Boxing is not fair. It never was. One fighter gets praised for his résumé, another gets dismissed 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 “daring to be great.” The belts, the lists, the so-called “franchise” champions — they are masks. In this sport, greatness is never judged the same way.
Andre Ward was pushed to fight Sergey Kovalev. He did. Twice. He won. Still, his legacy was questioned. At the same time, Golovkin’s team claimed he would knock out anyone from 154 to 175. When Ward called him, it became “unfair, Ward is too big.” Ward was cornered. Golovkin was protected.
Crawford became undisputed at 140. The answer? “Weak division.” Usyk became undisputed at cruiserweight. The answer? “Historic, all-time great run.” Same accomplishment. Different spin.
Erislandy Lara outboxed Canelo. The decision went the other way. Instead of credit, Lara was told, “Don’t run, fight like a man.” Lomachenko lost to Salido. The story was “brave, only his second fight, look how daring he is.” The winner was denied. The loser was celebrated.
Golovkin knocked out Monroe, Wade, and Lemieux. He was called the most avoided man in boxing. Crawford dominated Postol, Indongo, and Horn, unified the division, and became undisputed. He was told, “Weak names, nobody cares.” Same level. Different treatment.
Canelo lost to Bivol. It was “daring to be great.” Lomachenko lost to Salido, then to López. It was “injury, too small, still the Matrix.” Crawford never lost to anyone. Still kept below them.
Ward neutralized Kovalev with timing and control. He was called boring, a clincher. Mayweather and Whitaker mastered defense and distance. They were called runners. Lomachenko used the same defense and angles and was praised as “the Matrix, something never seen before.” The old masters did it first, did it better, but were vilified 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. It was called prestige, honor, recognition. Haney was elevated to WBC champion without fighting and mocked as “email champion.” Same belt. Different rules.
Crawford, at 36, was told, “Time is running out; he must prove himself.” Canelo at 34 is excused as “past his prime, don’t expect too much.” Golovkin, in his mid-30s, was called too old for Ward. Ward, in his mid-30s, was forced to fight Kovalev, no excuses allowed. Same age. Different standards.
Boxing has two rulebooks. One for the promotional darlings, the networks’ favorites. Another for the outsiders who must climb over walls, knock down doors, and fight the sport itself just to be judged on equal ground.
Double standards live forever in boxing. But greatness buries them.
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