'Prospects' about whom you think, "I just don't see it..."

Who are some of the hype-generators in whom you have difficulty scrying the same upside as the yea-sayers?

For me...

• Keith Thurman, welterweight/light middleweight. USA. 24 years old. 19-0 (18.)

Was long touted as a fearsome boxer-puncher with immense power, before making his big-stage debut on the Broner vs. Escobedo undercard against tough & ornery Mexican journeyman Orlando Lora. That showing was less than impressive, and following up by pummeling a shot blown-up welterweight didn't serve to mitigate that first impression very much. I don't see the skill everyone was harping on about, and while there is definitely raw power there it isn't of the scary one-hitter Julian Jackson variety that early claims would've had one believe.

• Magomed Abdusalamov, heavyweight. Russia. 31 years old. 16-0 (16)

This guy definitely has power. ...and, that's about it. Slow as molasses. Mediocre at applying the fundamentals. His footwork has been enough to cut the ring off against a certain level opponent so far, but any mover worth their salt ought to be able to elude and pot shot him all night. He also seems to have the all too common puncher's curse, as old Jameel McCline exposed some possible chin issues by flooring him in the 1st before succumbing in the 2nd.

• Shawn Porter, welterweight/light middleweight. USA. 25 years old. 20-0-1 (14)

All flash and no substance. Made his name as a serviceable sparring partner for the elite. He's got that really irritating amateur-derived style that emphasizes volume and speed over turning punches over. He's a bit too easy to hit for someone who seems to think he can just razzle-dazzle and overwhelm anyone put in front of him. Long-faded former champ Julio Diaz arguably deserved the nod over him recently in their draw.

• Karim Mayfield, light welterweight. USA. 32 years old. 17-0-1 (10)

Another one who's more sizzle than steak, and has a reputation based largely on the name value of those he's provided work for in sparring. He's a chronic offender as both a slapper and a hugger, and not averse to hitting behind the head. In fact he seems to relish it. He is wide open defensively. He can bully smaller opponents around the ring and shake out the beach towel on them when they shell up and lean over during a clinch or shove - but I feel once he steps up the game's over. He recently beat Mauricio Herrera (who's a coin flip against most prospects) in a messy skirmish, and that is about the ceiling of his ability to clearly beat anyone.

• Lateef Kayode, cruiserweight. Nigeria. 29 years old. 18-0-0-1 (14)

Nicknamed "Power", he does have some. He isn't the biggest whacker in his division, though (some distance behind Lebedev, Huck, and Chakhkiev) and has little else on which to hang his hat. He's been with Freddie Roach for quite some time and shown virtually no improvement for it. His flaws are manifold, and were pointed out during his ShoBox appearances by then-commentator Antonio Tarver. This angered Kayode so much, he signed to fight Tarver. I scored it 116-112 to the Magic Man, and the judges originally scored it a split draw. Tarver subsequently tested positive for steroids, changing the result to a No Contest. It still made clear that Kayode is no threat to the best at CW - which isn't even a particularly strong division.

• Adonis Stevenson, super middleweight. Canada. 35 years old. 19-1 (16)

The convicted pimp and abuser of women, nicknamed "Superman" - does indeed have almost Kryptonian capabilities when it comes to socking a fellow in the jaw. However, land on his first and you've found your little green shard. He employs a semi-slick style out of his southpaw stance in order to better protect his Achilles' heel and put himself in position to land his own bombs with sudden velocity from a low-hand carriage. This will not work against the cream of the crop in a stacked field at super middle. Carl Froch will destroy him, in brutal enough fashion to affirm they don't even belong in the same ring. So too would his countryman Bute.

• Jonathan Gonzalez, light middleweight/middleweight. Puerto Rico. 23 years old. 15-0-1 (13)

Even with a massive advantage in weight (refresh your memory here: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=453010) he failed to get the job done against vastly outsized Sergiy Dzinziruk. He looked drab and lank while slogging through to a draw with the former WBO light middleweight champion, who carried a year and a half of rust since being savaged by Sergio Martinez. Against soft touches, he looks beastly - but once he ramped it up the KO streak ended. Gutierrez and Lyell took him the distance and each frustrated him to a degree, causing him to resort to fouls since his heavy fists weren't bringing the success to which he was accustomed. He wastes a lot of punches, and throws them fat. A knockout artist who can't score a KO against those of higher grade than C+.

• Javier Fortuna, featherweight. Dominican Republic. 23 years old. 21-0 (15)

He did well as an amateur, but unfortunately retained a lot of amateur traits upon turning professional and has yet to shed them. He looked frankly very poor in mounting the first L on the padded record of Patrick Hyland. He doesn't sit on his punches, nor does he offer many up. He tries for a low-output style with a reliance on reflexes to avoid getting hit, but the end result is never landing much of note while getting touched more than he expects to and not having a plan B. Hyland is average at best, and Fortuna struggled with him. Enough said.

• Denton Vassell, welterweight. United Kingdom. 28 years old. 20-0 (10)

Some of the Brits have lauded him as one of their potential home-grown candidates to graduate to world class. In about half a dozen performances viewed, I've seen no evidence of that whatsoever. He's athletic enough, and has the ham-n-eggs down, but there is no standout trait to imply he could reach any higher a station than he already has. Fairly one-note, and single gear.

 

This isn't a hate thread, BTW - it's more about expressing your skepticism over some blue-chip false-flagging that you've seen, where your takeaway doesn't quite add up the same as the majority (or even a large but vociferous contingent of optimistic proclaimers)

 

Yeah, no problem. This isn't about flaming. We can agree to disagree. In fact, given the nature of the topic, there's apt to be a lot of that in here with people expressing their generally minority opinions on surveying a given boxer's chances.

I'm hoping that more civilized discourse won't be drowned out by the bickering and trolling/counter-trolling. :yep :!:

 

Decent prospect, definitely.

He can bounce back from the learning experience against Abregu. That came too soon for him.

 

I can see what you mean, in all cases.

Out of those, I'm highest on Bogere.

I'm even higher on Diego's brother Jesse. :deal