DeGale v Groves - making a laughing stock of world titles!!

A supporting contest is basically selling the Cleverly WBO card....Kind of shows just how much World titles mean these days doesn't it!!!!!

Not seen many promotions where people are more interested in the supporting contest than the main event...

To me it's like a death knell for World titles....Yep the things that people have died fighting for over the years..the things that were once every little kids dream to own....

all the promotion is for the Degale fight almost like Cleverly is a welcome distraction on the same bill....

As you have said, takes the pressure of Clev...

The fact that Degale was offered a title fight just a few weeks back shows how meaningless they are in boxing.

I dont know why fighters like Manny pay the sanctioning fee's for them, its not as if he needs it to boost his image...

Surely the main/only reason for this is the fact that the British public couldn't possibly countenance paying PPV money for a BRITISH TITLE FIGHT.

I'm sure most agree that DeGale/Groves fight is the highlight but even Frank doesn't have the balls to ask for people to pay PPV just for that fight

You're missing my point.....Cleverly is for a World title and yet all the promotion has gone into the chief cupport...

Meaning they think it's more important as a seller than the WBO crown..

Maybe people are catching on and a so-called world title means jack which it should.

Maybe the message is getting through.

its because people like a good grudge match, this cleverly fight is against someone who average joe's know nothing about.

plus cleverly is hardly back page material is he, hes fantastic, but no one knwos who he is. this degale and groves is being hyped up by both parties and has something more important than a wbo belt - pride and unbeaten records. someone's '0' will go is always brilliant.

Cleverly knows he needs to take a back seat to this one. he won't mind though because it will help sell PPVs to the pubic. DeGale V Groves has a lot going for it. Their is genuine dislike their they are both unbeaten and DeGale seems more comfortable than Groves at selling the fight. Cleverly isn't selling his fight well either. He is pretty boring when he gets interviewed.

Fighters make the title and not the other way around. So it should be with all the belts available.

Fighters didn't make the title...25 years ago.

The "WORLD" title was everything and a great marketing tool in itself.

Disagree with you TRUSS (for a change!), I just think it's a lot easier for for Frank to hype the Degale/Groves match-up than Cleverley fight.

Clev's a decent fighter and his opponent has beaten both Froch and Hatton in the amatuers but he's not a household name so, to Frank's way of thinking, why bnother pushing that angle when he can sell the SM clash and then tell folk their also getting a World title fight into the bargain.

Why work harder than you have to?

We aren't disagreeing...It's easier for him to hype up Degale because these days having a World title on the line doesn't sell by itself like it did years ago..

The stock in them has dropped.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:We aren't disagreeing...It's easier for him to hype up Degale because these days having a World title on the line doesn't sell by itself like it did years ago..

The stock in them has dropped.

Because of this one example! C'mon Truss behave yourself. World title relevance has dropped due to the number of world titles there is out there. Simple as.

We all moan about these domestic dust ups never being set up as the promotors feel it would 'make more business sense' if there was a world title on the line. Then they never end up fighting due mitigating circumstances.

I think this is a refreshing change to have 2 upcoming fighters face off for the British title and I hope this is the start of many. Especially with all the British HWs that are coming throught at the moment.

That's why Degale is being marketed so furiously because of world title recognition..

You're arguing with someone who agrees with you.

You’re arguing why the titles don’t mean as much.

TRUSS is just saying this shows the promoter realises it. The fight people want to see outweighs the title.

TRUSS is just saying this shows the promoter realises it. The fight people want to see outweighs the title.
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One this one occasion, but it doesn't mean titles are devalued.

Would people prefer to say Haye fight Vitali with NO title on the line or Tyson Fury for the HW Crown? Sure, you could sell the Haye fight with Fury with relative ease but Haye/Vitali sells itself...title or not! Does this mean Haye's WBA title is worthless?

I think the fighter sells the match rather than the title. Calzaghe struggled to sell out his living room. Hatton had a worthless strap for years and packed 'em in.

Cleverley lacks the public profile. It doesn't mean the belt he's fighting for is worthless though.

DeGale vs Groves is the fight that people want to see.

Sky are selling the event of them and there grudge match.

So you're telling us that World titles aren't devalued........

World titles sold fights years ago...irrespective of the fighters......

DAVE667 wrote:TRUSS is just saying this shows the promoter realises it. The fight people want to see outweighs the title.
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One this one occasion, but it doesn't mean titles are devalued.

Would people prefer to say Haye fight Vitali with NO title on the line or Tyson Fury for the HW Crown? Sure, you could sell the Haye fight with Fury with relative ease but Haye/Vitali sells itself...title or not! Does this mean Haye's WBA title is worthless?

I think the fighter sells the match rather than the title. Calzaghe struggled to sell out his living room. Hatton had a worthless strap for years and packed 'em in.

Cleverley lacks the public profile. It doesn't mean the belt he's fighting for is worthless though.

Never said worthless. Devalued. It's not enough for there just to be a title on the line.

I'm saying that if you've got a fighter who generates enough interest, you don't NEED a title on the line. Barrera was doing it at FW for years and it was part of his appeal. Everyone knew he was the man and didn't need a belt to prove it. People flocked to see gatti and it didn't matter what was on the line!

Degale is generating enough interest for it to be a no-brainer for Warren to push that fight rather than Cleverley. If the crowd don't stay for the World title fight so what, they still paid for the ticket. Doesn't matter if no-one watches the Cleverley fight, enough revenue has already been generated by ticket sales for him to still get his purse.

Smart move to ride on the coat-tails of the domestic fight

Gerry Cooney garnered interest and sold without a title....It's nothing new.

Fact is a world title sold in the past in a way it doesn't now...

you need more than a belt..

To be fair it's refreshing to see 2 young guns getting it on so early

Just think, if they both continue to fighting the best in the division their paths will no doubt cross again at some point... Could be in for a trilogy which'll be fun and the rest.

Couldn't give a monkeys about Clev and his world title, am more bothered when he starts fighting the likes of Cloud etc rather than Braehmer... who isn't exactly Spinks all over again now is he?

Don't think you could justify paying the Box Office fee for either of these fights on their own. I'm looking more forward to Degale/Groves, but knowing Cleverly's fight is on too, is justifcation enough to pay the fee for me. Same works the other way round. Which ever fight is the best will be remembered as the REAL headline event when we look back at it. I think as the date approaches, in most people's eyes it's a case of two fairly equal events back to back.

Real question is why are they calling this PPV 'THIS IS IT'? Is all the entrance music going to be Michael Jackson themed?

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Gerry Cooney garnered interest and sold without a title....It's nothing new.

Fact is a world title sold in the past in a way it doesn't now...

you need more than a belt..

Simply by being "The Great White Hope" couldn't see that happening today!

Benelio wrote:Don't think you could justify paying the Box Office fee for either of these fights on their own. I'm looking more forward to Degale/Groves, but knowing Cleverly's fight is on too, is justifcation enough to pay the fee for me. Same works the other way round. Which ever fight is the best will be remembered as the REAL headline event when we look back at it. I think as the date approaches, in most people's eyes it's a case of two fairly equal events back to back.

Real question is why are they calling this PPV 'THIS IS IT'? Is all the entrance music going to be Michael Jackson themed?

I probably would have got roped into buying DeGold v Ugly kid if it was a PPV on it's own because they are capable of selling it better. Wouldn't have bought the Cleverly fight if it was stand alone PPV. Cleverly is good but he is boring as hell when he is getting interviewed can't sell a fight and Braehmer is pretty poor.

I think it's got more to do with naivety. Years ago the public bought into the fact that if two boxers were fighting for a title that meant they were the best the division had to offer and therefore a cracking fight. Nowadays fight fans seem to be a little more (a lot more really) savvy and don't necessarily by into that premise.......Haye v Harrison anyone?