[Earl-Hickey]

Personally I think we are worse off than we were a few short years ago.

We had David Haye who we thought might possibly be able to take out a Klitschko and become the heavyweight king, he failed miserably.

Amir Khan who we thought might possibly be able to beat Bradley and become the man at 140, he failed miserably against Petersen and then Garcia.

Froch heading toward a super 6 final the we thought he might possibly win and take over 168, he failed miserably.

Since then Haye has retired, Froch has bounced back but is at best the number 2 in the division with number 1 ward levels above. Khan is trying to rebuild but most everyone has lost all faith in him.


We have an average belt-holder in Nathan Cleverly, who has become a bit of a joke, Ricky Burns is doing ok but is likely to get well beaten by Broner.

a few of our prospects have fallen against the likes of Martinez, and Price got Banjo'd by Thompson.

Who is left?

Possible future champs

Fury - Everyone hates him, but he's doing very well for such a young fighter, and developing into a solid all rounder, his size and skills make him a threat for the future imo

Frampton - Power and some decent skills, could step up to big things

Groves - Power and some speed, but imo lacking the intangibles to make a world class fighter

Billy Joe Saunders - Looks the most fluid british fighter I have seen for a long time, a pleasure to watch although had a bit of a scare against Blackwell, we need to see if that was just an off night because I was disappointed in that performance

Kell Brook - Some rate him, I don't. I don't think Carson Jones was an off night, I just think that's brooks level, I expect Alexander to stop him comprehensively



Right now these are the only ones I can think of.

Anyone else i'm missing?

 

[Roe]

British boxing's doing fine.

You mention some of our finest "failing miserably", what a load of bollocks. They all stepped up to higher levels and lost to some of the world's best. Haye to Klitschko who no-one's beating, Froch to Ward who no-one's beating and Khan who was always fragile loses a close fight to Peterson and then to Garcia straight after. They should all be applauded (maybe not Haye here) for stepping up to the highest level and staying there even though things haven't always gone their way.

a few of our prospects have fallen against the likes of Martinez

When you say "the likes of Martinez", you mean the best middleweight champ since Hopkins right?

 

[Earl-Hickey]

British boxing's doing fine.

You mention some of our finest "failing miserably", what a load of bollocks. They all stepped up to higher levels and lost to some of the world's best. Haye to Klitschko who no-one's beating, Froch to Ward who no-one's beating and Khan who was always fragile loses a close fight to Peterson and then to Garcia straight after. They should all be applauded (maybe not Haye here) for stepping up to the highest level and staying there even though things haven't always gone their way.

When you say "the likes of Martinez", you mean the best middleweight champ since Hopkins right?

Yes, they failed miserably.

Froch vs Ward was a unification fight, and Froch lost 10-2 on any reasonable persons scorecard. The fact that Ward is very good doesn't make it any less a failure.

Khan "stepped up" in two fights he was massive favorite to win

Haye vs Klitschko was another 10-2 type affair, he didn't even try and win

Yes, miserable failures of performances, i'm not interested in sugar coating. I'm not here to pat them on the head "you give it a good go lad, well done, have a runner up ribbon"

And the Martinez thing is not a knock on Martinez, I was just saying that our prospects had lost in those kind of fights.

So in your opinion, British boxing is doing "fine", means you are basically saying we accept failure at the highest level? even worse, we EXPECT it.

Ever thought that kind of thinking might be the reason WHY we very rarely have true champions in the sport?

 

[Roe]

:lol: Ok.

 

[Chatty]

Every person you mentioned and said failed miserably - well most people expected them to lose those matches bar Khan who was a 50/50 with Bradley (obv never happened) so they never really failed miserably.

Once you have a lot of boxers at a stage then you generally have to wait for the stage below to catch up with them as they can be held under for TV reasons. Now the gaps opened up again others will come through and others will have to step up.

Britian has just had their most successful Olympics ever (if you bar the ones were it was basically Britain v Britain) and the amateur scene is flourishing so plenty good lads to come through, some of the lads I rank higher than the Olympians have slipped by unnoticed and some still haven't made the move (and I say rank higher based on pro potential).

Plus eastern Europe, the far East and South America have improved massively over the last decade and are taking the sport more seriously so the talent pool is a bit wider than it has been in other years.

Look at the USA, they probably having their worst run in many decades, shit at amateurs, less and less world champions, havent had a heavy for about 12-15 years but you wouldn't say they were in a state. Theres still plenty there in the tank.

 

[Earl-Hickey]

I'm being serious mate. I'm waiting for the trolling accusations to come flying but let me tell you i'm being serious.

It's funny, I only really developed this attitude when I left the UK, I don't know if it's got to do with the politics of the UK or what, that we now seem to accept failure.

School sports day is now about "team activities" so as not to hurt anyone's feelings when they lose, we continue to worship the very ground our mediocre footballers walk on, "oh Roo's, Lamps, Stevie G" what legends, until a world cup comes round they play shit, we have a rant and then all is forgiven.

Being on the Dole is the preferred career path of 9/10 school leavers

I'm telling you, this type of thing doesn't fly elsewhere, there are still countries out there that put success and achievement on a pedestal, and there is no prize for second place.

I'm not knocking these guys you know they have guts to get in their and do what they do, but jebus christ, if we get to this stage where "second place is alright" then we really are in trouble.

 

[Back to Bill]

I'm being serious mate. I'm waiting for the trolling accusations to come flying but let me tell you i'm being serious.

It's funny, I only really developed this attitude when I left the UK, I don't know if it's got to do with the politics of the UK or what, that we now seem to accept failure.

School sports day is now about "team activities" so as not to hurt anyone's feelings when they lose, we continue to worship the very ground our mediocre footballers walk on, "oh Roo's, Lamps, Stevie G" what legends, until a world cup comes round they play shit, we have a rant and then all is forgiven.

Being on the Dole is the preferred career path of 9/10 school leavers

I'm telling you, this type of thing doesn't fly elsewhere, there are still countries out there that put success and achievement on a pedestal, and there is no prize for second place.

I'm not knocking these guys you know they have guts to get in their and do what they do, but jebus christ, if we get to this stage where "second place is alright" then we really are in trouble.

Serious or not, you're still a spacker.

 

[Earl-Hickey]

Look at the USA, they probably having their worst run in many decades, shit at amateurs, less and less world champions, havent had a heavy for about 12-15 years but you wouldn't say they were in a state. Theres still plenty there in the tank.

well a lot of people say they are having a shit run of it but they still manage to pull a future ATG in Andre Ward out of their ass, who by the way has already shat all over one of our legends Calzaghe in double quick time, Broner will likely spark burns out and go on to be another floyd type fighter

It's embarrassing tbh

 

[Earl-Hickey]

Serious or not, you're still a spacker.

wonderful.

 

[Chatty]

well a lot of people say they are having a shit run of it but they still manage to pull a future ATG in Andre Ward out of their ass, who by the way has already shat all over one of our legends Calzaghe in double quick time, Broner will likely spark burns out and go on to be another floyd type fighter

It's embarrassing tbh

Yeah but they have some 275 million more people than the UK and for a long time had a lot more money/resources and its the boxing capital of the world so the best generally head there - better sparring, training, gyms etc etc so for them to pull the odd great boxer out should be far more often than we do.

We do alright, if you bought into the Haye and Khan hype then its your own fault for believing the promoters hype rather than using your eyes. Were no worse of now than we were a few years back. Not at all.

 

[Chatty]

I'm being serious mate. I'm waiting for the trolling accusations to come flying but let me tell you i'm being serious.

It's funny, I only really developed this attitude when I left the UK, I don't know if it's got to do with the politics of the UK or what, that we now seem to accept failure.

School sports day is now about "team activities" so as not to hurt anyone's feelings when they lose, we continue to worship the very ground our mediocre footballers walk on, "oh Roo's, Lamps, Stevie G" what legends, until a world cup comes round they play shit, we have a rant and then all is forgiven.

Being on the Dole is the preferred career path of 9/10 school leavers

I'm telling you, this type of thing doesn't fly elsewhere, there are still countries out there that put success and achievement on a pedestal, and there is no prize for second place.

I'm not knocking these guys you know they have guts to get in their and do what they do, but jebus christ, if we get to this stage where "second place is alright" then we really are in trouble.

Also you have just made up 90% of that post. Not even 9/10 school kids end up on the dole nevermind want to be on the dole, sure the country has gone down the shitter a fair bit and unemployment is up but come on, don't just make stats up.

 

[Earl-Hickey]

Yeah but they have some 275 million more people than the UK and for a long time had a lot more money/resources and its the boxing capital of the world so the best generally head there - better sparring, training, gyms etc etc so for them to pull the odd great boxer out should be far more often than we do.

We do alright, if you bought into the Haye and Khan hype then its your own fault for believing the promoters hype rather than using your eyes. Were no worse of now than we were a few years back. Not at all.

I guess I did a little with Haye, although I thought he'd lose the Wlad fight, always knew khan was a liability though

on a more positive not, who do you think are the best hopes amongst our propsects.

 

[kingkodi]

Pretty negative stuff. We have loads of good talent coming through at all levels.

 

[Roe]

Serious or not, you're still a spacker.

:yep

 

[Earl-Hickey]

It'd be good if some of you were capable of voicing a constructive counterpoint to an opinion you disagree with rather than calling people "spackers" and posting smilies.

I thought this was a serious boxing forum? Some of you are the same as on the ESB Brit forums.

At least get some insults that aren't a decade out of date

 

[Chatty]

I guess I did a little with Haye, although I thought he'd lose the Wlad fight, always knew khan was a liability though

on a more positive not, who do you think are the best hopes amongst our propsects.

Well in this day and age Degale, Groves, BJ Saunders, McDonnell, Gavin, B Saunders, Yafai, Quigg, Frampton (Irish), Selby and Ekundayo all have the talent to win a version of the world title and box at that level. Sure, some will fall off, get beat, some wont make it that far but then you will get some surprises that come through and be better than people expected.

The current crop of amateur boxers in Britian are doing really well though, not just the Olympians but we are winning world championships at junior level every year, lads from all levels are doing great in the worlds, euros, domestic contests. I personally know four lads who have boxed in a world championship final and they have boxed some very good lads.

By the time they come through, with the changes in the amateur code looking more likely to suit the pros then we will have a quality influx of talent coming through in the next ten years.

 

[Back to Bill]

It'd be good if some of you were capable of voicing a constructive counterpoint to an opinion you disagree with rather than calling people "spackers" and posting smilies.

I thought this was a serious boxing forum? Some of you are the same as on the ESB Brit forums.

At least get some insults that aren't a decade out of date

How can you expect people to take you serious when you are well known for being a trolling fucking idiot?

What was your last troll account? Dai wasn't it. ''Yo Burns brush my hair'' Fuck off. :rofl

 

[GazOC]

How many real world class fighters does the UK usually have at any one time? How many "real" world champs? At this point in time I don't think we are any worse off than the norm over the years.

And the "UK loves losers, not winners" line is the laziest, cliched generalization going IMHO.

 

[Roe]

Sorry, Earl. I don't really see this as a serious thread. It's an interesting question to review the state of British boxing but when you talk about guys "failing miserably" when they lose to the best in the world you kind of lose credibility a little. Just my opinion of your opinion, of course. That and you being a well known mong as Bill said.

Also you say we were worse than a couple of years ago, why is this? Who did we have before that made British boxing better than it is now? Haye beating Valuev and John Ruiz? Danny Williams as British heavyweight champion? Khan on pay per view getting "banjo'd" by Prescott? I'm just not sure what you actually mean here.

 

[Lunny]

I think the current state is very good. It's not just about how many top World Champions we have, it's strength in depth too and we have that.

Afolabi, Macklin, Barker, Bellew, Frampton, Quigg, Groves, DeGale, Brook, Fury, DeGale, Price, Chisora, Groves, Saunders, Eubank Jr, Yafai, the olympians, McDonnell etc. etc.

I could go on and on. We've got decent fighters at a lot of different levels. British boxing is looking sweet and it's promising for the future.