Break Down of the 2018 HOF Nominees

Donald Curry is waaaaaay overdue and if he doesn’t get in soon I’ll lose all hope for the IBHOF. I’ll pick Curry, Julian Jackson, and Yuri Arbachakov. I have waffled on Curry a lot. He looked SO good but for a short window and as soon as he lost, mostly off the cliff. This might be his year but he's far from a no brainer.

Donald Curry is waaaaaay overdue and if he doesn’t get in soon I’ll lose all hope for the IBHOF. I’ll pick Curry, Julian Jackson, and Yuri Arbachakov.

Yuri Arbachakov might not have a Hall of Fame caliber resume but I love his boxing style. I agree with it... early in his career, before hand issues - His right hand was a thing of beuty! I'm on the side that there's probably too many members of the Hall of Fame. I think it should be truly elite club. I love boxing and it's history - so while I appriciate all the fighters mentioned, I don't undestand why guys like Leo Gamez, Ricky Hatton, Ivan Calderon, Genaro Hernandez, Dariusz Michalczewski, Sung-Kil Moon, Sven Ottke, Gianfranco Rosi, Samuel Serrano,Chris John etc. are even on the ballot. Having Ratanapol Sor Vorapin in there is plain laughable. If I had actual vote - I'd put more research and consideration into it, but on short glance - Donald Curry, Gilberto Roman would be my two picks (From that list).

No David Lemieux?? Crap list

I can't believe Rafael Marquez isn't in the HOF yet

Marquez was my first check mark, followed by Santos Laciar. Still mulling over the rest. Surely Gilberto Roman is long overdue his induction? Re: your response to my Casamayor post - there’s a LOT of names far more worthy than John and others. Rafael Herrera being obvious and Jose Legra too.

Great list! These one's stick out for me. Rafael Marquez Career: 1995-2013 Major Titles: IBF bantamweight (February 15, 2003-March 16, 2007; Vacated); WBC super bantamweight (March 3, 2007-August 4, 2007) Hailed from: Mexico City, Mexico Record: 41-9-0 (37 KO) BoxRec Record Record against Champions/Titlists and Hall of Famers: 8-6 (6 KO) Champions/Titlists faced: Victor Rabanales, Mark Johnson, Tim Austin, Mauricio Pastrana, Israel Vasquez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Toshiaki Nishioka, Eric Aiken, Cristian Mijares Champions/Titlists defeated: Mark Johnson (SD 10, TKO 8), Tim Austin (TKO 8), Mauricio Pastrana (UD 12, TKO 8), Israel Vasquez (RTD 7, KO 3), Eric Aiken (KO 1) Rafael Marquez learned his craft at the feet of legendary trainer Arturo “Cuyo” Hernandez. He turned professional at age twenty, losing a tough pro debut to the veteran Rabanales, and joined older brother Juan Manuel under the guidance of Ignacio Beristain. A technician out for blood, Marquez combined heavy hands with a vulnerable chin and became a crowd favorite in no time. After twenty-eight fights, he stepped up in class to meet ultra-talented Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson in October 2001. He took an unconvincing split decision win but stopped him four months later. In February 2003, he stopped undefeated Tim Austin and became The Ring’s #1 bantamweight for the next four years. Even so, it was and will forever be the four-fight series with Israel Vazquez at Jr. featherweight that places Marquez among history’s great Mexican warriors. When the smoke cleared, they stood as equals. “He had it all,” Marquez said about Vazquez. Twice, however, Marquez had more. Ivan Calderon Career: 2001-2012 Major titles: WBO minimumweight (May 3, 2003 – April 28, 2007, vacated), WBO light flyweight (August 25, 2007 – August 28, 2010) Hailed from: Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Record: 35-3-1 (6 KO) Record against Champions/Titlists and Hall of Famers: 11-3-1 (1 KO) Champions/Titlists faced: Eduardo Ray Marquez, Alex Sanchez, Edgar Cardenas, Roberto Leyva, Daniel Reyes, Isaac Bustos, Hugo Cazares (twice), Nelson Dieppa, Rodel Mayol (twice), Giovani Segura (twice), Moises Fuentes Champions/Titlists defeated: Eduardo Ray Marquez (TW 9), Alex Sanchez (W 12), Edgar Cardenas (KO 11), Roberto Leyva (W 12), Daniel Reyes (W 12), Isaac Bustos (W 12), Hugo Cazares (W 12, TW 7), Nelson Dieppa (W 12), Rodel Mayol (TW 7) Calderon overcame his profound lack of power as well as his short height and reach with superior mobility, timely counter-punching, impressive strategic command and defensive skills that some declared the best of his era. The Puerto Rican held a major title almost continuously for more than seven years, an impressive achievement when one considers how quickly fighters in the extreme low weight classes age. He recorded 11 successful defenses of the WBO minimumweight belt as well as six more defenses of the WBO's 108-pound title, some of which were aired in the U.S. on pay-per-view undercards. He defeated nine men who held titles and, from time to time, executed his defensive moves with such flair that crowds shouted "ole" when he made his opponents miss. Genaro Hernandez Career: 1984-1998 Major Titles: WBA super featherweight (November 22,1991-November 12, 1994, Vacated), WBC super featherweight (March 22, 1997-October 3, 1998) Hailed from: Los Angeles, California Record: 38-2-1 (17 KO) Boxrec record Record against Champions/Titlists and Hall of Famers: 5-2-1 (3 KO) Champions/Titlists faced: Daniel Londas, Raul Perez, Jorge Paez, Oscar de la Hoya, Azumah Nelson, Carlos Hernandez, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Champions/Titlists defeated: Daniel Londas (KO 9), Raul Perez (KO 8), Jorge Paez (KO 8), Azumah Nelson (SD 12), Carlos Hernandez (UD 12) At 5-foot-11 and owning a 72-inch reach, "Chicanito's" willowy frame was built for long-range boxing but his skill and toughness allowed him to prosper in close. Won the WBA title by stopping hometown hero Daniel Londas in France and of his eight defenses of that belt three were on the road (two in Japan, one in Mexico). Following a non-title TKO of Jorge Paez, Hernandez challenged Oscar de la Hoya for his WBO lightweight title. He held his own but an uppercut shattered his nose in round six and prompted him to surrender at round's end. Three fights later he challenged WBC 130-pound king Azumah Nelson and thoroughly out-boxed him to win a decision. However, the fight was best remembered for Hernandez choosing to continue despite being illegally hit in the throat. Hernandez's career ended against an ambitious 21-year-old Floyd Mayweather Jr., who forced Hernandez to retire between rounds eight and nine. Julian Jackson Career: 1981-1998 Major Titles: WBA junior middleweight (November 21, 1987-July 1989, Vacated), WBC middleweight (November 24, 1990-May 8, 1993; March 17, 1995-August 19, 1995) Hailed from: U.S. Virgin Islands Record: 55-6-0 (49 KO) Boxrec Record Record against Champions/Titlists and Hall of Famers: 3-5 (3 KO) Champions/Titlists faced: Mike McCallum, In Chul Baek, Buster Drayton, Terry Norris, Gerald McClellan, Quincy Taylor, Verno Phillips Champions/Titlists defeated: In Chul Baek (KO 3), Buster Drayton (KO 3), Terry Norris (KO 2) Pound-for-pound and shot-for-shot, "The Hawk" ranks as one of history's most destructive one-punch knockout artists. He shook the unshakable Mike McCallum in round one before succumbing in round two of his first major title shot. Three fights later he won the first of three vacant crowns by stopping In Chul Baek in three. He stiffened the sturdy Buster Drayton with a hook, Terry Norris with a right, and won his first belt at 160 when, with his eye closing, he cranked an overhand right that left Herol Graham unconscious. His prowess was such that his record once read 43-1 (42 KO), with a streak of 37 consecutive wins inside the distance along the way. Once his prime disappeared, it did so dramatically as he went 9-5 in his last 14 fights, all five losses by KO. During that stretch, he still won a second 160-pound title at age 35 by stretching Agostino Cardamone in two. Meldrick Taylor Career: 1984-2002 Major Titles: IBF light welterweight (September 3, 1988-March 17, 1990), WBA welterweight (January 19, 1991-October 31, 1992) Hailed from: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Record: 38-8-1 (20 KO) Boxrec record Record against Champions/Titlists and Hall of Famers: 2-4 (1 KO) Champions/Titlists faced: James McGirt, Julio Cesar Chavez, Aaron Davis, Terry Norris, Crisanto Espana Champions/Titlists defeated: James McGirt (TKO 12), Aaron Davis (UD 12) At 17, Meldrick Taylor was heralded as the most promising gold-medalist to emerge from the legendary 1984 American Olympic boxing team. A super-fast boxer from a North Philadelphia ghetto, he fought like a brawler despite his talents. Taylor was on the brink of glory when he faced Julio Cesar Chavez in a March 1990 Junior Welterweight unification classic. He outworked the Mexican legend and was ahead on the scorecards when Chavez knocked him down in the twelfth. He rose, was given the mandatory eight-count, but failed to respond to the referee’s questions. The fight was stopped with two seconds left. Taylor recovered with a WBA title win at welterweight over Aaron Davis but was never the same. An ill-advised foray at Jr. Middleweight saw him stopped by Terry Norris and his career became a cause for concern. Nevertheless, his unforgettable performance against Chavez in The Ring’s “Fight of the Decade” points toward greatness. Wilfredo Vazquez Career: 1981-2002 Major Titles: WBA bantamweight (October 4, 1987-May 9, 1988); WBA super bantamweight (March 27, 1992-May 13, 1995); WBA featherweight (May 18, 1996-March 24, 1998; relinquished title) Hailed from: Bayamon, Puerto Rico Record: 56-9-2 (41 KO) Boxrec record Record against Champions/Titlists and Hall of Famers: 8-7-1 (5 KO) Champions/Titlists faced: Antonio Avelar, Orlando Canizales, Antonio Cermeno, Israel Contreras, Khaokor Galaxy, Naseem Hamed, Thierry Jacob, Miguel Lora, Luis Mendoza, Takuya Muguruma, Chan Yong Park, Juan Polo Perez, Raul Perez, Eloy Rojas, Champions/Titlists defeated: Orlando Canizales (SD 12), Thierry Jacob (KO 8, KO 10), Luis Mendoza (UD 12), Chan Yong Park (KO 10), Juan Polo Perez (UD 12), Raul Perez (KO 3), Eloy Rojas (KO 11) Vazquez began learning the fundamentals of the sweet science two weeks after his father died. To honor his memory, 18-year-old Vazquez wanted to win a title like his father’s hero Wilfredo Gomez. After 17 amateur fights he turned pro with a four-round decision loss but quickly developed into a two-fisted bomber. He lost his first title shot and then came up short in a shootout to Avelar but rebounded and won his first title at bantamweight with a knockout. His reign was underwhelming. He fought a draw with Muguruma and lost to Galaxy, but soon hit his stride as a 122-pounder. He avenged a previous loss to Perez by bombing him out in three rounds and piled up nine defenses. Presumed to be past his prime when he lost the belt to Cermeno at age 35, Vasquez confounded experts when he stopped lineal and WBA featherweight champ Eloy Rojas in come-from-behind fashion the following year. He notched four defenses of the belt before relinquishing it to fight Naseem Hamed instead of taking a rematch with Cermeno. Vasquez gave a credible effort before Hamed stopped him in seven. He retired at age 42 after winning his last four fights. Marquez was my first check mark, followed by Santos Laciar. Still mulling over the rest.

Rafa!!! Hope he gets in. I think Casamayor deserves to be on the ballot. He had a much better career than Kessler and John. I agree. Don't know that his career was better per se, but I think his best form was a hair better. It's close. He and Kessler have best wins of similar quality (Froch/Corrales) and both tended to come up short against the rest. Casa was arguably better against Castillo, Frietas, and Marquez than Kessler was against Calz/Ward...but he never had a tank night like the Santa Cruz fight. John is a head scratcher. He had a debatable win over Marquez and stats against mostly whatever. How that makes the ballot before Corrales, for instance, eludes me. But Ottke is on there too.

I like Rafael Marquez, Michael Moorer, and Wilfredo Vasquez from that list. Yuri Arbachakov might not have a Hall of Fame caliber resume but I love his boxing style.

Rafa!!! Hope he gets in. I think Casamayor deserves to be on the ballot. He had a much better career than Kessler and John.

Great to see Brian Sutherland and Kenny Rainford on the list. I fully expect Brian to be inducted (who doesn't) but I don't think Rainford should get in due to his PED history