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by Cliff Rold - It’s always fun to watch the progressions.
A quality talent turns professional, moves through some usual suspects to establish their place as a prospect of note, and then it’s on to the recognizable name foes. After beating a few of them, it’s on to the former titlists. That’s usually a sign that the big stuff is coming. Opportunity is on its way if the final obstacles can be overcome.
This isn’t the pattern for everyone who gets into boxing’s title scene. It might be the most common. There is a reason for that.
The pattern works. The development of talent is not a science, but the formulas followed can appear that way. Think, for instance, of Canelo Alvarez. For a couple of years, in part because he was gifted a belt early on, his quality of opposition was roundly thrashed. People ignored his age, or the bigger picture, demanding big moves in the now.
Instead, he was developed to a point where he could defeat Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara and share a big money bill with Floyd Mayweather.
This week’s Friday Night Fights main event (9 PM EST/6 PM PST) is all about the pattern. If it works, as it is intended, we will have a new contender in the Light Heavyweight division.
Thomas Williams has certainly looked the part. The 26-year old Maryland native, at 6’1 with decent power and a solid southpaw skill set, is someone to get interested in at 175 lbs. Turned pro in 2010, Williams picked up a string of early wins against fighters who often showed up with losing records.
He faced the last of those in 2012 and by 2013 was beginning to pick at more veteran fare. Wins over Otis Griffin and Yusaf Mack put names on his record. Griffin once won a reality television boxing competition called “The Next Great Champ” and has faced an assortment of names over the years. Mack is a former title challenger. [Click Here To Read More]
A quality talent turns professional, moves through some usual suspects to establish their place as a prospect of note, and then it’s on to the recognizable name foes. After beating a few of them, it’s on to the former titlists. That’s usually a sign that the big stuff is coming. Opportunity is on its way if the final obstacles can be overcome.
This isn’t the pattern for everyone who gets into boxing’s title scene. It might be the most common. There is a reason for that.
The pattern works. The development of talent is not a science, but the formulas followed can appear that way. Think, for instance, of Canelo Alvarez. For a couple of years, in part because he was gifted a belt early on, his quality of opposition was roundly thrashed. People ignored his age, or the bigger picture, demanding big moves in the now.
Instead, he was developed to a point where he could defeat Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara and share a big money bill with Floyd Mayweather.
This week’s Friday Night Fights main event (9 PM EST/6 PM PST) is all about the pattern. If it works, as it is intended, we will have a new contender in the Light Heavyweight division.
Thomas Williams has certainly looked the part. The 26-year old Maryland native, at 6’1 with decent power and a solid southpaw skill set, is someone to get interested in at 175 lbs. Turned pro in 2010, Williams picked up a string of early wins against fighters who often showed up with losing records.
He faced the last of those in 2012 and by 2013 was beginning to pick at more veteran fare. Wins over Otis Griffin and Yusaf Mack put names on his record. Griffin once won a reality television boxing competition called “The Next Great Champ” and has faced an assortment of names over the years. Mack is a former title challenger. [Click Here To Read More]
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