Does anyone see 4 to 5 new super stars stepping up over the next year to take over PPV and head line WCB? Marquez, Pacman, Mayweather, cotto etc are all on the way out. Who are the next guys to carry the sport. It always seems that there is some one to do it. I just dont know who. Ward is great, so is Donaire. but do either of them have or can they accrue the level of interest from the casual fan? Fights like Marquez/Pac or Cotto/May are almost done. Who are the next all time greats? Does any weight class currently have young guys like Barrera, Morales, Marquez and Pac when they were much younger? Should be interesting to see if someone of some people can take the ball and run with it.
Add Ward who steadily increases his popularity, more of the Dawson performances and the numbers will show up (good crowds, ratings already). There's Danny Garcia and Tim Bradley, the former is improving in front of our eyes and was always exciting, the latter needs to pull a Ward and it could be the Pac rematch putting all that negative press behind him, maybe a Garcia showdown. And there's Gary Russell Jr. although I'm not sold on him quite yet, let him fight his Ponce De Leon and we'll see, but the talent is there. Plus Frankie Gomez, Jose Benavidez, couple of pretty good prospects to watch out for. The thing is: Chavez-Maravilla did great PPVs despite both being Latino market fighters never introduced to the wider US / international public, and the fight delivered. It all really takes that - hype and living up to the hype, such investment will always worth the effort.
Andre Ward and Tim Bradley will never become PPV attractions. There are all highly skilled undefeated fighters but they lack action and personality. A PPV fighter needs an explosive fan friendly style (Pacquaio, young De La Hoya, Tyson) or a flamboyant personality like Mayweather. If Broner and Alvarez keep winning, they are the closest to reach PPV stardom.
My only problem with Broner is he went life and death with Ponce De Leon. I understand Ponce is tough and you know what? Maybe it was the weight so I have to get passed that. Styles make fights and maybe it was just one of those nights. I just don't remember guys like Marquez, Pac, Barrera or Morales having problems in their primes with a guy the skill level of Ponce. Maybe they did, I just dont remember. Alvarez...I'm still not sure he is what everyone (or alot of people) think he is. Maybe he is and I'm just missing it.
I'd agree normally but Ward actually seemed very interesting & found a personality last night when he was on Skysports before the Khan fight!!! I was shocked :shock:
Nobody right now is as good as they were in their prime. I think give it another year and things will be different.
Javier Fortuna and Gilderto Ramirez Sanchez will both be stars in the next 2-3 years but that's a little outside of the timeline you provided.
These are the obvious picks, though I'm not so sure about Canelo. He's a little limited, IMO. ------------ Looking 2 years ahead, I've got my eye on Keith Thurmon. in case you've been living under a Brittard: (Or a rock, same thing ) Thurmon's a largish WW / Light MW, 19-0 with 18 KO's. Mostly questionable opposition, but he did look great against Quintana & Lora. He's powerful, aggressive-as-heck, and loves to fight. A very fan-friendly style plus he's a great talker in interviews. Sort of a mini David Haye, but with a lot more heart and none of the ****iness. He has glaring holes in his defense right now, but he's young. If he improves, and survives, I can easily see the network getting heavily behind him.
-Ward -Broner -Alvarez -Price -Donaire -Mares -Santa Cruz -Mikey Garcia All these guys are raising their profile and they all look to be emerging superstars.
Golovkin has the talent to be a star and HBO seems to be in love with him, but eastern European fighters seem to be a hard sell in America.
