By Rameez Haider: Firstly to all the people who have been asking me when my next article would be posted, just want to thank you for appreciating my work and apologize for the delay.
This weekend saw the 2nd installment of the Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz saga. Yet again an amazing effort by both fighters that lead to what was an exceptional fight, with Santa Cruz rightfully just getting the nod to make it 1 a piece.
But though everyone is talking about what great fighters and ambassadors they both are for the sport (which I totally agree with) I feel this has lead to a more underlying issue in boxing which is starting to change.
Over the past year there has been huge arguments about the biggest names in boxing not facing each other, Saul Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, Kell Brook vs. Amir Khan, Anthony Joshua not fighting the main contenders, same for Deontay Wilder etc etc. This has been something that has been going on for a long time now since Floyd Mayweather was boxing.
In a recent interview, Mayweather explained how when he refers to himself as TBE he is referring to how he ran his career and the money he made whilst staying in one piece And if you go off this basis, then without doubt he is the best ever. But though Mayweather faced all the champions he did in his career, the fact is he treated the sport as a business first, which meant his timing of fights was never about ducking opponents and it was never about the fans, but it was about taking the fight when it was at the height of its monetary value. What this meant for the fans was that a lot of fights happened later than they would of hoped but what it meant for Mayweather was that he made huge amounts of money and fair play to him. At the end of the day this is their livelihood and I know if someone asked me to wait an extra year for a job promotion with me earning double my wage if I did, I sure as hell would not say no.
But over the past 12 months what has been refreshing is the fact that more and more fighters are willing to put their careers and records on the line by facing the best opponents they could. If you look at Carl Frampton it is fitting that he faced Santa Cruz last year and delivered a memorable fight and how it’s come full circle with the 2 delivering another classic.
In fact if you look at the past 12 months all the best fights have been when the top guys have faced each other whether that be on the world stage or domestically. Some examples were Keith Thurman vs Porter, Frampton vs. Santa Cruz, James Degale vs. Lucian Bute, Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev, Roman Gonzalez vs Carlos Cuadras, Tony Bellew vs Ilunga Mukabu, Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Solido, Dereck Chisora vs. Dillian Whyte and that’s just to name but a few. All these fights have involved the best fighting each other on whatever level and delivering explosive fights, tight decisions, controversy but above all some great boxing. These are the type of fights that left us boxing fans debating for weeks on end.
It’s all good seeing the likes of Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder destroy their opposition. I appreciate that these 2 are gaining experience and stepping up as they go along but there is only so long the public can watch these Mis matches before they turn of these guys for the poor quality of opponent.
When you look at 2017 and you have already had 2 amazing fights with Degale vs. Badou Jack and Frampton vs. Santa Cruz immediately the quality, the heart, the endurance and the strength in these fights is a cut above the normal fights we see. This is down to the fact that these guys are the best at what they do and when the best meets the best, you will more often than not get a positive outcome.
What’s more refreshing is looking ahead to fights like Keith Thurman vs. Danny Garcia, David Haye vs. Tony Bellew, Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitscho, Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook (which looks like it will happen) Canelo vs. GGG (which is said to be happening before the end of the year) and again this is just a few that spring to mind, there seems to be a definite shift where boxers are looking at what is still big money, but more importantly the legacy they want to leave behind.
James Degale was fortunate to get the draw against Jack but one thing I said before the fight is he is probably the best fighter from the UK at the moment and not because of his talent, but the fact he is willing to face the best there is and go wherever he has to to make these fights happen. Frampton beat Santa Cruz, he could have gone on to other fights, maybe even easier fights but instead took the rematch and no doubt Santa Cruz will do the same now he has won.
There seems a genuine desire for boxers now both domestically and internationally to prove they are the best and it is so refreshing for the fans, because though I agree boxing careers are short and boxers need to make all the money they can, at the same time they have a responsibility to the fans that make boxers who they are and play the largest part in contributing to that money they seek to earn.
Here is hoping to the rest of 2017 continuing on from this month, with the best facing the best.
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