Whenever a guy wins a belt, there is a saying that he deserves an easy first defence. Do you believe in this logic? In one way, it guarantees a payday, especially if the champion isn't great. Sometimes I see a B+ fighter win a belt and look to face a GREAT fighter for a huge payday (ie: Brewster facing Vlad, even with a detached retina). What do you believe? Should a new champ start defending against THE BEST? I don't believe this...except in situations where there are a few guys who have been waiting for their title shot. But with four belts, this rarely happens.
It depends on past fights for example someone like margarito who just came from beating cotto, and has fought cintron and williams as well in less than a 2 year span is entitled to a easy one. If its some paper champ or someone who has faced weak competition to get the belt, I dont think he deserves a easy one as much.
I think a rematch is the first port of call with the former champ, if that's not possible than i don't have a massive issue with an easy first defence to pay the bills.
Your first defence should at a very minimun be against the mandatory. Often that would be a pretty easy defence. If however your looking for greatness or the one big fight and retire. Try to unify. I dont think Margo should get a easy defence versus a unknown fighter. Why should his mandatory wait.
As a fan, I'd always like to see the champion fighting a tough opponent, but if they've just come through a twelve-round war then I certainly wouldn't begrudge them an easier matchup in their next fight. It only really becomes an issue if taking easy fights becomes the norm rather than the exception.
It makes sense to me to get the mandatory out the way regardless if he is good or not and then or can chase a unification or fight the next best challenge in the division.
No...but its the trend so no helping it. The whole point of being champ is proving your the best...you can only do that by fighting the best. Fighting any less than close to the best is just completely irrelevant. Let them off if their simply killing time for a proper defense, meaning either fight this fight or dont fight at all waiting for that big fight.
Work yourself up to the top and then take easy fights? Nope! there are others working their way up there too and the most deserving deserves a shot.
