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While you can't fault that business philosophy to a point, you also can't forget about certain guys, who should be getting, "The Love" when they are not. TalkinBoxing.com has compiled a list of 3 fighters, who are not getting any, even though they are marketable, skilled, and in basic terms, "Damn Good."
David Diaz -- 25-0 with 13 KO's. 2000 Olympian and Jr. Welterweight Contender
Simply put, David Diaz can fight. He is a skilled southpaw, who can slug on the inside, and when all is not good there, he can adapt and box on the outside, but unfortunately for David, none of this has translated into a title shot and or a descent payday. To me this is a no-brainer. How can a former undefeated, 28 year-old Olympian, who happens to be fun to watch, not be in the discussion when it comes to top young fighters?
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This past May, Diaz punished former WBO Jr. Welterweight Champion, Ener Julio and he scored a spectacular 10th round stoppage victory, but nobody was in line waiting to give Diaz his credit. Diaz has just been on the free agent market looking to be picked up by a big promoter.
The knock on Diaz is that he took a few years away from the sport to collect himself and also that he is not a big puncher. In his last two fights, he is back, better then ever now, and as far as his punching power goes, he may not be Tito Trinidad, but he is not Cory Spinks either.
He has reasonable pop, enough to make fights exciting. So message to boxing networks, promoters and fans. Give David Diaz his Love.
Syd Vanderpool -- 35-2, 23 KO's. #1 Rated IBF Super Middleweight Contender
What does going 12-rounds with current undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins at a weight you don't feel comfortable at get you? Certainly not a top 10 rating in Ring Magazine. How about knocking out a tough Jaffa Ballougu, out pointing current IBF world champion Glencoffee Johnson, and beating up a tough Tito Mendoza. That has to get you in the Ring Magazine top 10, doesn't it? I guess not if you are Syd Vanderpool.
This is one instance, of which I have to agree with a sanctioning body (The IBF), and I don't like to do that to often. Vanderpool is a number one contender, and boxing better take notice. Syd sometimes awkward style may have pushed him away from the major networks, but one thing is for sure, Syd is tough, and "The Jewell" can fight. He has good punching power in his right hand, and he is a very good strong athlete inside the ring. He is definitely a fighter worth watching, and in my opinion, he can eventually be the legitimate Super Middleweight Champion of the World.
The Canadian, is looking forward to a future showdown with top contender Jeff Lacy and while some may think Lacy is the favorite, they may be sorely mistaken once the fight takes place. Vanderpool and Lacy is even money in my opinion, and if you ask me, and I had I to pick right now, I would pick Vanderpool. He is hungry and more experienced. That combination may equal trouble for Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy.
It will definitely be a fight worth watching, and who ever wins, in my opinion, will be the legitimate Super Middleweight Champion of the World.
Robert Guerrero Jr. -- 13-0, 6 KO's, Top Featherweight Prospect
It is really hard to say that Robert Guerrero Jr. is not getting, "The Love" because he is. Showtime has had him on ShoBox and he has had fights on Fox Sports Net. So he has been getting some love. He also has a great promoter in Goosen-Tutor Promotion. So why does he make my list? Because I think he should be getting more love. This guy has the potential to be something special people. He is a 5'10" featherweight, that is super strong with excellent boxing skills. He is quick, fast, and to top it off he just turned 21-years of age back in March. Forget about Rocky Juarez, Robert Guerrero Jr. is the future of the featherweight division. If you watched the way he handled former world champion Enrique Sanchez, you will know what I am talking about. Guerrero picked apart the respected Sanchez with relative ease enroute to a 8th round TKO stoppage victory.
Now I don't want to get ahead of myself, and we still have to see if Guerrero's chin is as good as his skill are, but with a little fine tuning we could be talking about a future multi-division champion. So when you hear people talking about the future of boxing, and they are talking about Jermain Taylor and Miguel Cotto, don't forget to add Guerrero to that conversation. He is that good.
In closing, I hope this article sheds a little light on the guys we should not be forgetting. Guys who could and will be making noise in the coming year and years down the road.
Also Worthy Of "Love":
in no particular order
Jr. Middleweight contender, Kassim Ouma
IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion, Verno Phillips
WBC #8 ranked Super Middleweight, Scott Pemberton
WBO Super Flyweight Champion and Future Hall of famer, Mark Johnson
WBA Welterweight Champion, Jose Antonio Rivera
WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion, Daniel Santos
Jr. welterweight Contender, Michael Stewart
WBO #1 Ranked Super Middleweight, Charles Brewer
Top Crusierweight Contender, O'Neil Bell
Rising Middleweight Prospect, Willie Gibbs
NABO Jr. Middleweight Champion, Peter Manfredo Jr.
