I know that boxing has historically been a sport in which fighters fought beyond their best days... SRR, Ali, Louis, SRL, Duran... too many to count. But guys like RJJ, Trinidad, Barrera, Bernard (Ok possible exception here, but still looks older than he used to) and Morrales were the generation of fighters which made me love the sweet science. They all looked to me, at one point to be invincible in their own ways. Now they are holding on and fighting on and while doing it looking more and more like old fighters. Sometimes I think it would be nice for them to step down, make room for the young fighters and leave us with the great memories.
I did not know Morrales was retired and have a hard time believing he leaves on the Diaz note. Bernard and Barrera are going strong, but arent the same, and in a matter of a few more fights they will be washed up.
I get tired of the older guys, even if they are fresh, because they'll get the major promotion behind them and get a title, but then only fight fighters in their condition, which shuts out the up and comers and true talent from getting the top rating. Hopkins comes to mind with the Tarver and Wright fights, do you see Hopkins taking on the best at LHW in Dawson? I don't. But Hopkins is the 'man' there and it's not fair for Dawson.
hopkins has a style of fighting that is hard to beat for anyone and is very hard to knockout or even hit flush him and toney can roll with a punch well thats part of the reason thats kept the both of them in the game so long and successful
I think Amsterdams point is that there are young and dangerous fighters out there that wouldnt be a good matchup for Bernard because of youth, strength, and activity. He is better fighting other established, bigger money fighters with more creditials who are still great, but it doesnt allow for young fighters to step up for their shot. It makes more sense for Barrera to fight Pac or JMM than it does Guzman or Valero, for example, from Barreras perspective. But from boxings perspective it may hurt the game overall.
It's not just defeating Adamek. It's dominating Adamek and dominating Harding prior to that. That alone is more than Erdei has done and Woods' most recent was a gift over Johnson. I'll agree that he hasn't done as much as Johnson has, that's not even arguable, but Johnson's getting up there and I don't see him shutting out Adamek either. If the old guys were taking on the best available and winning, that doesn't apply here.
I agree with you 1000% on this. That also keeps the young lions and any breakthrough fighters artificially low in the P4P rankings because their opposition isn't thought of as highly as that same group of old guys who simply fight amongst each other and clog up half the rankings. It's basically become a tenured position where it's nearly impossible to get out once your in unless you really look bad for a period of time. Even if you lose, if you keep it close, you're still safe.
But how has he not proven more per say? He's dominated two quality name opponents, one being the number 2 in the division at the time in terms of resume(Adamek). It's not always the amount of wins, but the quality of wins. Erdei's fight with Ulrich was disgraceful, he's not defeated anyone of Adamek quality and I'm not sure he would, I also feel he's protected, anyway... The division is good, they just need to fight. Look at Dawson/Diaconu, if Dawson dominate Diaconu then he for sure has the best resume(quality of wins). Wouldn't you agree?
