Truly legit prospects...

[Fox McCloud]

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.

[The Gambler1981]

I guess but I never really look at prospects like that and think they are legit because even someone who looks like a diamond may in fact turn out to be cubic zirconium.

It takes time an pressure to be a true diamond and there is no substitute

[Fox McCloud]

I guess but I never really look at prospects like that and think they are legit because even someone who looks like a diamond may in fact turn out to be cubic zirconium.

It takes time an pressure to be a true diamond and there is no substitute

I understand the wisdom in that... there is no way to test durability or reaction to adversity in the prospect phase.

I'm just saying, physical tools wise, or the things that are gapingly evident, even for prospects, it's quite rare to find someone who doesn't have something that is just wide open to be exposed. You know?

[Eaner0919]

I don't see what you see in Soloman. He is good but for someone so elusive Hopkins sure did hit him plenty

[Fox McCloud]

I don't see what you see in Soloman. He is good but for someone so elusive Hopkins sure did hit him plenty

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.

[Funtime]

I'm really liking Carl Frampton at the moment, kid looks like he has a full skill set and i look forward to seeing him step up a bit over this year.

Also think Frankie Gavin is the real deal, only problem i see with him is he looks easy to mark up/ cut and his 1 shot power isnt there at all...but he boxes beautifully and his timing and counterpunching abillity make him a joy to watch.

[The Gambler1981]

I understand the wisdom in that... there is no way to test durability or reaction to adversity in the prospect phase.

I'm just saying, physical tools wise, or the things that are gapingly evident, even for prospects, it's quite rare to find someone who doesn't have something that is just wide open to be exposed. You know?

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.

[Doctor_Tenma]

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.

[The Gambler1981]

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.

[Eaner0919]

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