Top 100 pro HW Prospects & Top 50 amateur HW Prospects

Found this on the net, pretty cool.

I'll post the top 20 here, the rest can be found on the link.

http://boxning.blogspot.com/2008/01/top-100-heavyweight-prospects.html

1 (1) Alexander Povetkin
YOB: 1979
Country: Russia
H-W: 6.2-225
Record: 16-0 (12)
Prodebut: 2005
Latest: Stopped Taurus Sykes in round 5 the 19th of July
Best win: Eddie Chambers in January
Other victims: Chris Byrd, Larry Donald, David Bostice, Friday Ahunanya, Ed Mahone and Richard Bango.
Rounds: 11
Comments: As one of the most successful superheavyweights ever in the amateur ring Povetkin is the closest thing to a predestined champ in the heavyweight division since… maybe Tyson. He’s at least the undisputed number one among the new generation of heavyweights. The stocky Russian is a pressurefighter who combines power with fast hands and good defence, so it requires something extraordinary to beat him. An impressive workmanlike decision over the former number two on this list, the slick Eddie Chambers in January 2008 consolidates his position as the best prospect in the world .

2 (3) David Haye
YOB: 1980
Country: UK
H-W: 6.3-215
Records: 22-1 (21)
Latest: Stopped Monte Barrett in round 5 the 15th of November
Best win (as a heavy) Monte Barrett
Loss: Stopped by Carl Thompson in 2004
Rounds: 12
Comments: Haye is definitely an exciting newcomer to the heavyscene and he certainly got the power and speed to make it interesting. At 6.3 he also got the right size for the big boys. His weak spot and the biggest reason that he should be counted as a rather unknown commodity as a heavyweight is probably his chin. Monte Barrett didn’t test Hayes chin, but all’n all a good win for Haye in his heavyweight “debut”..

3 (4) Juan Carlos Gomez
YOB: 1973
Country: Cuba
H-W: 6.4- 230
Record: 44-1 (35)
Prodebut: 1995
Latest fight: Outboxed Wladimir Virchis the 27th of September
Best win (as a heavy): Wladimir Virchis
Loss: Stopped in round 1 by Yanqui Diaz in August 2004
Other notable victims (as a heavy): Oliver McCall, David Defiagbon, Sinan Samil Sam, Al Cole
Rounds: 12
Comments: Don’t know what is going on with Juan Carlos Gomez. His career as a heavy has been very up and down so far. He showed his class as a heavy when he outclassed Sinan Samil Sam. Inactivity followed the win and when he returned countryman Yanqui Diaz shockingly stopped him and when we all thought that he finally was on the right track with wins over David Defiagbon and Oliver McCall he became suspended when cocaine was found in his body after the win over McCall. He came back with “another” win over McCall in 2007 and outboxed the Ukrainian dangerman Virchis in September 2008 in the most important fight of Gomez’ heavyweight career so far. The erratic Cuban got all the right tools to become a successful heavyweight. He’s one of the best cruisers ever and with great handspeed, mobility good defence and decent power he has the potential to do what Holyfield did (move up from cruiser to become a heavyweightchamp). His biggest enemy is his not so disciplined behaviour outside the ring as I see it. Let’s see if he finally (as a heavy) can live up to his talent.


4 (6) Alexander Dimitrenko
YOB: 1982
Country: Ukraine
H-W: 6.7-250
Record: 29-0 (19)
Prodebut: 2001
Latest fight: Stopped Luan Krasniqi in round 3 the 15th of November
Best win: Stoppagewin over Luan Krasniqi in November 2008
Other wins: Timo Hoffmann, Malcolm Tann, Vaughn Bean, Fernely Feliz, Ross Puritty,Julius Francis, Kendrick Releford
Rounds: 12
Comments: A former junior super heavy champ who looks like a basketball-player and moves very well for a man at his size. Dimitrenko can look a little weak or thin from time to time but his combination of size, mobility and decent power is hard to match.

5 (8) Chris Arreola
YOB: 1981
Country: USA (California)
H-W: 6.3-240
Record: 25-0 (23)
Prodebut: 2003
Latest: Stopped Israel Garcia the 25th of September
Best win: Chazz Witherspoon.
Other wins: Stoppagewins over Malcolm Tann, Damian Willis, Sedreck Fields, Domonic Jenkins and Damian Norris
Rounds: 8
Comments: Chris Arreola is a classical brawler who always comes forward with fast and powerful shots. He was a successful amateur in the light heavy division, but has as a pro moved up to the heaviest division and you can see that it’s not only muscles that brought him up in weight. Impressive win over previously unbeaten Chazz Witherspoon in June.

6 (2) Eddie Chambers
YOB: 1982
Country: USA (Pittsburgh)
H-W: 6.1-220
Record: 31-1 (17)
Prodebut: 2000
Latest fight: Stopped Raphael Butler in round 6 the 20th of June
Best win: Calvin Brock in November 2007
Other notable victims: Dominic Guinn, Derrick Rossy, Domonic Jenkins, Ed Mahone, Robert Hawkins, Ross Puritty,
Loss: On points to Alexander Povetkin in January
Rounds: 12
Comments: Eddie Chambers is a rather mobile and fast American heavyweight who lacks explosional power and also might be a little bit too small at the end. But he knows his way round the ring and with his relaxed and rather elusive style, might be a nightmare for a couple of the bigger and more powerful prospects and contenders out there. He showed that he could box on even terms with Povetkin when he was “on” and the KO-win over Raphael Butler showed that the slick Eddie Chambers still wants to be in the mix.

7 (9) Odlanier Solis
YOB: 1980
Country: Cuba
H-W: 6.1-255
Record: 12-0 (8)
Prodebut: 2007
Latest: Stopped Chauncy Welliver in round 9 the 11th of October
Best win: Stopped Alex Mazikin in round 1 in June 2007
Other wins: Cisse Salif, Jeremy Bates, Aldo Colliander, Marcus McGee, Andreas Sidon
Rounds: 9
Comments: Solis is probably the most talented heavyweight in the world but he might also be the biggest waste of talent on the list. He’s absolutely the most exciting heavyweight who have turned pro from Castro’s Cuba and his first five or six opponents as a pro were the most impressive start for a newcomer since... The level of opponents has not continue to impress during his second year as a pro though.

Initially we got a lightning fast, mobile and hard to hit heavyweight with decent power. Now we got a heavy who have balooned up from 200 lbs four years ago to over 250 lbs today, with improved power but declined speed and mobilty. To me it seems that the big problem for Solis is the people around him. Solis is rumoured to be a partyanimal outside the ring and his disciplin has been questionized more than once, but his promoter doesn’t seem to care. He just keep screaming about his “Cuban Tyson” who’s going to knock everybody out, and that’s a pity cause Solis is not just another “toughman” with power, he has the potential to be an all time great IF he remember what his real skills are (speed, mobilty and defense). A 250 lbs Solis who doesn’t dance and only searching the knockout will not be a champ.

8 (10) Kevin Johnson
YOB: 1979
Country: USA (New Jersey)
H-W: 6.3- 240
Record: 21-0-1 (8)
Prodebut: 2003
Latest: Stopped Matthew greer in round 3 the 7th of November
Best win: Bruce Seldon
Other wins: Terry Smith, Damian Willis, Robert Hawkins, Robert Wiggins
Draw: Timur Ibraghimov
Rounds: 10
Comments: Johnson might have the best jab on the list and he’s also a rather fast boxer with good allroundskills. But he seems to be a fighter who do just enough to win and he looks a little lacklustre and lazy at times which cost him the victory against Timur Ibraghimov for example. Johnsons opponents was unusual tough at the early stages of his career, but it seems that his matchmaking (like his style) has been more careful now. It seems that he doesn’t wants to mix it up if he’s not forced to, so it would make sense to put him against a good pressurefighter next.

9 (18) Denis Boytsov
YOB: 1986
Country: Russia
H-W: 6.1-220
Record: 23-0 (18)
Prodebut: 2004
Latest: Outboxed Vinny Maddalone the 15th of November
Best win: Robert Hawkins
Other wins: Ondrej Pala in 2006
Rounds: 10
Comments: An offensiveminded and powerful boxer with good allroundskills. He became junior world amateurchamp with only KO-wins in 2004 and he certainly looks a little bit like a young Tyson in style. He can look a little listless if his opponent doesn’t fall down from his brutal shots, but he’s got good basic skills. I hope he can refine those skills so he doesn’t become a onedimensinal knockoutboxer. He finally stepped up a little in class when he beat tough journeyman Robert Hawkins in April. Even if Boytsov hasn’t lived up to our huge expectations yet, he still got time on his side and is absolutely someone to keep an eye on.

10 (12) Malik Scott
YOB: 1980
Country: USA (Philadelphia)
H-W: 6.4-250
Record: 31-0 (11)
Prodebut: 2000
Latest fight: Stopped Arthur Cook in round 7 the 18th of July
Best win: Charles Shufford in May 2007
Other notable victims: Kendrick Releford, Damian Norris
Rounds: 10
Comments: Scott was an amateurstandout and got a good jab and fine movements. He’s what you call a safety-first fighter. He likes to outbox his opponents rather than mix it up and after seven years as a pro he hasn’t really stepped it up so it’s not only his style that is “safety-first”.


To be continued....

 

11 (-) Cedric Boswell
YOB: 1969
Country: USA
H-W: 6.3-225
Record: 28-0 (22)
Prodebut: 1994
Latest fight: Stopped Roman Greenberg in round 2 the 29th of August
Best win: Roman Greenberg
Rounds: 10
Comments: Boswell was mentioned as one of the brightest prospects on the horizon in the late 90:s and at the early 2000. In 2003 he was stopped by Jameel McCline in the 10th and final round in a fight that Boswell was winning handily until then. He has been rather inactive since, but showed when he “exposed” Roman Greenberg that he, despite his age, might be someone to keep in mind.

12 (21) Travis Walker
YOB: 1979
Country: USA (Houston)
H-W: 6.4-240
Record: 28-1-1 (22)
Prodebut: 2004
Latest: Stopped Wallace McDaniels in round 1 the 4th of September
Best win: Stopped T J Wilson in February
Other wins: Jason Estrada
Drew: Against fellow prospect Jason Gavern in September 2005
Loss: TJ Wilson in 2007
Rounds: 10
Comments: Walker a former topamateur with a win at the national Golden Gloves 2003 as the peak is a big guy with a big punch and decent skills. He surprised a lot of us when he won on points against the usually very fast and mobile Jason Estrada. The loss to TJ Wilson was of course a setback but it was a rather premature stoppage and in the rematch a much sharper Walker showed that the first fight was some kind of fluke.

13 (20) Jason Estrada
YOB: 1980
Country: USA (Rhode Island)
H-W: 6.1-240
Record: 14-1 (3)
Prodebut: 2004
Latest fight: Outpointed Domonic Jenkins the 29th of August
Best win: Lance Whitaker in April
Other wins: Charles Shufford in 2007
Loss: A close decision to Travis Walker in 2006
Rounds: 10
Comments: Estrada was heavily criticized for his lame performance in Athens 2004, but don’t forget that Estrada is probably the most successful American heavyweight since Riddick Bowe. He has also been matched rather tough so far too silence his critics, which also resulted in a close loss to fellow prospect Travis Walker. But he seems to have lost some weight since then and is faster in both hands and feet than most other heavyweights, so if you add his lack of power he might try to follow the footsteps of Chris Byrd. Frustrate your opponents with elusiveness and counterpunch them with fast and accurate punches. I doubt that Estrada can really match Byrds reflexes and upperbody movement, so Estradas key is to use his feet to become a elusive target.

14 (-) Ondrej Pala
YOB: 1984
Country: Czech
H-W: 6.3-235
Record: 20-2 (16)
Prodebut: 2005
Latest: Outpointed Henry Akinwande the 4th of July
Best win: Henry Akinwande
Other wins: Arthur Cook
Losses: Rene Dettweiler (very controversial) and Denis Boytsov on cuts in 2006
Rounds: 8
Comments: Pala is a decent allroundboxer who both can box and slug. Gave Boytsov his toughest fight so far until the fight was stopped on cuts and he has been doing some fine results since then with the decission over “Huggin’ Henry” as the peak. Pala might be a “sleeper” on the european scene.

15 (40) Darrel Madison
YOB: 1977
Country: USA (New York)
H-W: 6.2-245
Record: 11-1 (3)
Prodebut: 2006
Latest: Outpointed Elfair McKnight the 26th of September
Loss: On dsq (not a dsq that hurt a young prospects career)
Best win: Outpointed Zuri Lawrence in May.
Rounds: 8
Comments: Madison is a stocky heavyweight who became top5 in USA and a New York Golden Gloves-winner as an amateur. He’s a southpaw who has moved down in weight and has become both sharper and slicker the last year. His only loss was a questionable disqualification in a fight he was winning and he stepped up alot in competition when he beat the tricky veteran Zuri Lawrence.

16 (28) Steffen Kretschmann
YOB: 1980
Country: Germany
H-W: 6.5-235
Record: 12-0 (11)
Prodebut: 2006
Latest: Stopped Otis Tisdale in round 5 the 12th of September
Best win: Outpointed Corey Sanders in October 2007
Rounds: 8
Comments: Kretschman was a good amateur with a WC-bronze 2003 on his record for example. He’s a good technical boxer with decent power.

17 (93) Alexander Ustinov
YOB: 1976
Country: Ukraine
H-W: 6.8-300
Record: 13-0 (11)
Prodebut: 2005
Latest: Stopped Julius Long in round 1 the 11th of October
Best win: Outpointed Rudolf Abramyan in May
Rounds: 8
Comments: A huge powerpuncher who arrived from the K1-scene and looks a little like a rawer and wilder version of Vitali Klitschko.

18 (16) Oleg Platov
YOB: 1983
Country: Ukraine
W: 220
Record: 26-1 (22)
Prodebut: 2001
Latest: A NC against Danny Williams the 8th of December
Best win: Henry Akinwande
Loss: Ludomir Mace in 2002 (which he avenged)
Rounds: 12
Comments: Platov is more unknown than a couple of his friends from the east, but he’s been began to make some noise lately even if not much is written about him. He’s more of a puncher than a boxer and someone called him an Ukrainian Samuel Peter. His victory (even if it was close) over Akinwande can’t be denied and he also stopped Canadian Stephane Tessier, one of the few who have last the distance against Povetkin. Platovs 2007 hasn’t been so successful as 2006 and the NC against Danny Williams was a rather flattering result for Platov, cause he was in big trouble when the doctor stopped it.

19 (34) Carlos Takam
YOB: 1980
Country: Cameroon
H-W: 6.2-235
Record: 17-0 (13)
Prodebut: 2005
Latest: Stopped Humberto Evora in round 2 the 18th of December
Best Win: Stopped Daniel Bispo in June
Rounds: 6
Comments: Takam represented Cameroon in Athens 2004 where he lost to finalist Mohamed Aly. He also became the African amateurchamp in 2003 and 2004. Also impressive to beat the previously unbeaten Zinidine Benmakhouf in his debut in December 2005. Takam is a technical sound heavyweight with good allroundskills who needs to step up the competition a little. It seems that all heavyweight boxers in France suffers from lack of decent competition.

20 (23) Sebastian Kober
YOB: 1979
Country: Germany
H-W: 6.3-235
Record: 16-0 (11)
Prodebut: 2006
Latest: Outpointed Viktor Szalai the 27th of September
Rounds: 8
Comments: Kober is a good allroundboxer who was among the best amateurs in the world for a couple of years until he turned pro. His chin might be his weak spot as he showed some times at the amateurs.