By Troy Ondrizek
Over the past two-days, there have been some significant changes in the boxing world, and even though the welterweights were affected by them, the greatest impact was made on the light middleweight division. The retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the upset of number one contender Vernon Forrest, by unranked Sergio Mora, has thrown this division into a position that it hasn’t seen in some time, the spotlight.
I’m going to be honest; I think the last time I wrote anything on this division was regarding the Karmazin/Spinks fight. The light middleweights have been without a champion for years and the names atop the ledger for their top contenders reads a who’s who of "who the hell are they?"
The lack of name recognition doesn’t take away from the talent level in the division. Even though the new WBC titlist Sergio Mora thinks poorly of his new home as he stated in the post fight conference, Mora said, “I will be honest that this is a horrible division and I am going back up to middleweight if there is nothing available. If I cannot make it exciting, it’s an awful division. I think everyone will agree that the welterweight division is where it is at and I cannot get to that weight. I felt strong at this weight but it’s the ugliest division in boxing. So there is a good fight at 154 then I am going to defend that belt and believe me I will defend it if there is a fight out there. If there is nothing exciting for me, it is all about what motivates me.”
Thing is though, the middleweight division is a dearth of talent as well, maybe even a gloomier place to dwell than the division south of it. Let’s take a look at the rankings coming into this past weekend.
Middleweights: Light Middleweights:
Champion: Kelly Pavlik Vacant
1. Arthur Abraham Vernon Forrest
2. Winky Wright Verno Phillips
3. Felix Sturm Oscar De La Hoya
4. Sebastian Sylvester Cory Spinks
5. Amin Asikainen Alex Bunema
6. Randy Griffin Joachim Alcine
7. Javier Castillejo Sergei Dzindziruk
8. Raymond Joval Travis Simms
9. David Lopez Roman Karmazin
10. Giovanni Lorenzo Sergio Martinez
The middleweights have a significant advantage over the lighter boys, they have a champion, one known all around the world in Kelly Pavlik, who this weekend destroyed undeserving Gary Lockett in a mandatory bout. Next up for Pavlik is another mandatory against Marco Antonio Rubio (who like Lockett isn’t a ranked middleweight).
Did someone forget to tell Kelly that when you’re the linear champion, you have no mandatories. There are only two fights involving Pavlik and this weight class that fans want to see, first and foremost, him and Arthur Abraham. Secondly, a bout with Winky Wright, who could go down and be a contender at 154 if he wanted to. Besides those two fights, there is nothing left to conquer in the middleweight division.
As for Sergio Mora and his declaration, well there is no champion at 154, how about he help change that, surely he will have a top ranking after ousting Forrest. Plus I’m sure De La Hoya would like to face a guy with a decent “name” and one that doesn’t pose too many problems in the ring. Mora fits that bill. Also Cory Spinks is in the market for a fight after he beat Verno Phillips in the ring but was defeated by the judges afterward. If Mora is looking to become more than a titlist then light middleweight is his only bet.
I personally feel that there are several intriguing matchups to be had at the light middleweight level, one could throw Sergio up against almost any of the top 10 and it will create some interest, except for maybe a fight with Spinks. If any of the top light middleweights faced off it would be much appreciated. Granted HBO isn’t going to do a “24/7” with any of these guys (outside of De La Hoya) as if they were Pavlik or Wright, but c’mon how else are they going to get noticed?
The present state of the middleweights is doing good, but after Pavlik, Abraham, and Wright, the future is starting to look bleak. Sure there are some good fighters, Amin Asikainen and Sebastian Sylvester will entertain European fans for as long as they keep going at it, and will they be perennial contenders, same with Felix Sturm.
However, the number of quality prospects and fringe contenders coming up in the ranks is just short of sad. Giovanni Lorenzo isn’t going anywhere, he’ll be out once he fights a solid opponent. John Duddy is exciting and has a great following but his flaws are showing. Andy Lee was upset by Brian Vera, but a couple of tweaks could patch him up and he could be something special. Speaking of Vera his heart and power could find him in some entertaining bouts with fringe fighters, and two young unproven guys like Peter Quillin and Gregorz Proksa have some serious potential.
The light middleweights don’t have the same drawing power now, but are vastly deeper in talent and the future looks powerful. Sergei Dzindziruk can flat out fight and his entertaining and somewhat controversial win over Czech contender Lukas Konecny proved this. Joachim Alcine is a technically sound fighter who could give any guy his size trouble. Sergio Martinez is finally getting some recognition after 45 career fights and only 1 loss (to Antonio Margarito). As the future is ushered in, so will be the power.
James Kirkland, I bet you if they put him in with a jackal, it would be hard to differentiate who was meaner and had a better killer instinct; same with Joel Julio, the “Love Child” has no friends in the ring. Alfredo Angulo, has more power and skill than what is necessary for success, and the machismo and bravado of Ricardo Mayorga cannot be denied. That’s just the icing on the cake, skilled guys like Sechew Powell (who is adding power to his to his repertoire), Yuri Foreman, and Ishe Smith are more than solid fighters. Fringe contenders like Cornelius Bundrage, Lukas Konecny, and Kassim Ouma would prove a good test for the aforementioned fighters or someone like Pawel Wolak. There is no real “top” to the light middleweight division, but it’s loaded the rest of the way down.
No longer a place where former welterweight champions go to retire, the light middleweight division is starting to give the middleweights and super middleweights a run for our attention. Sergio said in the post fight interview that he wasn’t the most religious man, but maybe he’ll have a revelation and realize that light middleweight is his destiny.