Top 10 best resumes in boxing (Regardless of W/L)

Andre Berto

 

Fair enough. Those are all fair points. But don't you think a little bit of it is due to a risk averse culture in boxing today and a lack of balls by fighters? There's so much money in the sport that people just aren't hungry. They don't have to be. They can get rich and have a comfortable career milking one of the many belts and fighting bums. They are encouraged not to chase difficult fights, because they don't need them like fighters used to to feed their families. Some of these fighters aren't capable of great things, but some are and they aren't really trying to do them. There's no pressure to hurry up and make big fights right away, or once you've made one big fight to move on to the next one. We have tune ups and layoffs. And everyone wants a soft touch after every hard fight. Pacquiao and Marquez fought each other four times rather than fighting once and letting it marinate.

 

Mosely doesn't get a mention I see?

 

Sam Egginton

 

ggg : geale, wade, monroe, rubio

 

I do agree there is a probably a greater degree of 'safety first' at the top level - like you say, to a large extent because it's more possible now for fighters to make good money without fighting good opponents - although the idea that somehow in some golden era guys went out seeking the toughest fights without comensurate paydays is a fallacy IMO. That said I don't believe the fighters themselves (in the main) lack heart or 'balls'. In the main they are doing what they're told - in fact doing what they pay guys to advise them to do, and why wouldn't you? Why pay a manager who's supposed to have your best interest at heart and then not take his advice?

It's a weird situation because in no way would I advocate that fighters should be paid less - hell, below the top 5% or so most boxers could probably earn more on a 9-5, and without the promise of the bright lights and big paydays what would there be to aspire to? How many guys would simply turn away from the sport? But at the same time the imbalance of wealth at the top end, with guys earning $millions in mismatches is a genuine malaise. I just don't have a good answer.

 

Martin Murray would be in a top ten.