When I hear prospect, I usually prepare myself for a letdown, because they almost universally have some giant gaping flaw in their game.
However, once in a while, I see one, that just makes me think... my god, who is going to beat this guy, even on the top level?
The first one I saw was the very first boxing card I watched live on TV... Chad Dawson's win over Tomasz Adamek... I guess you could say his chin was a little suspect, as he got dropped, but he didn't have an awful defense or something like that... I didn't see that guy losing for a while after that fight.
Most recently though, Brad Solomon comes to mind. That guy has every aspect of the game in his arsenal, minus power... but oh well, since when do you need power to win? The guy is so fast, uses angles extremely well and has solid technical skills. I really don't know how is going to get the best of this guy, and I truly predict to see him on the P4P lists in a few year.
My #1 prospect is still Matt Korobov. Technically he's great, gots the basics down solid, plus he's very atheletic and intelligent in the ring. I see him having a long succesful career.
Other notables:
Sadam Ali
James DeGale
Frankie Gavin
Alfonso Blanco (Insane body puncher)
Frankie Gomez
Jose Benavidez
Just a few off the top of my head.
not sold on Ali to be honest
Blanco is a HUGE 154lb fighter. He fought on Canelo's card and that is one big dude
Gomez is up in Big Bear with Abel Sanchez (Antillon's trainer)
I understand, me, I don't like to jump on anyone's bandwagon unless their heart has been tested, hopefully we see Solomon soon and against a good opponent too. Guys should avoid Demetrius Hopkins :nonono:
hell even Hopkins own manager is trying to avoid him :nonono:
I like Solomon alot, was at the fight with Hopkins and came away pretty impressed. I'm looking forward to seeing his progression as he steps up in competition.
After seeing Ismayl Sillakh's destruction of Despaigne a few weeks ago, he strikes me as a can't miss prospect that alot of light heavyweights better get ready for.
I have not seen Solomon at all so I need to catch up on that. Sillahk (The Black Russian?) is the complete package. Hopefully he goes up weight and challenges bigger guys.
if it was just Hopkins then yeah I could say gameplan played a part in it
but I have seen a few of his fights and that's the way he fights. The Galarza fight he was the same.
His talent is impressive but again I am not that over the top the way TS is
I understand, me, I don't like to jump on anyone's bandwagon unless their heart has been tested, hopefully we see Solomon soon and against a good opponent too. Guys should avoid Demetrius Hopkins :nonono:
What about James Degale?? i am not on Dwyers level thinking he can beat Dirrel, Bute, Kessler ATM!!! :nonono: But in a few years he can be a top fighter imo
I haven't seen him... I'll make sure to tune in if/when he fights George Groves, because I have heard that really is a fight that can't be missed, even though it's just two prospects going at it.
I like Solomon alot, was at the fight with Hopkins and came away pretty impressed. I'm looking forward to seeing his progression as he steps up in competition.
After seeing Ismayl Sillakh's destruction of Despaigne a few weeks ago, he strikes me as a can't miss prospect that alot of light heavyweights better get ready for.
Good call on Syllakh... that guy made a Cuban look useless boxing on the outside... not the easiest thing to do.
He really does look like a wrecking force for the future of the light heavyweight division.
Demetrius is so negative, it's very hard to look good against the guy because he doesn't really engage, or even work from the outside, so Solomon took the right approach even if it meant lookin' amateurish and leaving himself open.
if it was just Hopkins then yeah I could say gameplan played a part in it
but I have seen a few of his fights and that's the way he fights. The Galarza fight he was the same.
His talent is impressive but again I am not that over the top the way TS is
I like Solomon alot, was at the fight with Hopkins and came away pretty impressed. I'm looking forward to seeing his progression as he steps up in competition.
After seeing Ismayl Sillakh's destruction of Despaigne a few weeks ago, he strikes me as a can't miss prospect that alot of light heavyweights better get ready for.
For sure... I side with being overly critical as well. This is the second guy in four years that I have been this excited about.
It's also true that time tells... who would have thought the prospect named Carl Froch would have ever amounted to anything? :lol1:
True enough, I have no issue with differing views because there would never be another side of a bet if people didn't have different views. Solomon certainly has talent, can't deny that.
LoL, that is true also it is all about how a guy continues to develop.
I saw him get hit by nice overhand rights whenever Hopkins did try and work. Add to that the occasional snapping jab and to me he got hit plenty. Hopkins problem has always been his problem in that he simply doesn't do enough.
and if he is indeed a notch below world class level then yes guys like Soloman SHOULD win with some ease considering Hopkins style is one where you impose your style and he tries to upset that.
again he is good but not the over the top way you are describing him
Demetrius is so negative, it's very hard to look good against the guy because he doesn't really engage, or even work from the outside, so Solomon took the right approach even if it meant lookin' amateurish and leaving himself open.
That is true, but everyone has flaws even if they are not amazingly obvious. When I watch prospects or unproven guys that is always what I look for, because it is so easy to get blinded by positives. Then as they go forward I watch how they deal with those flaws.
Sometimes there are amazing guys though but to me it is just so hard to separate them until further down the road, but then again I like to be patient with my views.
Also I like being right and knowing that most prospects will not make it, I side with being overly critical, but once a guy proves himself to me it take a lot for me to really change my views.
For sure... I side with being overly critical as well. This is the second guy in four years that I have been this excited about.
It's also true that time tells... who would have thought the prospect named Carl Froch would have ever amounted to anything? :lol1:
I was also impressed with Solomon, especially his infighting, during the clinches Hopkins ate alot of punches to the body. Didn't see it live, didn't bother to download until yesterday because everyone said it was boring. Me, I found it entertaining and I predicted it was gonna be boring due to the style clash, I was wrong, also that's as good as your gonna look against D-Hop who's mad negative. Teddy Atlas's commentating was also on point, I agreed with everything he had to say.
I agree... it was quite an enjoyable fight, even though both are tactical fighters with no power. I am a sucker for technical matches though.
I like Solomon, because he is a bit like Cotto in that he boxes quite technically, but does so in a violent way.
Jones style to me is one of kind because of the insane reflexes needed to make it a success
I agree, if I see a guy trying to fight like that (even a little) I do not find that a positive.
Yea I agree he is wide open and to fight like he did you need to basically be a Roy Jones type athlete and while Solomon is surely a quality athlete I don't see him being a Jones type athlete.
Jones style to me is one of kind because of the insane reflexes needed to make it a success
I didn't see Solomon get hit a bunch. Considering Hopkins has such a good jab, I think Solomon did a really good job avoiding punishment for the most part. Let's not forget, Hopkins isn't world level, but he's really just one level below it. He's not someone that a prospect should walk through with the ease that Solomon did.
I saw him get hit by nice overhand rights whenever Hopkins did try and work. Add to that the occasional snapping jab and to me he got hit plenty. Hopkins problem has always been his problem in that he simply doesn't do enough.
and if he is indeed a notch below world class level then yes guys like Soloman SHOULD win with some ease considering Hopkins style is one where you impose your style and he tries to upset that.
again he is good but not the over the top way you are describing him
I don't see what you see in Soloman. He is good but for someone so elusive Hopkins sure did hit him plenty
Yea I agree he is wide open and to fight like he did you need to basically be a Roy Jones type athlete and while Solomon is surely a quality athlete I don't see him being a Jones type athlete.