It's more accurate to say that, like Amir Mansour, he lost what would have been his prime years to a prison sentence. Like you said - still useful, though he'd be more dangerous if he dropped about 30 lbs.
Don King has added a HW fight between Jonathan Guidry and Bermaine Stiverne to the January 21st card headlined by the Ilunga Mukabu v. Noel Gevor fight for the WBC Cruiserweight title. No word on how many rounds the two heavyweights will be fighting. You can't rule out Stiverne landing something big in the first few rounds, but otherwise he needs a good witch doctor from his native Haiti more than he needs a trainer in order to keep his corpse upright for the duration. Guidry has his own limitations, of course, but Stiverne is about seven years past the end of his prime.
I believe it happened right after his fight with James Toney. IIRC, Booker was out on bail bond when he fought Toney in 2004.
There are so many prospects! Is anyone interested in ranking a top 20 forum raking of undefeated but not yet world champions? We could vote on charges to this list once a quarter in a year. The last time I did put in a disclaimer that the fighter had to be under 35! 1 ) Philp Hrgovic ( Rated inside the top ten by ring magazine ). Age 30 He's big. 6'6'' has great reach 82" and weighs about 245 lbs. He can take a punch. In fact, he took some real zingers from guys who can hit in the amateurs and pro and didn't even have to clinch. Chins are best tested when they are hit by punchers, and how you react to it when it tells you a lot. Good skills, good hand speed, and very good power. Good heart for battle too. Very accurate punching. A good body puncher too. He can in-fight and likes it. Fresh off his victory over Zhang, who would beat most on this list. He was off in that fight. He is ready to graduate from this list as he's now the IBF mandatory. Very likely to be the next Champion. I think he's beat Fury within a year and would TKO Wilder in short order, who has beaten nobody decent and fights a 38-year-old fighter next. A world title belt awaits. He needs to work on a few things though he is not a finished product yet. 2 ) Bahkhodir Jalolov Age 28. 6'7" tall with an 81" reach. 250 pounds. Oh what potential! Jarolov is a big southpaw who uses a punishing left . His straight left is the best in the game. Top end power is perhaps the second best on the list, which says something. He moves extremely well on legs of steel and keeps his range. Not an in-fighter, though. But with his length, power, speed and skills he doesn't have to be. The type of fighter who uses his legs, height and reach for offense and defense. The gold medal winner of the recent Toyko Olympics is a grade A prospect, which is why I rate him 2nd. In a year, he can be the top prospect sometime in 2023. 3 ) Sanchez ( Rated inside the top ten by ring magazine ) Age 30 He's fast-handed and can fight well. He is not a knock-out artist, though, his power is average. 6'4" with a 78" reach he's good enough these days, but the so-so chined Pero beat him three times in the amateurs so he's not an elite level boxer, rather he's is good one. Good on defense, which is semi-rare for a heavyweight these days. I don't view his potential as a pro as good as the two fighters below him, but I'm listing him here for now because he was fought some competition. 4) Arslanbeck Makhmudov Age 33. 6'5" 1/2 " 80" reach 260 pounds. Makmudov is a scary-looking dude and a rare puncher. When he hits guys they are immediately hurt, and unable to clinch or move out the way for the most part. Such are the marks of a true puncher regardless of who he is facing. He's has the best power in the game. And he's intimidating. Skills are only okay. He owns a sick uppercut. His power is so great that he has more than just a puncher's chance. He 33 now, so he should be moved quickly. 5 ) Jarrell Miller. Age 34. 300+ pounds. The first American on the list is already 34 and a two-time PED abuser. He's a big man, fat but can move, and has stamina. His power is only good. A rare in-fighter who can take it. A finished product, with suspensions hanging over him, he must watch his weight! 6 ) Gurgen Hovannisyan Age 23 6'7" 270 poinds 81" reach. 4-0, 4 KO's. Who's very big, looks like a bouncer, has natural charisma outside the ring , uncanny accuracy in the ring, and fast hand's. Oh he can hit hard too. And in-fight or outfight. And his stamia is good, and man can this guy move well for his size. No, I'm not talking about Grossberger from the movie Stir Crazy. The answer is Gurgen Hovannisyan. A former fat boy who achieved a fair amount in a short time in the amateurs, he has transformed his body and really opened my eyes. You just don't see guys string together combinations fluidly as he does at heavyweight. Deceptively flexible. He has been moved quickly and earns my high ranked based on how he has looked. Get to know him! 7 ) Agit Kabyle. Age 29. 6'3" tall, 235 pounds. Not that big ( by today's standards ) not the fastest, and not that strong, he's your perfect opponent for a title match because he a low risk type. His upside rated lower than most on the list on potential, but he was more accomplished than most. Hence he ranks 7th for now. Other guys below him have more professional upside. 8 ) Zhan Kossobutskiy 19-0 6'3" tall, 235 pounds estimated reach 77". Age 33. Not that big, fast and just a solid hitter, Kossobutiy has beaten some good amatuer and professional competition. On wins he should rate higher, but on pro potential I'm placing him here. 9 ) Jared Anderson Age 22 6'4" 1/2 " 78 1/2" reach/ 245 pounds The best American young Heavyweight in years. He's big, skilled, and can punch. Being moved fairly quickly. The promoters are salivating over him. Unless I miss my guess, he's going somewhere. Lacks big time amatuertuer sucess. Reminds me a bit of Riddick Bowe. I think he's the best American prospect in a long time. Look for him to move up the prospect list in a year. 10 ) Justis Huni 6'4" 245 estimated reach 77" 245 pounds. Age 23 The World Olympic junior champion. This kid is not your typical limited Samon slugger. He is in fact, a good boxer with better-than-average power. He is quick and young. Skilled he can box. He is not likely to go beyond the top 4 due to his power level. 11 ) Vlad Sirenko Age 27 6'3 1/2" estimated reach 79". This good looking by a fighter's standard has both fast hands and power. He stepped his competition lately and did just fine. In the amateurs, he was stopped twice, and he does not have a good chin. However, he can get favorable marketing based on his offense and good looks. 12 ) Mark Petrovski Age 23 6'0 estimated to reach 76". 215 pounds. The young Petroski recently went pro ( 1-0 ) after winning the world super heavyweight amatuer championship. He's a little small for a heavyweight, about 6'1" and 215 pounds, but he can fight. And he's got a good chin and heart. He's a has moving/unloading style when he gets inside. He's got quick and accurate hands. Not one to take a step back. He has the right style for his size, but I wonder about his upper potential as a pro vs. the best big men who are all skilled super heavyweights that feature natural height, range, and power these days. 13 ) Ivan Dyhcko Age 32 6'9" 245 pounds estimated reach 84" The very tall and mobile came in 2nd in the world amateurs before turning pro. Can really move and jab, losing in the Olympics via margin to Joshua and losing while ahead in the finals of the world amatuer championships to puncher Maijdov, who was a puncher and a multiple world amateur champion that flamed out via TKO loss in the pros. Dyhcko doesn't have a bad chin since it was the only time he was stopped b a top puncher. Not a big puncher though, he can move, and he has the reach, as he is tough to outbox. Somewhat comparable to Fury due to his 6'9" height and estimated 84" reach and mobility. Has promotional problems getting the fights he needs. 14 ) Viktor Vykhryst Age 6'6" 235 pounds 81" reach. Age 30. Vkyhryst is a big technical fighter who does everything well but lacks a dominating trait. Good Counter puncher. He was the European heavyweight Champion as an amateur. Another super heavyweight who is skilled. Down recently in a fight, so he doesn't have a good chin. 15 ) Farzier Clake 4-0 KO 6'6 " 270 pounds. Estimated reach 80 " 31 year old. He beat quality competition as an amateur. He was only stopped once in 93 fights and that one was by Jalolov. He's big, he can box and he can take a punch. This man is going places. Final thoughts: The style of the smaller heavy Heavyweight, without top-level power, has been forced out of professional heavyweight boxing. There just aren't any more 6'2" and under boxer types without at least good power as heavyweight prospects. Otherwise, you'd see them. I find just one Joe Frazier type, a swarming in-fighter with good footwork and movement, plus the stamina, chin, and heart necessary for the style, and he's very young. I listed him in the top 15 heavyweight prospects. The rest of the prospects, well most of them are super heavyweights over 6'3" tall and 225 pounds. Boxing sees a need for a new division, the Brider Weight. It's above the cruiserweight division ( 201 lbs ) and ends at 220 pounds. My natural reaction was negative, but the way things are going, it is needed and there might be a lot of good 201-220 pound fights. You certainly will not find many fighters between this range competing at this range in the modern heavyweight division. Otherwise they go for the fame and money given to a world title belt holder's heavyweight.
Muslim Gadzhimagomedov's second pro fight is coming up. (At least I think it's a pro fight. IBA pro series)
What about Jackson Murray as a prospect? He's big ( 6'7" 238 pounds ) in shape and moves well for a man his size. Yet he has a short reach 75.5" for his height. A little stiff though, but he can punch and jab. Needs to work on defense. What do you think, does he make the cut in to top 15 heavyweight prospects? The Southpaw Kiwi is interesting. Here is his debut. This content is protected
