Boxing is not fair. It was never. One fighter is praised for his resume, another is rejected for the same names. One fighter is told to move up and prove himself, and another is protected with the excuse of age. One loss destroys a career, another is forgiven as ‘dare to be big’. The belts, the lists, the so -called “franchise” champions -it’s masks. In this sport, greatness is never judged in the same way.
Andre Ward was forced to fight Sergey Kovalev. He did. Twice. He won. Yet his legacy was questioned. At the same time, Golovkin’s team claims to beat someone from 154 to 175. When Ward called him, it became “unfair, Ward is too big.” Ward was in the corner. Golovkin is protected.
Crawford became undisputed at 140. The answer? “Poor division.” USYK became undisputed at Cruiserweight. The answer? “Historical, everyday big run.” The same achievement. Different turn.
Erislandy Lara has run out of Canelo. The decision went the other way around. Instead of credit, Lara said, “Don’t run, fight like a man.” Lomachenko lost to Salido. The story was “brave, just his second fight, see how daring he is.” The winner was denied. The loser was celebrated.
Golovkin knocked out Monroe, Wade and Lemieux. He is called the most avoided man in box. Crawford dominated Postol, Indongo and Horn, the division united and became undisputed. It is said to him, “Poor names, no one cares.” The same level. Different treatment.
Canelo lost to Biblical. It was ‘daring to be wonderful’. Lomachenko lost to Salido, then to López. It was “injury, too small, still the matrix.” Crawford never lost to anyone. Still held among them.
Ward has offset Kovalev with timing and control. He was called boring, a customers. Mayweather and Whitaker have mastered defense and distance. They were called runners. Lomachenko used the same defense and corners and was praised as “the matrix, something that has never been seen before.” The old masters did it first, did it better, but was ruined for it.
The WBC created the “franchise” belt. Canelo used it to skip Charlo. Lomachenko used it to skip Haney. Estrada used it to skip Sor Rungvisai. This was called prestige, honor, recognition. Haney was raised to the WBC champion without fighting and mocking as ‘e -post champion’. The same belt. Different rules.
Crawford, at 36, said: ‘The time is running out; he must prove himself. ‘ Canelo at 34 is excused as “past his lead, don’t expect too much.” Golovkin, in his mid-thirties, is too old for Ward. Ward, in his mid-thirties, was forced to fight against Kovalev, no excuses allowed. The same age. Different standards.
Boxing has two rulebooks. One for the promotional love, the networks’ favorites. Another for the outsiders who have to climb over walls, down doors and fight against the sport itself just to be judged on equal land.
Double standards live in box forever. But grandeur bury them.
