Each Thursday, FightHype makes some house amongst its video content material to host boxing’s most NSFW mail bag column– Mine. On this week’s Sack, I deal with feedback/questions concerning Jaime Munguia, Jai Opetaia, and overhyped UK fighters.
Overhyped UK Fighters
Hello Paul,
Thanks on your article on 01/15/24 the place you laid out how overhyped the UK fighters are. I’ve been saying for years how 95% of their prime expertise is just “first rate” fighters. I thought-about Andre Berto an honest fighter a decade in the past and that’s how I view their prime fighters over there. These UK fighters are first rate sufficient to have a decent displaying however they may and do most occasions get mauled like Shawn Porter did Berto “after they step up in competitors.” I hearken to a number of UK sports activities discuss and I can inform you that they’re large on participation trophies. They dwell by the motto “so long as you gave it your all, mate” let’s have fun whatever the final result.
– Quintin Banks
Hey Quintin.
Like I wrote earlier than, fighters are being overhyped in each nation, however the UK has turned it into an artwork kind. There are a few causes for that IMO. First, many Brits are likely to have an overblown diploma of hubris on the subject of their place within the meals chain, whether or not or not it’s in sports activities or in different areas. It’s the “we used to rule the world” distorted delight of a individuals who not rule the world. Second, the UK boxing media could be very sturdy they usually thrive inside their bubble. So, you mix the 2 factors– extreme, distorted delight and disproportionately sturdy media representation– and also you get a media crew that blindly believes in its personal fighters and hard-sells them like loopy. UK followers bathe within the hype and stroll away with a equally unrealistic view of their fighters and their fighters’ place within the sport.
I’m not making an attempt to rain on any parades or take dumps in any punch bowls, however actuality is actuality. Most of those UK fighters hyped as world class elites should not that nice. They’re excellent regional skills, however, usually, simply second-tier world stage fighters who’ve gotten titles and rankings primarily based on a weak degree of opposition developing and their promoters’ capability to transform media hype into rankings.
After which, as you identified, after they fail, followers and media fall again on the “properly, he was powerful” cowl. No matter. It’s not THAT large of a deal, however it may be fairly annoying when UK fighter X will get all the fantastic write-ups main right into a combat the place you simply know he’s going to be pounded into Yorkshire Pudding.
Munguia, Opetaia
Whats up Paul
I hope you are having a terrific 2024 thus far, now lets get into it:
-Jaime Munguia, I obtained the sensation he would possibly carry out higher than anticipated. I do know he has been under-performing since his TKO win vs Sadam Ali, however I all the time thought that he paired with the wrong trainers. Each Alcazar and Morales preach approach and protection, Munguia isn’t that fighter. ¨[Freddie] Roach has the chance now to carry again that offensive beast he was after we noticed him 6 years in the past, I actually favored what Roach achieved with Cotto again in 2013-2015 (Altough Cotto was a whole fighter). He introduced the beast out of him.
If we see the identical Munguia I consider he’ll win by a SD combat the place Ryder exposes his defects similar to Derevyachenko did.
-I had the chance to observe Jai Opetaia on You Tube, I gotta say he appears to be like like a man who was skilled by Emanuel Steward. He throws the 1-2 with an exquisite approach. I additionally noticed his combat towards Mairis Breidis and, boy, through the first spherical I assumed Opetaia was going to KO him, however Breidis confirmed resilience and caught him with some energy photographs through the championship rounds. I anticipate combat out of the rematch, what do you consider Opetaia?
Finest Regards.
– Miguel
Hey Miguel.
I believe Munguia will beat Ryder and look higher doing it, principally as a result of Ryder is fairly unhealthy. Canelo half-assed his means by way of Ryder and received virtually each second of each spherical. Munguia-Ryder will likely be means nearer than Canelo-Ryder– and there would be the slightest likelihood of an upset– however Munguia will win.
Personally, I hopped off the Munguia bandwagon a very long time in the past. Somewhat than advancing and creating as a fighter, he’s been regressing– and the continued atrophying of his abilities has been evident in every of his current fights, most likely relationship again to his bout with Liam Smith (and he was by no means actually a “abilities” fighter within the first place). A slow-cooked profession doesn’t trouble me, particularly for a man who arrived on the world stage as a really inexperienced 22-year-old. However what ought to’ve been 5 years’ value of developmental fights have clearly not produced a number of growth. I don’t suppose he has a lot left, apart from a strong punch (diminished a bit by his transfer up in weight), youthful confidence, and normal toughness. May this all be about having the unsuitable coach? Presumably. However I are likely to suppose it’s extra about Munguia being within the unsuitable mind-set, a child who got here out of nowhere and instantly finds himself with cash and celeb (and a promoter prepared to ebook him towards fall guys in ten of his final twelve contests). We’ll see if he can discover the proper mind-set earlier than a “gimme” combat turns into an unpleasant loss and a profession catastrophe.
Opetaia is an incredible expertise. That a lot is apparent. Except for his combat with Breidis, nonetheless, his resume is paper-thin and stuffed with tailored fall guys. As with all younger skills, I’ll reserve my judgment till he steps up his degree of opposition. He, for positive, has nice potential, although.
Received a query (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The very best of one of the best will get included within the weekly mailbag section proper right here at FightHype. Ship your stuff right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.
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