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I was looking through the divisions the other day, and the US's hold on the divisions is now increasingly tenuous since the end of the cold war.
Here's a brief look at the higher weights where Americans are normally competitive (featherweights et al omitted for obvious reasons):
Heavyweight - just one Rahman chin-check away from being 100% Soviet/former Soviet satellite titlists.
Cruiserweight - If we count Bell as an American, then he's holding the unified title. If we count him as Jamaican, then it's a different story. Although the belts are unified, there are a wide variety of nations clammering to get at them...
Light-Heavyweight - A division with which it's impossible to get a clear picture on at the moment. In six months time it may be easier to say, but at the moment its ruler is retired, so...
Super-Middleweight - Up to March 25th Showtime were plugging this often overlooked division as "wide open". Now it's one that they don't talk about.
Middleweight - For the moment, this division is safe, held by Taylor. But will he be able to get past Sturm and the winner of Abraham-Miranda?
Welterweights - At the moment this is held by an Argentinian, though it's perhaps fair to say it's only a matter of time. But while we're all arguing about who would win out of Hatton vs. Mayweather, would either of them get past Margarito?
It's amusing to look at the current list, because often on here you'll see people type the tired old cliche "they need to come to the States to prove they can fight". But with the current state of American impact on world boxing, shouldn't we really be saying... Americans need to come to Europe?
Here's a brief look at the higher weights where Americans are normally competitive (featherweights et al omitted for obvious reasons):
Heavyweight - just one Rahman chin-check away from being 100% Soviet/former Soviet satellite titlists.
Cruiserweight - If we count Bell as an American, then he's holding the unified title. If we count him as Jamaican, then it's a different story. Although the belts are unified, there are a wide variety of nations clammering to get at them...
Light-Heavyweight - A division with which it's impossible to get a clear picture on at the moment. In six months time it may be easier to say, but at the moment its ruler is retired, so...
Super-Middleweight - Up to March 25th Showtime were plugging this often overlooked division as "wide open". Now it's one that they don't talk about.
Middleweight - For the moment, this division is safe, held by Taylor. But will he be able to get past Sturm and the winner of Abraham-Miranda?
Welterweights - At the moment this is held by an Argentinian, though it's perhaps fair to say it's only a matter of time. But while we're all arguing about who would win out of Hatton vs. Mayweather, would either of them get past Margarito?
It's amusing to look at the current list, because often on here you'll see people type the tired old cliche "they need to come to the States to prove they can fight". But with the current state of American impact on world boxing, shouldn't we really be saying... Americans need to come to Europe?
GOOD, GREAT, WONDERFUL, WAY TO GO, I'LL GET YOU A COOKIE RIGHT AWAY 
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