CST80's Picks For Best CRUISERWEIGHT Prospects/Fringe World Contenders To Watch.

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM.


  1. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    I haven't been doing hardly any Educate Yourselves threads lately, so I've fallen behind. So I figured I'd just hit you all with lump sum dump, of the Cruiserweights that I think are worth keeping an eye on. Since Usyk and assiev left and Briedis retired, aside from Opetaia, the division is pretty much a dire squalid wasteland. When you have two fat former Super Middleweights dominating, you know there's a problem. But at least The Okolipus and React-Poor and their hideously ugly styles got sent packing to Heavyweight by CBS, to be used as cannon fodder, so they won't be stinking up the joint anymore. Okay, so there's not a hell of a lot to write home about and many of the ones getting air time, are very undeserving of it. So, as difficult as it may be, I'm going to do my best to a assemble a list of ones to watch.


    Bekzad Nurdauletov
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    Pat Brown
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    Michał Soczyński
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    Shohjahon Abdullaev
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    Leonardo Mosquea
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    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
    #1
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  2. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    Sharabutdin Ataev
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    Giorgi Kushitashvili
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    Aybek Oralbay
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    Kamshybek Kunkabayev
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    Enmanuel Reyes
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    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
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  3. Kiwi Fish

    Kiwi Fish Active Member Full Member

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    What do you think of Nyika? Do you think he has a chance to do much at Cruiserweight?

    I know that Opetaia KO was brutal, but he got a couple good shots in and looks like he carries power, plus the size.
     
    Kiwi Fish, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:09 AM
    Kiwi Fish, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:09 AM
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  4. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    His defense is almost non-existent, I like him, he's fun to watch. But I don't think he's going to have a bright future in this sport. Might be in some damn fun to watch matches though.
     
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:09 AM
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:09 AM
    #4
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  5. theanatolian

    theanatolian Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Nice! Muslim Gadzhimagomedov should already be contending at cruiser, I don't know what the hell he's doing with the bridgerweight crap or going back to amateurs when he can't compete in the international tournaments.

    This kid could be very promising also: https://boxrec.com/en/box-am/1245147

    Won the gold in the World amateur champs earlier this month at 19. Didn't catch his fights but he doesn't have a single round scored against him through 4 fights. (And they had 5 judges scoring each fight)
     
    theanatolian, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:23 AM
    theanatolian, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:23 AM
    #5
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  6. Kiwi Fish

    Kiwi Fish Active Member Full Member

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    Yeah I get that, I was hoping he was just not putting in the effort and being sloppy at the lower level and that he would get better when he steps up. But apparently not.

    Like a lot of Kiwi boxers, he came through a large part of his training without a proper coach and it shows. It would be great if we had some more boxing infrastructure in New Zealand, there is potential talent there.
     
    Kiwi Fish, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:33 AM
    Kiwi Fish, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:33 AM
    #6
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  7. Chuck Norris

    Chuck Norris Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oralbay is now at heavyweight and Kunkabayev has retired. Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine is someone who is worth a watch. He has had two IBA pro bouts, which are kinda real fights.
     
    Chuck Norris, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
    Chuck Norris, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
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  8. Bigplatts

    Bigplatts Member Full Member

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    Any idea what's happened to Kunkabayev's pro career? He had a few fights then went back to amateurs. Shame because he has potential.

    Brown and Mosquea are the standouts for me so far. Brown vs Nyika would be fire.
     
    Bigplatts, Sep 29, 2025 at 6:10 AM
    Bigplatts, Sep 29, 2025 at 6:10 AM
    #8
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  9. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    Damn! I just saw that on Asian Boxing, although I don't put much stock in boxers announcing their retirements, when he gets the itch, he'll return.

    Sure Oralbay is at HW? He's listed as 203 pounds, which is HW in the amateurs, which translates to CW in the pros.
     
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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  10. Chuck Norris

    Chuck Norris Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah from last year he has competed at super heavyweight. He even won the gold medal at the World championship against Zokirov.

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    He is better suited for cruiserweight, but I guess the big money is at heavyweight. I really like how he fights, but I think he will stay amateur until 2028, which is lame.
     
    Chuck Norris, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
    Chuck Norris, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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  11. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    I'll leave him be for now. If he stays at SHW then I'll shift him to my HW thread.
     
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
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  12. Nopporn

    Nopporn Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Why is the Cruiserweight Division is not so popular and interesting to most boxing fans? This is the question that I always ask myself.
     
    Nopporn, Sep 29, 2025 at 7:56 PM
    Nopporn, Sep 29, 2025 at 7:56 PM
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  13. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    Because sadly, many boxing fans are casuals who only care about the fancy "name" divisions. They ignore the lower weights for the same reasons. It doesn't help that Cruiserweight has mostly been populated with Eastern Europeans, Africans and Brits.
     
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 8:56 PM
    CST80, Sep 29, 2025 at 8:56 PM
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  14. thehook13

    thehook13 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Bizarre but true. CW is consistently the division to watch for elite upcoming talent. Multiple times it has had the murderers row of talent.

    Unfortunately eastern Europeans don't have the same glamour associated with them, if western promoters can't pronounce your name then they wont touch you because they won't be looking at making much money.
     
    thehook13, Sep 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
    thehook13, Sep 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
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  15. Badbot

    Badbot You can just do things. Full Member

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    What also hurt them is that the biggest names in the division too often move up to Heavyweight.

    Also the divisions name is dumb.
     
    Badbot, Sep 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
    Badbot, Sep 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
    #15
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