I'm talking guys who are on the cusp of moving from prospect to contender... Not impressed: Shawn Porter Fernando Guerrero Demetrius Andrade Deontay Wilder Lateef Kayode Impressed: James Degale Gennady Golovkin David lemieux Mikey Garcia Frankie Gavin Edwin Rodriguez Questionable: Matt Korobov G. Rigondeaux (all relative in the case of this guy, he's still good enough to pick up a few titles) George Groves Danny Garcia Marcus Johnson
Impressed by DeGale, Korobov, Lemieux, Gavin, Dallas. Not impressed by Groves, Mike Jones or the Walsh brothers
I'd like to get round to seeing this Benavidez kid who used to train at Wild Card. Roach was singing his praises and he got a big write up in Boxing Monthly
I'm going to see Rigondeaux is a few weeks. I like Frankie Gavin, that kid has potential. Not impressed; At this point I dont think Floyd is gonna come good..
Casey is a sacrificial lamb in that one, Im afraid. McCloskey potentially has a better chance though.
Yeah Gavin's pretty good. He'll flit around world class pretty soon. He's not a potential p4p type like De Gale or Rigondeaux though
I'm not sold on DeGale's p4p potential. I don't like his defense or the way he rests his lead hand on his hip or the sloppiness that creeps into his technique. We'll see what he shows when he starts taking on better opposition, whether he tightens it up a bit...if he does, there might really be something there.
A 9 fight novice will always be somewhat sloppy in certain areas, however if you look at the transition from his debut to where he is now it's ridiculous. The improvements will keep on coming. DeGale is Quick, Powerful and Relentless
I understand he's early in his career and has improved - every prospect should - and that he could improve more, which is why I left the door open for him to tighten things up. But I don't know that he will, or to what extent, and I wouldn't put his potential at p4p until he does.
Agree on both counts. Casey is a lamb for slaughter, I think Paul has a great opportunity coming up..
Khan-McCloskey interests me more and more as I see more of Paul. He's a far more technically versed fighter than Khan. I don't know that that's enough to overcome the huge gulf in physical talent but I sincerely hope it is. I'd love to see a blow struck for the craft of boxing versus 'leap amateurism' and another good fenian man as world champ beside Ricky Burns. For the record, my pick is Khan, but I think McCloskey is a better fighter than people realise. If he still counts as a 'prospect' at this stage add him to the small list who impress me.
Korobov was in the ring over the weekend...highlights of his short night against recognizable journeyman Michael Walker. <object width="480" height="301" id="embed" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://www.toprank.com/mediaPortal/embed.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashVars" value="catid=5808&id=759321&img=http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics32/640/US/USFJYAMVCKJFQPX.20110313014649.jpg&server=http://www.toprank.com/XML/titanv3/&pageurl=http://www.toprank.com/mediaPortal/&jtv=23700&skin=23700&gaa=UA-851411-6&sitename=jtvs.23700.toprankboxing&nlwa=http://track1.neulion.com/jtvsp/23700/" /><embed name="embed" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.toprank.com/mediaPortal/embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="301" quality="high" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashVars="catid=5808&id=759321&img=http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics32/640/US/USFJYAMVCKJFQPX.20110313014649.jpg&server=http://www.toprank.com/XML/titanv3/&pageurl=http://www.toprank.com/mediaPortal/&jtv=23700&skin=23700&gaa=UA-851411-6&sitename=jtvs.23700.toprankboxing&nlwa=http://track1.neulion.com/jtvsp/23700/"></embed></object>
Cookys cousin fought too against some French le bum, as a tune up for Groves. Didn't prove much as the guy was shit, but as always Chunky looked sharp and pulled out some beautiful shots. Loving the uppercuts. Speaking of Groves by the way, he is sparring with Dirrell as preparation for DeGale
De Gale's gotta work on his concentration. He got caught with 2 or3 flush shots, which against a guy with a losing record shouldn't be happening. But watching De Gale fight close up in person was a highlight of the year so far for your Hut*Hut. The footwork alone was worth ticket price.
Yea agreed, DeGale said the same actually. Was waiting to hear your opinion on this one actually as I knew you were there. I think as he said he didn't have much respect for the guys power so got a bit sloppy. I would be VERY surprised if he gets hit flush with anything against Groves.
I saw him once, but the guy he fought didn't tell me anything. the kid who fought on the Charles Hatley undercard...I want to see more of him.
he looked like a kid who knows the fundamentals...jab, right hand etc...but the guy he fought was such a bum it's difficult to say.
That was my perception. He was treating it like a half assed sparring session. Can't really blame him, it was a nothing fight. And I APPLAUD HIM for taking it and keeping busy. 2 fights in a month, 1951 style! :bears:
Exactly, people are pushing way too hard for him to be a bona-fide prospect. But he's a teenager with a year or so of pro experience who's being matched... like he's a teenager who has been a pro for a year or so. Long way to go.
Slightly off-topic, but it is my firm belief that Darren Sutherland would have kicked the proverbials out of Groves and Chunky on the same night.
Groves most certainly, Chunky no. I will say this though, at the very start of each of their careers, Sutherland definitely looked the part of a professional more than the other two. The improvements DeGale has shown since Sutherland died have been spectacular, it's a shame we never got to see how Sutherlands progression would have gone
