I've not enjoyed middleweight very much. Not until Pavlik came along and KO'd Miranda and Taylor. Soon Kelly will have outgrown middleweight, as he is massive at the weight.
Abraham has been content to make safe defences of his IBF belt. Sturm has been even less bold. However, Abraham is fighting Miranda in a middle/super middle catchweight in FL, on Showtime this summer. Some risk, that is (though there is no risk to AA's title). Sturm could have a solid fight with Sebastian Sylvester, who earned a WBA title shot by stopping Javier Castillejo.
On the domestic scene, we have Darren Barker, a very tidy, well rounded young boxer. His Commonwealth title look a real help, as it will allow him to fight tough Aussies, Canadians and Africans. Indications are that he MIGHT be fighting Kofi Jantuah, a real test. technically he could defend vs anyone like Damiel Geale, Daniel Dawson, Jantuah, Walid Smichet or that St Juste guy who pulled out. That belt could realy enable Barker to progress to higher levels. Probably doesn't even need the British champion.
There's also Macklin, still rebuilding after the epic loss to Jamie Moore, looking pretty good. And Moore himself is only 6-pounds down - who knows if opportunity knocks, we might see Moore in the fray as well. (Even if Moore wins a world light middle title, I still think the money might be up at middle).
And There are a pair of US prospects "Mean" Joe Greene and "Kid Chocolate" Peter Quillin. Greene's chin - like Barker's - is questionable. But he is a real southpaw talent. Ppl like to say Quillin is a SUPER middle, but the fact is he's a man who relies on brute strength, who fights closer to the 160-pound limit than the 168-limit.
Anyone else have high hopes for the middles? Have I missed anyone out?
Improvements at Middleweight?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gennadiy_Golovkin
this guy is very good. if he stays focussed he could be a very good middlweight. Stopped Bute with a bodyshot in the Ams
this guy is very good. if he stays focussed he could be a very good middlweight. Stopped Bute with a bodyshot in the Ams
He fights on these Spotlight boxing shows on Eurosport... so it probably means it will be about 2020 before he is an world title fight.Autobarn wrote:I think Asikainen will be a solid test when Barker and Macklin move up.
Not seen anything of Zbik.
I like him though.
I think Zbik vs Konecny would be a decent next fight for him.
I think Barker has more potential than the Swede. If he gets seasoned on guys like Jantuah, St Juste, Geale/Dawson and Smichet, he will be more than ready for Euro level. This could be a really interesting learning curve.stujones wrote:Depends on when... Asikainen is like 32 now - but if he aint shot... then he beats the pair of them I think.Autobarn wrote:I think Asikainen will be a solid test when Barker and Macklin move up.
Not seen anything of Zbik.
Hopefully Barker-Jantuah happens and hopefully he beats Jantuah better than Abraham did. (And hopefully Barker doesn't get knocked out, as he is one of the UK's better schooled fighters; we could do with more like him.)
BTW I like what I see of Quillin and Greene. They both seem to have real hunger and killer instinct. These guys will be in good fights and they have some talent.
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TerribleTerry
- Heavyweight
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I posted one of his amatuer fights a while back - try the link and see if it is still live:Autobarn wrote:Zbik looks good. Like a combination between Inkin and Kotelnik.
Forgot about Golovkin. Has anyone actually seen this guy fight? Sounds promising.
Here is his opening round match from the 2003 World Champs. He looked a razor sharp, well drilled amateur. Be interesting to se if his style adapts to the pro game fully:
Oleg Mashkin (Ukr) - Gennady Golovkin (Kaz)
the fight:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LJ13SYBC
EDIT: The link is dead. I still have the fight on my hard drive - let me know if you want it and I will have a crack at uploading it for you AB.
Maybe - I just don't think he is ready for Asikanen (the finn BTW) at this moment. I do really rate Barker... also rate Asikanen... I think he could beat Sturm.Autobarn wrote:I think Barker has more potential than the Swede. If he gets seasoned on guys like Jantuah, St Juste, Geale/Dawson and Smichet, he will be more than ready for Euro level. This could be a really interesting learning curve.stujones wrote:Depends on when... Asikainen is like 32 now - but if he aint shot... then he beats the pair of them I think.Autobarn wrote:I think Asikainen will be a solid test when Barker and Macklin move up.
Not seen anything of Zbik.
Hopefully Barker-Jantuah happens and hopefully he beats Jantuah better than Abraham did. (And hopefully Barker doesn't get knocked out, as he is one of the UK's better schooled fighters; we could do with more like him.)
BTW I like what I see of Quillin and Greene. They both seem to have real hunger and killer instinct. These guys will be in good fights and they have some talent.
Forgot about Greene.... Yes, I am a big fan of him.. think he can go to the top.
Did you ever see Greene vs Edson Aguirre? Painful to watch, that one. He knocked Aguirre on his back - seemingly out - about six times. Aguirre miraculously kept getting up. Bout went 6 or 7 rds. Seen Greene fight a few times and I always end up feeling sorry for the opponent.
IMO Quillin looks - relatively - agricultural next to Greene. Although if he adds a few fine points to that brute strength he can be a middle to be reckoned with.
Good that there is a nice mix of Yanks, Brits and Eastern Europeans/Russians. I think pretty soon some of this well schooled, hungry Euros & Russians can make a massive mark on boxing. Zbik appears to have the tools. I keep hearing great things about Golovkin. I think the light middle Baysangurov could do impressive things as well, though Europeans seldom seem to move up in weight.
IMO Quillin looks - relatively - agricultural next to Greene. Although if he adds a few fine points to that brute strength he can be a middle to be reckoned with.
Good that there is a nice mix of Yanks, Brits and Eastern Europeans/Russians. I think pretty soon some of this well schooled, hungry Euros & Russians can make a massive mark on boxing. Zbik appears to have the tools. I keep hearing great things about Golovkin. I think the light middle Baysangurov could do impressive things as well, though Europeans seldom seem to move up in weight.
Was that on the Ibragimov vs Klitchsko bill? If yes, then yes and I was mighty impressed.Autobarn wrote:Did you ever see Greene vs Edson Aguirre? Painful to watch, that one. He knocked Aguirre on his back - seemingly out - about six times. Aguirre miraculously kept getting up. Bout went 6 or 7 rds. Seen Greene fight a few times and I always end up feeling sorry for the opponent.
IMO Quillin looks - relatively - agricultural next to Greene. Although if he adds a few fine points to that brute strength he can be a middle to be reckoned with.
Good that there is a nice mix of Yanks, Brits and Eastern Europeans/Russians. I think pretty soon some of this well schooled, hungry Euros & Russians can make a massive mark on boxing. Zbik appears to have the tools. I keep hearing great things about Golovkin. I think the light middle Baysangurov could do impressive things as well, though Europeans seldom seem to move up in weight.
I sort of get Joe Greene and Rock Allen a bit confused (bizarre I know) - I think its because I saw them first at around the same time and was impressed with both.
Nah, this was an earlier fight...On the Klitschko bill he was more controlled and better than I've ever seen him. I just thought, he would absolutely crucify John Duddy while watching that one.stujones wrote:Was that on the Ibragimov vs Klitchsko bill? If yes, then yes and I was mighty impressed.Autobarn wrote:Did you ever see Greene vs Edson Aguirre? Painful to watch, that one. He knocked Aguirre on his back - seemingly out - about six times. Aguirre miraculously kept getting up. Bout went 6 or 7 rds. Seen Greene fight a few times and I always end up feeling sorry for the opponent.
IMO Quillin looks - relatively - agricultural next to Greene. Although if he adds a few fine points to that brute strength he can be a middle to be reckoned with.
Good that there is a nice mix of Yanks, Brits and Eastern Europeans/Russians. I think pretty soon some of this well schooled, hungry Euros & Russians can make a massive mark on boxing. Zbik appears to have the tools. I keep hearing great things about Golovkin. I think the light middle Baysangurov could do impressive things as well, though Europeans seldom seem to move up in weight.
I sort of get Joe Greene and Rock Allen a bit confused (bizarre I know) - I think its because I saw them first at around the same time and was impressed with both.