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WHICH GAUDY BELT RULES EACH WEIGHT CLASS?
San Francisco, CA-Since the beginning of boxing, the following saying has applied: He who controls the heavyweight champion, controls boxing. This same analogy did not apply when Oscar De La Hoya, and Sugar Ray Leonard, were at their peak. That being said, todays discussion is geared towards the sanctioning bodies, and their rankings in the individual weight classes.
BELT FEE TAKES TWO BUCKS OUT OF EVERY $100!, The idea here will be go into each weight class, and rate the best, regardless of promotional contacts, TV contracts, public perception, etc! There is little doubt, to me anyway, that World Boxing Organization heavyweight titleholder Lamon Brewster, is the most talented in the shallow pool of heavyweight fish. At 32 years of age, Brewster, is no spring chicken. With a record of 32-2, with 29 early wins, Brewster, didnt look impressive in either of his losses. Against Clifford Etienne, he stumbled, dropping a dime on points. Duplicating that feat, and against of all people, Charles Shufford, that made even Brewsters ardent backers, back away. His ability to absorb punishment, and then come back to win, this has his chin rated #1 above 200 lbs.
CRUISERWEIGHT KING IS NO FRENCH FRY
Long the home of minor leaguers, the cruiserweight division has a king in Jean Mark Mormeck. Holding the WBA, IBF, & WBC trinkets, and possessing a 31-2, (21 KOs) record, Mormeck offers fans a reason to even care about the weight class. He should trounce the 25-1, ONeill Bell, when they clash January 7th.
MAGIC MAN TARVER STARRING IN ROCKY 6
Having done just about all hes going to do as a boxer, the 37-year old current light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, is the lead character opposite 60-year old Sylvester Stallone in Rocky 6. At 24-3, with 18 halts, he has beaten both Roy Jones, and Glenn Johnson. On top for the moment, the Orlando, FL native, hes ready to be licked.
SUPER MIDDLE HAS LOTS OF CREAM!
With a showdown signed for February, IBF king Jeff Lacy, will face his most formidable foe in 32-year old WBO champion Joe Calzaghe. People might argue, that with Joes record, (40-0, 31 KOs) that he might warrant a better rating than the 21-0, (17 KOs) Lacy, who is 28. Forgotten in the mix, is WBA guy Mikkel Kessler. Just 26, he is 36 & zip, with 27 KOs, Kessler, gets no respect! Three way tie at 168.
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION HAS NEW KING
Having secured the undisputed middleweight title from longtime champion Bernard Hopkins, the 27-year old Little Rock, AR native is 24-0, with 17 KOs. With their rematch set for Saturday, its hard to see Jermain Taylor not bettering his July win.
SUGAR OR SUCRA, SHANE BEST AT 154?
Looking at the www.BoxRec.com website, and the top 20 junior middleweights, it appears the 41-4, (35 KOs) Pomona, CA resident is the best at 154, sans Winky Wright, and an alphabet title belt. Favored in a February 25th match with Fernando Vargas, Shane Mosley, needs a titillating performance in order to build his case.
BLING KING JUDAH HAS EQUAL AT 147 LBS!
When you talk welters, you must beat the man, to be the man! WBC/IBF/WBA champion Zab Judah, with a professional resume of 34-2, (25 KOs) is the man! Although people are trying to anoint Floyd Mayweather supreme at 147, facts say he wasnt even the jr. welterweight king. Im rating WBO guy Antonio Margarito, even with Judah. So, each of the four bodies, WBO, WBA, WBC, & IBF, all get a point each.
BLEEDING HITMAN IS THE 140 LB. KING
With the IBF & WBA belts wrapped around his waist, Ricky Hatton, (40-0, 30 KOs) of the UK, he is the man to beat! Floyd, are you listening here son?
LIGHTWEIGHT KING IS DIEGOWITH AN ASTERISK!
With the WBO & WBC titles in hand, Diego Corrales, is seemingly the champion at 135. But, youd have to put an asterisk next to his claim. The damage, the incoming artillery from the first fight with Jose Luis Castillo, he has yet to recover from.
SURPRISE PICK AT 130 LBS. WILL STUN SOME!
Argentinas Jorge Barrios, is head and shoulders above the more notable fighters atop the 130 lb. division. You couldnt get Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, or Erik Morales, in the ring with the 44-2-1, (32 KOs) Barrios. The two losses, one was a last round stop at the hands of Acelino Freitas, this when the Brazilian was at his best. The other, DQ in 4 against an Argentine journeyman. This WBO animal, who will go in December, I think hed drill all three amigos, Pacquiao, Barrera, & Morales!
KOREAN, THE KING OF THE FEATHERWEIGHTS!
Forget Juan Manuel Marquez, the Korean whirlwind, In Jun Chi, deserves top honors as WBC champ at 126 lbs. Losing his 1991 debut, Chi has won every fight, (one draw) except a 2001 bout with Erik Morales. Now 30-2-1, (18 KOs) it was the Korean who almost ran Erik, out of the ring!
WORLD 122 LB. TITLE ON LINE SATURDAY
All due respect to Israel Vasquez, but at 122, the WBCs Oscar Larios is king! At 56-3-1, (36 KOs), Oscar has split two fights with Vasquez, whom he meets in the rubber match Saturday. Vasquez, 38-3, he stopped Larios in one round. That was in 1997. In 2002, Oscar KOd Vasquez in the 12th round. Oscar wins Saturday, I think!
MARQUEZ RULES AT BANTAMWEIGHT
Rafael Marquez, the IBF belt bearer, is 35-3, with 31 early showers! The recent win over Silence Mabuzza, didnt do a whole lot for me. I havent been impressed with this Marquez in a long while!
CASTILLO IS THE SUPER FLY GUY!
Although Jose Navarro is real close, right now youd have to rate Martin Castillo, the WBA champ the best at super flyweight (115 lbs). The now 29-1, (16 KOs) Castillo, like Navarro, is the real deal.
ARCE, THE 130 lb. WBC FLYWEIGHT KING
At 41-3-1, (31 KOs) Jorge Arce is the best flyweight, sort of. I mean, he weighs in at 111 or 112, and come fight time, Arces close to 130 lbs! The best 112 lb. fighter, under the systemic weigh in problems. Same day weigh ins, that might change things here anyway!
HAWAIIAN-FILIPINO RULES ROOST AT 108!
At 19-0, with 12 whacks, Brian Viloria, the WBC titleholder is #1 at 108 lbs. With an amateur pedigree, Viloria brings to the pro game, class, ability, and pop in his punch!
105 LBS, DOES ANYBODY REALLY GIVE A S*IT?
Time to add up the sanctioning body totals. We dont count middleweight, because Jermain Taylor is considered undisputed. At the end of the day, Ive calculated the following: WBC 7, WBO 5, IBF 5, & WBA 4.
Pedro Fernandez
Note: Mr. Fernandez is an award winning writer, talk show host, and four-time Golden Gloves champion. Comments pertaining to this article may be left below.