it's a bit poor in terms of young prospects. we haven't really had a world class prospect come thru since haye and froch. and they turned over back in 2002. i think james degale is a big prospect if he turns over. good southpaw skills and a decent punch. john murray ain't good enuff. amir khan has just been blasted. atsch the likes of appleby and cleverly aren't good enuff. :-( kevin mitchell is probably the best bet. but he needs to work on that defence. good punches and good stamina though.
decent fighter. euro class. maybe bottom half of the world top 10 at a push. not best of the best though. :-(
Barker is alright. He has good skills. But he's almost a bit too textbook, there is no real star quality about him that says he's going to do something at world level. No real power, or explosive speed, he's just a good basic boxer. Does he really do that style better than a Sturm or Sylvester? I don't think so.
I like the look of Barker - step him up to domestic level to see how good he is...... Middleweight isn't the strongest division at any level, either world or euro - so an opening may emerge.
Yes there has been somewhat of a reversal of fortune on the domestic lightweight scene with Murray & Thaxton both progressing capturing decent Titles and Khan & Fewkes losing their unbeaten records. I dont understand the criticism with regards to Murray spending too much time with the English Title - thought he captured it against a decent enough opponent (Hickman), was prepared to defend it against Fewkes and vacated it within approx 6/7 months of winning to challenge for the British. Think Murray has a lot of potential but his inconsistent form is frustrating - I'd like to see him prove he is capable of putting good back to back performances together by building on the win over Meager and winning his next fight in impressive style.
Perhaps I was a little strong with regard the English title - it was probably the time wasting against bums which grated with me, especially as Murray couldn't look good against a bum full stop. How old is he, BTW? The LW division ain't gonna be all that in two years time - an opening may arise for him, as it could with Darren Barker and others. Does Warren have any decent prospects, other than Mitchell - who has also stagnated badly? Kell Brook has made a living out of KO'ing blokes called up on two days notice - good to see him fighting a live opponent with time to train rather than TBA..... Maloney has Munroe, who has been mentioned above, as well as Olusegun (don't get me started) - whilst Hayemaker have signed a few decent ones, though their names escape me. If Paul Appleby learns the art of defence I see him going a fair way
Looks like his chin may be a bit suspect, saw him get put down twice by Conroy Mcintosh and then Paul Samuels put him down and just as the ref was about to count Barker quickly jumped up and knocked Samuels out, strange fight that.
forget all this ~Murray pish.the one you want to look oaput for tis the current young boxer of the year Hot shot paul Appleby.hes going to be the one who will go far.
Degale will go pro as soon as he receives a real offer. Since the Olympics he has been spreading b/s about million pound offers but the truth is that no promoter is interested in him. He does not do himself any favours with his constant b/s (unless he is with his dad when he is sensible). Gavin does not have a punch and no one has heard anything from him since he came home early from the olympics. Gypsy Saunders will be best out the olympic brat pack.
The promoters must have finally realised that leading amateurs don't always make leading pros. This is especially true has time has passed since say the 1996 games - I don't recall a star amateur from any games since 2000 making a real impact at pro boxing..... Correct me if I am wrong.
