Where next for last nights fighters?
Posted: 17 Jul 2011, 04:31
Some pictures were cleared up, some waters were muddied further; be interesting to see where the big names from last night go from here.
Kevin Mitchell - he talked about a world title shot, and that's a reasonable shout given he'd have been in line for one had he beaten Katsidis. As a Warren fighter, the WBO looks the likeliest route. Current holder, Juan Manuel Marquez will probably cede the title to step up to welter, leaving a vacancy to be fought between Kev and....
Ricky Burns - Warren likes to keep his world titles in house, so a step up to 135 for the current 130lb champ seems reasonably likely. Not much that can be said about Burns on tonights performance. If Kev does have an ear injury, Burns may need to take a warm up at Lightweight to keep busy. A rematch with Alex Arthur?
John Murray - No shame in defeat to a classy performance from Mitchell. Murray certainly has the tools to win at Euro level and will cause problems for certain types of fighter at world level. Someone mentioned elsewhere on this forum an 8-rounder comeback followed by a crack at Gavin Rees. Very good idea.
Tony Bellew - A safety first performance but not one that'll have the accountants at Sky clamouring for the big domestic showdown with Cleverly. Unlike the majority on here, I don't see the great appeal in that fight at this stage. Cleverly should be looking up, to global names at the top of the division and not down to a domestic level fight with Bellew, who seems to have earned a chance at a world title fight simply by calling Clev a "fcuking rat" in the build up to a fight that was never going to happen. Another question remains over Tony's ability to remain at Light Heavy. If he is able to make weight, he should go after one of Clevs previous opponents - McIntosh, Kuziemski or Murat would all present decent challenges and steps up from McKenzie. Alternatively, a shot at Gutnecht for the Euro title would be tough with a victory catapulting him up the rankings.
Frankie Gavin - A bad night for Funtime, but maybe the close call is the kick in the rear that it appears he needs. The last couple of fights have been poor and the credit he earned as an outstanding amateur has now faded and he is in danger of fizzling out. If he is having problems with commitment to diet and training, maybe a regime change is required. I don't agree with calls to send him to the States, but he probably does need to get away from any distractions that he has. He is still young, but he doesn't want to get to 30 and regret not making sacrifces now that would have paid off throughout his career. It is tough, but thats what makes champions. If it was easy, we'd all be doing it. Get down to Light Welter and start shining again. Theophane or McCloskey are credible opponents, but both have the potential to make Frankie look bad, and after Mutley and Woodhouse, that's probably the last thing he needs. Would love to be a fly on the wall when Warren catches up with him for the first time after the fight - I can see Warren being none to happy with the recent progress of his investment.
Kevin Mitchell - he talked about a world title shot, and that's a reasonable shout given he'd have been in line for one had he beaten Katsidis. As a Warren fighter, the WBO looks the likeliest route. Current holder, Juan Manuel Marquez will probably cede the title to step up to welter, leaving a vacancy to be fought between Kev and....
Ricky Burns - Warren likes to keep his world titles in house, so a step up to 135 for the current 130lb champ seems reasonably likely. Not much that can be said about Burns on tonights performance. If Kev does have an ear injury, Burns may need to take a warm up at Lightweight to keep busy. A rematch with Alex Arthur?
John Murray - No shame in defeat to a classy performance from Mitchell. Murray certainly has the tools to win at Euro level and will cause problems for certain types of fighter at world level. Someone mentioned elsewhere on this forum an 8-rounder comeback followed by a crack at Gavin Rees. Very good idea.
Tony Bellew - A safety first performance but not one that'll have the accountants at Sky clamouring for the big domestic showdown with Cleverly. Unlike the majority on here, I don't see the great appeal in that fight at this stage. Cleverly should be looking up, to global names at the top of the division and not down to a domestic level fight with Bellew, who seems to have earned a chance at a world title fight simply by calling Clev a "fcuking rat" in the build up to a fight that was never going to happen. Another question remains over Tony's ability to remain at Light Heavy. If he is able to make weight, he should go after one of Clevs previous opponents - McIntosh, Kuziemski or Murat would all present decent challenges and steps up from McKenzie. Alternatively, a shot at Gutnecht for the Euro title would be tough with a victory catapulting him up the rankings.
Frankie Gavin - A bad night for Funtime, but maybe the close call is the kick in the rear that it appears he needs. The last couple of fights have been poor and the credit he earned as an outstanding amateur has now faded and he is in danger of fizzling out. If he is having problems with commitment to diet and training, maybe a regime change is required. I don't agree with calls to send him to the States, but he probably does need to get away from any distractions that he has. He is still young, but he doesn't want to get to 30 and regret not making sacrifces now that would have paid off throughout his career. It is tough, but thats what makes champions. If it was easy, we'd all be doing it. Get down to Light Welter and start shining again. Theophane or McCloskey are credible opponents, but both have the potential to make Frankie look bad, and after Mutley and Woodhouse, that's probably the last thing he needs. Would love to be a fly on the wall when Warren catches up with him for the first time after the fight - I can see Warren being none to happy with the recent progress of his investment.