Cracking Prediction by me (Spoiler).

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 17 Jun 2005, 19:37

from Fightnews.

Leavander Johnson (34-4-2, 25 KOs) has moments ago claimed the vacant IBF lightweight title with a seventh round stoppage of former WBA and European champion Stefano Zoff (43-10-2, 17 KOs) at the Palalido Palace in Milan

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 18 Jun 2005, 05:36

shit, i was debating picking johnson due to greater class, but thought he was too old/shot/would get jobbed.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 18 Jun 2005, 06:15

Riddick Blowe wrote:shit, i was debating picking johnson due to greater class, but thought he was too old/shot/would get jobbed.

my thoughts as well

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 18 Jun 2005, 06:29

I still think its a title that the Brit boys should be looking at, but a 6th round stoppage of Zoff in Italy is pretty impressive.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 18 Jun 2005, 06:54

stujones wrote:I still think its a title that the Brit boys should be looking at, but a 6th round stoppage of Zoff in Italy is pretty impressive.

Its a definetly winnable title now Johnson has it, but the lightweights in this country are not the best at the moment, Earl , Bennett, Thaxton are probaly the highest rated, all good fighters but not world class

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 18 Jun 2005, 07:01

I've recieved some stick with it (regarding the ratings) but I don't think we should be rating Thaxton that highly untill he has beaten a decentish fighter on his return.

I'm not saying hasn't the talent /skills to be the best of the bunch, but it was a long injury and he has yet to prove himself.

I appreciate people have said the same about Eamonn Magee, but Allan Vester was an okay fighter.

I would strongly tip a pre-injury Thaxton to beat the 2005 version of Johnson.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 18 Jun 2005, 07:05

I've not seen Thaxton since he came back, might see him pick it up a bit in his next couple of fights, i think he won one of the bullshit titles last time out.

If the shoulder has healed, then he has the talent to beat Johnson.

DK2112 · Post by **DK2112** » 18 Jun 2005, 07:28

My prediction of Zoff UD not too clever then...

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 18 Jun 2005, 07:31

Appologies if I influenced any of you guys in any way.

I think my "Zoff is going to win" was a pretty clear indication of my pick.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 18 Jun 2005, 07:40

stujones wrote:I've recieved some stick with it (regarding the ratings) but I don't think we should be rating Thaxton that highly untill he has beaten a decentish fighter on his return.

I'm not saying hasn't the talent /skills to be the best of the bunch, but it was a long injury and he has yet to prove himself.

I appreciate people have said the same about Eamonn Magee, but Allan Vester was an okay fighter.

I would strongly tip a pre-injury Thaxton to beat the 2005 version of Johnson.

I think you know where I stand with Thaxton and his ratings, of course he should be in with the best, he's been in with the best at light-welter and now that he has moved down he is too strong for them.

He's been frozen out of the British eliminators, rightly or wrongly, and that's the reason why he choose to go down the WBF route, he won an eliminator for the title before his injury and after a points victory of Silence Saheed who did well to last past the first punch and then a devastating knockout of the normally durable Carl Allen in the first round.

Jon didn't look his best against De Busillet he looked nervous and too eager but once he suffered a flash knockdown it seemed to bring him out of his shell and he knocked De Busillet out in the next round.

He would give any of the current Brits a run for their money and most of the top Europeans. Negotiations are underway for his next fight which will probably be in September so watch this space for more info.

I'm sure Jon will be watching Sunday's fight with interest he would be happy to fight either of them.

Kev

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 18 Jun 2005, 09:31

I'm not saying I don't agree, but needs to prove it.

Yes, it was a bit wrong that he was out of the eliminators, but I don't think it was well out of order - there were clear cut cases for all of the competitors in the eliminator also.

There are plenty of decentish UK fighters that a win and he would move up some serious places in my rankings.

Guys like Mark Winters, Anthony Maynard, Chris Barnett etc - good fighters and I think a win over one of them combined with his past record would see him soar into the top 5.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 18 Jun 2005, 10:05

In order to defend his title Jon has to fight a top 100 rated boxer, Winters is 99 in the World according to Boxrec, where did you dig Barnett out from he hasn't fought in two years! :-)

Thaxton is currently 54 in Boxrec's ratings and 81 in the IBO ratings.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 18 Jun 2005, 13:45

Kevin wrote:In order to defend his title Jon has to fight a top 100 rated boxer.

Top 100 according to which ratings, the WBF?

I think my last post was a little confused, while I do rank Thaxton above Winters it would still be a good little test, like Winters was vs Watson. I'm not saying Winters is a huge step for Thaxton (given his past) but it is a big step from his previous comeback opponents.

As for Barnett, I guess time flies - I thought it was only about the year - okay scratch him off. Any of the top guys fight Barnett won't do them much good for their credibility IMO.

There is very little, and I mean very little difference between 4 - about 13. Thaxton features in that list. Dean didn't really do his credibility much harm when he lost to Bennett but it cost him a top 10 place, that 10th spot is particularly under threat with the Gavin Rees problems. A win over Winters, or a foreign opponent with a similar record then I can see Thaxton (or Phillips or whoever) move ahead of Dave Stewart. All of these fighters in the top 10 with the exception of Lee Meager and Gavin Rees have beaten top ten domestic opponents at the time of their contest. So has my #11 fighter (Dean). Whilst Meager didn't beat Hunt he cannot be ranked too much lower than him given the closeness of the contest, and Rees did beat a former Commonwealth champion in Muya. Dean beat top tenner (at the time) Hibbert.

Thaxton hasn't BEATEN that level of opponent for a long time.

If his title is costing him anything like meaningful British fights - like Winters or Maynard due to their low ranking then the best thing he can do is vacate it.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 18 Jun 2005, 13:54

If I keep going I'll be on a Thaxton campaign a kin to Jim Glen's on his grandad Bert Gilroy!!!

Thaxton would fight anyone one but he wants to fight the best and prove he is the best in the division.. I don't see Winters as a step up, rated number three by Boxing Monthly behind Jason Cook, who won't fight at lightweight again and Kevin Bennett, Jon doesn't need the likes of Winters in my book. Mutu number 5 or 6 in Europe was the man they wanted for the WBF title but he pulled out the day before the press conference, but his rating in Boxrec is just about top 100 even though he high up the EBU ratings.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 18 Jun 2005, 14:06

As I said, Mutu would do fine and it is a signal that Jon believes maybe the best is yet to come.