Ok I'm bored so Ive just looked into how many world champions there are from the UK and around the world. I didnt realise how ******* good we've become at the old boxing game and was shocked at the results. I'd have thought the US was the epicenter of the world in terms of boxing, but as the results show, our little island of hard cases is. UK = 11 World Champions Japan = 8 Mexico = 8 US = 7 Russia = 5 Puerto Rico = 3 Thailand = 3 Ukraine = 2 Argentina = 1 Poland = 1 Canada = 1 Sweden = 1 Germany = 1 Kazakhstan= 1 Ireland = 1 Venezuela = 1 Cuba = 1 DR = 1 Nicaragua = 1 Philippines = 1 South Africa = 1
We've actually got 10. Folk keep listing Jamie McDonnell as one but he isn't. It's a bit of a misleading figure. 5 of the 10. Flanagan, Crolla, Smith, Haskins & Quigg either got given the belt out of the ring, got it by injury or fought an appalling opponent. The other 5, Fury, DeGale, Brook, Frampton & Selby are all credible & beat good opposition but only Fury is the number 1 in his division. Things aren't as good as say 2008 where we had 3 world champions in Calzaghe, Hatton & Haye who were all number one in their weight class plus four other world title holders. Even still it is a good period, just needs a couple of stars to go alongside Fury. Brook been the most obvious candidate if Khan ever finds the balls to face him but there's no way we're as good as a nation as any of USA, Japan or Mexico
Think that's harsh on Crolla. Perez wasn't an awful opponent and he beat him twice. Also think you're dumbing down the achievement by listing Flanagan and Quigg, as yes the former's opponent was injured, but at least he beat someone half decent recently (in really impressive fashion), and at least Quigg has won fights since (he could easily not be on that list if he'd lost any of the last four/five fights). Haskins is the only one sitting on a belt he hasn't won or even defended yet. Out of interest why are you saying McDonnell isn't the WBA Champ, but then you say that Quigg is? Either they both don't count or they both do surely? We're as good as the US right now. Outside of Crawford and Wilder they're lacking any immediate global stars. Spence might get there soon, and those brothers are coming up fast, but then you're in to Broner, Porter, Thurman territory and they're no more established than Brook or Khan.
I really dislike this. Your post at best is very very harsh. Ive been involved with boxing in some capacity for a while. Our boxing hasn't been in a better state since I started watching it. We have some incredible coaches that push you beyond what you could ever imagine is possible. Why isn't jamie mcdonnell a world champ? Quigg, smith, crolla and flanagan are all worthy champions. What haskins can do at world level remains to be seen. Japan and USA as good as us at this minute in time? Really? As an all round boxing nation. Americans in the welters and "super welters" as they've coined it, are strong, the japs in the lighter weights. But all round there's no doubt at the moment we are the best. Long may it continue. For some reason I really don't think Kell Brook will cut it when he's up against someone with some real work rate who really wants it. I think he can be out worked. On a side note seen marcus morrison out of Joe gallaghers gym a few times now, he was at metrodome recently. Looked very promising. Get some dosh on him.
McDonnell holds a WBA regular belt. The real WBA belt is held by a guy called Payano. Quigg got upgraded last month from Regular to full champ because Rigondeaux got stripped for inactivity which is a joke because no one will fight him. In most rankings Perez wasn't even top 10 in the world & he didn't win the belt in the ring. Crolla makes for a nice story but he's incredibly lucky to be a world champ. I still consider Mayweather active because I'm convinced he'll be fighting in May. They've got Ward who's back now. For me they're two of the best 3 in the world. Crawford's a special talent. Bradley's still top 10 p4p. Thurman, Porter, Garcia, Andrade, Wilder, Spence, Russell all solid world level fighters. I'm not trying to put us down, I just don't think we're anywhere near as good as we were when Calzaghe, Hatton & Haye were in their prime.
McDonnell WBA regular. It's not a world title. Guy called Payano is champ. Quigg got given a WBA regular belt, said he wouldn't consider himself champ til he won it in the ring, he then drew his next fight, didn't offer a rematch & then spent the next 2 years calling himself world champ whilst ducking the real WBA champ, Rigondeaux. Flanagan got his belt on an injury, a dislocated shoulder. Most felt it should've been ruled a no contest & not a TKO win. I do think he could be quality though. Warren used his ties with the WBO to get Smith a fight with a no hoper for a vacant belt after avoiding the previous champ. Smith's not even top 10 in the world & never fought a top 30 fighter but is listed as a world champ. Perez was given his belt, not ranked top 10 in the world & Crolla got a shot at him. He did well to beat him but it doesn't prove Crolla's world class. I really rate Brook, DeGale, Flanagan, Frampton & I'd have to say Fury as well now. Boxing's definitely in a good place. It's just there's a lot of lies told by the promoters & TV channels about what's really going off. How Smith & Quigg have become 'champions' is pretty disgraceful really. I've only seen that Morrison once, definitely looked good though. I think the sport will go crazy soon if Joshua fulfils his potential & Campbell, Callum Smith & Andrew Selby will all be world champs for me.
I agree with some Django, but there is WBA regular and WBA super it doesn't matter what anyone thinks or says the regular version is still a world title. They made super to make more "super fights" I have my own opinions on the amount of world titles and personally think there should just be one title. Money talks though eh? Participation in boxing especially at grassroots level is at a all time high, never seen so many people in the gym. It's great. We have some really good upcoming coaches as well.
No it's not for me. The regulars not a world title. It's been a cheap & dirty tactic by promoters to sell tickets for world title fights when they aren't. The regular belt for me should be treated just like the WBC silver, just a belt to boost the way up rankings. There's not been a single fight between regular & super champ, it doesn't work that way. I just can't see how you can proclaim to be world champ when you aren't even the best in your organisation. To me it's the equivalent of the Europa league winner's saying they're the best team in Europe when there's the champions league above it. I've heard a few boxers come out & say it's not a real world title. Tony Bellew been one who trains with McDonnell so I bet that was awkward. Fair play to him for been honest though
Things could get even better though next year if guys like Joshua, Khan, Campbell, Eubank Jnr etc get given a chance to take a title. Now is a good time for UK boxing fans
