2017 Cruiserweight of the Year!
Posted: 04 Dec 2017, 06:25
Apart from Ilunga Makabu vs. Olanrewaju Durodola, which takes place in Dubai on the 6th December for the WBC Silver title.. There aren't any other relevant 200 pound fights for the rest of the month..
I have gathered a shortlist of potential winners here. It's been a busy year for the 200ers, especially with the WBSS tournament.
Oleksandr Usyk (2-0 1KO) - He ended 2016 making a succesful defence of his WBO title. In April this year, he co-headlined a card with Vasyl Lomachenko. He took on a tough and durable Michael Hunter. Usyk should have gotten the stoppage in the 12th round, when Hunter was given a standing count. Many agreed, the referee should have stepped in, but it is what it is. He then entered the WBSS tounrnament and picked veteran Marco Huck as his 1/4 final opponent. Huck, past his prime, although they are of similar age.. Huck has been a pro for a longer period of time. Things got heated at the pressers/weigh in. Usyk held back, stating he will do the damage in the ring. He stopped Huck via 10th round TKO.
Mairis Briedis (2-0) - He finally got his opportunity to fight for the WBC title, even though it was vacant (I'm sure he would have loved to rip it from Bellew).. He fought veteran Marco Huck in April 2017. Dominated the fight, winning a Unanimous Decision after 12 rounds. Like Usyk, he entered the WBSS. He picked Mike Perez, a former heavyweight contender. In a very scrappy fight, where we saw some weird point deductions, Briedis did enough to retain his title at home in Latvia.
Murat Gassiev (1-0 1KO) - It's a shame he only fought once this year. He's young, he should try fighting at least twice minimum. He wasn't injured or out for any reason I know of. He dethroned Denis Lebedev in December 2016, he could have made a voluntary or possibly fought his mandatory Krzysztof Wlodarczyk earlier in the year. Instead, he entered the WBSS mid year and had no choice but to fight Wlod. He did however decimate him in 3 rounds, with a devastating body shot. No one was making the 10 count on that one.
Yunier Dorticos (1-0 1KO) - Like Gassiev, Dorticos fought once this year. He only fought once in 2016 as well. The only boxer he didn't knock out was veteran Edison Miranda. He knocked out Dmitry Kudryashov in round 2, advancing to the Semi finals of the WBSS. Hasn't done enough this year, but I think we'll see much more in 2018.
Other mentions
Andrew Tabiti (2-0 1KO) - Recorded a big win over Steve Cunningham
Maksim Vlasov (3-0 3KOs) - Moved up from 175 couple years ago. Hasn't fought anyone of name yet, but moving up the rankings.
I have gathered a shortlist of potential winners here. It's been a busy year for the 200ers, especially with the WBSS tournament.
Oleksandr Usyk (2-0 1KO) - He ended 2016 making a succesful defence of his WBO title. In April this year, he co-headlined a card with Vasyl Lomachenko. He took on a tough and durable Michael Hunter. Usyk should have gotten the stoppage in the 12th round, when Hunter was given a standing count. Many agreed, the referee should have stepped in, but it is what it is. He then entered the WBSS tounrnament and picked veteran Marco Huck as his 1/4 final opponent. Huck, past his prime, although they are of similar age.. Huck has been a pro for a longer period of time. Things got heated at the pressers/weigh in. Usyk held back, stating he will do the damage in the ring. He stopped Huck via 10th round TKO.
Mairis Briedis (2-0) - He finally got his opportunity to fight for the WBC title, even though it was vacant (I'm sure he would have loved to rip it from Bellew).. He fought veteran Marco Huck in April 2017. Dominated the fight, winning a Unanimous Decision after 12 rounds. Like Usyk, he entered the WBSS. He picked Mike Perez, a former heavyweight contender. In a very scrappy fight, where we saw some weird point deductions, Briedis did enough to retain his title at home in Latvia.
Murat Gassiev (1-0 1KO) - It's a shame he only fought once this year. He's young, he should try fighting at least twice minimum. He wasn't injured or out for any reason I know of. He dethroned Denis Lebedev in December 2016, he could have made a voluntary or possibly fought his mandatory Krzysztof Wlodarczyk earlier in the year. Instead, he entered the WBSS mid year and had no choice but to fight Wlod. He did however decimate him in 3 rounds, with a devastating body shot. No one was making the 10 count on that one.
Yunier Dorticos (1-0 1KO) - Like Gassiev, Dorticos fought once this year. He only fought once in 2016 as well. The only boxer he didn't knock out was veteran Edison Miranda. He knocked out Dmitry Kudryashov in round 2, advancing to the Semi finals of the WBSS. Hasn't done enough this year, but I think we'll see much more in 2018.
Other mentions
Andrew Tabiti (2-0 1KO) - Recorded a big win over Steve Cunningham
Maksim Vlasov (3-0 3KOs) - Moved up from 175 couple years ago. Hasn't fought anyone of name yet, but moving up the rankings.
