Comments Thread For: Boxingscene's 201 Y/E Awards: Prospect Of The Year

[Bong Bong]

Im happy I didnt see Bam Bam Rios in there

[JakeNDaBox]

one of the most underrated is Jesse Vargas that kid is the future.

I like Vargas, but see him as still being a prospect in 2011.

My rule of thumb for this category is that I don't like to vote for the same guy two years in a row. I try to pick guys who weren't already a top prospect the year before, and also who are ready to make the leap from prospect to contender the following year.

It's for that reason that I didn't personally vote for Saul Alvarez (who was on our list last year). Mikey Garcia wasn't even on our radar last year, but made a huge leap this year.

It's also why I disagree with guys like Jose Benavides being on the list. He's brand new, just 18 years old, hasn't fought anyone and is still on the 6-round level.

However, IMO a guy like Chunky DeGale belongs on the list because the win over Paul Smith is a clear indication that even just two years in he's already on the verge of making the jump to contender status.

One oversight I will say was Erislandy Lara. But he didn't get any votes among our staff members and I didn't think to include him. Chances are he'll be a contender at some point in 2011, although he seemed to go backwards in 2010 in terms of level of competition. Began strong but then went ridiculously soft for the sake of building up KO percentage.

[JakeNDaBox]

I meant Ring Magazine and everybody who overrates him is calling him prospect of the year.

I don't think Ring Magazine has yet announced its Year End awards (not to mention that Prospect Of the Year isn't one of their major categories). the awards they have on their website are Fan Voting results.

I have to say though, a bit alarmed that you take greater issue with Alvarez being voted as POTY on their site than with the fact that those very same fans chose Pacquiao over Martinez as FOTY. And also Marquez for Comeback of the Year... despite the fact that he didn't go anywhere and was still LW champ when 2009 ended.

[RubenSonny]

Thats a fair explanation cant wait to see where these guys go.

[SCtrojansbaby]

Somebody needs to define prospect but I'll say anybody 25 or under who has never had a major title is a prospect.

1.Saul Alvarez
2.Nathan Cleverly
3.Mikey Garcia
4.Antonio Demarco
5.James Degale
6.Juan Carlos Salgado
7.Kell Brook
8.Tyson Fury
9.Danny Jacobs
10.JCC jr

[Soundtraveler]

I think you need to add Undefeated Middleweight Fernando Guerrero to the list, he is young, shows TONS of heart - draws over 5,000 people in Maryland consistently, he fights smart, has good power in both hands and breaks down opponents. Guerrero has gotten off the canvas to KO opponents - something that few fighters do. Fernando has already fought several times on Showtime, ESPN and he brings it to his opponents every time he steps into the ring - plus he loves helping the kids in his adopted home town of Salisbury. Class act...