There is a tremendous amount of talent and elite prospects currently coming onto the scene in the lower weight divisions , many already with great fanfare, hype, amateur pedigree, ability & skills, and recognition from most hardcore fans and even some from casuals. Just out of the American crop(and this is just off the top of my head) there are: Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Shaku r Stevenson, and Karlos Balderas(and even his brother Jose.) You could certainly make an argument that Stevenson and Lopez are no longer prospects who habe actually graduated to legit contenders, but that's beside the pointnof this thread. Every pme pf those fighters is LOADED with top rate skill sets, athleticism & physical ability, and unreal natural talent. All those things though dont guarantee a fighter becomes a world champion or star. IMO the weakest of the bunch and who I think will not be on the same level as the others when all is said and done is Ryan Garcia. I think Stevenson has the highest potential and will be the star of the pack, followed very closely by Lopez, Haney, and Karlos Balderas, in no particular order. All of them have pretty significant fanfare and recognition amongst boxing fans besides Karlos Balderas and his brother Jose who I think is a level below his brother and the others. But my favorite out of all of them is K. Balderas just ahead of Shakur Stevenson. It's so refreshing to see such a mature, high character, and humble toung prospect with the talent, skills, pedigree, and overall ability that Karlos has, and also refreshing to see an elite prospect as good as he is thats in no rush to challenge for a title, instead taking the slow road and doing it the way he feels is best for his overall future and career. He comes across as a great young kid with not a single unlikable personality trait that I have seen so far and according to those who know him personally, hes the same kid he is away from the camera as he is while the camera is rolling. You never hear him speak in a derogatory nature about other fighters, even his fellow elite prospects who will probably be some of his biggest rivals throughout all their respective careers. He gives his honest and heart felt thoughts and analysis on them, their potential, their career progression and analysis on them as fighters and showers them with nothing but praise. I'm blown away simply put, for such an elite and highly touted prospect, to have such maturity and great character considering how off the charts good he is in so many facets of the sport, how naturally gifted and talented he is, how skilled he is, and how successful and decorated an amateur career as he had, especially present day where the boxing fanbase almost wants or needs to hear a cocky, brash, and somewhat arrogant demeanor outside the ring and in interviews to actually consider them an elite talent/prospect. He and Haney have by far(IMO) the best heads screwed on their shoulders out of that lot and it's just so refreshing to see. Karlos Balderas has every bit as good a chance to become boxings next superstar from America as any other fighter in that lot, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he walks away as the best out of all of them with the greatest career. If I was betting on it it would be between he and Stevenson, but I'll be hoping it Karlos all the way followed closely by Haney -- another class act with great character and maturity. Besides Balderas and Haney the others seem to be in competition with one another in regards to who can fight for a legit title first and who can sound the hardest and run their mouth the most almost to an attention whoring Kardashian like level just to get their name out there and known, even if its for being a loudmouth and arrogant but talented prospe t who has yet to prove anything on the world stage. I think a lot of people will be surprised by who emerges as the best or best two fighters out of that list, because compares to the others Karlos Balderas really isnt known outaide of the hardcore fan, if hes known at all, and he's in no rush and inatead doeant view this as a sprint but a long term career and he wants to slowly and steadily progress both in reaching hia potential and in his opponents. I dont see how anyone could not like Balderas as a fighter and a person, Haney as well but IMO Balderas impresses me more and out of that group hes my abaolute favorite and I truly hope he ends up the best of them all and he has the skill, talent, athleticism, pedigree, experience, and character to come out of relatively nowhere and make it happen.
