Heavyweight Division

[mippy]

I don't understand how Lucas Browne stays ranked

[diehard]

Don't try to understand, it's all bullshit. I'm sure there's a system in place somehow, I just can't figure it out. I'm sure it has something to do with who the Board of each alphabet wants which fighters to fight each other. For instance, I believe AJ is ranked in the top 5 in two alphabets, and ranked WBA #13. So that's the politics. Then there are regional belts that come into play. Then it's certain alphabets positioning against other alphabets.

Make sense? No? Neither do the alphabets. What's good for Parker is that there's lots of guys to fight in the 4 alphabets who are in the top 10 on the way to a title in one of the 4 alphabets.

[gothenaki]

I like this article on how boxing has always had multiple champions.
https://slipthejab.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/320/

There will always be politics and protection of interests, and all we can hope for is that some good fights get made, and there's not too much irregular scoring.
In the heavy division, the multiple-belts will make it easier for JP to get a shot.
If (and I don't think he will before Wilder), he gets a shot at Glazkov or Martin, and he wins - is he the best fighter in the world?
Not necessarily, but he would have a "World Title". 
Billy Joe Saunders summed it up pretty well, when in a rare display of honesty, he basically said that he was a world champion (IBF), but Golovkin was "The Man".
The Furys seem to have little respect for the alphabet orgs as well.

I think JP is lucky to have Duco and Stu, because they can take care of the politics (as best they can), what belts are available, and whatever sanctioning fees are required, and Joseph just has to train like a man possessed, while everything else is taken care of.
Even if he does win one of the titles in the next 3 years, he'll only be 26, so there should be a lot of good fights to come.
It's easy to get fixated on the belts, but it's got to be about eventually fighting and beating the best (as Fury did at the age of 27)

Best not to wonder why Briggs is no.4 in the WBA, or De Mori is no.10 (down from no.7) - it will just do your head in.

[diehard]

Well, that's the thing. I think Stu and Team Parker are playing the alphabet game. Get ranked in all 4 alphabets, keep climbing towards the top, and take the best fights available when he's ready. Which is why they wanted to fight a tall guy in Martz and a southpaw in Bergman.

I don't think Parker can dominate the heavyweight division. But I do think he can get a few belts. To me, the toughest opponents in the future are Wilder and AJ.

[NakiFan]

I'm just not sure about Wilder. To me, he looks like he has the goods, but I have a nagging suspicion that he will be found wanting against an opponent that will actually attack him. His last few fights apart from negotiating jabs, DW hasn't had to face an aggressive fighter. Even Stiverne didn't fight like his reputation, but was it Wilder's skill that did that? Not sure.

If you only looked at Youtube fights of both Wilder and Parker, without knowing their background and rankings...who would you choose right now?

For me it's a 50/50 fight at the moment, but with JP's progression, I would think that'll change quickly with another year under his belt.

[diehard]

Wilder has beaten Stiverne, who wasn't right in that fight, and Duhaupas, who was a European punching bag.  Wilder has power and speed, plus size.  Szpilka will be his toughest test yet.

Szpilka throws a lot of punches with a sneaky left hand.  Just don't think he can stand up to Wilder's power.  Here's a fight with Jennings, with Jennings stopping Szpilka in the 10th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjhpoozIcTQ

[diehard]

Breazeale-Mansour official for Jan 23
Undefeated 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (16-0, 14 KOs) will step up in class against hard-hitting southpaw Amir “Hardcore” Mansour (22-1-1, 16 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight showdown as part of primetime action on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FOX January 23 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. The card is headlined by undefeated Danny “Swift” Garcia (31-0, 18 KOs) and former world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (33-3-1, 18 KOs) in a 12-round welterweight showdown and features undefeated rising star Sergeant Sammy “The Who Can Mexican” Vasquez (20-0, 14 KOs) taking on Aron Martinez (20-4-1, 4 KOs).

Dominic Breazeale: “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m definitely going to make the most of it. Fighting at the STAPLES Center in primetime is a dream come true. I’m a California guy and I know I have to put on a big show to make a name for myself. I want to be a world champion and Amir Mansour is standing in my way.”

Amir Mansour: “I can’t wait to put on a show January 23. As a fighter, I am very humbled and appreciative to be a part of the PBC on FOX debut. As a boxing fan, I am very pleased to be fighting on the undercard of one of my favorite fighters, Danny Garcia, who is also from Philly. I’m thrilled to be a part of a card like this with so many great fighters.”

[NakiFan]

That should be a good fight, but I think Mansour will take that out. Breazeale's last fight went the distance with Fred Kassi, and during that fight he ate an awful lot of left hooks, which considering Kassi is orthodox, I see this as an opening for Amir's big left KO punches.

I also though the scores in this bout were dodgy....more American fighters getting their pathway mapped for them for title shots....

[NakiFan]

Stu Duncan didn't want him....now Eddie Hearn may get "Let's go Champ!"

http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=556246

[Kiwi]

Yep.

Makes sense for JP or AJ - just for the Hype and the USA marketing.

-Kiwi