Wasting Talent?

Boxing is a what have you done for me lately type sport unless your name carries cache, you have done some great things in the ring or have a big fan base. May not be fair but the casual fan carries the sport in terms of revenue so without it you must remain active and make the best of your opportunities.

Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade is a tremendous talent, should be a major player in the sport but inactivity has plagued his career. From mismanagement and bad decision making his career has almost turned into the would’ve, could’ve and should’ve type. This is the first year Andrade has fought more than once since 2013 and now that he has a deal with HBO, hopefully he gets him on track. According to recent reports however he’s already turned down a fight with fellow middleweight Segey Derevyanchenko. Boo Boo isn’t the only fighter suffering from this problem.

Gary Russell Jr., who recently went on the FS1 broadcast for the Devon Alexander fight and called out Abner Mares, Leo Santa Cruz, and Carl Frampton, is another fighter with these issues. Russell has had three fightsin three years. The last time he fought more than once was 2014 where fought three times. Russell Jr. said that since he has fought once this year he doesn’t need to fight again till May as champion. Legally as far as the sanctioning body’s rules he is 100% correct. However to create buzz around yourself as a fighter you must remain active. Since getting outclassed by Lomachenko he’s been saying he wants a rematch but has done absolutely nothing to put himself in a position to actually get one.

Bothof thesemen are both extremely talentedas most punditsknow but simply having the skills doesn’t warrant you getting the big fights. It’s almost like they want to skip tothefront of the lineand have a false senseof entitlement in regards to their respective careers.Hopefully going forward things get better and they have the opportunity to performat the level they feel they be at. ButI feel as if somebody should warn them thatsometimes perception becomes reality.