2003 has been a good year for what I would describe as break through fighters, break through fighters don’t have to be undefeated young prospects that have come through a few domestic tests. They can also be fighters who have rejuvenated their career or scored a few upset wins.
This year has seen fighters like Matt Skelton, Enzo Maccarinelli, Mark Hobson, Wayne Elcock, Lawrence Murphy, Jamie Moore, James Hare, Alan Bosworth, Jason Cook, Graham Earl, Michael Gomez, Craig Docherty, Dezzo Williams, Esham Pickering, Michael Hunter, and Dale Robinson come from relative obscurity to domestic title contention at the very least. Not all of these fighters, are undefeated prospects and while from that list Elcock and Hare have recently lost its still safe to say that they are a lot more well known in 2003 than they were in 2002, hence it can still be labelled a breakthrough year for them.
These are the fighters I predict we’ll be discussing a lot more about by the end of 2004.
At Heavyweight I just see Matt Skelton continuing his rise to domestic honours, he should fight Williams by the summer of 2004 and I think he could really continue the momentum from 2003. Should he beat Williams (and I think he might) I hope he’ll not only breakthrough to show domestic title class, but he may even get a European title fight by the years end. He might not win that title due to inexperience but I predict we’ll be still discussing Skelton positively by the end of the year. The discussion on Audley will still be mixed, I see a slow improvement in opponent in 2004 and I expect him to start stating how many years younger than Skelton he is to try and side step questions about his opponents. I think we’ll see him in with the likes of McDermmot and Holden and a few foreigners in 2004, he’ll stay busy which will be a bonus.
I can’t see any other heavyweights breaking through this year, Greenberg will still be held back (which is not necessarily a bad thing) and I can’t see Sprott, Francis and Holden winning any honours. The only possible fighter who could rejuvenate his career is Keith Long, I could see him taking a few decent European imports.
At cruiser I don’t see many breakthrough fighters, I see Haye continuing his improvement and certainly upping his opponents. I think we’ll see him in with the likes of Spartacus and maybe even Swaby by the years end, so in a way he’ll breakthrough to show that by early 2005 he deserves a domestic title fight. Kelly Oliver maybe the surprise package here, he’s got good skills and good profile. I wouldn’t right off either Buster Keaton or Bruce Scott scoring a surprise win over the likes of Thompson, Maccrenelli and Hobson.
I’ll go out on a limb and predict big things from Peter Oboh who reinvented himself in 2003 with an excellent win over Michailenko late in the year. According to BM, his team are pressing for a surprise WBA title fight with Branco, who for me is a poor champion and certainly passed his best. Branco could view Oboh as an easy voluntary defence; well I think the Brockley man could do it. As for Super Middleweight I think Carl Froch by the end of the year will capture the British championship so it will be a breakthrough for him, I think Magee will fight for a genuine world title belt, so we will discuss that, but he will just miss out on glory. I think 2004 might signal the end of Glenn Cately’s world title ambitions (I can see him fighting Larsen) and also Dean Francis will confirm his retirement.
At Middleweight I can see Ryan Rhodes regaining some momentum and having a good year, the division is a mess and the #2 spot is up for grabs. I can see Ryan being pushed a little bit next year with him reproducing some of the nice stuff that got him talked like no other prospect in the mid to late 90’s. I can see by the end of 2004 people wanting to see Rhodes vs Eastman. At light middle, I see Richard Williams regaining some momentum by beating a known export (like a Willy Wise again), I also see Jamie Moore winning the Lonsdale belt for keeps and defending it against some decent names. Thomas McDonagh might have a very good year also and I think will capture the English title and move seriously into the domestic title picture.
I don’t see much development happening at Welterweight to be honest, I think Hare will have a relatively easy year and won’t be pushed to hard, I don’t think he’ll face any opponent better than the likes of Holland and Bergman, but he won’t lose in 2004. I think Khaliq will continue with what he’s done for the past two years and Magee won’t make any further inroads into the world title scene, which he should focus on. I hope to see him against the likes of Damguard, if he does then it will e a good year for him. Harry Dhami will get back to title contention this year and I fancy a surprise should Pryce challenge Barnes for the British title. I don’t see anybody breaking through at Light Welter, Hatton and Witter already have perhaps Ted Bami can reinvent himself somewhat.
Similarly at Lightweight, I can’t see any of the fringe domestic contenders winning the domestic fights, they might beat a faded Colin Dunne, but I think Cook, Burke, Vanzie and Earl will be the top 4 by the years end – with Cook still at #1. None of these four will break beyond their current level. At Super featherweight again there is no real prospect who can get to the domestic title contention by the end of 2004, I think Lear could show he’s European class and we might be celebrating a WBO champion because I can see Rees and Gomez going at it for the vacant crown. A surprise package here could be Richard Evatt, he’s big punching and could rejuvenate himself. Both Arthur and Docherty have been KO’d by a lesser puncher, although a much more skilled athlete in Gomez.
At featherweight I can see Thornhill getting the chance and winning his old Lonsdale belt and maybe Rutherford getting upsetting Thornhill in his first defence, so both will be discussed on this forum frequently in 2004. Kevin Mitchell will remain undefeated and look impressive, but won’t be challenging any major names next year. Super Bantam weight will see the continued rise of Michael Hunter, I think he’ll show himself #1 in this weight (excluding McCullough should he move back down) and may be ready for a European title tilt later in 2004. I think Stephen Foster Jnr will take over the domestic scene and will be position somewhere where Hunter is now. At the lower weights I see Martin Power continue his impressive winning streak and move into a British title fight, I think Damean Kelly will once and for all show who is the man at Flyweight, by beating Culshaw.
Any others you think will breakthrough, have I got something wrong.
Thoughts.
Breakthrough fighters 2004.
Stu - good post that deserves some feedback. Will muse on it and post my thoughts in more detail, some initial disagreements:
- Heavy: Skelton still too raw for Willaims/Sprott, will still be in a years time. Agree about Greenburg, seems too chinny.
- Cruiser - I think Haye will have a stellar year. Can see him being British champ by the end. I think his career will be short but exciting.
Light-heavy - anybody here rate Steve Spartacus? I saw some of his early fights and thought he was extremely limited so haven't paid too much attention to him since?
More later...
PS Culshaw v Kelly is arguably the best domestic matchup for next year.
- Heavy: Skelton still too raw for Willaims/Sprott, will still be in a years time. Agree about Greenburg, seems too chinny.
- Cruiser - I think Haye will have a stellar year. Can see him being British champ by the end. I think his career will be short but exciting.
Light-heavy - anybody here rate Steve Spartacus? I saw some of his early fights and thought he was extremely limited so haven't paid too much attention to him since?
More later...
PS Culshaw v Kelly is arguably the best domestic matchup for next year.
Thought I'd bump this thread, I thought it would create more debate.Loynesy wrote:Stu - good post that deserves some feedback. Will muse on it and post my thoughts in more detail, some initial disagreements:
- Heavy: Skelton still too raw for Willaims/Sprott, will still be in a years time. Agree about Greenburg, seems too chinny.
- Cruiser - I think Haye will have a stellar year. Can see him being British champ by the end. I think his career will be short but exciting.
Light-heavy - anybody here rate Steve Spartacus? I saw some of his early fights and thought he was extremely limited so haven't paid too much attention to him since?
More later...
PS Culshaw v Kelly is arguably the best domestic matchup for next year.
Its appears that David Haye listened to my prediction and said "I'll show him".
Steve Spartacus could very well be going places, was very impresssive against Lansdowne. I just believe this year will be a solidify year. However, I've got him at 10 in the rankings, if he's to move up then he would have had a good year. I'm not saying he's not capable, cause I think he is. Its just all from #9 up is a big step from Lansdowne.