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147 Welterweight: No doubt the most talented division in the sport IMO. ( Although right now the 168 div. is pretty stacked). Probably poses the most threat with the best fighters now seemingly and after years of trying, fighting the best fighters. Floyd vs. Pac, Pac vs Cotto, Mosley vs. Berto, etc, etc. These are all fights pitting the best fighters in the division against one another. Throw Williams and Joshua Clottey in there and theres plenty of competition and strong fights that easily could be deemed as FOY candidates if they all pan out.
In the WW division we have pure boxers, in Mayweather, Mosley, and Berto, who I might add I would lean towards pure athletcism and handspeed as I feel he hasn't quite molded into a boxer in the purest since. Pac could always be in this category but lets be honest, he is at this point in his career the most finely tuned fighter in the world. Boxer, power puncher, speed, he has all the tools to mold to any fighter, a camelian in the type of fighter sense. Mosley is the elder statesmen on the block, and @ this point in his career did we really think we'd be talking about him as a top 3 fighter in this division?!? After his devastating loss the Veron Forrest RIP, some 7 yrs ago to his losses to Winky in 04, me for one thought ok Shane 35 36 is creeping up, time to pack it in. Yet he goes on to lose a tight fight with then king Cotto in 07 and dismantles any mytique surrounding the glorified punching bag Antonio Margarito in 9 rounds earlier this year. Mosley @ 38 looks better then he did @ 32 when he beat Oscar De La Hoya twice. Now he fights Andre Berto probably the most gifted athlete on this list early next year.
Berto needs to be given credit as like Ive said I dont think hes molded into a boxer just yet, and once he fine tunes his craft, look out cuz the summit of the mountain is what lies ahead for him. He is simply to fast young and strong for his competiton @ this point. He dominates fighters with his double fisted attack and besides taking maybe a few too many chances to pile up points and getting hit often, doesnt have too many flaws. Wins over Urango and Collazo and throw in a tough gritty vet like Forbes arent staggering, but a win over Mosley even @ 38 would propel Berto to the forefront of bigger names like May and Pac.
Not gonna spend to much time on May or Pac as we know they r by far the 2 best fighters in the world as well as division. And think that after Mar.13, the air will be clear without clouds as to who is the best fighter in the world bar non. Cotto and Clottey have a lot of work to do, and Miguel saying hes 2 and done is maybe the right move. Hes been in battles and even in fights that hes one took beatings. Clottey piled up a lot of punches, albeit alot on his arms and shoulders, but remember what Torres did to Cotto. Hurting him on myn occasions with flush power shots. Maybe Cotto is doing the right things giving the fans 2 fights and calling it a career. Not going to mention the MArgo fights cuz lets be honest, anything that he has accomplished up till this point should be asteriked as we just dont and maybe never know.
Clottey needs a defining fight. A tough defense first fighter who is always in great shape for fights. He needs someone to be his stepping stone in 2010. If not he may just be the guy on the outside looking in. Without the appeal of being a KO artist, this seasoned fighter is in trouble of loosing his spot on the list unless he steps up and comes out with a win. Everytime he's stepped up he's lost. Cotto, Marg, still tainted, etc. His best win is prolly Diego Corrales, who at this point was a shell of his former self and Zab Judah another recognizable name who was 5-6 yrs past his best days. Clottey has all the talent, but without proper managment might become forgotten soon enough.....
Bottom line is what fights do u want to see after all this pans out and what r ur opinions on the forementioned fighters above....Thanks again DT....
In the WW division we have pure boxers, in Mayweather, Mosley, and Berto, who I might add I would lean towards pure athletcism and handspeed as I feel he hasn't quite molded into a boxer in the purest since. Pac could always be in this category but lets be honest, he is at this point in his career the most finely tuned fighter in the world. Boxer, power puncher, speed, he has all the tools to mold to any fighter, a camelian in the type of fighter sense. Mosley is the elder statesmen on the block, and @ this point in his career did we really think we'd be talking about him as a top 3 fighter in this division?!? After his devastating loss the Veron Forrest RIP, some 7 yrs ago to his losses to Winky in 04, me for one thought ok Shane 35 36 is creeping up, time to pack it in. Yet he goes on to lose a tight fight with then king Cotto in 07 and dismantles any mytique surrounding the glorified punching bag Antonio Margarito in 9 rounds earlier this year. Mosley @ 38 looks better then he did @ 32 when he beat Oscar De La Hoya twice. Now he fights Andre Berto probably the most gifted athlete on this list early next year.
Berto needs to be given credit as like Ive said I dont think hes molded into a boxer just yet, and once he fine tunes his craft, look out cuz the summit of the mountain is what lies ahead for him. He is simply to fast young and strong for his competiton @ this point. He dominates fighters with his double fisted attack and besides taking maybe a few too many chances to pile up points and getting hit often, doesnt have too many flaws. Wins over Urango and Collazo and throw in a tough gritty vet like Forbes arent staggering, but a win over Mosley even @ 38 would propel Berto to the forefront of bigger names like May and Pac.
Not gonna spend to much time on May or Pac as we know they r by far the 2 best fighters in the world as well as division. And think that after Mar.13, the air will be clear without clouds as to who is the best fighter in the world bar non. Cotto and Clottey have a lot of work to do, and Miguel saying hes 2 and done is maybe the right move. Hes been in battles and even in fights that hes one took beatings. Clottey piled up a lot of punches, albeit alot on his arms and shoulders, but remember what Torres did to Cotto. Hurting him on myn occasions with flush power shots. Maybe Cotto is doing the right things giving the fans 2 fights and calling it a career. Not going to mention the MArgo fights cuz lets be honest, anything that he has accomplished up till this point should be asteriked as we just dont and maybe never know.
Clottey needs a defining fight. A tough defense first fighter who is always in great shape for fights. He needs someone to be his stepping stone in 2010. If not he may just be the guy on the outside looking in. Without the appeal of being a KO artist, this seasoned fighter is in trouble of loosing his spot on the list unless he steps up and comes out with a win. Everytime he's stepped up he's lost. Cotto, Marg, still tainted, etc. His best win is prolly Diego Corrales, who at this point was a shell of his former self and Zab Judah another recognizable name who was 5-6 yrs past his best days. Clottey has all the talent, but without proper managment might become forgotten soon enough.....
Bottom line is what fights do u want to see after all this pans out and what r ur opinions on the forementioned fighters above....Thanks again DT....