The current state of the middleweight division is absolutely terrible. Besides one very good fighter in Janibek Alimkhanuly, the rest of the competition at the top is lacking. Even the biggest fight this year was Eubank vs Benn, which is a clear indicator of how putrid things are. However after today's fight between Eumir Marcial and Eddy Colmenares, which was an amazing fight. All of guys should check it out, it was a slugfest from beginning to end. For me, there is hope that this troubled period will end and we will enter a new, exciting phase for 160. There is a lot of undefeated prospects, which are coming up. There are: Yoenli Hernandez, Aaron McKenna, Etinosa Oliha, Vadim Tukov, Troy Isley, Eumir Marcial, Eric Priest, George Liddard and others. Like Denzel Bentley, Elijah Garcia, Vito Mielnicki, Marquis Taylor, Patrice Volny, who have have losses, but are still in their primes and very much capable to improve. The talent is there, just needs more push from promters and networks. The catalyst for how the division will improve, boils down to two things: PBC to lose it's belt holders and for a major fight to occur. Both will require one man for the job, and that is Janibek. If you guys remember, featherweight used to have the same problem when Gary Russell and Leo Santa Cruz were champions. Once they left, the division became great again. PBC doesn't have the desire to make their guys unify, except at welterweight. Once Janibek gets rid of Lara, it will be one down. Now will Adames fight him? Who knows, apparently he will vacate the title, which will leave the winner of Ramos-Mosley as the full titlist. As for what major fight could happen. My hope is for Crawford to move down (there are rumors) and challenge Alimkhanuly. Regardless of the result, this would be a huge event and would bring attention back to the division. Based on what I wrote. I do hope things get better. The 160 pounds deserves it. It is one of the glamour divisions. Original eight. It could produce big fights and great fighters. Certainly better than the likes of English Jr., and Conor Henn.
Sheeraz (I know he is 168 now) being regarded as the best in the division by some not long ago says a lot sadly about the current state of the MW division. Think about what the likes of GGG would have done to Sheeraz.
154 has a lot of good fighters, some will soon move up. Ennis is big even for 154, he'll eventually move up to 160. Middleweight will be strong in two or three years.
Ennis and Ortiz are big guys, we can expect them to be at 160 in not too distant future. So things should get interesting in the division. Right now though, the best case scenario would be for Bud to snatch Adames' belt to hold a showdown for all the marbles versus Janibek, though I'm not sure if Turki or anyone would pay for Crawford vs Adames.
Xander, Ortiz, Ennis, Murtazaliev, Fundora, they're all moving up Boots vs Janibek is filmstudy porn, I've always wanted to see that