The Future Of Boxing After Mayweather & Pacquiao
It’s no secret boxing has been fighting with its back on the ropes for the past couple of years. With one megafight left to be made between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, one has to wonder if this will be the end of boxing as we know it. Although there are no fighters out there with the immediate impact of a Mayweather or a Pacquiao, there are five boxers who could take boxing off of the expected life support it will be on should Pacquiao vs Mayweather take place this November. Names such as Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Andre Berto and Chad Dawson have been left off the list purposefully because they are already on their way. The list below contains boxers who are, perhaps, one or two fights away from being world renowned.
Juan Manuel Lopez
Record: 29-0 (26 KOs)
Weight Class: Featherweight
Notable Wins: Bernebe Concepcion (KO 2), Daniel Ponce de Leon (TKO 1), Steve Luevano (TKO 7)
Why: Juan Manuel Lopez is a devastating puncher with a flair for the exciting. His recent action packed TKO victory against Filipino Bernabe Concepcion showed just how entertaining Lopez can be. He put Concepcion down three times (Concepcion had never been down before the Lopez fight) and found himself on his backside in the first round before the fight ended. With a massive Puerto Rican fan base and a knockout ratio that almost certainly provides fans with a brutal finish, Lopez could be the next big star boxing needs. An upcoming bout with Rafael Marquez in September could really put him on the map.
Yuriokis Gamboa
Record: 18-0 (15 KOs)
Weight Class: Featherweight
Notable Wins: Al Seeger ( TKO 1), Rogers Mtagwa (TKO 2), Marcos Ramirez (KO 2)
Why: Like Lopez, Gamboa is a brilliant finisher who delivers all action bouts whenever he fights. The Cuban import is lightning fast, carries sledgehammers in both hands and fights with a crowd pleasing style that is reminiscent of Roy Jones Jr and Prince Naseem Hamed. His sometimes reckless abandon has put him on his backside in the past, but if you’ve ever witnessed Gamboa flatlining the likes of Al Seeger or Rogers Mtagwa (who gave Lopez a very difficult time) you’ll understand this is certainly a diamond in the rough. With both he and Lopez in the same division, a highly anticipated clash could materialize by late 2011.
Andre Ward
Record: 22-0 (13 KOs)
Weight Class: Super Middleweight
Notable Wins: Mikkel Kessler (Technical Decision 11), Allan Green (UD 12), Edison Miranda (UD 12)
Why: Although he isn’t as devastating a puncher as Lopez or Gamboa, Ward has possibly the best technical skill of the bunch. The 2004 Summer Olympics Gold Medalist has been nothing less than stellar since turning pro in 2004. As a member of Showtime’s Super 6 tournament, Ward has a hefty task of taking on the best the Super Middleweight division has to offer (sans Lucian Bute). Thus far, he’s been completely dominant and now holds the WBA Super Middleweight title. The sky is certainly the limit for Ward.
Timothy Bradley
Record: 25-0 (11 KOs)
Weight Class: Junior Welterweight
Notable Wins: Lamont Peterson (UD 12), Kendall Holt (UD 12), Junior Witter (SD 12)
Why: Timothy Bradley is as tough as they come. He’s willing to fight anyone at any time. At one time Bradley was considered an underdog, but with poundings handed to Peterson, Holt and Witter, Bradley is looking like the leader of the Jr. Welterweight division. It also helps that his division is loaded with talent.
Devon Alexander
Record: 20-0 (13 KOs)
Weight Class: Junior Welterweight
Notable Wins: Juan Urango (TKO 8), Junior Witter (RTD 8), DeMarcus Corley (UD 12)
Why: The kid from St. Louis may not yet be known, but the skill he possesses could thrust him to a huge showdown with Timothy Bradley in 2011. He was known as a slick boxer earlier in his career, but became a finisher in his last five bouts, capping it off with a devastating knockout of the durable Juan Urango earlier this year. Again, being in a loaded 140lbs division can only help build his portfolio.
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[...] The Future Of Boxing After Mayweather & Pacquiao » It’s no secret boxing has been fighting with its back on the ropes for the past couple of years. With one megafight left to be made between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, one has to wonder if this will be the end of boxing as we know it. Although there are no fighters out there with the immediate impact of a Mayweather or a Pacquiao, there are five boxers who could take boxing off of the expected life support it will be on should Pacquiao vs Mayweather take place this November… Andreas Hale, live.drjays.com [...]
Am, I need to correct your title, ” What would happen to Boxing if Pacquiao retires”…..Answer : People will make MMA as number one.
Boxing almost died even with or without Floyd.
[...] The Future Of Boxing After Mayweather & Pacquiao [...]
Why is Timothey Bradley on this list?
The greatest opponent he has faced is junior witter (an over-rated untested brit). He also appeared to be losing after two rounds with nate campbell. He doesn’t belong at the top of the jr.welterweight division and i think he know this.
There are three guys that are more deserving at jr. welter alone (marcos maidana, amir khan, and victor ortiz). Timothey Bradley is NOT an upper echelon fight as are J.M. Lopez, Chris John, Andre Ward, and potentially Gamboa, and Alexander.
People are trying to throw his name in to the mix with all the wrong fighters. Before we’re going to say bradley is the man at 140 then he has to get at least one of the top prospects at his weight (Khan, Maidana, Ortiz).
Yeah, he do well.
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I love seeing boxing on a relatively mainstream website. I’m digging the list, and it’s cool that those four guys represent two weight classes, so we ought to see Bradley/Alexander and Gamboa/JuanMa in the next year. (Gamboa is going to make Lopez look silly, btw.)
At 27, I think you can count Bad Chad and Donaire as still having their best ahead of them as well. I don’t really care for Khan, but you can probably add him to the list of future superstars, too.
PS Bradley doesn’t exactly seem to be willing to fight anyone at the moment, as Alexander has really been pushing for a fight and Bradley thinks that fighting Abregu at welter is a better choice.
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