I'm constantly seeing countless threads talking about how bad the MW Division is, but I believe its far better than people are giving it credit for and is at the beginning of a rebirth with all the new talent starting to enter the division. Okay the champions are pretty shitty. Taylor, new IBF Champion while he could compete with some of the older fighters at MW he doesn't stand a chance against anyone else, he is the definton of a paper champion. Quillin dropped his WBO belt, he was so afraid someone would take his 0 so now it'll be up for grabs. Miguel Cotto the lineal Champion with the WBC strap, is just looking for cash out fights, with big name opponents, like Canelo. The only real Champion is GGG who holds both the WBO and IBA belts. No one wants to fight him, and he could probably beat everyone in the division. He should be considered the real MW Champion. There are a few old lions still left waiting for their one last big payday before retirement, Sturm is moving up to face fellow German Stieglitz at SMW. We don't know what Martinez is planning either an attempt at a comeback or retirement,which I would prefer. And Soliman I doubt at his age can come back fron his leg injury. Then the also rans like Macklin, Lee, Adama, Mora, Angulo and at this point probably Geale. Who are still able to put on somewhat competitive showings but are probably done at the world class level. But there is a crop of new blood pouring life into the veins of the MW Division. That could make it far more exciting and competitive in the very near future. Ryota Murata an explosive exciting undefeated MW from Japan. Ievgen Khytrov a vicious Ukrainian KO Artist Billy Joe Saunders a highly skilled English fighter Chris Eubank Jr. Same Anthony Ogogo a former Olympic Bronze medalist very talented Sergey Derevyanchenko a hard hitting brutal puncher who's just turned pro. Brian Carlos Castano a very exciting hard hitting Argentine JMW/MW Jason Quigley an exciting Irish boxer being fast tracked by Golden boy Dmitry Chudinov savage Russian puncher on the rise Matt Korobov Andrey Meryasev David Lemieux David could still be a force Martin Murray Jermall Charlo Marco Antonio Rubio Arif Magomedov Tony Harrison Hassan N'dam Curtis Stevens always exciting Daniel Jacobs John Ryder Brian Vera and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. could possibly but doubtful move back down Then the potential JMW that may move up soon Canelo Alvarez highly probable Erislandy Lara James Kirland Sergey Rabchenko Demetrius Andrade Gabriel Rosado Patrik Syzmanski Kanat Islam Julian Williams Liam Smith Vanes Martirosyan C'mon its not so bad is it.:think
Honestly I think it is a poor division. Poor top tier, not a very great middle 5-15 sort of ranked fighters, and no more proven or enticing prospects or fringe contenders than any other division.
I've always been a bit of an outlier on this one, but if I line up a top 20 from each division and put them next to each other, I don't see a great deal of difference in overall talent (obviously IMO) outside the top 3 or 5 names. Some divisions have more top talent (MW only really has GGG, SMW Ward and Froch, LHW Kovalev, Hopkins, Stevenson, HW Wlad etc), some less, but overall I feel the divisions are much the same in terms of quality once you get past the top 5 or so. If you were to pick say 3 numbers between 5 and 15 and check out per boxrec which fighters are at that rank in each division I'm betting you get a pretty equal quality guy at each weightclass. For me the perceived differences are really only about the very top talent - and even then may have more to do with exposure and promotion than actual provable ability. If say, we were to get a mid range JMW (like a Vanes or Jermell or Boo Boo) tearing through the MW top 10, I might have to re-evaluate, but that hasn't happened (unless you want to count Cotto beating a shot Sergio) and I don't think it will.
its really a hell of a lot better than it was for hops reign. that was the most pathetic div at that time. there is talent there now but ggg makes it look weak.
Curiously there were a couple of 'strongest / weakest division' type threads here and on 'scene in early to mid 2013 and the consensus was that MW was one of the stronger and deeper divisions at the time. Of course, with the decline of Sergio and the departure of Jr, there have been some significant changes at 160 since then, but I think a large part of the difference in perception can be attributed to Golovkins sheer dominance, especially since Macklin.
*****s criticize the MW division and talk up welter. All the while Floyd refuses to fight the best at Welter.
