AIBA Boxing WM 2017 in Hamburg

[HI-TECH Boxing]

I think Bunce said that Frazer Clarke won't be competing in these games, presumably injured

I don't see Great Britain picking up any golds this year and we'll do well to get a silver or two. I'm thinking Yafai and McGrail are our best bets. McCormack has regressed lately to be honest but I hope he can find some form

Melikuziev moving to light heavy was surprising to me too, since he never seemed like a particularly oversized middle. The lad who replaced him looks good though, so maybe that's why they did it

That is unfortunate for Clarke. Considering how weak his division is.
Have to be honest. I'm not super high on McGrail but he is in a favorable division. McGrail's offense is lacking in my opinion. Yafai is in very strong division.
McCormack looked great early in the year. He just couldn't do it at the European Championships. He looked tired against Abass in the finals. I don't see McCormack winning Gold because he is in a very strong division. Abass will probably win. He's the European Champion and represents Germany, the host nation.
We have to see the official draw to see who has a chance to medal.

Melikuziev hasn't looked bad at Light-Heavy, but he always seemed like a good sized Middleweight. Not big but not small. He was on the smaller side at Middle I would say. And even though in my opinion he beat Lopez at the Olympics, close fight, Madrimov may have a better style to conquer Lopez. He already did. Khyzniak or Madrimov will dethrone Lopez here I think.

[asgarth]

This is off the top of my head.
I'll give you a couple/few boxers per weight class. In no particular order.

Light-Flyweight (One of the best weight classes):
Hasanboy Dusmatov, Uzbekistan (Olympic Champion, Val Barker winner)
Yuberjen Martinez, Colombia (Olympic Silver. One of my favorite fighters. He fights hard.)
Joahnys Argilagos, Cuba (Olympic Bronze, World Champion)
Vasilii Egorov, Russia (World Silver. 2x European Champion)

Flyweight (it was one of the better division at the 2016 Olympics, but now it's on the weaker side IMO. The Olympic Champion is not competing):
Yosbany Veitia, Cuba (2x World medalist)
Daniel Asenov, Bulgaria (European Champion)

Bantamweight (Also not much going on in this division. Olympic Champion is also not present):
Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Uzbekistan (Olympic Bronze, World Silver, Asian Champion)
Peter McGrail, England/GB (European Champion)
Leonel de los Santos, Dominican Republic (American qualifier champion. I've been really impressed with him and he has looked sensational at this weight class. He's probably the darkhorse. Beat Ibanez and got robbed against Ibanez in the WSB.)
Javier Ibanez, Cuba (Not super impressed with him to be honest. Youth World and Olympic Champion. Has victories over McGrail.)
Duke Regan, USA (Good fighter from the USA. Could benefit from being in this division. Not a super strong division.)

Lightweight:
Lazaro Alvarez, Cuba (3x World Champion, 2x Bronze medalist Olympics. He may get dethroned here.)
Iurii Shestak, Ukraine (European Champion)
Sofiane Oumiha, France (Olympic Silver Medalist)
Callum French, England/GB (European Bronze medalist, I've been pretty impressed with him.)
Delante Johnson (Youth World Champion. One of the better American fighters. Gave Alvarez a good fight at the qualifiers. And AIBA seems to be behind him.)
Gabil Mamedov, Russia (European Silver. Not a bad fighter, but Russia has some better prospects coming out around the same weight that will hopefully replace him.)

Light Welterweight:
Hovhannes Bachkov, Armenia (European Champion. Like what I saw from him.)
Andy Cruz, Cuba
Artem Harutyunyan, Germany (Not particurly impressed with him but he did get a Olympic Bronze and he's from Germany.)

Welterweight:
Pat McCormack, England/GB (2x European Silver. One of my favorites.)
Shakhram Giyasov, Uzbekistan (Olympic Silver. Asian Champion)
Roniel Iglesias, Cuba (Olympic Gold and Bronze. World Champion 09')
Abass Baraou, Germany (European Champion. From Germany. Strong fighter and contender. Will be one of the favorites.)

Middleweight (Will be one of the better division for sure. Should be a lot of fun fights):
Arlen Lopez, Cuba (Olympic Champion, World Champion 15')
Oleksandr Khyzniak, Ukraine (European Champion. He's been a nightmare ever since he has moved down a division. Even at Light Heavy he gave top guys problems. I could see him beating Lopez.)
Israil Madrimov, Uzbekistan (Asian Champion. Beat Lopez in the WSB. I could see him beating Lopez again.)

Light Heavyweight:
Julio La Cruz, Cuba (Olympic Champion, 3x World Champion. I don't like how he's been fighting lately. It's to the point where he's not doing much in his fights but still gets a lot of credit.)
Joe Ward, Ireland (3x European Champion)
Bektemir Melikuziev (Olympic Silver at Middle, World Silver at Middle. I don't know why he moved up but he hasn't looked bad at all. He gave La Cruz a good fight in the WSB.)
****** Gadzhimagomedov, Russia (European Silver)

Heavyweight:
Evgeny Tishchenko, Russia (Olympic Champion, World Champion, European Champion. A lot of controversy surrounding him. I don't think he's a bad boxer. Just didn't deserve that Olympic Gold.)
Vassiliy Levit, Kazakhstan (Olympic Silver, Asian Champion)
Erislandy Savon, Cuba (Olympic Bronze, World Silver)
Cheavan Clarke, England/GB (European Silver. I like what I saw from him.)

Super Heavyweight (Not much going on after the Olympics. One of the weaker divisions.):
Viktor Vykhryst, Ukraine (European Champion)
Bakhodir Jalolov, Uzbekistan (Asian Champion)
Frazer Clarke, England/GB (European Silver)

thanks for the breakdown, much appreciated!

[sicko]

There's a boxer named Long Wang? LOL. These asian cats gotta know whats up when they name their kids by now with this sh^t.

[yngwie]

He's been fighting at 56kg lately. Not a good move if he could still make 52kg.
What do you think of the up coming World Championships?

I want to see the draw already.

There will be a lot of good guys missing this year, but there's always some great surprising talents like Rabii in 2015, so i will watch, also, three countrymen are fighting and one of them is my trainer, so looking for them.

[yngwie]

Melikuziev moving to light heavy was surprising to me too, since he never seemed like a particularly oversized middle. The lad who replaced him looks good though, so maybe that's why they did it

I actually think he was even capable of making 69.

[yngwie]

Of Course! Will be streamed on Youtube:



Been watching a lot of Delante "Tiger" Johnson this year. Very similar to Shakur Stevenson as that next American Blue Chip Prospect and should Medal 2020 based on the improvements I'm seeing and holding his own with Lazaro Alvarez who is far more experienced than Johnson but in about 3 years for the 2020 Olympics Johnson could be more than ready to take it! 3 years might be too long and he could turn Pro before 2020

As for that next guy with potentially Lomachenko and/or Rigondeaux Level of Talent, No question that is Robeisy Ramirez but I think I only seen him 1 time so far this year.


He is kinda in and out of Tournaments you literally have to wait for the field to be drawn to see if he is in it But he is that next SPECIAL FIGHTER IMO just not sure if we ever see him as PRO. He could just settle for being a Cuban legend like Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon and never go pro which would SUCK for Boxing Fans!

Robeisy was upset in the Memorial Cordova Cardin in june, i doubt that he goes to the worlds and he just doesn't seems motivated for every tournament that isn't the olympics.

[NEETzsche]

That is unfortunate for Clarke. Considering how weak his division is.
Have to be honest. I'm not super high on McGrail but he is in a favorable division. McGrail's offense is lacking in my opinion. Yafai is in very strong division.
McCormack looked great early in the year. He just couldn't do it at the European Championships. He looked tired against Abass in the finals. I don't see McCormack winning Gold because he is in a very strong division. Abass will probably win. He's the European Champion and represents Germany, the host nation.
We have to see the official draw to see who has a chance to medal.

Yeah Clarke looked pretty bad in the Euros and someone said that he was carrying an injury even then, and yet he still came very close to winning gold. I like McGrail simply because his style is not one that you see too often in British fighters, same with Josh Kelly. This is probably an unpopular opinion but I think he could actually benefit from becoming more negative, as he sometimes plants his feet and throws punches unnecessarily, opening himself up to counters, when he could just as easily pot-shot on the move like a poor man's La Cruz. As for McCormack I think his heart is in the pros already. He doesn't score points as well as he used to, he seems more concerned with trying to hurt his opponents

Melikuziev hasn't looked bad at Light-Heavy, but he always seemed like a good sized Middleweight. Not big but not small. He was on the smaller side at Middle I would say. And even though in my opinion he beat Lopez at the Olympics, close fight, Madrimov may have a better style to conquer Lopez. He already did. Khyzniak or Madrimov will dethrone Lopez here I think.

I still believe that Arlen is the best middleweight, his form has just dropped since Rio for some reason. Possibly complacency or boredom

[sicko]

Robeisy was upset in the Memorial Cordova Cardin in june, i doubt that he goes to the worlds and he just doesn't seems motivated for every tournament that isn't the olympics.

Yeah I'm aware of him losing I've seen him lose a couple of times actually. Him as well as Julio La Cruz they sometimes fight DOWN to the competition almost as if they're bored and they end up getting out-worked

However when both are Motivated they're basically Unbeatable at that level!

[pesticid]

I'd say Andy Cruz from Cuba at 64 has the talent and skills of Loma and Rigo, he's got a different style but just the way he dominates and plays with fighters is something to watch. He's a new player at 64, having come up from 56.

[pesticid]

This is off the top of my head.
I'll give you a couple/few boxers per weight class. In no particular order.

Light-Flyweight (One of the best weight classes):
Hasanboy Dusmatov, Uzbekistan (Olympic Champion, Val Barker winner)
Yuberjen Martinez, Colombia (Olympic Silver. One of my favorite fighters. He fights hard.)
Joahnys Argilagos, Cuba (Olympic Bronze, World Champion)
Vasilii Egorov, Russia (World Silver. 2x European Champion)

Flyweight (it was one of the better division at the 2016 Olympics, but now it's on the weaker side IMO. The Olympic Champion is not competing):
Yosbany Veitia, Cuba (2x World medalist)
Daniel Asenov, Bulgaria (European Champion)

Bantamweight (Also not much going on in this division. Olympic Champion is also not present):
Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Uzbekistan (Olympic Bronze, World Silver, Asian Champion)
Peter McGrail, England/GB (European Champion)
Leonel de los Santos, Dominican Republic (American qualifier champion. I've been really impressed with him and he has looked sensational at this weight class. He's probably the darkhorse. Beat Ibanez and got robbed against Ibanez in the WSB.)
Javier Ibanez, Cuba (Not super impressed with him to be honest. Youth World and Olympic Champion. Has victories over McGrail.)
Duke Regan, USA (Good fighter from the USA. Could benefit from being in this division. Not a super strong division.)

Lightweight:
Lazaro Alvarez, Cuba (3x World Champion, 2x Bronze medalist Olympics. He may get dethroned here.)
Iurii Shestak, Ukraine (European Champion)
Sofiane Oumiha, France (Olympic Silver Medalist)
Callum French, England/GB (European Bronze medalist, I've been pretty impressed with him.)
Delante Johnson (Youth World Champion. One of the better American fighters. Gave Alvarez a good fight at the qualifiers. And AIBA seems to be behind him.)
Gabil Mamedov, Russia (European Silver. Not a bad fighter, but Russia has some better prospects coming out around the same weight that will hopefully replace him.)

Light Welterweight:
Hovhannes Bachkov, Armenia (European Champion. Like what I saw from him.)
Andy Cruz, Cuba
Artem Harutyunyan, Germany (Not particurly impressed with him but he did get a Olympic Bronze and he's from Germany.)

Welterweight:
Pat McCormack, England/GB (2x European Silver. One of my favorites.)
Shakhram Giyasov, Uzbekistan (Olympic Silver. Asian Champion)
Roniel Iglesias, Cuba (Olympic Gold and Bronze. World Champion 09')
Abass Baraou, Germany (European Champion. From Germany. Strong fighter and contender. Will be one of the favorites.)

Middleweight (Will be one of the better division for sure. Should be a lot of fun fights):
Arlen Lopez, Cuba (Olympic Champion, World Champion 15')
Oleksandr Khyzniak, Ukraine (European Champion. He's been a nightmare ever since he has moved down a division. Even at Light Heavy he gave top guys problems. I could see him beating Lopez.)
Israil Madrimov, Uzbekistan (Asian Champion. Beat Lopez in the WSB. I could see him beating Lopez again.)

Light Heavyweight:
Julio La Cruz, Cuba (Olympic Champion, 3x World Champion. I don't like how he's been fighting lately. It's to the point where he's not doing much in his fights but still gets a lot of credit.)
Joe Ward, Ireland (3x European Champion)
Bektemir Melikuziev (Olympic Silver at Middle, World Silver at Middle. I don't know why he moved up but he hasn't looked bad at all. He gave La Cruz a good fight in the WSB.)
****** Gadzhimagomedov, Russia (European Silver)

Heavyweight:
Evgeny Tishchenko, Russia (Olympic Champion, World Champion, European Champion. A lot of controversy surrounding him. I don't think he's a bad boxer. Just didn't deserve that Olympic Gold.)
Vassiliy Levit, Kazakhstan (Olympic Silver, Asian Champion)
Erislandy Savon, Cuba (Olympic Bronze, World Silver)
Cheavan Clarke, England/GB (European Silver. I like what I saw from him.)

Super Heavyweight (Not much going on after the Olympics. One of the weaker divisions.):
Viktor Vykhryst, Ukraine (European Champion)
Bakhodir Jalolov, Uzbekistan (Asian Champion)
Frazer Clarke, England/GB (European Silver)

Good breakdown, I think Arlen Lopez has lost his speed, but if he is paired with Knijniak I this match-up wise he might win this one. I think Madrimov beats him again.

I think Leonel Santos should be higher on your list, he should win the gold no problem.

Arthur Byarslanov in my opinion beat the German at the Olympics but was robbed. I think he should be there on your list as well.

At 69 I don't know if Shymbergenov qualified but if he did, he should be on the list as well, it's either him Roniel or Giyasov in my opinion

At heavyweight, you should put Jose Larduet, he beat up and almost stopped Jalolov a few months back in the WSB, not losing a round. So while a small heavyweight he's proven so far to be the goods. I don't think Fraser Clarke is competing by the way.