Are Boxers Getting title Shots Without Working for Them?
July 28th, 2009
By Stuart Gant: I am and have been for a long time a huge boxing fan, enjoying not only the big boxing matches but also the lower level bouts, however even I can’t avoid the issue of certain boxers getting title shots or big bouts when many would say they didn’t deserve it.
There are many examples of this but one I would definitely use would be the British newly crowned WBA light-welterweight champion, Amir Khan. Now I watched the Khan-Kotelnik fight and like many was impressed by Khans display as he stuck to his game plan and out boxed Kotelnik. Although Khan obviously deserved to win, the question many people wondered was did he deserve a world title shot in the beginning.
Next is the exciting and to his credit highly successful David Haye. Unfortunately though I am unsure as to whether it is Hayes skills and records that are getting him these potential fights in this division or his rather loud mouth. Unless your bias against Haye you can’t really knock his record in the cruiserweight division or his KO percentage but the heavyweight division is a completely different ball game. With no weight limits you can have 6ft 7 monsters in the Klitschko brothers and the 7ft 2 22 stone beast that is Nikolai Valuev. No where in the cruiserweight no matter how good you are can you prepare for how big and how hard these guys punch. The great Evander Holyfield, who Haye wants to emulate, had to win 5 heavyweight fights before getting a shot at James Douglas for the Heavyweight titles. Unfortunately for some boxers I think Haye’s antics such as his T-shirts and some of his comments have got him a title shot in front of other boxers who really deserve it. Lets face it Haye has faced Tomasz Bonin (who also lost to Audley Harrison) and Monte Barrett who in my opinion don’t make you ready for a World Title fight.
Tags: 26 Responses to “Are Boxers Getting title Shots Without Working for Them?”
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fighters getting shots b4 their time is not a recent thing, leon spinks got a title shot having had just 8 fights
Klitschkos are best, nick thomas is a bum
amir kahn is a prime example of this hes won a world title wen he hasnt even won a british one nor beating anyone worthy of getting a title a mexcican who was washed up!
The question as to whether Khan deserved the title shot is already moot and irrelevant. I mean, Khan won against Kotelnik, didn’t he? In my book, since Khan won, he really deserved that chance. Now, if Khan lost, then that’s another matter. The question as to whether he deserved the title shot becomes a legitimate subject of discussion.
Haye had been doing a lot of trash talking and saying how he was going to KO the Klitschko’s etc. Haye then backs out of 2 fights with the Klitschko’s.
If Haye was so confident that he would KO the K’s, why didnt he just go ahead and fight them? If Haye did beat Vitali, he would then have to fight him again in a rematch. So , what was the big deal in that? What does this say? It shows that Haye cannot back up what he says. The truth will come out about Haye in due time.
Ofcourse there are boxers not really earning their shots. Its always happened and it always will.
None mandatory defences are there to offer a chance to anybody the champions want.
A large part of the article and over 20 replys all seem to hover around British fighters. Is this all not just another pop at the British?
If nobody likes it dont blame the people who get their shots, blame the champs for offering it to them, blame the boxing organisations who allow it to happen.
You cant blame these underserved challengers who have been given the cance.
If cotto was scared to lose to pacman he wouldn’t have taken the fight. If cotto fights the way he fought against clottey he will definitly lose,but if he can dig deep and fight like a young hungry fighter again he might be able 2 give manny a hell of a fight
These things have happened in the past. What’s important is how Amir Khan disposed of Kotelnik and how Haye will fare with his opponent. If they win convincingly, then they deserve it. enof said
Amir Khan vs. babybull juan diaz and then we can see if hes the real deal
PS: yes, he is only 22 now. give him some time! i can see him kicking big boxers’ ass in future.
I agree haye doesn’t deserve a title shot right now i think he needs to fight against a ranked heavyweight before he gets a shot.This dude came out of nowhere and starting creating buzz with his mouth.I think the only reason he pulled out of the vitali fight was because he knew he realized he bit off more than he could chew.He knows that valuev is a better opponent for him because he is a big slow fighter.Haye knows all he has to do is get close in and under valuevs punches and stick and move.Haye wants to win a heavywight title as easy as possible,for gods sake old evander holyfield clearly beat valuev but was robbed due to hometown judging.
didn’t know there were so many KHAN-HATERS out there. Plz don’t be jealous coz this kid got a world title at the age of 22. GET OVER IT.
klitschko is a bum
Hayes do not need to fight other heveyweights to get a tilte shot at this bum Klitschko ,any kid from high school who not scared can get out of the away from Klitschko punches
Very good article, some of the other halfwits writing articles on this site must feel pretty stupid when they read ones like this.
Quote: Clint says: As for Haye, he was undisputed CW champion, he is entitled to move up and fight for a title exactly the same way Hatton was, Same way Calzaghe was, Same was De La hoya was, Same way Pacquiao Was, same way Mayweather was.
Absolute nonsense from Clint. No NOT the same as the above. Haye has only had a sum total of two world title fights in his whole career and has only boxed a total of 78 rounds. He won his first world title fight after almost getting KO’d himself and then fought one of the weakest CW champion ever in Macaranelli. Haye also has previously been KO’d by a 40 year old. He didn’t beat all the top contenders at Cruiserweight and he didn’t win all the major belts either. He definitely does not deserve a HW title shot yet.
This might be off topic but I say Manny destroys Cotto!
AS soon as Khan fights someone with a chin,punch and skills he’s going down!
Title “claiments” without substance is right! There are way too many weight divisions and slimy promoters,managers,ect,that water down the claim many have as champion! The old time fighters sometimes had to fight 40+ fights to earn a title shot.Now you can get one in under 15 fights if you have the right conections.That is bogus and no amount of excuses like,”well he won the fight so that means he was worthy,” will do for anyone who has any inkling of boxing and its history.Yea there has always been coruption but today its getting to the point where one has to wonder,”world champions,…uh,too many to name and I don’t know any of their names!
Kotelnik chose to fight Khan as his non-mandatory.
He knew there was a lot of money in the fight, and no doubt thought he could beat him anyway.
It was Kotelnik’s choice who to fight, so it’s ridiculous bashing Khan for an opportunity that was put on his plate.
As for Haye, he was undisputed CW champion, he is entitled to move up and fight for a title exactly the same way Hatton was, Same way Calzaghe was, Same was De La hoya was, Same way Pacquiao Was, same way Mayweather was, Same way was.
Put short, who cares get over it.
fully agree with you about Khan he was given a title shot against the weakest champion out there, it is a prime example of how promotors ruin the sport for their own personal gain
I think you raise a very good point about the cruiserweight division not preparing you for the heavyweight division but i genuinely don’t believe Haye would be making the claims he is making if it wasn;t for the fact that the heavywieght division atm is SHIIIIIIIIIITT full of slow eastern europeans who are boring to watch and are only the champs due to shear size and strength
if Haye was entering into an era like the 70′s he wud never be making the claims he is making and probably wudn;t have even moved up….but the fact is Haye is what the heavyweight divison needs atm
No, but he was in line 2 fight for one. but he wasnt gettiung enough £ so pulled out. and took on ZAB
EDIT: Agree with Liam Santiago about Matt Hatton
Good article Stuart, I agree, especially about Matt Hatton. I hope Khan loses his title soon, I always have and still do think hes overrated, lets hope Ricky Hatton batters him.
I agree in some ways. Kahn’s route to a world title was a JOKE! Haye on the other hand was undisputed CW champion….so slightly different his T shirt was tasteless but when you compare it to some of Ali’s comments in the past hardly a crime! Ali called smokin Joe a gorilla and a uncle tom! that was bang out of order! and Liam I agree even as a Brit Matthew Hatton does not deserve his shot!
Stuart. your right mate. I tried to say the same thing about Matthew Hatton and got nothing but abuse. YOU CANT tell me he desrvs A WORLD TITLE SHOT more than others.