Light Middleweight division - Big Dogs only! No chihuahuas allowed.

Here's how it's looking:

Lineal Light Middleweight Champion of the World (sanctioned by God): Jermell Charlo. Beware of imposters bearing bling. Likely to see action later in the year against the Errol v Timmy winner. Win that & he's back in charge of the division. All the chihuahuas will be queuing up to face him.

No.1 Contender, WBC Champ & former WBO Champ: Beanstalk Fundora. The Stalk that Walks is a battle-hardened freak of nature. Very hard to tell how anyone will go against him b/c frankly no-one at Light Middle will have ever faced someone like him before. 6 foot 5 and a half southpaw pressure fighter who can box from the outside.

No.2 Contender, Vergil Ortiz. Doesn't need an alphabet belt to be a major player in the division. Undefeated heavy hitter. Battle-tested.

No.3 Contender: Boots Ennis. Claimed two of the alphabet belts on the weekend & could be rated higher. With only two fights at the weight, I think here is where he belongs. For now.

No. 4 Contender, IBF Champ: Josh Kelly. Must not be any good b/c the Brits are living vicariously in this division through the Eddie Hearn promoted Israil Madrimov. Would need to ask a Brit why.

I'd draw a line there. You need an alphabet belt or serious gravitas to be in Big Dog territory.

Best of the rest - Errol & Timmy. The winner will likely get a shot at Charlo & the chance to not only enter Big Dog territory, but to be the Big Dog (aka Lineal Light Middleweight Champion of the World).

The aforementioned Madrimov & Bakhram. Not sure the Eastern Euros / Central Asians will be allowed back in the Kennel while four Americans are barking loudest. Bakhram couldn't get fights when he was an alphabet champ so I think we can put a line through him as a serious player in this division in the future. Not even the alphabet bodies will want to push his wheelbarrow b/c they can't make any money off him.

Xander Zayas: Out the back door against Boots but only a young bloke. We'll see him again although maybe not in this division.

 

Oscar was talking up a fight with Boots Ennis yesterday. Decent-sized carrot to get him back on board.

 

Slow Eddie is always talking about Timmy when he's out here. He's going to completely freak when Timmy goes Lineal.

 

He's not in Big Dog territory currently, that's for sure. If he can knock off Spence, he will likely get a chance to go back there.

 

Canelo rematch, David Benavidez at Super Middle, someone at Middle where he hasn't campaigned, Jermell Charlo perhaps at Light Middle.

Maybe he would fancy another trip to Australia? This time for a fight. Once people have been out here, they're far more relaxed about coming back.

 

Inclined to agree, although watching Crawford wrestle with Opetaia at the Glory in Giza event he may fancy himself as being able to compete in higher weight divisions.