What is going on with boxing in the Big Apple these days? Just a shortage of focused talent or have all the old school trainers migrated south and west? Just inside the last two years we have... Powell getting drilled by Lattimore, who goes on to prove he's a good young fighter, but far, far, far from being a polished world class boxer. Figueroa getting a semi-gift in the Augustus fight, then getting KTFO'd by Bailey. Stark Jr. looking like a complete ass against Escalante. And now Shaun George fighting like he was suffering a Vietnam flashback for five rounds against a solid but very ordinary slugger in Chris Henry. I'm choosing to leave Zab and Paulie off this list because they had the misfortune of running into proven, elite competition in guys like Tszyu, Floyd, Cotto, and even Hatton, and I'm trying (hard, because George REALLY pissed me off on Friday) not to be insulting, because I'd actually like to hear some opinions from people who closely follow the East Coast scene. Is Danny Jacobs the diamond in the rough, or is there anything else to be excited about coming out of New York in the next couple of years?
It would appear that Jacobs is the hope of NYC boxing for the moment. The George fight was baffling. I still don't know what kind of Oliver McCall moment he was having there. Bizarre.
If Jacobs is your main hope you are in trouble cos this guy aint nothing to shout about. As soon as he steps up to world level hes gonna get exposed for what he is a very average fighter with overrated power and a padded record, his only saving grace might be that the middleweight division is full of mediocre fighters. I dont want to hate on this guy cos ive nothing against him but im just saying what ive seen from watching him on numerous occasions from a neutral perspective. just my opinion!
Jacobs is 22 years old and has not even been a pro for two full years. What exactly are you expecting?
Shawn George beat a drained Byrd and he was going to do win a title or get a title shot due to that. He may have got caught up on all the hype of that win and reality hit him, I mean Henry.
Id expect him to step up his quality of opposition soon, but I just dont see him potentially amounting to a world class fighter. Hes had 17 or 18 fights now I think so if he is really as good as they say it is time to step it up and lets find out. I personally dont see anything that really makes me think hes all that but thats just my opinion maybe he'll prove me completely wrong.
