TalkingBoxing Articles
Is 168 the Best Division in Boxing?
THU November 1, ANDRES ANTONIO CARREDO - Earlier this decade the 168 lb. Super Middleweight division faced derision as one of the sport’s weakest divisions. Located roughly halfway between more traditional glamour divisions Middleweight, 160 lbs., and Light Heavyweight, 175 lbs., the 168 lb. class which the IBF (’84), WBA (’87) and WBC (’88) only began sanctioning title fights for in the ‘80s seemed to have little point in its existence. Some critics even suggested that it should be eliminated along with other “super/junior” weight classes.
A lot changed between then and now. First and foremost, Joe Calzaghe has established himself as a legitimately elite pound for pound talent. He could have done this earlier in the decade by fighting and defeating Sven Ottke before Ottke retired, but the mere fact that he has stepped up to the plate to fight the likes of Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika and now Mikkel Kessler in the last 20 months has earned him the goodwill he now enjoys amongst most boxing fans. For his part, Kessler, with wins over the likes of Anthony Mundine, Eric Lucas and Marcus Beyer on his resume, will establish himself as an upper echelon pound for pound entrant with a victory over Calzaghe.
The entire boxing world will be focusing on the Calzaghe-Kessler 168 lb. championship fight this Saturday, November 3rd. However, the impact of the fight will not end that night, even if there is no rematch. The season three finale of the popular show “The Contender” will take place only three days later with a live 168 lb. fight between the aforementioned Bika and promising young prospect Jaidon Codrington. Just over a month later former Calzaghe victims Lacy and Peter Manfredo will duke it out in a prominently televised fight under the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Ricky Hatton super fight.
There are also a few significant young fighters moving into the upper echelons of the Super Middleweight division. Former Middleweight star Edison Miranda began his campaign at 168 this week with a stoppage win over Henry Porras. Miranda victim and Codrington conqueror Allen Green is another prominent 168 lb. contender.
2004 U.S. Olympic medalists Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell figure to step into the big leagues soon. Dirrell won his first HBO televised fight against fellow prospect Curtis Stevens in June, though his slow pace was widely criticized. Ward will see televised action on ShoBox’s November 16th edition and seems to be on HBO’s radar for future fights.
The buck does not stop there though. Big name fighters from other weight classes appear to be angling for a fight with the Calzaghe-Kessler winner by fighting at contracted weights just outside of 168. Roy Jones and “Tito” Trinidad will fight at 170 next January while Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor are moving up to 166 for their rematch next February. Light Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who fought his last fight against Winky Wright at 170, has publicly discussed fighting Calzaghe and could be positioning himself to move down into the Super Middleweight division. Wright may even be in position to contend for the Super Middleweight title.
It boggles the mind to consider the depth of possibilities and intriguing match-ups in and around the Super Middleweight division. It’s hard to believe this division was so bereft of intrigue just five years ago that many thought the sport would be better served to just eliminate it altogether. In 2008, it may be the best division in boxing.
Fighter of the Year Award
This could be one of the most hotly contested awards of the year. Kelly Pavlik and Juan Diaz have each staked their claim to the award. Diaz beat the more accomplished fighters, but Pavlik was so dominant and left quite and impression against very good competition.
Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Joe Calzaghe, Mikkel Kessler, Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton will all have another chance to make their case. This could be a five horse race come mid-December; a race in which all five contestants will have compelling cases.
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