I realise theres some big fights coming up in September but I am getting a bit sick of the amount of uncompetitive fights for British fighters. No disrespect to anyone, I am just a fan but... That Paul Smith fight is a classic example. Fighting Darren McDermott who twice got stopped fighting for the same title in the division below isnt gonna get anyones juices flowing. Paul Smith should be fighting Brian Magee. Or if he is unavailable, there are a load of other good fighters in the top 30 of whichever rankings you like to follow. It leads to all the others below the world champs. Cleverly, admittedly only 23 but in his 19 fights and 5 years, only Oakey and Quigley were truly competitive. Brook, 1 decent matchup in 6 years - McIntyre and he got blown away in a round. Murray, 4 in 7 years, 6 if you count Al Hamadi and Munguia which werent supposed to be close McCloskey, who I think is great, has been capable of fighting a world title eliminator for the last 18 months. If he isnt careful he is gonna be past his best before he gets a shot ala Jamie Moore. Rhodes - great fighter but father-time is against him. Then the other hot prospects - Barker and Maklin. In 4 years at middleweight, Barkers last fight and Elcock for Maklin are the only ones I have seen which tested them. Martin Lindsay - really slow progress again Tony Bellew - no idea how far he can go, again the clock is ticking We all have examples of what can be done - Rendal Munroe & Jason Booth as well as the Hayes and Khans of this world but far too many British boxers arent being tested in their prime. Depriving the fans of great matchups too. We shall see how many of the autumns fights actually happen... but in general, theres far too much spiel about prospects and not enough about getting British fighters their big fights.
didn't catch the moore - macklin fight then? campas and ajetovic were also decent fights before he took on elcock anyway, i think times seem to be changing. FWs matchup philosophy certainly seems to be...
They were going to fight Magee, but he pulled out of the fight (understandably so). I'm pretty sure Smith wants to win the British title outright, so he has to face domestic opposition. McDermott isn't the best choice, but then there isn't that many viable opponents out there. Cleverly has one of the best records for a young British fighter currently. Quigley, Vegas (which was competitive), Oakey, McIntosh, Fry and Brancalion - for only 19 fights that is pretty decent opposition, add a world ranked fighter to that when he has had 20 fights. Brook hasn't had the best of opposition, but McIntyre and to a lesser extent Lomax, Jones, Bienias and David were decent. Plus, he has not been helped by people pulling out and having his own injuries. Otherwise, he would have had the likes of Mutley and Jennings on his record already. Murray likewise hasn't had the best opposition either, but he has gone about it the right way. Has won the English, British, European and WBC youth champions. It's not really his fault that the opposition, for the most part, haven't been up to much. I agree with McCloskey. They should push for a big fight now and not be holding him up with the Euro title. Rhodes had his best win just last year and looked very good in his fight against Messi. A win against Konecny should get him a world title opportunity. Barker and Macklin have been in with decent enough opposition, plus they're fighting each other next so I don't know why you're mentioning them :yep Lindsay's progress has been slow, mainly down to the collapse of Setanta and Hayemaker losing a TV contract. Now he is with Maloney, he should start to get the bigger fights...hopefully. Bellew has stated on here plenty of times that lots of people have declined fighting him. McKenzie, McIntosh and Fry as well I think. Injuries have also hampered his progress to a extent as well. Now he has the Commonwealth belt he should be able to get decent opponents in the ring with him and push on from there.
Domestic matchups seem to be happening fairly well at the moment. Fury McDermott X 2 Barker Macklin Rhodes Moore Sexton Chisora X 2 don't think it will be out of the question that within a year to 18 months we will see either bellew clev or degale groves. Fairly happy at the mo.
I agree that more should be asked of fighters. Why are we giving them MILLIONS for them to take the path of least resistance. Fighters should be fighting the best in every fight with the odd easy fight.
Groves was calling him out after he won the Commonwealth. I understand that Smith wants to win the British title outright, but at least fight the best out there in doing it. Groves is perhaps his most dangerous challenger. Smith would get more respect beating Groves than he would beating a middleweight.
I think after Magee pulled out of purse bids, the fighter we all wanted to see Smith in with was Groves. But we all know the friction between Warren and Haye/Booth, so a deal to get that fight made was unlikely.
true I suppose, then again it just shows that they aren't interested in putting the best vs the best because of their egos. Christ we've had Arum say recently that he is getting too old to keep up his issues with King and that he would now negotiate with him now, they need to do the same as well!
Yeah, I guess I am going over the top a bit but I think a lot of top British prospects are having to wait till they are nigh on 30 before getting a world title shot - Froch (31), Witter(32), Woods(30) even Hatton(27). Whereas the equivalent Americans (and German-based), it is more like 25. Which it should be...
Agree with the general points of the article and most of your assesment's of the fighters, but totally disagree on one thing; Nathan Cleverley. The guy is still very young and is improving with each fight. Domestically, Oakey, Fry and McIntosh is good competition, and his blow out of Brancalion showed he can compete on the European level. His fight with Murat will be a big step up at this early stage in his career and i applaud him for putting it on the line, he clearly wants to be the best he can be. But like i say can see what you mean about the others. Murray and Lindsay have had poor guidance and bad luck as far as i can see, but some of the others are happy to be where they are right now and aren't tearing up trees to go further.
