~ The next generation of Middleweight talents - Golovkin crowned, Barker out ~

The Middleweight division is certainly shaping up so here's a little update to this thread formerly known as "The Middleweight division has a very bright future ~ Here's a Talent Top 10!" A lot has happened since this was created including the change of guard at the top as Sergio Martinez impressively beat Undisputed Champion Kelly Pavlik for the World Title, but that was just the first step, other beltholders and Maravilla himself will have to face the new crop of talents sooner rather than later. The next generation is at the gates! First I listed 10 talents then added another 10 since there are others in the weight neighborhood, but feel free to name further names who could be major players at 160 in the upcoming years!


Here's the original talent top 10:

Gennady Golovkin, 28, 19-0, beat Korobov, Lee, Bute, Despaigne and Dirrell in the amateurs, very highly skilled, powerful boxer with impressive athletic abilities and a bit of an amateurish style, picked up the interim WBA belt blewing away Milton Nunez in just 58 seconds

Dmitry Pirog, 30, 17-0, quick, powerful and highly adaptable pro boxer, can box, brawl, lead, counter, has an excellent upper body movement and impressive athletic gifts, recently picked up the vacant WBO belt knocking Danny Jacobs out

Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam, 26, 24-0, stylish, flashy, cocky puncher with very good reflexes, impressive movement and power, should face Golovkin in the near future, has serious star potential

David Lemieux, 21, 23-0, young, agressive boxer-puncher with one-punch KO power, certainly a very exciting talent who's slowly gaining world class experience, yet to be tested vs. a mobile counterpuncher

Fernando Guerrero, 23, 19-0, fan friendly, physically very strong puncher with good natural gifts and some things to work on, but keeps improving as the opposition is getting better

Daniel Jacobs, 23, 20-1, young, fast and heavy handed top prospect with a lot of natural talent, but needs to work on his pro style and gain some experience while working his way back up after his recent loss to Pirog

Erislandy Lara, 27, 12-0, currently a LMW, former amateur star with excellent combination skills, sharp reflexes and a powerfully build upper body, might pick up a belt at 154 before moving up

Demetrius Andrade, 22, 10-0, former amateur world champion with quick combination punching and fan-friendly aggression, currently fights at LMW, and struggling with the amateur-pro transition a bit

Matthew Macklin, 28, 26-2, the most experienced of the crew, quick, powerful, exciting fighter with impressive wins lately, was scheduled to face Darren Barker on September 18 but with Barker injured, the opponent will be Shalva Jomardashvili

Matt Korobov, 27, 11-0, an extremely strong, highly skilled former amateur star with great fundamentals and heavy hands. Had a nasal surgery to improve his brething and is back fighting Anthony Greenidge on September 11

+1: Andy Lee, 26, 22-1, once a very promising prospect with impressive skills and power but ran into a nasty loss and rebuilding his career ever since under Emanuel Steward



AND NOW: ANOTHER TEN TO LOOK OUT FOR!

Darren Barker, 28, 22-0

Dmitry Chudinov, 23, 5-0

Fedor Chudinov, 22, 4-0

Omar Henry, 23, 10-0

Yudel Jhonson, 29, 7-0

James Kirkland, 26, 25-0

Craig McEwan, 28, 18-0

Grzegorz Proksa, 25, 21-0

Peter Quillin, 27, 21-0

Dominic Wade, 20, 7-0


+1, and why not:

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 24, 41-0-1