Hrgovic and Yoka, both 28.. no title shot yet?

yoka a title shot? hahahahaha he better improves then. Had he tomorrow a title shot he would be sleeping on the canvas for a month.

 

Yoka was banned like a year wasn't he? Then the covid nonsense and boxers seem to be going slower as a rule. Yoka also just faced Duhaupas and Hammer. Hammer isn't that bad.

I think Yoka is doing "okay," while Hrgovic is a little behind.

But they're not completely failing like others we could name. If you want to see true failure to make progress, check Dychko.

 

I guess all they can do is stay active and pad their records and as has been mentioned, wait for the old men to move on.

Both will get title shots in the next couple of years or so.

 

Honestly, take no offense, not my intention, but were I fighter, if someone tells me to pad my record I would spit on his face. I only know one way of fighting, if I fight I fight to be THE bestl. I would never fight "to pad my record".

Obviously, I'm not the best. I mean, at boxing. In my daily life what I do, I do it to be the best. I dont do "no matter what" or "pad stuff" in my job. I'd rather quit it (how do I know it?, because I've alreayd done it). I'm not the best either, but when I do it, that's what I aim for.

Imho, if you are made of the right material, fighting to pad your record gives you stomachache.

 

Yoka needs more time and experience before stepping up and getting his fragile mandible knocked off his head by a decent punching top heavyweight.

 

The thing is that pro boxing is not really a sport. It is prize-fighting with some of the trappings of being a sport.

The team around a boxer is trying to make the most money they can for themselves, for investors and the fighter during the fighters probably short career.

So the manager will try to minimize risk and maximize reward.

As a fan, I hate this the same way I hate the fact there are about 1000 belts and "champions" out there today.

I understand it though. People invest in a fighter and want a return on that investment. The manager is supposed to do that. Some are better at it than others.

I do believe fighting better class fighters makes a fighter better. But it can also shorten careers or even end a career, so match making is done carefully.

Once again, as a fan, this drives me nuts. But pro boxing is about making money and the managers job is to guide the boxer's career so everyone makes the most money.

 

Guys probably gonna be the next long term HW champ

Once the AJ Fury era begins to fade
And that begins to fade once they first match up

 

I guess that's why a lot of fighters stay amateur where you fight anyone and if you lose you just move on. Sadly in the pro ranks you have to pad your record to get anywhere as no top fighters will touch novices with only a handful of fights. It's just the way it is.

 

Yep. Amateur boxing is a real sport. Boxers try to fight the best. If they lose, they try it again at the next tournament.

 

They haven’t fought anyone

 

So many people don't seem to get that pro boxing is a business and a very corrupt one too. A lot of the time the boxers don't even have a say in who they fight, it's all promoters. While Chisora is making millions headlining/co-headlining PPV's, dangerous young lions are relegated to fight scrubs for peanuts. People really think it's their choice?!

 

That's it,,you have to be active and get your name out there. You can't beat journeymen and then clamor for a title shot

 

Yeah this is true, doesn't matter if Hrgovic and other prospects are calling out everyone guys above you are not just going to give you a shot when they themselves are looking upwards to bigger names and title shots, they don't want to take a backwards step and fight some prospect.

So when the few opportunities do appear they need to be snatched up before they are gone. Joyce much like Hrgovic had a problem finding an opponent to step up against, Jennings was a start, then Dubois fight was mandated and instead of looking to pad his record further he took a risk and it paid off and he's greatly enhanced his profile and standing and now he could be in line for a shot vs Usyk for a vacant WBO belt or be the next mandatory.

Guys like Yoka and Hrgovic as you say need to be busy, need to keep reminding people they are there and grab the few opportunities that arise because without a big fan base to give them financial leverage they will be seen all risk and no reward and opportunities will be few and far between. Fighting journeymen as you say will do little to push them further in the eyes of the fans or push them up the rankings ahead of others.