I haven't been doing hardly any Educate Yourselves threads lately, so I've fallen behind. So I figured I'd just hit you all with lump sum dump, of the Cruiserweights that I think are worth keeping an eye on. Since Usyk and assiev left and Briedis retired, aside from Opetaia, the division is pretty much a dire squalid wasteland. When you have two fat former Super Middleweights dominating, you know there's a problem. But at least The Okolipus and React-Poor and their hideously ugly styles got sent packing to Heavyweight by CBS, to be used as cannon fodder, so they won't be stinking up the joint anymore. Okay, so there's not a hell of a lot to write home about and many of the ones getting air time, are very undeserving of it. So, as difficult as it may be, I'm going to do my best to a assemble a list of ones to watch. Bekzad Nurdauletov This content is protected Pat Brown This content is protected Michał Soczyński This content is protected Shohjahon Abdullaev This content is protected Leonardo Mosquea This content is protected
Sharabutdin Ataev This content is protected Giorgi Kushitashvili This content is protected Aybek Oralbay This content is protected Kamshybek Kunkabayev This content is protected Enmanuel Reyes This content is protected
What do you think of Nyika? Do you think he has a chance to do much at Cruiserweight? I know that Opetaia KO was brutal, but he got a couple good shots in and looks like he carries power, plus the size.
His defense is almost non-existent, I like him, he's fun to watch. But I don't think he's going to have a bright future in this sport. Might be in some damn fun to watch matches though.
Nice! Muslim Gadzhimagomedov should already be contending at cruiser, I don't know what the hell he's doing with the bridgerweight crap or going back to amateurs when he can't compete in the international tournaments. This kid could be very promising also: https://boxrec.com/en/box-am/1245147 Won the gold in the World amateur champs earlier this month at 19. Didn't catch his fights but he doesn't have a single round scored against him through 4 fights. (And they had 5 judges scoring each fight)
Yeah I get that, I was hoping he was just not putting in the effort and being sloppy at the lower level and that he would get better when he steps up. But apparently not. Like a lot of Kiwi boxers, he came through a large part of his training without a proper coach and it shows. It would be great if we had some more boxing infrastructure in New Zealand, there is potential talent there.
Oralbay is now at heavyweight and Kunkabayev has retired. Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine is someone who is worth a watch. He has had two IBA pro bouts, which are kinda real fights.
Any idea what's happened to Kunkabayev's pro career? He had a few fights then went back to amateurs. Shame because he has potential. Brown and Mosquea are the standouts for me so far. Brown vs Nyika would be fire.