I was going to start a thread on how boxing needs to start doing something about these hypejobs with padded records getting by, but instead I chose this more important topic. I know promoters build their fighters records up for ultimately more earning potential, but what about when the fighters record finally gets them that "big fight" with a guy who is proven? Well we saw that happen earlier today with Bute and Froch. Bute coasted through carefully matched opposition until he ran into a real warrior who was made of something Bute had never experienced. Bute lost in horrible fashion, basically turning into a one handed fighter, going into survival mode after he couldn't rely on his power and at times being visibly scared to get hit. These should not be the actions of a 30-0 belt holder with 24 ko's. Had Bute met a little tougher opposition earlier in his career he would have at worst lost a decision or something to a less dangerous fighter. This would have better prepared him for the elite level or proved that he didn't belong. But instead they throw him in, full of undefeated confidence, with the real deal (Froch) and he gets annihilated and seriously risks his health. This has to stop before a 30 or 40-0 fighter is damaged for life.
So, if he'd met some tough lesser opposition like when Ward met Miranda or Bika or when Froch met Magee or Johnson, he'd have been helped to mature with a loss before taking this step up?
It happened in the heavyweight division with Dimitrenko. The 2 guys he fought who had skill beat his ass (Pulev,Dimitrenko) Dimitrenko looked decent against cans but as soon as he stepped up he got beaten down. Chavez Jr too! Andy Lee gonna kill him.
While I do agree, Bute faced enough good fighters to have made this step. Considering the fight Johnson gave to Froch, watching him pick him apart was impressive.
This is why today's undefeated records are so overratted ! If more fighters took the path Froch took they wouldn't have issues with losses ! Or they wouldn't hide behind that 0 waiting to get exposed !
I personally think it's more to do with Bute not having many fights outside his home countries. It really is beneficial to take fights away from home on the way up.
While his being rated second (or even tops) in the division and/or tipped to beat Ward now certainly look to have constituted hype in light of what he actually did accomplish...I must object to Glen Johnson or Brian Magee being called "nobody". Say he got exposed in his first step up to an A level fighter, fine. He did still convincingly dispatch a few of super middle's solid B guys on the way there.
Likewise Canelo is past the point you can say his record is padded with nobodies. (and no, not because he fought shot Mosley...even before that...)
I dont have a problem with padding as much as I have a trouble with straight robberies and such. Even with a heavily padded record, Bute should rightfully have a KO loss before fighting Froch on his record.
