What's the outlook for the light-welter/welter divisions?

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 19 May 2005, 04:30

How do you see things shaping up over the next couple of years? At the moment you've got Zab Judah looking nothing short of sensational as champ at 147, with super tough Margarito still in a good position. I watched Mosley last night v Estrada and he seemed to struggle badly with a pace he used to be only too happy with, fingers crossed he can erase that problem somehow and beat the drum for another mega-fight.

I just can't see how Hatton and Gatti are going to overcome the respective tasks ahead of them, too much firepower and talent coming their way. Depending on how impressive they look Tszyu v Mayweather is potentially a classic showdown, although not as big a fight as Tszyu v Judah II. And what will the future be for Harris and Cotto? Perhaps we'll see a unification between Mayweather Jr and Harris.

Personally I believe Mayweather moving up divisions will only hurt his legacy at the end of it all. Had he remained at 130 he could have taken the 4 big scalps down there one after the other, such was his magnificent form. But since he left that weight class he's failed to really excite. This will cost him.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 May 2005, 04:54

Please do not forget Cory Spinks - 1-1 with Judah. He was doing well in the rematch for some time.

A dangerous fighter who has gone AWOL in the Welters is Vernon Forrest.

Chopping Right · Post by **Chopping Right** » 19 May 2005, 05:32

stujones wrote:Please do not forget Cory Spinks - 1-1 with Judah. He was doing well in the rematch for some time.

A dangerous fighter who has gone AWOL in the Welters is Vernon Forrest.

Vernon's getting on a bit now though so it might be all over on that one.

BubiScholz · Post by **BubiScholz** » 19 May 2005, 06:01

After beating Klose for the European Welter title it is rumuored that Oktay Urkal fights Luis Collazo for the WBA Belt.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 19 May 2005, 06:47

BubiScholz wrote:After beating Klose for the European Welter title it is rumuored that Oktay Urkal fights Luis Collazo for the WBA Belt.

Fantastic news...anyway moving on, i think Mayweather should stay around the Lightweight/Light Welterweight scene and look to clean up there, there are a lot of great matchups to be made. Why are fighters always so obsessed with jumping the weights all the time? Fair enough if a fighter has dominated a division and looks for new challanges or he genuinely cannot make the weight anymore then that is okay but some guys seem to do it for fun or even to avoid challenges.

Last night i was watching a very good scrap between Travis Simms and Bronco McKart and the HBO team were talking about how Simms could consider moving up in weight soon. Why? He has just won the WBA belt of Alex Garcia and looked really good in beating a tough guy in McKart, why the obsession with him moving up? Surely he should look to unify his belt with some of the other challengers and champions first. It doesn't make sense to me.

J · Post by J » 19 May 2005, 06:50

totally agree with you there Steve, Im not one for hopping weights for the sake of it, thats why i have so much admiration for Hopkins, middle was his best weight and he wasnt moving for anyone.

they want to fight me at my weight fair enough.

of course he will probably move up to take on the winner of johnsons tarver but this after 20 plus defences at his natural weight is understandable, chasing the last big payday.

Mayweather I quite fancy to get undone by Gatti you know.
He isnt going to go the whole fight without getitng tagged and he wont have been that hard by a guy that size before in his career.

i coudl be made to look silly but im going for a gatti late stoppage on this and it will be floyd's own fault for moving up far too quickly for no real valid reason there were plenty of fights for him at lightweight.

BubiScholz · Post by **BubiScholz** » 19 May 2005, 06:53

Oktay only moved up to Welter because he had problems to make the weight in light-welter. with 35 years. that´s understandable, i think.

J · Post by J » 19 May 2005, 06:56

indeedd i wasnt referring to someone outgrowing the weight mate.

more just moving up for he sake of it to chase the cash. The big fights will come if you perfrom well at whatever weight you are in.

its a matter of patience I guess. Pac is another example should nver be fighting at super feather yet, pletny of fights at feather, Harrinson, Chi, Marquez. C;lean up your natural div first. Proved his undoing against the bigger and smarter morales.

I have no probs with fighters moving up cos they need to as their bodies get heavier as they get older, thats just common sense.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 19 May 2005, 06:57

BubiScholz wrote:Oktay only moved up to Welter because he had problems to make the weight in light-welter. with 35 years. that´s understandable, i think.

I agree Bubi, Urkal has been a Light Welter for most of his career to my knowledge and if he is looking to move up now (and he is tight at the weight) then that is not a problem. It is the guys who have 2 or 3 fights at a weight and move somewhere else that annoys me, how can you seriously make your mark and dominate a division in such a short space of time.

Also, calling a guy a 4 or 5 weight world chamion when he picks off a weak link or low grade title is another one that pisses me off....but that is another story

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 19 May 2005, 07:17

hate to say this but hasnt forrest got serious colon-cancer...

J · Post by J » 19 May 2005, 07:18

blimey has he, thats terrible.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 19 May 2005, 07:22

apologies - just checked back, it was just a rumour.

BubiScholz · Post by **BubiScholz** » 19 May 2005, 07:31

steve689 wrote:
BubiScholz wrote:Oktay only moved up to Welter because he had problems to make the weight in light-welter. with 35 years. that´s understandable, i think.
I agree Bubi, Urkal has been a Light Welter for most of his career to my knowledge and if he is looking to move up now (and he is tight at the weight) then that is not a problem. It is the guys who have 2 or 3 fights at a weight and move somewhere else that annoys me, how can you seriously make your mark and dominate a division in such a short space of time.

Also, calling a guy a 4 or 5 weight world chamion when he picks off a weak link or low grade title is another one that pisses me off....but that is another story

It´s just doing the Oscar de la Tortilla-Kournikova :x

J · Post by J » 19 May 2005, 07:34

Wales wrote:apologies - just checked back, it was just a rumour.

aah good.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 19 May 2005, 09:31

Forrest moved up to LM anyway didn't he?

Wolfman91 · Post by **Wolfman91** » 20 May 2005, 10:26

Ok lets get back to original question. Fantastic we have a unified champ at welter in Zab Judah, I think his next fight should be Antonio Margarito though to get the full picture. Another WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO champ would be brilliant and it shouldn't be a problem as they're both with DKP.

Ok the Light Welters, there is so much talent. Kostya Tszyu is the best he was stripped of all his belts because of inactivity and injuries so he's the true champ. Isn't he still the WBA Super Champion and WBC Emeritus Champ (what does that all mean?)!!!

Lets just get it sorted and put them all in a tournament and see who comes out on top, can you imagine a tournament with Tszyu, Mayweather, Gatti, Harris and Coutto?

Could someone please tell me why Vivian Harris is allowed to defend his title against Carlos Maussa? This guy lost his last fight against Arturo Morua for a meaningless title! They should cancel the Coutto v Abdulaev fight and get Coutto and Harris in the ring agaisnt each other!

I also agree with the whole jumping weight arguments. Mayweather has been disappointing in this respect and he's recently said that if he doesn't get a fight with Tszyu that he'll probably move up again after the Gatti fight! What's that all about!

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 20 May 2005, 11:10

Tszyu was stripped of his WBA title, but still holds two of them. But none of that really matters as, even if he were stripped of all 3 belts, he's considered as THE champ at light welter. I suspect Harris is defending against Maussa because no-one will fight him ( except Urkal whom he has already beaten twice ).

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 20 May 2005, 12:08

There've been rumours that Diego Corrales is looking to move up - at 6 foot, he'd be considered tall even for a welterweight.

I could see him pole-axing Vivian Harris, and maybe even Zab Judah too.

Must say, Zab looked a million dollars the other night - those were awesome punches he was throwing. But that chin, plus the Corrales punch, would add up to a dangerous evening for him.

What about Judah v Mayweather Superfight? That is a hell of a tough one to call....Still, Floyd looks near enough unbeatable, so I'd go with him.
I think he'll outclass Gatti no trouble.

Tszyu v Corrales?

Don't think Oscar would fancy his chances too much at 147 somehow.

Ulysses · Post by **Ulysses** » 20 May 2005, 12:45

It looks like De La Hoya will be boxing on a Sep 17 PPV at 150lbs. I'd then expect him to challenge whoever the champion is at welter.
I'd fancy either De La Hoya or Tszyu to topple Zab. Whoever gets there first!

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 20 May 2005, 15:27

MightyWarrior wrote:
What about Judah v Mayweather Superfight? That is a hell of a tough one to call....Still, Floyd looks near enough unbeatable, so I'd go with him.

Good call, Mayweather-Judah would be a massive fight, imagine the ego's clashing at the press conference?! Both are extremely fast and skillful but Mayweather has the better chin on the basis that i have never seen him hit on it! Judah has been dropped by Millett, Tszyu and Spinks. I would back Floyd by decision though and i think he will have few troubles with Gatti as well, Gatti is a warrior but i actually tip Mayweather to turn up the heat and stop him.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 20 May 2005, 18:19

Chopping Right wrote:
stujones wrote:Please do not forget Cory Spinks - 1-1 with Judah. He was doing well in the rematch for some time.

A dangerous fighter who has gone AWOL in the Welters is Vernon Forrest.
Vernon's getting on a bit now though so it might be all over on that one.

Wasn't Vernon going to 154, I wonder how he'd do against Winky

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 20 May 2005, 18:38

Mayweather and Judah are friends and said they will never fight.

Im not convinced about Judahs chin at welter at all. He was dropped numerous times at light-welter. Also down a few times against a total non-punching Cory Spinks. He's dangerous but very vulnerable and could be takin out at any time.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 21 May 2005, 06:36

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Mayweather and Judah are friends and said they will never fight.

Im not convinced about Judahs chin at welter at all. He was dropped numerous times at light-welter. Also down a few times against a total non-punching Cory Spinks. He's dangerous but very vulnerable and could be takin out at any time.

Wrong.

They said they would fight if the money is right.

What's the outlook for the light-welter/welter divisions?

What's the outlook for the light-welter/welter divisions?

Light Welter Division