He's Champ - he's ready!

True or false?

Lucian Bute won the IBF title but he still felt he had a long way to go and much to improve on before he could take on the likes of Calzaghe or Kessler.

Most people would agree that he wouldn't be competitive yet and that he would likely improve in the next 1-2 years, but is lack of experience a good enough/acceptable excuse when turning down fights?

Thus, in general, should any title holder be expected to feel ready to face any other belt holder/ contender at their weight?

Or, since there are four belts and since everyone tries to get one as soon as possible, some of the beltholders wouldn't be ready to face the best beltholders, nor should be expected to, early in their careers?

What do you think, in general, getting away from the Bute case...

 

Who should not have allowed him to win a belt? In the case of Bute, he was good enough to beat Froch, Inkin or Bika and then Berrio, so they went for it! Why would they not have gone for it?:huh

 

Let's not derail the thread please; let's stay on topic.:good

 

Well, it's because if you have a belt it means you are Top 4...it means you should be prepared and able to beat everyone outside the Top 4...but why does it automatically mean you should be prepared to beat much more experienced ATG fighters at the peak of their game? :huh

Calzaghe and Kessler didn't fight the best in their division after they became Champs either...they weren't ready either...in any case, the division is especially strong right now, with Calzaghe and Kessler being great fighters...that might not always be the case, but at the moment it is...not all young Champs are "lucky enough" to become Champs when their division is weak...

 

Why? If Bute was a fighter who was as good as he would even be, pretty much, it would make sense to fight the best and lose, for a good payday. But since Bute has only fought 22 fights and since he can be much better when he becomes more experienced, it makes sense to wait. Calzaghe wasn't ready to face the best when he became Champ, so he didn't. Neither did Kessler...even though he thought he was...when he finally got the chance, it turns out, like most of us already knew, that he fell short. Kessler wasn't ready for Calzaghe, but he was ready to give him a very good competitive fight. Bute isn't ready to give Kessler or Calzaghe a good competitive fight yet...but then, he's only got 22 pro fights...