Who should be world prospect of the year?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 03 Dec 2003, 10:35

I'd welcome peoples opinions on this one. I took part in a vote for world prospect of the year recently and opted to go with Miguel Cotto by a whisker from Rocky Jaurez.

Anyway... below is a list of candidates. Who do you think should get the gong, and inparticular what do you think about the merits of the British based fighters namely Carl Froch, David Haye and Roman Greenberg?

Miguel Cotto
Rocky Juarez
Carl Froch
Kermit Cintron
Roman Greenberg
Jermain Taylor
David Haye

If I've missed any then speak up.

Snatchy · Post by **Snatchy** » 03 Dec 2003, 10:46

Haye, Greenberg and Froch shouldnt even make the shortlist. They're fine as UK prospects, but world prospect of the year?? I dont think so Lightsoot. I have been impressed with Rocky Juarez although I read he struggled in his last fight.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 03 Dec 2003, 10:51

I would also go for Miguel Cotto. He's shown dynamite punching and good boxing this year and must be close to realising his undoubted potential with a world title shot. He always springs to mind when I think of the term 'prospect'.
Also worth a mention is unbeaten heavyweight Dominick Guinn. He's looked really good this year, especially when he flattened Michael Grant.

GAV · Post by **GAV** » 03 Dec 2003, 10:56

I would take Cotto quite convincingly for this award. He looks to be a real star in the making.

Bennie has made a good shout with Guinn who has had a real good year and Juarez has looked good too, but Cotto takes it for me.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:00

Good points guys

Here's a question then: Aren't the likes of Cotto, Guinn and Juarez now genuine world title contenders, so much so that they have outgrown their mere "prospect" tag?

Does that make sense or am I talking bollocks? I mean, should Prospect of the year be given to a fighter who is still only just climbing up the ladder?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:06

I would say you have to be ranked in the top 10, or have fought for
a title eliminator at least before you are a contender.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:20

James Hare, although I suppose you could call him a contender.

Lugh · Post by **Lugh** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:22

For me there is only Cotto - although he is hardly a prospect - he is already bashing up former champs already.

Those whose opinions I respect tell me Juarez will go all the way - but I have never seen him fight.

I like to watch Cintron but not sure he is the best pure prospect - he's just a personal fave.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:22

jamesmcdonnell wrote:James Hare, although I suppose you could call him a contender.

Yes, James Hare is a good one.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:24

What about the British based fighters? Froch, Haye, Hare, Greenberg? Is it ridiculous for them to be thought of as world prospect of the year? They're all talented after all...

get in the ring · Post by **get in the ring** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:28

Cotto is in the top 10 according to 'Ring Magazine' I believe.

Jermain Taylor and Anthony Thompson appear to be carring the torch for ths US, but I think light welterweight Juan Valenzuela is worth a mention. He's had a fair few fights, and a few losses (points losses early in career), but seems to now be rebuilding as a 'prospect' after beating the touted Ricardo Williams and following up with 3 other good wins. He's still only 23, and it seems is not afraid to lose and come back, which is a good thing.

Francisco Bojado has also got to be worth a mention for the way he rebounded from his upset loss to Juan Carlos Rubio.

And at the same stage as Guinn, is lightweight Courtney Burton, who has only had 20 fights and stopped Angel Manfredy in his last outing.

From that list though, Cotto is the man.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 03 Dec 2003, 11:49

get in the ring wrote:Juan Valenzuela is worth a mention

Yep, I've been saying for the last year that this lad would give Ricky Hatton all the trouble he could handle and more. I'd love it if that match were made.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:21

I would not have Froch in there.

He wont have the power at World level. In his last outing he hit the guy with everything but could not put him down. Froch is more glitter than gold.

Haye and Greenberg are good UK prospects but are largely untested.

Another good UK prospect is Geard Adjetovic, its a bit early but he could really be world class. He's only had three fights but he would knock out the likes of David Walker now.

On the world scene, Cotto has to be in there, I'd add Jeff Lacy, Bodjado (his defeat will prove to be a positive thing) and Courtney Burton for sure, I really like this kid.

What about Joe Mesi? - Like him or not if he wins the HW Title he could be the saviour of Boxing.

bigfatjourneyman · Post by **bigfatjourneyman** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:31

Surely Froch is a better prospect than Haye, he has not looked vulnerable at all and anyone who watched him against Page in Derby would surely agree he looked a quality performer. Haye was felled against Mock and against higher opposition may struggle. It is no go having devastating power if you can't take a punch. However I agree with Bennie, Guinn has looked good this year. He was the best boxer by far on the Night of the Young Heavyweights in Buffalo although to be fair you couldn't tell much from Mesi's performance apart from Williamson froze!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:34

I agree about Froch, looks great at this level, but once he steps up to
approaching world class, his punchpower will dissapear. He has good handspeed and does pick his shots well, but he carries his left hand way too low. He does tuck his shoulder in nice and tight, but he strikes me as a bit of a twat who is too concerned with looking good rather than doing things right.

bigfatjourneyman · Post by **bigfatjourneyman** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:37

James,

as a boxing writer have you ever spoken to Froch? Don't confuse being confident in your ability as being a twat. Froch is approachable and is a good bloke. Also I don't know where his supposed lack of power has come from. He has a good stoppage ratio on his record.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:41

Who cares really about who's the best prospect. They all have to step up at some point and then we find out how good they really are.

Unless they're Lester Jacobs of course.

Snatchy · Post by **Snatchy** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:44

James states a good case but he wont be getting any Froch exlcusives now I bet :P

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:49

I didn't mean twat as in personally annoying, I just mean that in the ring he seems too busy trying to look cool, maybe that is the last thing on his mind, but that is how he looks.

And no, I have had no contact with him whatsoever.....he seems amiable enough in post fight interviews, but I think just like Haye he will refuse to change that posing low left hand style until it's become too much of a habit to change.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:52

Froch has a good stopagge record, but then who has he faced, like many fighters who rely on their power, I think he's in for a surprise when he gets in there with experienced, durable fighters with ambition. We've all seen it many times before, where a fighter looks devastating in his early career.

Look at Hatton, looked like a real killer early on, but Phillips never came close to folding, and I think Tackie will be the same. Froch also hasn't been matched with anyone who has serious power yet, or who is a prospect.

I could be totally wrong about Froch of course, but I just don't think he has done anything yet to suggest world class, I know he was a good amateur and all that, but I guess I just don't like that style to take him to the top.

For what it's worth, I have made similar remarks about Haye, so it's nothing personal.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:53

If Carl Froch is the best prospect in Britain, god help Boxing in the UK.

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 03 Dec 2003, 12:55

Greenberg, the man dropped by a journeyman and who has beat LuKe Simpkin, are you serious Ben?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Dec 2003, 11:27

Sorry Lightsoot, but yes I think it is a bit ridiculous to place the likes of Haye, Greenberg and Froch on the list. The best prospect from these sures (well, not exactly - but we've seen alot of him) is Yuri Ramanov. The guy is 21 and has already beaten a world ranked fighter, yes Vanzie was in the low top ten in most organisations at the time. He's also beaten solid opperaters such as Murray and Conway.

Now - he should be a contendor.

If Hare was 22 or 23, then yes he to would be up there.

The likes of Taylor, Lacy, Cotto(especially), Bojado, Guinn, Jaurez, Crinton have all faced solid fighters (ex champions/contendors etc) and are now in many peoples world's top ten. Many of them are still younger and have had less fights than the British guys. To be brutal, I would say all except for Lacy look at lot better than the British guys aswell.

I'd probably go for this as my top three.

Cotto
Taylor
Bojado (man - he's only 20).

Would anybody still class Ricky Hatton as a prospect still??

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 04 Dec 2003, 12:49

Cotto does look a fantastic talent

But any of his lightwelter compatriots could come good too: Bojado, Abdulaev, Williams - and Pinto might leap to the top of an amazing 140lb division next Saturday night.

I like the look of Jermain Taylor - he looks the real deal so far and they're matching him well.

Manny Steward thinks he's got the best of the lot: young Octavio Lara who he's already calling a future great.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Dec 2003, 12:51

Very surprised nobody is even considering Ramanov anymore - I know he wasn't impressive last time, but hey he still won.