How long will Vanes Martirosyan continue to fight capdrivers!? (2004 US olympian)

Yeah great posts. I think that this guy is something special, but I also think it's silly to rush him. The quality of his opposition needs to improve gradually. As you mentioned, once you step up you can't really then go back down in quality of opponant without raising some eyebrows and/or shaking your own confidence. Given that Vanes is so young it would be disadvantageous in the long run to put him in with anyone too good too soon, even though IMO Vanes has the talent to beat far better opposition than he has faced so far. While I think these days everyone makes too big a deal about being undefeted and protecting that '0', you've gotta protect the longevity of a fighters career and have them peaking at around the right age with the right amount of experience. For example, some people would say that Cotto has been overprotected, but I would say that he has been well managed.

 

umm, please pardon my ignorance but i really don't have a clue what a capdriver is

 

The way you're typing this is very misleading. It looks as if you're saying Wallace KO'd Wolak and Wright, when Wallace was actually the one that got knocked out by both.

 

Smoky

Thats just the way I've always typed it. If you win by KO, its a KO4. If you get knocked out, its KO'd4.

I'm lazy and it takes less time than typing KO'dby4. LOL

Mike
Host, 'Toe2Toe'
www.theknockoutnetwork.com

 

Here is a decent parallel to draw with Vanes.

Victor Ortiz is also only 21. Remember all those rumors about Top Rank forcing a bout on Ricardo Torres, the current WBO super lightweight titlist?

And now Torres is fighting Mike Alvarado .... what happened to Ortiz, you ask?

Top Rank decided that Victor Ortiz is a gem. If they put him in with Torres and he wins the fight - where does he go then?

They dont want their 'gem' fighting big fights every fight from this point on, and so they stopped chasing Torres.

"But Alvarado is a young kid too, isnt he?" - you might ask.

Yes he is, but he is not considered as prime a talent as Ortiz, in the opinions of those who matter at Top Rank.

Ortiz they can take their time with. When the shot came up for Alvarado, they had to jump on it.

If he wins, Top Rank has another titlist all to themselves (they co-promote Torres). If Alvarado loses? Who cares - they have ten Alvarado's at Top Rank.

They also got Torres a win over a touted undefeated prospect that millions are going to see and they also bought some extra time for their kid Ortiz.

For example ... a baseball team has two pitching prospects. One is considered a can't miss, top of the line starter. The other could be a solid major league "innings eater".

If they need someone for a spot start, most teams are going to go with the lesser of the two pitchers for that one spot start.

They dont want to bring up the blue chipper too early.

That is what Top Rank is going with Vanes and Victor Ortiz. They are letting them ripen on the vine a bit longer before plucking them off.

Mike
Host, 'Toe2Toe'
www.theknockoutnetwork.com