The Lightweights - A Discussion.

[Taansend]

Or not

According to Boxrec No. 1 is Rances Barthelemy - a Cuban with a 24-0 record. Never seen the bloke but his record suggests he has good skills. No idea about his punch or style though.

Then there's Jorge Linares, the excellent Venezuelan with the suspect chin. I was close to ringside for his fight against DeMarco at Staples & thought he fought well. I was drunk but had him around even up until the end of the bout (apparently I was well off as all judges saw otherwise )

Then there's Zlaticacin & Easter - both undefeated prospects.

Are there any other up & coming fighters worth mentioning?

Also, what about the decent half a dozen Super Feathers? Any of them looking to move up?

And finally, Flannagan against Crolla. Should it happen now or would it be better if we left it 7 or 8 years like Mayweather Pacquiao?

[gilgamesh]

Barthelemy is solid, he's looked really good in most performances I've seen of him. I was very impressed with Zlaticanin when I saw him against Redkach. Linares is a very talented fighter, but he cuts easy and will always be vulnerable because of that. There's really no clear #1 guy at Lightweight.

And as for Flanagan and Crolla, it definitely should happen now. Neither of those guys have a long shelf life as Champion.

[Taansend]

Barthelemy is solid, he's looked really good in most performances I've seen of him. I was very impressed with Zlaticanin when I saw him against Redkach. Linares is a very talented fighter, but he cuts easy and will always be vulnerable because of that. There's really no clear #1 guy at Lightweight.

And as for Flanagan and Crolla, it definitely should happen now. Neither of those guys have a long shelf life as Champion.

Thanks Mr Mesh

I do agree that Flanny & Crolly (as we in West Florida call them after 2 bottles of white wine) should meet. It's one for the purists. It might be as dull as f*ck or it might be brilliant.

[gilgamesh]

Barthelemy is solid, he's looked really good in most performances I've seen of him. I was very impressed with Zlaticanin when I saw him against Redkach. Linares is a very talented fighter, but he cuts easy and will always be vulnerable because of that. There's really no clear #1 guy at Lightweight.

And as for Flanagan and Crolla, it definitely should happen now. Neither of those guys have a long shelf life as Champion.

Thanks Mr Mesh

I do agree that Flanny & Crolly (as we in West Florida call them after 2 bottles of white wine) should meet. It's one for the purists. It might be as dull as f*ck or it might be brilliant.

I think it'd be pretty fun. It'd certainly have a loud and enthusiastic audience, and would crown the U.K. King of the Lightweight division.

[tigermoth87]

It's a good division.

Linares, Terry and Zlaticanin are legitimately world class fighters. Never seen Barthelemy but he's got a good record and I've never heard anyone saying he's shit or overrated so that's 4 world class fighters.

Then there's guys like Crolla, Petrov and Easter.

Hopefully the big fights get made.

[daviddee]

number one is Barthelemy.. Hes very very good woukd say number 2 is Flannagan then Linares and Crolla... Eddie is not going to take the chance with Flanagan will be a couple of soft defences

[PredatorHayds]

Barthélemy deserves to be number 1 at the minute but there's a few guys who are a good win away from leapfrogging him.
Easter looks absolutely huge for the weight. Surely he can't stay a lightweight for long.

[MarkMcBurney]

Ideally we get Crolla v Flanagan next to see who's number 1 in Britain, but failing that I'd like to see Crolla in with Linares.

[Boxing Prospect]

Nakatani is a good solid outside boxer, huge guy at the weight!

[tobyh5]

I thought Crolla was the best in the world. Eddie told us that so it must be fact.

[wesshaw1985]

Ideally we get Crolla v Flanagan next to see who's number 1 in Britain, but failing that I'd like to see Crolla in with Linares.

W@rren pushing hard to get this fight made according go his IFL TV interview today...