UK fighters world title chances in the next 12 months Part 2

Part 1 - [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240050[/url]


Super Middleweight

Carl Froch - WBC No.2, WBA No.9, IBF No.9, WBO No.1

On October 2nd Carl Froch gets his wish and fights Arthur Abraham in the neutral venue of Monico. The Abraham fight will be touch, its a real 50-50. Froch will have to use his size advantage and pull of his best performance since winning the title agaisnt Jean Pascal in 2008. Abraham can be outboxed if he sticks to the gameplan.

The winner moves on to the semi finals of Showtimes Super Six World Boxing Classic where a meeting with Andre Ward (WBA) or Mikkell Kessler (WBC) would be highly likley, that if of course if they get past Andre Dirrell or Allan Green. All of those fights would pretty much be 50/50s. Andre Ward is probably the toughest ask but we have seen him knocked down and hurt by lighter punchers than the Cobra. Some of the rough tactics that Ward uses may not work agaisnt someone as phyical as Carl Froch. A rematch with Kessler would be in the US (Super Six semi finals and final will be in the USA) and thats again a 50-50. Kessler won on most people card, but many agree that result could be over turned. A Dirrell re-match is probably the worst fight for Carl. He gave him hell last time, and if he gets his tactics right with US judges it will be a tough night for Froch, however there must have been a reason why Dirrell never trully went for it and Froch has the power to trouble anyone. With Allan Green, Forch would always be the favourite, its a fight most UK fans would have confidence in Froch to win.

If he comes out of the Super Six with another loss to Abraham, theres a potental fight with Lucian Bute (IBF) which is a a fight HBO would like. Frochs exciting style seems to have won over the US fans and the canadian know him well from his fights with Jean Pascal who is the current WBC champion at Light Heavyweight which could also be an option. His high ranking could get him in with Robert Steilgritz (WBO) and if Nathan Cleverly picks up a title at 175lbs, don't rule out a fight between the two in 2011.

Chances of a title shot - 50%
Chances of winning - 50%


Brian Magee - WBC No.5, WBA No.4, IBF No.13, WBO No.11

The Belfast man picked up the European title in early 2010 with an impressive win over the highly rated Mads Larsen in Denmark. It has given him a high ranking with with all 4 governing bodies. With many of the top stars at 168lbs involved in the Super Six, it has left the other title holders treading water. There have been rumours that Lucian Bute (IBF) offered a fight to Magee which was turned down, perhaps his team are looking at easiar options in Robert Steilgrtiz (WBO) or Dimitry Sartison (WBA regular) which would both be winnable fights for Magee who has proved he can perform on the road.

His next fight is expected to be a mandatory European title defence agaisnt Stas Kashtnov who is ranked No.9 by the WBO.

Chances of a title shot - 20%
Chances of winning - 30%


Paul Smith - WBC No.10, WBO No.5

British champion Paul Smith's career seems to have been picking up steam in the past year. Wins over fellow scousers have made him a popular figure in Liverpool where he can sell 7,000+ tickets. Promoter Frank Warren will look to bring big fights there and than could mean a fight with Robert Steilgritz (WBO) before the summer in 2011. He is actually the highest avalible contender for that title as the 4 fighters ranked above him are in the Super Six or invovled in matches for other belts.

His next fight is a bit of a dud in a defence of his British title against Darren McDermott, but it could be a fight to make Smith look good after two tough ones while they wait for Steilgritz to become avalible. His team were chasing a fight with European Champion Magee, it could easially be ordered as an eliminator by the WBO before the year is out.

With his brothers Stephen and Liam pushing for domestic titles along with other liverpool fighters like Tony Bellew and John Watson, perhaps a major fight card at Anfield or Goodison Park could happen.

Chances of a title shot - 20%
Chances of winning - 20%


Middleweight

Matthew Macklin - WBC No.7, WBA No.7, IBF No.6, WBO No.10

Despite not having a fight this year, Macklins achievments from 2009 have put him in a good position. He won the Irish, British and European titles (now vacated) and has gained a top 10 ranking with all 4 governing bodies. Promotional problems have slowed his progress down but it appears he is close to signing a deal with Frank Warren who could certainly deliver a title fight for Macklin. Sergio Martinez (WBC) would be a tough ask and he probably has bigger fights in the pipeline, but you would fancy Macklins chances with germans Felix Sturm (WBA) and Sebastian Sylvester (IBF) especially if they were able to get those fights in Birmingham or Ireland. A fight with the winner of Danny Jacobs vs Dmitry Pirog (WBO) would also be a fight Macklin could win.

Middleweight is an up and coming division and eliminators will be as tough as some title fights. His next fight is up agaisnt British and European champion, his main domestic rival Darren Barker.

Chances of a title shot - 40%
Chances of winning - 40%


Darren Barker - WBC No.15

Barker has been on the trail of Matthew Macklin for a long time. The fight was set for September last year in London when Macklin pulled out to go for the European title. Since then Barker has picked up the British and European vacated by his rival.

He didn't look impressie in his last fight but he will be up for the Macklin fight which is a real 50-50. Some think Barker can outbox Macklin over the 12 while other beleive Macklin is to tough for Barker who has never faced anyone paticularly great. The fight being in Birmingham probably gives the edge to Macklin.

A win will make him one of the leading fighters in the country and he will take Macklin's top 10 rankings with him nack to the capital. Kievin Mitchell seems to have fallen away, David Hayes major fights may take place outside of the UK, and Chisora and DeGale are not quite ready and don't really shift them, so a big ticket seller like Barker could get allot of backing in London if he wins impresivley agasint Macklin.

Chances of a title shot - 30%
Chances of winning - 30%


Light Middleweight

Ryan Rhodes - WBC No.3, IBF No.4

The comeback trail of the Ryan Rhodes is a great story. His career look over until 2008 when he won the British title with a KO win over Gary Woolcombe. Since then he has picked up several good wins agaisnt world ranked opponents in Vuma and Messi. The best of those wins came last year when he upset and stopped domestic rival Jamie Moore in a fantastic fight for the European title. It was the highlight so far of Rhodes career, which has seen him lose twice in world title fights at Middleweight, while remaining undefeated at his natural weight of 154lbs.

In terms of getting a title fight, its looking tough for the sheffield man. The WBC title is vacant, but theres a host of star names ahead of him in the rankings. Antonio Margorito is being lined up for a fight agaisnt Manny Pacquiao for the vacant belt, with Mexican Alfredo Angulo waiting in the wings to challenge Margorito for the belt if the Pacman fight doesn't come off.

The more likley route could be going for a fight with Cory Spinks (IBF) who defends his title agaisnt mandatory challanger Cornelius Bundgrage in August. Rhodes next opponent is Lukas Koneckny in a mandatory European title defence on September 18th. Koneckny is ranked No.9 with the IBF so a win will put Rhodes in a good position. His promoters should really be looking for a final eliminator for one of the belts at that point. i get the feeling it could be a frustrating rate for the Spice Boy.

Chances of a title shot - 30%
Chances of winning - 30%


Later this month.......Kell Brook, Michael Jennings, Matthew Hatton, Junior Witter, Ajose Oleguseun, Paul McCloskey, John Murray, Kevin Mitchell, Ricky Burns, Rendall Munroe, Jason Booth and Lee Haskins.