time embracing young, skilled, BLACK fighters and I can't seem to figure out why. Fighters like Andre Berto & Paul Williams are everything the hard core boxing fan complains about the sport missing, yet for some reason masses of people still not believing in these fighters and giving them a hard time. Yet when a (For the sake of the argument) Antonio Margarito Beats Miguel Cotto its the biggest news in the boxing world since Floyd Ko'd Ricky Hatton, when a young black fighter just beat margarito at his own game. I understand there two totally different achievements but doesnt the young black fighter deserve some credit as well? As I try to understand why people give these fighters such hard times, I have come up with potential reasons why. Reason 1- some people are naturally haters. I dont want to believe that because hard core boxing fans should be much better than that. What is the other reason I have come up with? I guess its kind of like baptism by fire. I think in the boxing world black fighters are held up to higher standards than your average boxer, they get more attention because they are looked to fill the shoes of past greats, and some have very high skill sets. With this comparison to the past greats comes great criticsm because if they dont at least match or over pass the achievements of the fighters, the great black fighters of the past they have some how come up short. Even in fighter Floyd Mayweather there were constant comparisons to sugar ray, instead of ignoring the past and accepting the fighter for who he is and what hes done. I guess to sum it up thats my opinion on why people give young black fighters such a hard time. Hopefully youll also post your feelings on this matter and let every one know what you think.
     
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    #1
  2. surreal deal

    surreal deal Liverpool via Krypton Full Member

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    :sad2
     
    surreal deal, Aug 19, 2008
    surreal deal, Aug 19, 2008
    #2
  3. walk with me

    walk with me Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    im asking a question...

    take it or leave it
     
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    #3
  4. OBCboxer

    OBCboxer Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I don't believe it's any kind of racism. But, I do agree that Margarito is getting too much hype. I believe he'll get beat by PW agains because he is no different than he was when he fought PW. Miguel Cotto was tailor-made for Margarito and when he fights an elite boxer he will lose again.
     
    OBCboxer, Aug 19, 2008
    OBCboxer, Aug 19, 2008
    #4
  5. walk with me

    walk with me Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Im not calling anyone racist at all... i dont believe theres any racism in boxing really... i just think the standards for black fighters are extremely high and its hard to become a super star because of the shoes you have to fill as a young black fighter
     
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    #5
  6. bulakenyo

    bulakenyo Am I a boxing fan yet? Full Member

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    Wilfred Benitez
     
    bulakenyo, Aug 19, 2008
    bulakenyo, Aug 19, 2008
    #6
  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    So black figthters are under more pressure because there are great black fighters in history? Is that what you are saying?
     
    McGrain, Aug 19, 2008
    McGrain, Aug 19, 2008
    #7
  8. walk with me

    walk with me Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    right but look...

    cotto is the most elite
    margarito beats the most elite
    margarito is now the most elite

    a couple months ago paul williams beat the guy who is now the most elite...

    so what does that say about paul williams?
     
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    #8
  9. OBCboxer

    OBCboxer Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Style match-ups, Cotto maybe elite but he is not an elite boxer on your toes type of fighter. Like I said, he is tailor-made for Margarito and got destroyed.

    Paul Williams on the other hand is very bad for Margarito and has already beaten him once and I believe he'll do it again. Right now, Williams is the worst style match-up for Margarito. He is taller than him and is fast which will untimately defeat him again.
     
    OBCboxer, Aug 19, 2008
    OBCboxer, Aug 19, 2008
    #9
  10. bulakenyo

    bulakenyo Am I a boxing fan yet? Full Member

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    Damn, I didnt read the first post. :patsch
     
    bulakenyo, Aug 19, 2008
    bulakenyo, Aug 19, 2008
    #10
  11. walk with me

    walk with me Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I dont know.... i mean maybe...

    it just seems like a lot of young black fighters receive harsh criticsm...

    i dont know the specific reason for this .... im saying maybe the great black fighters throughout history are the reason why....

    kind of like how all the best 6 ft 3 - 6 ft 7 basketball player are always compared to mike jordan and they receive a great deal of pressure

    once again im not saying that is the definite reason.. im just tossing it out there

    maybe it is and maybe it isnt
     
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    #11
  12. OBCboxer

    OBCboxer Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He should be right up there with Margarito right now but he isn't. It is almost like he doesn't exsist because don't want him to beat Marg again.
     
    OBCboxer, Aug 19, 2008
    OBCboxer, Aug 19, 2008
    #12
  13. walk with me

    walk with me Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    you would think there would be some buzz about him....

    but there isnt ... and if there is most of it is negative
     
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    walk with me, Aug 19, 2008
    #13
  14. konaman

    konaman Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Really not sure what you are asking.

    Paul Williams is undoubtedly top two Welterweight in the world and a rematch with Margo will settle the score of the undoubted champ at WW.

    Andre Berto hasn't done jack****, and doesn't deserve to be grouped with Paul Williams name.
     
    konaman, Aug 19, 2008
    konaman, Aug 19, 2008
    #14
  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I'll say this.

    Kelly Pavlik, in an interview with Ring this month, talks at length about how people have expected him to lose because he is white. In other words there is no pressure upon him to perform. Balls out competitor that he is, this irked him. But is it true? If it is true, it is the case that there is less expectation upon a white American fighter than a black American fighter - so yes, there is a difference based upon colour and it changes the circumstances under which the fighter operates.

    So I think there is something in what you say.

    However, if we're talking about Williams, the reason he gets it tight around here is that there were dummies on the forum comparing him to Thomas Hearns a few months back. That type of BS always urks people.
     
    McGrain, Aug 19, 2008
    McGrain, Aug 19, 2008
    #15
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