Ring Theory

The real curiosity surrounding Bute is seeing if he’s dropped his tendency of staring directly at the camera the entire time it’s on him. He always looks like an SNL caricature of an eager, clueless foreigner.

I have a couple of ideas on the super middleweight issue. One is that there are a lot of European amateur fighters who have had success in this weight range. As we’ve seen with European amateur stars in the past, it takes a lot to lure them out of their comfort zones once they’ve settled as professionals. If you have an Olympic gold medal and an adoring hometown, there’s no point in doing anything differently from what got you there. Also, it’s a pain in the ass weight class to become a lineal champ in. It took Joe Calzaghe well over a decade. Even with all the stars aligned and the right intentions, look at how chaotic the Super Six has been at times. Still, the division has gotten gradually better ever since Sven Ottke retired.

You guys are hilarious! I like your boxing analysis but your comedy part is the best for me. I like the subject about the comedians. I laughed my ass off! Keep it up guys! Love your program.

Joey W. makes some good points about the 168-pounders from Europe.

I think there are also just flat-out geographical and financial reasons to the periodic trends of Europeans dominating the 168-pound weight class.

These guys make way more money and pack arenas in Europe, so much like the Nigel Benns and Chris Eubanks of the 90s, any European fighter in the 154- to 175-pound range today is going to try to make 168 to cash in on the local celebrity and money. Sven Ottke made more money fighting nobodies at home than he ever would have trying to market his “style” here in America. Close to no one would know Mikkel Kesseler if he ran naked through Time Square, but he can put 40,000 butts in seats over the pond.

And as the Ring Theory dynamic duo pointed out in the broadcast, the reverse seems to be true — that American fighters will jump or quickly pass through the Super Middleweight division in order to make the more attractive fights here. It wasn’t until Joe Calzaghe basically abandoned the 168-pound division that his profile increased with the American media — which of course came with fighting old American Light Heavyweights who themselves didn’t stay too long at 168 (or like B-Hop, just skipped the division all together.)

As for the physical aspect of the weight classes, how often do you see fighters 160+ pounds and higher not named James Toney who really fight to make weight? A few — but not like the lower weight classes. If your body frame is large enough to range from the mid-150s to the mid-170s it’s usually possible to “fit” yourself into the whichever weight class is most profitable for your region.

Just my very uneducated theory.

Great show as always guys!

I know this will most likely get me labeled as a pussy, but this podcast was bordering on misogynistic. Starting off with the comments about Mrs. Cotto’s breasts and then talking about her face in less than flattering terms. Then the tribute to Mr. O’Neil and his clip about women all left me with a bad emotional hangover. Get some class and stick to boxing guys.