Who's gonna be the #1 guy at 140 by the end of 2019

[Eff Pandas]

140 is looking like one of the more fun divisions in the sport. Lotsa guys on the rise. I think it'll take a while to shake itself out, but lets say in another 15 months by the end of 2019 who do you think is gonna be the top guy or top couple guys who've distanced themselves from the rest in this division & will end up being the fight to make in this fresher division for 2020?

I'll take Mikey Garcia at his word that he'll move to 135 after the fight tomorrow so I'll live him out of the mix although you can decide for yourself about what you think he'll do.

But beyond that we got Josh Taylor, Regis Prograis, Antonio Orozco, Jose Ramirez & Alex Saucedo as some of the young guns on the rise. Terry Flanagan is moving up. Viktor Postol & Rances Barthelemy are still players one could argue. Probably a few others I'm not mentioning who are in play.

Personally I'm leaning towards Josh Taylor & Regis Prograis being the top two guys in the division by then & being the fight people are talking about going into 2020.

[_original_]

Hard to say now as we need a lot of these guys to start fighting each other this year to sort out the top 5. I think Mikey should just stay at 140, although he does look pretty soft at the weight. Also, what if Lipinets upsets Mikey tomorrow? He might just become the top guy unexpectedly overnight lol.

[Eff Pandas]

Also, what if Lipinets upsets Mikey tomorrow? He might just become the top guy unexpectedly overnight lol.

I think thats a possibility myself. Sergey winning anyway. I'm lowkey thinking there is upset potential here.

If that happened I'd still argue the division is to up for grabs with so many guys on the rise & making belt runs that beating Mikey may make Sergey the number 1 guy for the moment, but the division is influx like a mofo right now. Sergey would likely need to beat some other up & comers to keep his spot through the rest of this year & next to hang onto it.

[Tony2.0]

My favorite for a while was Amir Imam. But he kinda fell outta rotation. I still think he will be a contender at 140 by the end of next year if he remains at 140. Him along with Baranchyk (if he works on skill and stops loading up). Eventho I hate his style, Barthelemy will most likely be there. Prograis, is still a contender not 100% sold on him yet. Postol, if he remains at 140.

[.!WAR MIKEY!.]

Mikey Garcia, He will rules 2 divisions at once the 135 and 140, easy work their literally no one there that can beat him right now.

[Dr.Cool]

It's always hard to say at 140. Anyone who can prove he is the best at 140 can make a lot, and I mean a lot, more $$$ fighting at 147. Everyone who is good enough to move up, does move up. Khan, DSG, Peterson, Alexander, Bradley, Maidana, JMM, etc. ... heck, Pac and Mosley both just said screw 140 and jumped from 135 to 147.

Prograis has to be considered #2 behind Mikey at this point. Mikey will beat Lipinets, beat Linares at 135, and then probably move to ww. I don't see Mikey staying at 135 or 140 after Lipinets and Linares. Heck, if Prograis can get good enough opponents in the ring with him, he could be fighting at ww by the end of next year. People will say wait a minute, why the heck don't Mikey and Prograis fight each other? And they should. Without a doubt they should. But they probably won't. Why would Mikey fight someone as freakin good as Prograis has looked, yet who is mostly unknown, and one step removed from being a prospect? The risk-reward is not there. Mikey will get less $$$ against Prograis, than numerous other guys who aren't half as good. Mikey has bigger ambitions... I haven't seen the others to tell the truth, but it's hard to place anyone I've never seen over Prograis. Dudes, a freaking beast. Him and Mikey and Bud... like I said, everything happens at welterweight.

[Dr.Cool]

Mikey Garcia, He will rules 2 divisions at once the 135 and 140, easy work their literally no one there that can beat him right now.

...So, everything goes according to plan and Mikey ko's this Lipinets tomorrow and then beats Linares at 135 later this year... Then what? Then who? The big names, the big money, and any real legacy will only come at 147. Everyone knows that.

I disagree that he will rule 135 and 140. He isn't going to stay at either to rule them. I say he's too good for 135 and 140, so he will go to a division he really has no right to be in. Just because he is that good. I don't know how Mikey will do against the top welterweights, but I think he is far too good to waste much more time on guys his own size.

[_original_]

I think thats a possibility myself. Sergey winning anyway. I'm lowkey thinking there is upset potential here.

If that happened I'd still argue the division is to up for grabs with so many guys on the rise & making belt runs that beating Mikey may make Sergey the number 1 guy for the moment, but the division is influx like a mofo right now. Sergey would likely need to beat some other up & comers to keep his spot through the rest of this year & next to hang onto it.

Yeah, I wouldn't be too shocked although I'm expecting a Mikey UD.

The division is up for grabs for sure, I'm excited for Ramirez-Imam VS Prograis.

[boliodogs]

I like Prograis and Mikey the best right now with the beast who fought before Prograis a possible top guy for the future. Mikey should go no higher than 140 in my opinion. He is 30 years old so his growing days are over and he is too small to beat the very best welterweights like Spence, Thurman and Crawford.

[deanrw]

I think thats a possibility myself. Sergey winning anyway. I'm lowkey thinking there is upset potential here.

If that happened I'd still argue the division is to up for grabs with so many guys on the rise & making belt runs that beating Mikey may make Sergey the number 1 guy for the moment, but the division is influx like a mofo right now. Sergey would likely need to beat some other up & comers to keep his spot through the rest of this year & next to hang onto it.

I cannot see it. I last saw Lipinets struggle with that hondo dude badly. That is why Mikey targeted him.

I think it will be Prograis or that Ramirez guy.