Best Prospects... [revisited]

This is obviously a very subjective field and not one where general opinion can be definitive. However, I thought I'd give you a brief rundown on some prospects from around the globe and my opinions on them. I've rated them in a class system from A-D.


Class A
Amir Khan - In January I wrote 'the jury is still out for me' on Khan prior to the St. Clair fight. To be fair to Khan he put in a magical performance against the more experienced pro and then blasted his way through Kristjansen. The same criticisms remain over the calibre of opposition but Khan has been fortunate in that his division has seen some major changes since January. Nate Campbell beat Juan Diaz to take his titles and Casamayor beat Katsidis to earn himself #1 spot in the division. Add to that the fact that on a European level Thaxton was beaten by a very ordinary Romanov and it leaves Khan with lightweight at his feet! I would expect a title shot early next year and given the way he is progressing I wouldn’t bet against him beating Campbell! I would fear for his safety though against Katsidis, Casamayor or Diaz at this stage. Khan also announced this month that he will changing trainer. A number of top names are in the mix. In my opinion, Roger Mayweather could improve Khan's defence and turn him into a champion. Favourite to land the role though is Buddy McGirt, someone Khan would do well to avoid.


Koki Kameda - the Japanese flyweight has been causing a bit of a stir in the far east! His celebrity status in Japan is comparable to Khan's here. Given that the majority of fighters in this division hail from East Asia or South West America, Kameda has done well to notch up a record of 17(11)-0-0 and the take WBA light flyweight title (at 19) before moving up to 112lbs. The little southpaw is 22 and determined to destroy whatever is put in front of him. He has fought Rexon Flores, Everardo Morales (both former WBO challengers), Juan Jose Landaeta (former WBA challenger) and Noel Arambulet (former WBA champion) - all this in 4 years. However he first hit fame when as a 14 year old he had an exhibition match with the then WBC champion Hiroki Ioka and astonishingly knocked the champion down in the first round. Unhurt Ioka continued and took a points victory… but a legend was born. Kameda certainly has the potential to sell millions. He is loud, brash, arrogant and disrespectful to opponents. On the flip side there have been allegations of match fixing and many prominent champions at the weight have questioned the calibre of his opponents. For the time being however 'The Pit-bull of Osaka' is certainly one to watch!


Victor Ortiz - at 21(16)-1-1 his record doesn’t do him justice, but 'Vicious' Victor Ortiz has bags of talent. He's 21 years old and battling his way up the competitive welterweight division. He knocked out former champion Carlos Maussa in one round and his last outing saw him rise off the canvas to knockout Dairo Esalas in a very professional performance. Khan and Ortiz have met previously in the junior championships where Khan was the victor, but the two would be unlikely to meet for some time given their existing weight differences. He doesn’t have the 'dramarama' of other characters in the sport at the moment, but with hammers in his hands and the heart of a lion, Ortiz could certainly have an exciting future. Also, people cant criticise him for lack of quality opposition!



Class B


Andre Berto - Miami welterweight Berto is being touted as the man to knock Floyd Mayweather off his perch. With a record of 21[18]-0-0 it is evident that he can certainly bang!! Berto beat David Estrada last year to become number 1 contender for both IBF and WBC crowns. He has a fight this month which should lead to big things. He does have a major problem with making people miss his head with their fists however! In a division made up of tremendous talent and some massive punchers this could be lethal for the American. Until he is caught however he remains a genuine talent in the best division in the sport.


Denis Boystov - with a record of 21[18]-0-0 this 22 year old Russian is making waves in a much maligned heavyweight division. He won the WBC Youth Title (I had no idea it existed either!) in 2006 and has progressed at a good rate since. However he is yet to break into any of the governing bodies top tens. This is a concern in this division having had 20 fights and there being such little competition. I would expect Boystov to step up his number of fights and calibre of opponent and get himself ranked by early next year.



Class C


Yuriorkis Gamboa - he's Cuban and he's professional 'nuff said! But I'll say more anyway… Gamboa is a very green superfeatherweight with a record of 9[8]-0-0 but is already being touted as a future pound for pound king. He has already beaten some ranked contenders and proves a very exciting prospect. Power in abundance, speed, reflexes and intelligence! The future looks bright for him. Gamboa's opponents have been of a much better standard than most prospects on this list and he has stopped them or knocked them out with ease so far. He would be a class A prospect if he had a handful more fights. This shouldn’t take too long though seeing as he only turned pro 13 months ago!!


Abner Mares - Mexican bantamweight Mares has notched up 16(10)-0-0 and has already appeared at the Mandalay Bay a couple of times. Signed to De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. Former Olympian Mares was robbed in 2004 Olympics when beaten by Hungarian Zsolt Bedak. And in his last outing Mares brutally stopped Diosdado Gabi in round 2 to put himself #3 in the WBO rankings.



Class D


Tony Bellew - its very early in this light heavyweight Scouser's career but Bellew has domestic critics excited. He's only had 5 professional fights but a record three ABA titles during his amateur career has put him on the prospects list. Bellew is a knockout artist, but since turning pro he has proved that there is more to his game. The biggest change though has been in his conditioning where he now looks like a professional athlete rather than a pub brawler.


Odlanier Solis - its what the world has been waiting for, a Cuban heavyweight. Solis looks good. But for me that’s it. He looks good but no better. He'll be a contender and he'll make millions but I'm not expecting the saviour of the heavyweights to be in the form of Solis. He did beat Haye in the amateurs though!


Honourable mentions for Alexander Povetkin, JD Chapman, Roman Martinez, Joe Greene, Vernon Paris, Chris Arreola, Roman Gonzalez and both Peterson brothers (Anthony and Lamont)! (Didn’t have time to write these up.)

 

Yeah my own work, so thanks man!

My reasoning for Gamboa in class C is simply that he's 9-0 and not a 12-0 or 16-0. For what its worth, I would probably vote for Gamboa/Khan as most exciting prospect.

Also I dont see Ortiz's defeat as having any real bearing given that it was a DQ. I rate him above Berto purely on the performances I have seen!

 

As for McCloskey, I couldnt fit them all in mate so just picked a few and put Bellew down since he's a home town boy