Brits being overmatched Stateside - It's gotta stop !!

Imagine If you're an American fan and the first two British fighters you'd seen headlining a show in the States were Messrs Rees and Purdy...Heaven knows what you would be thinking....Chuck in the Fury debacle and you'd be thinking WTF...

Two fighters that took a dreadful hiding and begged for more........

Purdy and Rees will have learned nothing from their pastings and in Purdy's case I expect he'll be there for the taking over here after his Lockett style pasting.....

Now these are good boys with plenty of heart who were going into the dragon's den and were patently unready for the challenge that awaited them......

I'm just grateful they are both okay.......But they really were a bad advertisement for British Boxing which is booming at the moment.......

Let's have guys like this staying where they belong at domestic level in Britain and send the quality to pick up titles in America.........

Groves, Froch, Burns, Brook's... khan's.........those that belong at the LEVEL...

No one wants to see average fighters get slapped about...It gives my brothers the wrong idea about British boxing.....

The question is, do boxers fight to make money or to entertain the audience? What is the most important?

if you are Purdy and you have the choice of fighting in Rochdale Community hall for £10,000 against a nobody or in the US and pocket £100k, what would you do?

They were overmatched because they simply ain't that great. Boxing's a dangerous game and they need to make money. So with a career limited by their ability I'd say they're better off taking a couple of 'big' fights in the States for a decent wedge that continue to operate in Europe at a mediocre level with comensurate pay.

Also not sure we should care whether it makes US fans underestimate the talent of British boxing as 1) this should be to our advantage when our actual top boys go over; and 2) it just means they haven't watched the Olympics where we've cleaned up and the Yanks have done nothing.

Anything to give Yanks a chance to chant U.S.A together and prove that they are a little better at spelling than the rest of the world is led to believe.

You should be thanking us.

Adam D wrote:The question is, do boxers fight to make money or to entertain the audience? What is the most important?

if you are Purdy and you have the choice of fighting in Rochdale Community hall for £10,000 against a nobody or in the US and pocket £100k, what would you do?

It isn't the point at all.........The gulf in class was so great he could have been hurt.........100,000 isn't much good to Mcllellan..

Had no right being there.

Imagine if you're a Brit and the first American fighters you see are Bobby Gunn and Tocker Pudwill...then add Jeff Lacey to the mix ("This guy's meant to be good....ha, Calzaghe beat him to a pulp") and you too might think "What the ****!"

It's always happened, and the flow hasn't been all one way, either. Tocker Pudwill, anyone? Anyone familiar with Mike Baker? Danny Perez? Robert Vasquez? Those fruit and veg sellers, or whatever they were, who recently took on Cleverly?

I don't imagine that anyone believed that they represented the cream of US boxing, any more than Lockett, Rees (at least a former world belt-holder) and Purdy were emblematic of the strength of the UK fight game.

At least Brits have historically given a good account of themselves...

Remember Sibson against Haglar gave Marvin nightmares, Lockett pushed Pavlik all the way, Nunn had to dig deep against Crawford Ashley, Tommy Far gave Louis something to think about, Bruno had Tyson out on his feet at one point, its not all bad.

Shock Horror, a fighter grows up as a kid to be the best and fight the best, but Truss thinks they should stop at "leisure centre" level for a £100 a fight.

If they get the exposure on US TV then go for it. Remeber it only takes 3lbs of pressure to put somebody asleep. If Purdy had of caught Alexander he would have made a fortune. Put that into the fact that Purdy was offered the chance to fight for a world title (which every fighter dreams of) against a fighter who had overtrained for a fighter who had pulled out numerous times. He could have got lucky. Unfortunately for him he didn't, but it was still worth the risk.

Truss's logic being as idiotic as usual.

I'll see your Tocker Pudwill and raise you Dimity Salita. If we can't have over matched Brits in the USA, can you stop sending us your over-rated and highly under-qualified Amercans?

Lockett pushed Pavlik all the way

No he didn't you silly boy. As much as I like Gary, he was woefully outclassed and visibly rocked every time Pavlik landed.

Tommy Farr took a one sided pasting...........

Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn wrote:Shock Horror, a fighter grows up as a kid to be the best and fight the best, but Truss thinks they should stop at "leisure centre" level for a £100 a fight.

If they get the exposure on US TV then go for it. Remeber it only takes 3lbs of pressure to put somebody asleep. If Purdy had of caught Alexander he would have made a fortune. Put that into the fact that Purdy was offered the chance to fight for a world title (which every fighter dreams of) against a fighter who had overtrained for a fighter who had pulled out numerous times. He could have got lucky. Unfortunately for him he didn't, but it was still worth the risk.

Truss's logic being as idiotic as usual.

Why the insults...............Purdy shouldn't have been fighting for a world title.........People get hurt in this business..........Took a fearful slap.

Sibson didn't give Hagler any issues at all. Sibsonm is one of my favourite boxers, but absolutely out classed in that case.

to be honest as far as purdy is concerned, the fact that he didnt train hard enough to make weight shows he wasnt really that bothered about winning or losing he just wanted to turn up and get is pay day.

Sibson deserved his shot..

He was number 5 in the IBF rankings, the other guys in the top 10 where either matched up or injured or below Purdy. He was the only one left.

So he was just as deserving as the others in the rankings. Or would you have prefered some Rusiian that nobody has heard of?

Purdy had Sky backing him so the fight made more money that any other match up that would have been made.

It was to get Alexander fighting which he had to do because of Brook messing him around for the last 4 months.

Purdy was the only opinion within the rankings. Apologies for the insult, but thats just the way it was. Its not Alexanders fault the IBF had Purdy in that position, Purdy fought his way into it. End of.

And also, Purdy has spent his life fight, if he is to get a slap then so be it, its the life he choose. He knows hes not the best, but at least he experienced a level in which we never thought he would have seen. He came up short, but at least he had a go.

Cant win them all.

Should have been called off the moment he failed to make weight....

Four weeks notice.............P**s poor..

Lucky he's still in one piece.

Rankings are meaningless these days.

No, Farr's defeat wasn't a one-sided pasting either, apart from in the view of the one judge who gave it 13-1-1 to Louis. The other two had it a much more accurate 9-6 and 8-5-2 to the champion, who won perfectly clearly, whatever the over-excited BBC radio commentary said at the time.

A one-sided pasting WOULD be a fair description of Hagler-Sibson, Pavlik-Lockett and, especially, Nunn-Ashley, who seemed to floor the Yorkshireman every time he hit him to the body.

captain carrantuohil wrote:No, Farr's defeat wasn't a one-sided pasting either, apart from in the view of the one judge who gave it 13-1-1 to Louis. The other two had it a much more accurate 9-6 and 8-5-2 to the champion, who won perfectly clearly, whatever the over-excited BBC radio commentary said at the time.

A one-sided pasting WOULD be a fair description of Hagler-Sibson, Pavlik-Lockett and, especially, Nunn-Ashley, who seemed to floor the Yorkshireman every time he hit him to the body.

Yeah but they gave a good account of themselves.

Struggled with Farr......Struggled with Conn and Rodders has him above Ali!!

Kudos for sticking Mayweather at number 9 in your list Captain!!!

Glad someone appreciates quality...........

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Should have been called off the moment he failed to make weight....

Four weeks notice.............P**s poor..

Lucky he's still in one piece.

Rankings are meaningless these days.

SO what you're saying is scrap the ranking system and give shots to "celebrity" type?? Are you away in the head or something?

There are fighters out there busting there who are busting their guts to make mandatory and your reasoning is for them not to get a shot because they arent a "name".

Thats pathetic even by your standards Truss.

Rankings are meaningless........

Never mentioned you need to be a name.....

Never said scrap the rankings system.......

Apart from that you're spot on with your rebuttal.

Depends what you mean by a good account, Onetwo. Sibson certainly did and had nothing to reproach himself for on a night when he tried all he knew, only to meet a superb champion at the peak of his powers.

Lockett? Not so much. If you lose the first two rounds of your title fight by 10-8 scorelines and then get stopped in the third, it's very hard to call it a "good account" unless you're particularly easily satisfied. Likewise with Ashley, who lost every round of five, two of them by two-point margins, before being floored three times by body punches in the sixth. He wasn't in Nunn's league, Ashley, but he would surely have hoped to produce a better showing.

Richie woodhall had Lockett ahead at the time of the stoppage!!

Ok captain but boxers like Eastman have gone over the pond and put in a decent shift.

I think Brit fighters give a better go of it then most other nationalities apart from maybe Mexican. Rees is a recent example of being overmatched but making the yanks at least work hard for their bread.

He gave Rees 10-7 round for his good showing in the first round against Broner.

Gotta love the Woodhall analyse Truss haha

Did Rees make Broner work hard ???

Look I don't begrudge any boxer making a lot of money (unless it's Audley!!)..

Just think knowing deep down someone is getting trashed which we all thought Purdy and Rees were is dangerous.........

Pick your spots.........That's what it's all about..

Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn wrote:He gave Rees 10-7 round for his good showing in the first round against Broner.

Gotta love the Woodhall analyse Truss haha

In fairness he did say Hagler and Sibson was a mismatch!!

Until Hagler won the lottery!!

I agree whole heartedly. Fast Eddie might be great at getting fighters a title shot (through his links with Golden Boy) but what's the point in giving up home advantage when the fighter's already overmatched?

Look at the job Hobson did for McDonnell. There's a promoter with his fighter's best interest at heart.

Can't really see the problems, fighters from every country will fight Americans in America and come up short, why only look at Brits. As others have said Americans have come be there and looked poor

You can pick on isolated incidents but the fighters know the risks and the risk involved is worth it for the payday and the chance (however slim) that they may actually win

The defeats weren't that bad either. Rees took some hard shots but was still stopped on his feet as wasn't on jelly legs. Purdy too wasn't hurt once by Alexander and the shots never really looked like damaging punches

hazharrison wrote:I agree whole heartedly. Fast Eddie might be great at getting fighters a title shot (through his links with Golden Boy) but what's the point in giving up home advantage when the fighter's already overmatched?

Look at the job Hobson did for McDonnell. There's a promoter with his fighter's best interest at heart.

How much do you think McDonnel made?

World champion and hardly anyone knows. The stadium was empty, how can that be a success

Would mcdonnell have won that fight in Mexico..

Carson Jones seems to be having a woeful career in Britain. Maybe he should go back home.

WHU_Champo_League_in_7Yrs wrote:

hazharrison wrote:I agree whole heartedly. Fast Eddie might be great at getting fighters a title shot (through his links with Golden Boy) but what's the point in giving up home advantage when the fighter's already overmatched?

Look at the job Hobson did for McDonnell. There's a promoter with his fighter's best interest at heart.

How much do you think McDonnel made?

World champion and hardly anyone knows. The stadium was empty, how can that be a success

There were more in the stadium than there were at Saturday's Altlantic City card -- around 4000 to 2000. That's excellent for a fighter who has had limited exposure.

Ceja will have taken the lion's share of the purse I'd imagine but McDonnell can now earn well off the back of his win.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Would mcdonnell have won that fight in Mexico..

Possibly not. Home advantage plays a huge part in boxing.

Exactly that's why it made sense.............

Purdy will never be a world champ so to turn down an opportunity like that would be silly.

I don't see the issue.

He doesn't agree with you..

Lumbering_Jack wrote:Purdy will never be a world champ so to turn down an opportunity like that would be silly.

I don't see the issue.

Purdy's likely to be damaged goods after the systematic pasting he took. He was never going to win that fight -- not ever. He obviously did the weight incorrectly after being given only 4 weeks to prepare -- hence why Barker pulled him out. Bloody dangerous.

I agree. He couldn't turn the fight down but the question is: Should Hearn have put him in that position?

Should most of the K bros opponents be allowed to fight given how badly they do irrespective of their rankings?

Purdy has a living to make. That 135k purse is massive for him. There are journeymen who go through what Purdy went through on a regular basis for peanuts. He was overmatched, but his corner was sensible. When they saw there wasn’t going to be an upset the pulled him out.

I agree -- no-brainer for Purdy.

Good match-making from Hearn, though? Not for me.

Purdy has just turned 25 hasn't he??...Years ahead of him.

Why risk future earning potential.............

That was a battering he took...let's see If he comes back.

hazharrison wrote:I agree -- no-brainer for Purdy.

Good match-making from Hearn, though? Not for me.

I guess it depends on from what way you approach it. Hearns job is to make money for his fighters and get them opportunities. At the same time he has to try and keep fans happy. From the fans point of view this was a mismatch and never really going to spark interest, but that is often the case when there needs to be a short term substitute. Im sure Purdy was delighted to get the chance and the money. Its unlikely that other than a situation like a fighter pulling out at short notice that Purdy would ever really get into world title contention so it’s a once in a lifetime chance for him.

Once in a lifetime chance these days???

Sorry that's bull...........

Any half decent fighter gets a shot.......which makes you wonder why he didn't hang around...wait till he was at his best fighting condition and fight someone who'd give him a better chance..

hazharrison wrote:

WHU_Champo_League_in_7Yrs wrote:

hazharrison wrote:I agree whole heartedly. Fast Eddie might be great at getting fighters a title shot (through his links with Golden Boy) but what's the point in giving up home advantage when the fighter's already overmatched?

Look at the job Hobson did for McDonnell. There's a promoter with his fighter's best interest at heart.

How much do you think McDonnel made?

World champion and hardly anyone knows. The stadium was empty, how can that be a success

There were more in the stadium than there were at Saturday's Altlantic City card -- around 4000 to 2000. That's excellent for a fighter who has had limited exposure.

Ceja will have taken the lion's share of the purse I'd imagine but McDonnell can now earn well off the back of his win.

Not the Matthysse card, there were over 4000 there for sure and the tickets were probably far more expensive. As I said I didn't see the entire fight but it looked like all of the stands barring one were completely empty so I doubt that they got 4000 given the stadium isn't very big. Fighters like Brook, Frampton and Bellew aren't world champions but they have a much larger fanbase and make a lot more money and that's through his matchmakers

The point is he would have got a bigger purse and more exposure if he fought someone like Leo Santa Cruz and although he most likely would have been beaten it's not going to lose him that many fans.

If Purdy got the reported purse of $100k that's brilliant. Why wouldn't he take a shot like that when he can be beaten by domestics like Vassell and Lynes for pennies

Purdy didn't take a pounding and will probabaly get a couple good fights, and Rees is lined up to face Crolla which is a big domestic clash so I doubt he is upset about taking the Broner shot

Barker and Macklin have used the Martinez fight to get themselves big fights and recognition from British fans

The fact it was on primetime didn't help...

Look at Josesito Lopez. Horribly outclassed? Definitely. Badly beaten? Mostly, but it always only takes one shot.

WHU_Champo_League_in_7Yrs wrote:

hazharrison wrote:

WHU_Champo_League_in_7Yrs wrote:

hazharrison wrote:I agree whole heartedly. Fast Eddie might be great at getting fighters a title shot (through his links with Golden Boy) but what's the point in giving up home advantage when the fighter's already overmatched?

Look at the job Hobson did for McDonnell. There's a promoter with his fighter's best interest at heart.

How much do you think McDonnel made?

World champion and hardly anyone knows. The stadium was empty, how can that be a success

There were more in the stadium than there were at Saturday's Altlantic City card -- around 4000 to 2000. That's excellent for a fighter who has had limited exposure.

Ceja will have taken the lion's share of the purse I'd imagine but McDonnell can now earn well off the back of his win.

Not the Matthysse card, there were over 4000 there for sure and the tickets were probably far more expensive. As I said I didn't see the entire fight but it looked like all of the stands barring one were completely empty so I doubt that they got 4000 given the stadium isn't very big. Fighters like Brook, Frampton and Bellew aren't world champions but they have a much larger fanbase and make a lot more money and that's through his matchmakers

The point is he would have got a bigger purse and more exposure if he fought someone like Leo Santa Cruz and although he most likely would have been beaten it's not going to lose him that many fans.

If Purdy got the reported purse of $100k that's brilliant. Why wouldn't he take a shot like that when he can be beaten by domestics like Vassell and Lynes for pennies

Purdy didn't take a pounding and will probabaly get a couple good fights, and Rees is lined up to face Crolla which is a big domestic clash so I doubt he is upset about taking the Broner shot

Barker and Macklin have used the Martinez fight to get themselves big fights and recognition from British fans

There were 2000. I know a guy that was ringside. Steve Kim also confirmed that number via Twitter. Boxing News reported 4000 in Doncaster.

Hobson had a chance to face a Mexican in Mexico for the WBA strap but turned it down. He then secured home advantage for McDonnell for another version.

£135k might sound a lot but the smacking he took might just have knackered him as a fighter. Fighting someone like Alexander when you've had to cut weight so dramatically was dangerous.

Thankfully Barker was in his corner.