TalkingBoxing Articles
My Christmas Wish List for the 2008 Boxing Season
THU December 20, ANDRES ANTONIO CARRIEDO - Now that all of the major fights in 2007 are over, it is time to look ahead to next year. This editorial is based almost entirely on my speculation and wishes for the sport. Even if only two or three of these things actually happen I will be happy.
Young Titlists Who Need a Big Fight:
In 2007, Miguel Cotto, Juan Diaz and Kelly Pavlik each proved their mettle and joined the upper echelon of pound for pound elite boxers. In 2008, three other boxers can join them if afforded the proper opportunities.
Jorge Linares, 25 – 0 (16 KO’s), scored a 10th round TKO against durable former 122 lb. titlist Oscar Larios on the undercard of Hopkins – Wright and a devastating 8th round TKO against mandatory title challenger Gameliel Diaz earlier this month. He is a smooth, long armed boxer-puncher who has the talent and ability to assume the pound for pound crown. Linares has the skill, size and temperament to either rule the featherweight division for years to come or move up in weight to challenge superstars at 130 and 135. He is still a bit green and has only beaten two top ten fighters in the featherweight division; though he has racked up well over 100 rounds of pro experience in his 25 professional fights. I have a habit of making hasty and possibly premature rankings. I ranked Floyd Mayweather #1 pound for pound immediately following his impressive 2001 campaign. In line with that tradition, I already consider Linares a top 20 talent based on his 2007 campaign. If matched properly, the entire boxing world may have him in their top 10 by the end of 2008.
Nonito Donaire, 19 – 1 (12 KO’s), impressively KO’d former titlist Vic Darchinyan and world class contender Luis Maldonaldo in his two most recent fights. Not only did he display potent punching power, he also exhibited a knack for timing counter punches, a tight defense and effective boxing ability. He will have trouble securing big fights in the relatively barren 112 lb. division. If he successfully defends against the Darchinyan-Z Gorres winner a move up to 115 lbs. would be in order. He could then challenge any of the name fighters in that deep division. Donaire is a part of the growing Filipino boxing renaissance. Hopefully, his recent managerial issues do not hold him back. He may have more potential than any Filipino boxer this side of Manny Pacquiao.
Lucian Bute, 21 – 0 (17 KO’s), scored an impressively lopsided unanimous decision win over two time world title challenger Sakio Bika and wrested the IBF 168 lb. title from Alejandro Berrio with an 11th round TKO to close out his 2007 campaign. In a deep division that will be looking to regroup should Joe Calzaghe move up in weight, Bute will vie for division supremacy. This lanky southpaw uses his length to work behind a stiff jab and tight guard. He carries his power late in fights and has also been past the end of the tenth round six times already in his 21 fight career. So, late round experience should not be a problem when he takes the step up against the likes of Mikkel Kessler or even Joe Calzaghe.
Prospects Who Need More Action:
There is a plethora of talented young prospects in the sport right now, but this is a group of prospects who have been fighting professionally for three years and have yet to gain serious traction in moving from prospect status to the contender ranks since leaving behind successful amateur careers. Each of these guys has world championship potential, but for whatever reason, they have not been nearly active enough to realize their great potential.
Alfredo Angulo, 11 – 0 (8 KO’s), has scored early round KO victories on the ShoBox series in his last two fights and seems to be locked in for future fights on the popular show. However, this former Mexican Olympian and national amateur champion should have more than 11 pro fights and 31 rounds of experience. At 25, he’s still young enough to make a title run by the time he hits his prime, but it’s hard to understand why this talented and technically skilled young pressure fighter has only fought 11 times in his nearly three year professional career.
Devon Alexander, 13 – 0 (8 KO’s), is a former amateur standout who would likely have been a heavy favorite to medal in both the 2007 World Championships and 2008 Olympics had he opted to remain in the amateur ranks. TV dates for talented unproven southpaws are scarce, but this 20 year old is too talented to be fighting in off-tv fights three and a half years into his professional career. Alexander will see action against fringe contender Miguel Callist on the Jones – Trinidad undercard. No word on whether this fight gets a tv slot or if Alexander will maintain a consistent level of activity after the fight…and that’s a shame.
Andre Dirrell, 13 – 0 (8 KO’s), won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic competition in Athens. He has showed flashes of brilliance in his 13 pro fights though he bored many in his lopsided victory over Curtis Stevens in a coveted HBO Boxing After Dark timeslot. At 25 and with the amateur pedigree that he has it is time for him to step up. His win over Stevens proved he has superior ring generalship when pitted against top fellow prospects. Now, it is time for him to prove it against tough veterans and legitimate contenders. Hopefully, someone will give him a chance to do so in 2008. At the very least, he needs to fight more often than the three or four fight per year pace he is currently on.
Big Time Crossroads Fights I Want to See
A number of superfights have either been signed for early 2008 or are in the works. I am excited about all of those fights, but here are three under the radar fights that I would absolutely love to see sometime within the next twelve months.
Jorge Linares – Israel Vazquez/Rafael Marquez 3 winner
Not that they need any help, but here is my matchup recommendation to Teiken or any other promotional interest Linares may have in the United States. Linares may be young and inexperienced at the world class level. However, there are a few young fighters who have the ability to beat elite fighters as soon as they step up into that class. Ray Leonard, Pernell Whitaker, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and others all passed similar tests in their early 20s. Linares has the talent to do so if given the opportunity. This guy has the talent, disposition and all around skill to assume Mayweather’s pound for pound crown. A win over either Vazquez or Marquez would immediately put him in my top 5.
Chad Dawson – Glen Johnson
Rumor has it that this fight is penciled in for Showtime’s April World Championship Boxing date. If that rumor is true, then Showtime may have the 2008 fight of the year on its hands. Dawson and his team have been looking for an elite fighter for Dawson to fight since his title winning effort against Tomasz Adamek in February 2007. While Glen Johnson does not bring the money and star power that Roy Jones, Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins do, he does bring the tenacity, experience and durability that Dawson needs to face in order to continue his progression. Dawson-Johnson is a highly intriguing crossroads fight and may catapult Dawson into superstardom.
Andre Ward – Allan Green
Ward appears headed for a crossroad fight with faded former three time middleweight titlist William Joppy. That fight is a long overdue and extremely welcomed step up in class for the 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist. Should he pass that test, a fight against an exciting top 10 contender would be the logical next step in building Ward’s star. There have been rumors that this fight might be on the horizon and that HBO is interested. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
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