Boxings next Superstar?

[Stuarty]

Now that Floyd has apparently hung up the gloves who do you guys think will be boxings next poster boy? Whoever comes out and unifies the welterweight division has a good chance but we already have some smashing fighters who could lay claim to the P4P title already. Fearsome punchers like GGG and Kovalev, we also have quality operators like Andre Ward and the often overlooked Roman Gonazalez. Terrance Crawford looks the real deal and is great to watch. I've probably missed a few out but they are the guys who spring to mind.

[whiskey]

I think that despite all Ward has achieved (gold medal, long unbeaten run, titles, super six trophy) that if he is not big time by now, then he never will be !

I personally think boxing is sick and tired of slick, unanimous decisions and risk-averse "entertainers" like Floyd and it would be foolish to try and swap him with someone in the same mould.

I barely know a single person that didn't answer the "did you watch Pac Mayweather fight?" with any other answer than "Yeah, it was sh*t wasn't it?"

At least with Golovkin and Kovalev we are going to get guys looking to fight and unleash damage - than win one round at a time.

[palooka]

It's got to be Golovkin, he is a very active boxer in a prestige division, he's not been the distance in 7 years, he is learning English and has a very attractive style of Boxing - he also seems genuinely unconcerned who he fights.

Roman Gonzales deserves a mention though I feel he's destined to be this generations Ricardo Lopez - venerated by boxing fans for his greatness and unknown to the masses.

[Nightmare Roy]

I picked Crawford as he's American he'll probably get more air time/publicity etc. GGG too hopefully, if anyone will fight him.

[Boxerbeetle]

I'd say Canelo is the most likely candidate tbh.

[Finn]

Lomanchenko for me.

[Stuarty]

I'd say Canelo is the most likely candidate tbh.

How do you see him and GGG panning out if they were to fight?

[Boxerbeetle]

I'd say Canelo is the most likely candidate tbh.

How do you see him and GGG panning out if they were to fight?

I'd make GGG the favourite, but I certainly wouldn't rule out Canelo.

[Counter-puncher]

Nah, GGG would utterly club ginger, baby seal style.

I think Inoue will eventually, like Gonzalez, be considered by us boxing nerds to be p4p top 3-5

[Stuarty]

Lomanchenko for me.

Hopefully they can make Loma vs Rigo next year. One for the purists!

[Boxerbeetle]

Hang on, I thought we were just talking in terms of PPV numbers? Not P4P?

[palooka]

Hang on, I thought we were just talking in terms of PPV numbers? Not P4P?

The poll says P4P, if it's PPV king then for the next 18 months it'll be Canelo though I think Cotto will beat him down.

[Stuarty]

Hang on, I thought we were just talking in terms of PPV numbers? Not P4P?

Both? That's why I included Gonzalez in the poll. He will probably never be the most popular amongst the casuals but P4P he is as talented as anyone.

[Counter-puncher]

Hang on, I thought we were just talking in terms of PPV numbers? Not P4P?

OP said both 'superstar' and p4p so its a bit ambiguous.

[Stuarty]

Hang on, I thought we were just talking in terms of PPV numbers? Not P4P?

The poll says P4P, if it's PPV king then for the next 18 months it'll be Canelo though I think Cotto will beat him down.

I can't see Cotto winning that one tbh. Would love to see him do it but I think Alvarez is too big, young and powerful for him. Hope you're right though.

[Stuarty]

Hang on, I thought we were just talking in terms of PPV numbers? Not P4P?

OP said both 'superstar' and p4p so its a bit ambiguous.

I did mean both. It's a debate. It's ashame the smaller talented guys get overlooked.

[powderPuff]

Crawford for me

He has all the tools and seems like a decent person too

[Boxing Prospect]

"Superstar" on P4p basis will be guys like Gonzalez, Inoue, Tanaka, Maruta (if he wins his debut he has...SCARY upside), Lomachenko, Ken Sh..., Daigo Higa (this kid may be the most fun to watch of the guys I've just mentioned), Estrada, Omori. Those lower weights over the next decade are going to be red hot over the next 10 years and guys like Inoue and Ioka can already draw 6+million TV viewers as it is (to put it into perspective the best PBC ratings was something like 4 million for Thurman Vs Guerrero in the US) suggesting that their popularity is solid as well.

As for PPV Canelo looks to be the safe bet. Golovkin and Kovalev have the style and ability but time isn't on their sides. Beterbiev may be a good shout given his style, likewise Usyk.

I'd suggest Bivol is a dark horse for both categories. An exciting, talented Light Heavyweight who never stops looking for the stoppage. Still in the embryonic stage of his career but will be moved quicker than the emerging crop of Americans like Spence, Imam, Lubin (all exciting fighters in the same weight range).

Sort of hope the growth of the internet will continue to help fans around the world continue to watch fighters from various places. We're lucky that we can stream guys like Inoue and Usyk pretty easily and hopefully it'll become easier with maybe the international TV channels either working with something like allegedly or developing their internet sites to allow streaming (there are some from South America that do, and Indonesian TV used to do it for Chris John fights).

[asdfjkl]

For the crowd Anthony Joshua, for the boxers GGG perhaps, not sure, most boxers become fan of someone their own weight and size, Anthony Joshua is way to big and strong for normal persons, he will become the heavyweight champion of the world.

[sammy95]

In terms of PPV, its tough to argue people like Crawford as he is such an introvert and I don't think casuals will pay to watch that. People paid to watch Mayweather because they either loved or hated his arrogance.

P4P however, Crawford, Golovkin, Gonzalez and Inoue are the standouts for me.

I am also hoping a Brit really announces himself on the worldwide stage over the next 2/3 years - Brook, Joshua, DeGale, Frampton and Fury are the current best bets for that in my opinion.

[Stuarty]

For the crowd Anthony Joshua, for the boxers GGG perhaps, not sure, most boxers become fan of someone their own weight and size, Anthony Joshua is way to big and strong for normal persons, he will become the heavyweight champion of the world.

Most boxers I know hate everyone at their weight etc... It's a lonely sport and they need to be wrapped up in their own nonsense! It's a macho thing I suppose.

[jessi]

AJ

[bruthead]

Only thing going against GGG is his age but he's got the fan-friendly style and the likeable personality to become really big.

In the UK, obviously Joshua. It will be interesting to see if he can catch on with the US audience although if he does, we'll probably rarely see him box on these shores in his prime.

[Deserter]

I've got my eye on Errol Spence Jr - think he could turn out to be a bit special.

[Batley18]

I've got my eye on Errol Spence Jr - think he could turn out to be a bit special.

I was going to mention him as well. I think a superstar in boxing has to be from the US. I am not sure how much GGG and Kovalev can grow in terms of reputation from where they are now. Andre Ward is too inactive. From this list I would say Crawford, as long as he stays active enough and fights the best out there in his division. He certainly has the skill set to be one of the best out there.

For a number of years the interest has been focused in an around the light welterweight to middleweight divisions. This has mainly been down to Mayweather and Pac-Man, but also because of a number of talented challengers in these divisions. There is a lot of strength in depth, the same cannot be said for the heavier weights, which is why Kovalev will struggle to receive the acclaim he perhaps deserves. A fight with Stevenson may change that, but where does he go after that? Cruiserweight division isn't that appealing.