make your predictions for a fighter than will have a major break out in 2009 and a prediction for a fighter that will lose and fall off the map.
Boom:
Andre Dirrell- Nobody seems ready to fight each other at 168, Dirrell is ranked #1 by the WBO, #6 by the WBC, #11 by the WBA and #9 by the IBF. I favor Dirrell to defeat Balzsay, Froch or Bute but not Kessler. If he lands a title shot in 2009 he will beat these guys in exciting fashion.
Bust:
Andre Berto- When this year is over he will be without a belt and have a knockout loss on his record. I am picking Collazo to beat him but if Collazo doesen't rest assured that someone else will before the end of 09.
Boom: Alex Dimitrenko. This kid is fundamentally sound, has decent power, and is not afraid to 'mix it up' a bit. Provided he gets matched against some good opponents, I think 2009 could be a breakout year for him.
Bust: John Duddy. Duddy was being touted as the next best thing in the mw division about the same time last year. Since then, he took a brutal beating from virtual unknown journeyman Walid Smitchet and hasn't done much since. I think if he steps up the level of competition he'll be KO'd in grand fashion...
Boom: Jorge Linares, needs to have more fights though, maybe even move back down to featherweight.
Bust: Antonio Margarito, given his hype I thought he would be the next Nigel Benn, (they fight somewhat familiar) but his skills are nowhere near Nigel Benn's. He'll lose to a slick boxer most definitely.
Carl Froch: Overrated as hell, just like Margarito, but sucks even more as a boxer. Good chin though.
Those are my two top picks as well, but
Boom: Victor Ortiz. He'll get the IBF belt by the end of the year. He'll take on Harris, chin check him. Then he'll manage beating Ngodujo and he'll end the year with a soft defense (Gavin Rees?).
Bust: Bernarbe Conception. I'm not impressed with this guy at all. If he gets a title shot, he loses.
I'll bump this post at the end of '09 :lol1:
BOOM: JUAN MA LOPEZ
-a very good prospect....I think he will hit BIG this year...exciting reminds me alot of FELIX TITO TRINIDAD.
BUST: MARGARITO
-he is still good but the SHANE MOSLEY, MIGUEL COTTO, and probably PBF or PWILL or even PAC, is a tough schedule....If he loses to one of these fights it will lessen his marketability and tarnish his invincibility....
agree with both
Boom:
David Haye - I know he seems an obvious 'bust' candidate with that chin of his, but I think he is going to pull off a shock against Wladimir Klitschko. Not saying it will last, but I think he will have his moment.
Victor Ortiz - Will claim an alphabet belt in some style. Potentially a crossover star because of his style and personality.
Andre Dirrell - Has a huge amount of talent and I fancy him to beat either Karoly Balzsay or Carl Froch should he get a chance against them. His management should be smart and not throw him in against Kessler or Bute just yet though. Dirrell needs time to adjust to the top level.
Bust:
Carl Froch - Has a very limited amount of talent and will be exposed by Kessler for sure and Taylor, provided Taylor comes into the fight in good shape.
Wladimir Klitschko - I've got to back up my 'boom' for Haye with a 'bust' for Klitschko. I don't fancy the chances of his chin standing up to the power Haye is bringing.
Antonio Margarito - I think he loses to a talented boxer eight times out of ten because of his very limited defence. His only option is to stop them. I'm backing Mosley to win a close decision provided Mosley doesn't get overly macho like he has in the past. If not Mosley, I fancy Cotto in a rematch with the right tactics.
Boom: Gamboa wins a title and looks great doing so, Juanma continues to get 1st round KO's, Cotto bounces back, Kessler goes back to fighting live opposition.
Bust: Juarez loses again, Froch loses to the first world class fighter, Holt gets beaten up by Bradley.