When Did The "Every Fight Has To Be A Big Fight" Craze Begin?

I look at how critical we are of Pac, Floyd, and now to some degree Danny Garcia, and Im sitting here wondering, when did this start.

I guess the common saying is that "the best fights the best"

We scoff at fights that aren't career defining.
Did we forget.

That while fought SRL fought Duran and Hearns, in between that he fought Larry Bonds, and Ayub Kalule? (whoever the f*** that is)

That while Duran fought SRL he also fought Wellington Wheatley, Joseph Nsubuga, (whoever the f*** they are)

While Ali fought Frazier, he also fought Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry, and Zora Folley? (whoever the f*** that is )

What Im saying is that the beauty of boxing comes from the fact that those can't miss fights only come around once and a while. The champion is supposed to win. That's why they are champions. And while there are only a few legit champs in the game, its always been that way. Maybe it's our microwave generation, that expects that everything
has to be right away.

The term cherrypick should only be used if obvious conditions are set so that one man can win, not just fighting a fair fight when someone is favored. Because there is always supposed to be a favorite. It's just the way it is.


So what Danny is fighting a virtual no name. Danny and Matthysse was a once in while, 50/50 toss up fight. Those don't come around often, because there arent too many of those guys around. No one is going to fight someone amazing everytime out. That's not realistic and that's not the sport. Forums have created and environment where people are so free to criticize that we forget that THATS THE WAY THE SPORT HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

No one takes on a threat EVERY FIGHT. There are PLENTY OF FIGHTS in history where the champ is supposed to win. Not every guy Ali fought was a Frazier. Not every guy Leonard fought was a Duran. No Every fight Sugar Ray Robinson fought was a Lamotta. It's just not realistic. And it took me until just now to realize that.

Enjoy the sport for what it is. THe way its always been. The reason Super Fights are SUPER FIGHTS, is because they don't come around often.

Sorry for the essay, but Im a little faded and it just dawned on me.

Big Meech Larry Hoover, whipping work, hallelujah :smoke

 

Appreciate it Buck. It's just amazing to me how fast people forget. I'm not saying you should go your whole career without stepping up (Like GGG has been doing even though I think he will eventually. ), Im saying that not every fight is going to be a huge fight. Because a genuinely big fight can only happen once in a while because a genuinely good fight can only take place between 2 elite/special fighters in their divisions.

People get mad at Danny for fighting this guy, as if he hasn't just come off Murderer's row at 140. I think we need to realize that history just repeats itself, and not every fight is going to be huge, and that some fights are tuneups, mid level guys to stay active.

Ya'know?

 

Is it cherrypicking or is it staying active? If every fight is a big career defining fight, how the hell would we know who the special fighters were, and how would we kno what the special fights were?

Cherrypicking shouldn't even be a term, UNLESS conditions are set to drastically favor another guy.

As far as staying active against lesser fighters, thats supposed to happen. That's why there are champions then mandatories, than the "other guys"

 

That definitely a part of it, but guys are receiving more money in the sport than ever due to times advancing.

There was a time where a million dollar payday was for the guys at the absolute top of the sport.

5 million was considered great.

SRL receiving a 10 mil payday was I believe his biggest.

Canelo walked away with 12 from the Floyd fight.

No one's going to be that active anymore if you can make more money in less fights.

 

add something to the conversation, dont just facepalm

 

not bums but not elite either

Bonavena had 9 L's

Quarry had 9 too.

neither were ever champs
fighters today are held to a way higher standard of fighters from yesterday. Instead of just appreciating fighters while they are here, all we do is criticize them, I say "we" and not "they" because all I've done it too. And I'm going to stop doing that. All we do is carry around pessimistic outlooks on the fight game, and it's stupid.

 

Exactly. It's ridiculous. Like someone's resume is supposed to

Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter
Elite Fighter

There aren't that many around. He cleaned out 140. Im cool with him taking tuneups/stay active fights until it's time to go to 147.