Daily Mail 12.11.09 Article on British Boxers who can rule the world

British boxing is on a high after David Haye's dramatic victory over 'The Beast from the East' Nikolai Valuev last weekend to clinch the WBA heavyweight crown. In super-middleweight Carl Froch and light-welterweight Amir Khan the nation can also lay claim to two other fighters with the quality and determination to rule the world in their divisions. NICK PARKINSON looks at the current kings of the ring and reveals the Brits who have the star quality to add their names to the sport's list of greats.

HEAVYWEIGHT

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Haye can look forward to multi-million pound paydays and a possible unification clash with one of the Klitschko brothers. British champ Danny Williams is finished as a serious contender, while Norwich's Sam Sexton is not ready for the big time just yet.

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British champion Norton, 37, is due to defend his Commonwealth title tomorrow but don't expect the awkward southpaw ever to test the world's best. Former world heavyweight champion Herbie Hide is closing in on a world title shot but is now based in Germany rather than his hometown, Norwich - and who cares?

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LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT

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* * *

The Cardiff University maths student, who is due to graduate next year, is still only 22 but is the British and Commonwealth champion. Has potential but is yet to be seriously tested.

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MIDDLEWEIGHT

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The Brummie won the European title last month with a stunning first-round KO to finally kick-start his slow-moving career.

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LIGHT-WELTERWEIGHT

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* * * * *

Bolton's WBA king is Britain's third world champion along with Haye and Froch and, until Ricky Hatton decides if he will fight on, Khan is the country's leading 10-stone boxer. British champion Lenny Daws is unlikely to box beyond European level.

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Frankie Gavin, Birmingham's 2007 world amateur champion, who pulled out of last year's Olympic Games after failing to make the weight.
LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT

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Best of British: Ryan Rhodes Star quality: no stars

Sheffield's new European king revived his career with victory in a WBC title eliminator recently but it is unclear whether he will get a shot at the world champion next year. It is also doubtful if Rhodes is good enough to beat any of the world champions.

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WELTERWEIGHT

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Best of British: Kell Brook Star quality: * * *

Sheffield's British champion is unbeaten and moving in the right direction. Likes to think he is the new Naseem Hamed, but won't be as big as South Yorkshire's former world featherweight champion.

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John O'Donnell, London's Commonwealth champion.
LIGHTWEIGHT

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Best of British: John Murray Star quality: * * *

British champion is unbeaten and fights like his fellow Mancunian Ricky Hatton. He is overdue a step up in class.

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Kevin Mitchell. The Londoner fights in a world title eliminator next month, when his potential will be tested by Amir Khan's conqueror Breidis Prescott.
SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT

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no stars

Commonwealth champion Burns is the best in Britain but the Scot is a long way off the division's elite.

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Liverpool's unbeaten Stephen Smith has had only eight fights, but is showing promise of a big future.


SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT

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Best of British: Carl Froch (right) Star quality: * * * * *

Nottingham's unbeaten WBC champion faces Kessler next in Copenhagen in March and victory will move him a step closer to becoming the division's No 1. Froch (right) has just won his first fight of a tournament featuring the world's top six super-middles but faces tougher fights against Kessler and Arthur Abraham next year before the semi-final and final.

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FEATHERWEIGHT

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The 27-year-old Belfast boxer, now based in Canada, is unlikely to rise to the top of a competitive division globally.

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No real stand-out star.
SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT

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Best of British: Rendall Munroe
Star quality:

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Leicester's boxing binman is European champion and closing in on a world title shot. But British champion Jason Booth is unlikely to go as far.

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Bury's unbeaten Scott Quigg has stopped nine out of 15 and is promoted by Ricky Hatton.
BANTAMWEIGHT

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Best of British: Ian Napa
Star quality: no stars

London's British champion has been shown to be wanting against higher-level opposition.

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SUPER-FLYWEIGHT

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Best of British: Lee Haskins
Star quality: no stars

Bristol's British champion defends his title next month against Birmingham's Don Broadhurst.

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FLYWEIGHT

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Best of British: Shinny Bayaar
Star quality: *

Mongolian who lives in Oldham is the British champion who could go further if a promoter gets behind him.

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A fair list.

 

Yes, Bayaar has more 'star quality' than Rhodes, Haskins, Napa, Lindsay, Burns and Norton.......

 

Bellew looks a better prospect than Jeffries.

 

That list is nonsensical. Ricky Burns & Martin Lindsay have no stars while Rendall Munroe has 2 atsch

 

Bellew and Groves should be mentioned.

the fact he said no stand out up and comers at Featherweight shows a limited boxing knowledge. Stephen Smith is one of the best prospects in the world not just this country.

 

gotta say credit to the mail and the mirror, i'm not usually a reader but they've given boxing great coverage these past couple of weeks, Jeff powell is a good writer.

 

They have mentioned Stephen Smith at super feather.

They got most of the right names, the ratings are whack but its not that bad.

 

I am an immediate fan of Cleverley and Brook. Id like to see if Clev has the power to deal with a real contender though. brook is in a very very competitive division but he has an aura of star quality i think he'll be world class.

Khan and Froch have belt buit i dont see them as future stars, it is a matter of time before Khan is KOd again, he just needs to fight a world rated guy with a punch. Froch has been in an exciting fight and Taylor was a massive win, but i think his limitations have been exposed, he is troubled by speed and has a weak defence, he'll lose atleast twice in the super 6 imo.

As for Haye, im unsure how long he will keep his title but the only guys I can see him starting underdog against is the Klitschkos and with Wlads weak chin and Vitlalis age even they are within reach!

 

Decent article from the daily mail, planets have aligned.

 

Stupid list. Kinda like something I would write.

 

As has been said, seems fair. I don't know how good Jeffries will be in 5 years though.

 

utter shite

 

I would agree with what it says.

We don't have much luck. Haye, Froch and Khan are genuine fighters. Not sure about anyone else yet.

 

It's a shite list. Rhodes and Hide could be world champions, and in theory, should have had a better chance than Khan.