Josh Taylor is one of the fighters everybody should be keeping an eye on for sure, but I don't consider him a prospect anymore. The best prospect I feel is Josh Kelly, who already has the makings of a world champ.
Josh Taylor is one of the fighters everybody should be keeping an eye on for sure, but I don't consider him a prospect anymore. The best prospect I feel is Josh Kelly, who already has the makings of a world champ.
Technically I would call Taylor a 'prospect' (I define it as fewer than 15 fights), but I am weary of any fighter who had only 10 fights in his first three years as a pro. I imagine now, even with the departure of Frampton, Cyclone will have Taylor on the two per year schedule. ;-(
Regarding PBK, there is no doubting his skill. However, in watching all of his fights as a pro (and many of his amateur fights) there is something to be concerned about when a fighter does not improve in any of his fights. i.e. PBK is about razzle and dazzle against incredibly inferior opponents. I'm pretty certain as he moves up and finds that the footwork gets better, the chins are stronger, the will to win is there, punches get sharper etc. he will fold because he is more concerned with looking flashy than working on boxing fundamentals. And yes, I realize that Booth teaches a LCG style, but this is beyond that. :gay:
My top prospect, or that being 'one to watch in 2018' is Jon Fernadez. I've watched his last six fights and he's improved in each one. You can see, while even though he's dominant, there are things he is looking to augment each time out, and he executes. This, as opposed with running around with his hands next to his side, sticking his chin out, waving to the ladies, etc. When the **** get real (and it will), he will be prepped, IMO.
Technically I would call Taylor a 'prospect' (I define it as fewer than 15 fights), but I am weary of any fighter who had only 10 fights in his first three years as a pro. I imagine now, even with the departure of Frampton, Cyclone will have Taylor on the two per year schedule. ;-(
Regarding PBK, there is no doubting his skill. However, in watching all of his fights as a pro (and many of his amateur fights) there is something to be concerned about when a fighter does not improve in any of his fights. i.e. PBK is about razzle and dazzle against incredibly inferior opponents. I'm pretty certain as he moves up and finds that the footwork gets better, the chins are stronger, the will to win is there, punches get sharper etc. he will fold because he is more concerned with looking flashy than working on boxing fundamentals. And yes, I realize that Booth teaches a LCG style, but this is beyond that. :gay:
My top prospect, or that being 'one to watch in 2018' is Jon Fernadez. I've watched his last six fights and he's improved in each one. You can see, while even though he's dominant, there are things he is looking to augment each time out, and he executes. This, as opposed with running around with his hands next to his side, sticking his chin out, waving to the ladies, etc. When the **** get real (and it will), he will be prepped, IMO.
I'm giving PBK some leeway since he debuted in April of this year and has plenty of time to fight stiffer opposition later on. But I like Kelly's constant head movement and feinting because it keeps the opponent nervous and unable to figure out what to do next, which leads to predictable movements that Kelly can easily counter. In a way, he's like Ryan Burnett when he fought Lee Haskins for the IBF bantamweight title (although as you said, same trainer). Kelly looks like a natural, and seems very comfortable in the ring. That's why he is my prospect of the year.
Great shout-out to Jon Fernandez by the way. Watched one of his fights thanks to you, and I love that hybrid counter-aggressive style he has.
Josh Taylor is one of the fighters everybody should be keeping an eye on for sure, but I don't consider him a prospect anymore. The best prospect I feel is Josh Kelly, who already has the makings of a world champ.
Josh Kelly will never be champion at 147. He won't even crack the top 5.
Josh Kelly will never be champion at 147. He won't even crack the top 5.
my thoughts exactly. #1 the dude is the smallest welterweight i have ever seen. he needs to move to 140, where he could be the champion since bud left. at 147 he will get spanked hard
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