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by David P. Greisman - Let’s get two things out of the way.
This is not Shane Mosley moving from lightweight to welterweight and later going on to meet and defeat Oscar De La Hoya.
Nor is this Floyd Mayweather moving up to the next weight class after being the champion and facing some of the top names at 130 at 135.
That doesn’t take away from the intrigue. Adrien Broner will likely be moving up two divisions to challenge titleholder Paulie Malignaggi in a bout that already has boxing fans talking nearly as much as the two loquacious prizefighters have been doing.
Let’s not overstate Broner’s move — at least, not yet. But let’s not understate it either.
No, Broner’s reigns in the junior lightweight and lightweight divisions don’t approach those of Mayweather.
Like Broner, Mayweather was precociously young when he captured his first world title, a 21-year-old stopping Genaro Hernandez to become the true champion at 130 pounds. Mayweather went on to defend his belt eight times, culminating with victories over Diego Corrales, Carlos Hernandez and Jesus Chavez. Then came lightweight, a controversial win over Jose Luis Castillo followed by a clearer one in their rematch, establishing Mayweather as the top guy at 135.
And no, Malignaggi is not De La Hoya, whose only pro loss prior to the Mosley fight in 2000 was a highly debated defeat against Felix Trinidad.
While Malignaggi is respected for his skills, heart and accomplishments, he does not stand out in a division that has titleholders in Mayweather, Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley, and also includes Juan Manuel Marquez and even Robert Guerrero, Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz. Mosley’s win over De La Hoya, meanwhile, established a new lineal champion in that division in the wake of Trinidad’s departure for 154, according to Cyber Boxing Zone. [Click Here To Read More]
This is not Shane Mosley moving from lightweight to welterweight and later going on to meet and defeat Oscar De La Hoya.
Nor is this Floyd Mayweather moving up to the next weight class after being the champion and facing some of the top names at 130 at 135.
That doesn’t take away from the intrigue. Adrien Broner will likely be moving up two divisions to challenge titleholder Paulie Malignaggi in a bout that already has boxing fans talking nearly as much as the two loquacious prizefighters have been doing.
Let’s not overstate Broner’s move — at least, not yet. But let’s not understate it either.
No, Broner’s reigns in the junior lightweight and lightweight divisions don’t approach those of Mayweather.
Like Broner, Mayweather was precociously young when he captured his first world title, a 21-year-old stopping Genaro Hernandez to become the true champion at 130 pounds. Mayweather went on to defend his belt eight times, culminating with victories over Diego Corrales, Carlos Hernandez and Jesus Chavez. Then came lightweight, a controversial win over Jose Luis Castillo followed by a clearer one in their rematch, establishing Mayweather as the top guy at 135.
And no, Malignaggi is not De La Hoya, whose only pro loss prior to the Mosley fight in 2000 was a highly debated defeat against Felix Trinidad.
While Malignaggi is respected for his skills, heart and accomplishments, he does not stand out in a division that has titleholders in Mayweather, Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley, and also includes Juan Manuel Marquez and even Robert Guerrero, Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz. Mosley’s win over De La Hoya, meanwhile, established a new lineal champion in that division in the wake of Trinidad’s departure for 154, according to Cyber Boxing Zone. [Click Here To Read More]
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