Write up on the Cruiserweights, currently boxing's best division?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, May 14, 2012.


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  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    http://www.boxing.com/the_cruiserweights_stacked.html


    Suddenly, the cruiserweight division looks red hot.

    One result can do that to a division, and so it was for the 200-pounders when Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi turned in a Fight of the Year candidate in Germany last weekend, producing a stunning 12-round draw. As soon as the final bell rang the pack had to be reshuffled to accommodate first of all Afolabi, an unexpected hero and newly anointed top man behind his outstanding display, but also Marco Huck, who had seemed bound for the heavyweights but who may now find that he is bound instead to his WBO cruiserweight title.

    Perhaps of all the divisions cruiserweight was most in need of and least likely to receive such a boost. Boxing’s least favorite stepchild, the cruiserweight division has the most difficult history to unpick, its identity undermined by the British habit of referring to the light heavyweights under that name as late as the 1970s and by the original weight limit being pegged at 190 lbs. and only later being moved to the current roof of 200 lbs. It can hardly be a surprise that the first ever title fight made under the cruiserweight banner ended in a draw, fought between the unheralded Mate Parlov and Marvin Camel in December of 1979. The division comes with all the negatives associated with huge size, the relative slowness of hand and foot, the terrible drag on stamina such a huge frame imposes on a fighter, the inherent nervousness seen between fighters who understand each can end the fight with a single blow and the inevitable drain on talent from the big bucks on offer in the weight division above—a but it has never enjoyed the associated glamour that the heavyweights enjoy. Big, but not the biggest, cruiserweight is and was and will continue to be a division without a true identity.

    But these are high times. Cruiserweight may be the best division in boxing right now. It is stuffed with talent, punchers and prospects. Whether or not these men will get to settle the argument concerning which of them is best or unify a hopelessly fractured title is a question as open for debate as the question of which results the fights themselves would produce, but that is not a question we are going to explore here. What we’re going to do here is admire the talent on offer, working our way through my personal choice for the division’s top five; who they are, what they can do, how they might do against one another and then sneak a peek at the men hovering just below them.
     
    McGrain, May 14, 2012
    McGrain, May 14, 2012
    #1
  2. benner

    benner Active Member Full Member

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    There is plenty of entertainment value because most of the top dogs have plenty of defensive flaws.
    But if you go P4P then no. At least i dont think so.
     
    benner, May 14, 2012
    benner, May 14, 2012
    #2
  3. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Huck is swell. He's so clever, he can make opponents hit themselves.

    This content is protected
     
    Boxed Ears, May 14, 2012
    Boxed Ears, May 14, 2012
    #3
  4. Tyler-Durden

    Tyler-Durden Boxing Junkie banned

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    thanks to his body smell :deal:deal
     
    Tyler-Durden, May 14, 2012
    Tyler-Durden, May 14, 2012
    #4
  5. qwert

    qwert Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It's definitely one of the most entertaining and competitive divisions in boxing right now. But as benner said, there isn't really any p4p talent there.
     
    qwert, May 14, 2012
    qwert, May 14, 2012
    #5
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, i agree with that. It's not a p4p type division, but the top 5 are all very evenly matched and the guys bubbling under aren't a million miles removed. There are a load of great fights there.


    Having said that, if Huck had beaten the #3 HW, where would he be p4p? I ask, because I had him a clear winner in that fight.
     
    McGrain, May 14, 2012
    McGrain, May 14, 2012
    #6
  7. Faerun

    Faerun Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Competitive? Yes. Highly skilled? Eh...

    It's an entertaining division no doubt. 154 is clearly more packed with talent though.
     
    Faerun, May 14, 2012
    Faerun, May 14, 2012
    #7
  8. SuperTed

    SuperTed Guest

    Yeah there's some interesting matchups but not GREAT matchups if you know what I mean. There's no superfights in the division.

    It all depends if the promoters actually want them to fight eachother though. I'd like to see Hernandez in with some of the others.
     
    SuperTed, May 14, 2012
    SuperTed, May 14, 2012
    #8
  9. Vysotsky

    Vysotsky Boxing Junkie banned

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    I made a thread a while ago saying its one of the most talent packed divisions. I dont get why people are apathetic towards CW's during the current era but it always seems afterwards they acknowledge it.

    Chakhkiev said he wants Huck. God i hope that happens.

    Also the 200lb division in the amateurs is one of the most talented divisions too. A couple should turn pro soon.
     
    Vysotsky, May 14, 2012
    Vysotsky, May 14, 2012
    #9
  10. Vysotsky

    Vysotsky Boxing Junkie banned

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    Angulo, Kirkland, Martirosyan, Bundrage p4p talents :lol: Lara and maybe Alvarez are the only guys with elite potential
     
    Vysotsky, May 14, 2012
    Vysotsky, May 14, 2012
    #10
  11. Faerun

    Faerun Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    - Mayweather
    - Cotto
    - Alvarez
    - Lara
    - Molina

    That's 5 boxers off the top of my head who are easily ahead of anyone P4P in the CW divison. What's your point?
     
    Faerun, May 14, 2012
    Faerun, May 14, 2012
    #11
  12. Vysotsky

    Vysotsky Boxing Junkie banned

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    McGrain check out Oleksandr Usyk who will turn pro after the Olympics P4P type skills, Mammadov is also very good and only 18

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV5fRrp85Vo[/ame]


    Announcer is wrong. Karneyeu stopped Artem Usyk, not Oleksandr.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArsK8ao5HYA[/ame]
     
    Vysotsky, May 14, 2012
    Vysotsky, May 14, 2012
    #12
  13. benner

    benner Active Member Full Member

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    I dont agree. Skill wise the 154 pounds division is miles ahead but there are a few good resumes that sneak up next to Alvarez, Lara and Molina.
    I used to think that Cunningham was one of the best fighters in the world. Not top 10 but close.
    Then you have Huck and Hernandez who have good resumes.
     
    benner, May 14, 2012
    benner, May 14, 2012
    #13
  14. Robney

    Robney ᴻᴼ ᴸᴼᴻᴳᴲᴿ ᴲ۷ᴵᴸ Full Member

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    The division isn't very good, but it is very compatitive.

    It's what a lot of people here wish how the heavyweight division should be, and it probably would have been without the Klits.
     
    Robney, May 14, 2012
    Robney, May 14, 2012
    #14
  15. Player3

    Player3 Active Player Full Member

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    There's not one fighter in the Cruiserweight division above B-level. Not one. Completely useless division that should be disbanded. The only purpose it serves is taking away in shape, well conditioned fighters from the Heavyweight division. Because that's basically what Cruiserweights are, IN SHAPE HEAVYWEIGHTS. One of boxing's many unnecessary catchweight divisions.
     
    Player3, May 14, 2012
    Player3, May 14, 2012
    #15
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