....What will the Light Heavyweight division look like? Keep mind this will probably be before Bernard Hopkins' retirement and also before the time period of Thomas Williams Jr, Trevor McCumby, and the other top 175lb prospects from the states. Cleverly, Kovalev, Stevenson, Cloud, and the other hype-machines will still be around, obviously. Guys like Chad Dawson will still be in limbo. Bonus: We all have witness the migration from Light Welterweight to Welter. With the exception of a few marquee names (Matthysse, Garcia, Judah), 147 has been left in a more mundane state than it was just 2 years ago. Will Ward, Froch, and maybe Kessler/Oosthuizen/Bute arise in the LHW division? :good
I'll let you know after the 17th I also doubt Froch will move up now - he's a career SMW who fights and walks at near the same weight. Wards been making noises and may very well move up if the money seems right, Kessler no, Bute no (give up his power?), Oosthuzien - hmm, let's see how he responds to the Gonzales draw - I wouldn't of thought he wants to be moving up for now, though I'm sure his frame would allow it. Dawson - we'll just have to see, Cloud / Stevenson should tell us if there's gonna be a real changing of the guard, and Hopkins? well who the fvck knows, but I struggle to see him lasting more than another year.
the winner of Cleverly vs Kovalev will rule the roost. don't see Adonis holding the top spot for long.
Check this similar thread out: http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=375187 --- I'll say one year from now: -Kovalev and Cleverly are both ranked, Kovalev in the top 3 -Hopkins will still be ranked in the top 10 -Dawson will also still be ranked in the top 10 -Ward, Froch, or some other notable 168 pounder will crack the top 10 (Edwin Rodriguez?) -Zsolt Erdei and Beibut Shumenov will both be ranked in the top 10 or whoever beats them will be ranked -Stevenson will not be the lineal champion I think most of the guys currently ranked will pretty much remain so.
I agree, Kovalev has a real shot on the 17th to put himself in front. It will be a great fight. I know a lot of people think Stevenson is hypejob, But i'm not sure. 1 punch ko power is rare nowdays, lets see what he does next, maybe some of you will be surprised/:think
