whos boxing's next big draw?

Here are the guys who seem to be in the best position to step up into stardom if they can get the wins to back it up and continue on the paths they're on:

Saul Alvarez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Amir Khan - Exciting styles, big ethnic and/or foreign fanbases, powerful promoters.

Devon Alexander, Andre Ward, Timothy Bradley - Great back stories, masterful boxers, humble individuals who are well spoken

David Haye - glamour division, huge talker, excellent self-promoter (though I doubt he'll continue on for long enough to actually get there)

Arthur Abraham - Already a huge star overseas, obviously working hard at learning English, has the knockout power people like to see, finally getting major US exposure, and is at a weight where there are a lot of potential huge fights with big names if he wins the Super Six

Guys I don't see it happening for:

Edwin Valero (No English, cocky attitude, bad politics. Maybe if he can turn himself into a full blown heel.)

Kelly Pavlik (If he had shut his mouth, maybe, but after the Hopkins beatdown, a couple of low profile years and a lot of bad press, I just don't see it)

Paul Williams (He just hasn't been capturing the imagination of anyone outside of hardcore boxing fans, and there aren't many big fights he can make without getting too high in weight)

Chad Dawson, Danny Jacobs (Not exciting enough inside the ring or out)

I'm on the fence about Andre Berto. His personality makes him a longer shot than the Ward/Alexander/Bradley group, but he's also a better self-promoter than those folks, and he's more likely to be able to piggyback a career off of beating a big name.

I'm also on the fence about Gamboa. He might be the most exciting fighter on the planet, but he would need to learn English, and it's an uphill battle for a featherweight to build up a huge fan base.

James Kirkland could still get there too. He doesn't have the best personality in the world, but he's someone who's promoted as a mean SOB, so I don't know that his surly attitude and criminal record will hurt him. He's really awful in front of a camera though.

 

Yuriorkis Gamboa

 

Alexander and Ward.

Everyone is too boring

 

Alexander will reach household status eventually. It will take years but he will be big time.

 

Probably 4 of the 10 biggest draws in the world right now are "boring" fighters (Mayweather, Hopkins, W. Klit and V. Klit). It really depends on how things play out. A boring fighter can still become a huge name if they can get people to recognize their mastery.

 

Rodrigo Garcia and Andre Ward

 

Hilarious ...most of your comments are based around whether a fighter speaks english or not. This may be true but how ****ing narrow minded...i say this as an Englishman.

 

its the truth though and that may well be the problem

 

Very good question and hard to predict. The names that immediately came to mind were Gamboa and Ward, but it's not a sure thing. Just because I believe they will do some very big things careerwise doesn't mean that will translate into media superstardom. Boxing is in a peculiar predicament: No matter how hardcore we are as fans, we have to realize that boxing is no longer a mainstream sport. Much of its modern appeal comes with the fact that it is such a historic sport. That said, the fighter and his promoter must work to ensure that he becomes a fixture in the mainstream even though his sport is not. Right now I don't know anyone outside of Pac and May who are building up their mainstream status, so it's almost impossible to tell.

To be frank, the earthquake in Haiti could end up being the biggest media/career boost to Andre Berto's career if he and his team channel it correctly.

 

andre ward if he stops thanking god every 30 seconds, gamboa and valero if they learn english, deontay wilder if he actually lives up to the hopes people have for him, and devon alexander if he can beat the guys he calls out and maintains that exciting reflex based counter punching style.

 

yep

 

I agree with a bunch of the above.
Gamboa definitely has star quality. It would help him if he'd learn English. HBO would love to promote the crap out of him.

I personally love Paul Williams. But, I think his promoters have hurt him by not building up a fan base anywhere for him. Its hurting him at the box office. Its hurting his purses. Its almost too late at this point to build up a regional fan base for him. He is past the point of early in your career, fighting often, and in the same spot. Now to satisfy his purse demands he goes to the highest bidder.

If Kirkland comes back strong, I think he will be. He and Ann Wolfe together are a great story/team.

I haven't seen anyone mention Anthony Peterson yet. I think he could be the goods. Great back story. Exciting style. MOreso than his brother. I think Arum is blowing it, though, by not keeping him busy enough (the knee injury doesn't explain all of it) and building up his base in the D.C. area. But, I think he looks good against Soto if that fight happens and takes the next step.

 

The cubans, Gamboa

 

Lara and Gamboa? Yes

Lara could be a big draw. I like him a lot. And I know Brewer was a step up, but, I think he has looked good due to the level of his comp so far. I think as he steps it up he is going to be less exciting and even more of a counterpuncher.

Rigondeaux? No. I could be way off, but, I just don't see it.

 

Can Valuev and Pac Man get it on before Manny retires? Personally, I think Ward is a big part of boxing's future. He's going to walk away well know when the Super Six is over while Dirrell is going to probably be retired or making occasional appearances on FNF while his career stays stalled. Maybe Andre can join Ward's entourage after he gets his ass beat by his Olympic friend.