***Champions Who Will Lose Their Crowns During 2008***

Champions Who Will Lose Their Crowns During 2008

Ricardo Lois
12/22/2007

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The 2007 calendar is now behind us, or at least the significant fistic action has passed. As I look into my crystal ball and summon the orisha spirits of eleggua to give me enlightenment, I have selected five boxers who hold championship crowns and will lose them during the upcoming year

#5 – Ivan Calderon (WBO Junior Flyweight Championship).
Calderon is on my pound for pound list and one of the most technically sound fighters I have ever seen.
Unfortunately for the pint sized warrior, he was considered undersized for a minimum weight fighter and has now moved up a
few ticks into the junior flyweight world.
His debut as a junior flyweight was a successful against Mexico's Hugo Cazares, but it was a rocky affair.
While controlling the fight with his side to side movement, excellent defense, and counter-punching,
Calderon tasted the canvas in the 8th round and had to evade the on rushing Cazares in the late rounds.
Every time Calderon steps into a fight to defend his WBO junior flyweight championship,
he will have to be close to perfect and that is a difficult standard to maintain. Sooner of later,
Calderon will taste the canvas and not be able to get up or finish the fight.
Enjoy Calderon, as he is one of the best I have seen in recent times, but his “0” and championship will go in 2008.
Keep in mind, Cazares who almost skinned the skilled Puerto Rican cat in their first go around is the number one contender to Calderon's WBO strap.

#4 – Daniel Ponce De Leon (WBO Super Bantamweight Championship)
A Tarahumara American Indian, Ponce De Leon concentrates on bringing the pain with his two fists and little else.
Why worry about defense, when your offense has brought you a world championship?
Ponce De Leon is on the prowl for a
fight with the winner of Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez's third installment this March.
Thought the WBO champ, everyone who knows anything about boxing recognizes Israel Vazquez as THE super bantamweight champion.
If Ponce De Leon is granted
his wish, it may turn into a blood curling nightmare.
Offensive minded as well,
yet Marquez and Vazquez are technically sound fighters to boot. The looping punches of De Leon should be no challenge to either Marquez or Vazquez, who might just put
De Leon on the canvas, or take him deep for a twelve round decision.
Even if Marquez or Vazquez do not do the trick, any solid boxer-puncher has a good chance to avoid the
rudimentary attack of Ponce De Leon and take his WBO crown.

#3 – Juan Manuel Marquez (WBC Super Featherweight Champion)
“Juanita”, as Pacquiao fans lovingly call Marquez, finally got his glory by defeating a faded Marco Antonio Barrera early in 2007.
Unfortunately for Marquez his time in the spotlight might be short.
The table has been set for a rematch between
Juan Manuel and Manny Pacquiao for March 15, 2008. While many experts and fans reference to Juan Manuel's excellent
performance from rounds two to 12 in their first 2004 clash, and believe the
Mexico City native has the antidote for “Pacmania”, I am not a true believer.
There is not thing as a fresh or young 34 year
old fighter in the smaller weight classes. Marquez has spent a lifetime perfecting his grueling craft and side effects are starting to show. During his November WBC championship defense against
Ricardo “Rocky” Juarez, Marquez displayed a deteriorating hand speed and weakened defense.
Come March a prime time
Manny Pacquiao will bull an aged Marquez and take
back the WBC super featherweight strap to General Santos.

#2 – David Diaz (WBC Lightweight Champion)
Only in boxing can an average talent become world champion. There are four major boxing organizations which sanction championships,
making the quest to glory a bit easier for the less skilled.
David Diaz should be happy that
Erik Morales had little left in his gas tank during their August battle and will have the opportunity to defend his championship one more time. Too bad for Diaz that his next fight might
be his last as a world champion.
Chances are that Diaz could be facing
Manny Pacquiao later in the year and if all goes well, Manny will dethrone two champions in one year. Even in Pacquiao
does not get to Diaz first, somebody else will.
It could be Juan Diaz, it could be Michael Katsidis,
but mark my words somebody is going to take that WBC belt from David before the year is out

#1 – Kermit Cintron (IBF Welterweight Champion)
What can be worse for a fighter than a poor constitution?
When he was a high profile, power punching prospect,
Cintron was exposed as too green for big time boxing and set in his place by a professional's professional Antonio Margarito. A cut during his fight with Margarito, seemed to frazzle Cintron. A fifth round technical knockout was the result.
Following his first loss,
Cintron battled long and hard to regain his reputation as being one of the best welterweights in the World. The legendary
trainer Emmanuel Steward was hired to work Cintron's corner and many within boxing started to believe that his spectacle
against Margarito was part of “The Killer's” development.
Then this past November mental weakness reared its ugly head once again. After stopping journeyman Jessie Feliciano in a heated dog fight against, Cintron broke down in the ring. He squirmed and
ached in agony as if he had just completed a triathlon.
Following the fight it was announced that
Cintron had damaged the ligaments of his right hand during the battle.
I am not here to disrespect or question the hearts or stones of professional boxers. The minute they step into the ring, they put their lives on the line. But, on the flip side, when you make a public and professional sport your calling, some criticism comes with the territory.
I have seen fighters break hands and tear ligaments in a fight before, but never, have I seen a fighter react like Cintron. That sort of behavior points to some sort of sort of character flaw that will not help him in any sort of quest for a long welterweight championship reign.
Does anyone remember Pernell Whitaker, Ray Leonard, or Roberto Duran behaving in the manner which Kermit Cintron has carried himself in the ring?
If Paul Williams and Cintron lock up in 2008, “The Punisher” might take the title away, but any top five challenger in the IBF rankins
(Andre Berto, Zab Judah, Robert Garcia, and good old Antonio Margarito) could do the deed as well. True champions do not have fire fights with Jessie Feliciano and then proceed to have a mental breakdown afterwards.



Source:
[code]http://www.boxingconfidential.com/articles.php?id=3454[/code]

 

Who else do you think will lose their crowns next year??