The Good, the Badd, and the Ugly!!
With the boxing world clamoring for and anticipating the big mega fight that is bound to happen at the end of this year between the two top fighters in the sport, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao in the Welterweight Division, there are definitely other divisions that are heating up and are even more interesting than the Welterweight Division in my opinion. Here are the divisions that I feel are the good, the badd, (badd meaning great,) and the ugly.
The Good – The Super Middleweight Division, (168 lbs.)
Showtime’s Super Six Series is showcasing some of the best fighters in the world, and they just happen to be in the 168 pound weight class division.
Andre Ward seems to lead to pack in this division with his superior boxing style and explosive combinations, but with his counterparts in the Super Six, fighters such as Mikkel Kessler, Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch, Allan Green and Arthur Abraham, the Super Six is loaded with talent. It’s the best series to date because these six 168 pounders are so gifted that when they step in the ring with one another, any one of them can be beaten on any given night.
The Undefeated Super Middleweight Lucian Bute is coming off impressive knockout victories over Edison Miranda in the third round, and Librado Andrade in the fourth round. He will be waiting in the wings for a super fight with one of the tops in the division, thus making the 168 pound division one of the best divisions in the sport.
The Badd (Great) – The Junior Welterweight Division, (140 lbs.)
The 140 pound division is loaded with up and coming talent, with star potential written on each one of the top fighters in the division. Timothy Bradley, who in July will move up to the Welterweight Division for one fight against Luis Carlos Abregu, has the potential to one day be in the pound for pound discussion.
Another potential pound for pound candidate in the future is the undefeated St. Louis native Devon Alexander, who will be facing another talented fighter, Andreas Kotelnik, in August. Sky is the limit for Englishmen Amir Khan, who is coming off a dominating performance against Paulie Malignaggi. Victor Ortiz is on the comeback trail and Marcos Maidana poses a threat for any 140 fighter in the division. Then when you have fighters like Lamont Peterson, and Zab Judah possibly appearing back on the scene if he wins his fight on July 16, the Junior Welterweight Division is by far the deepest division in boxing.
The Ugly – The Heavyweight Division
Remember that knockout kid, “Iron” Mike Tyson, or the smooth jabbing Larry Holmes, or the pugilistic skills of Lennox Lewis, the Warrior Evander Holyfield and the G.O.A.T. Muhammad Ali? Well the Heavyweight Division in my opinion will always be the worst division in boxing as long as the Klitschko brothers control the division with their solid left jabs and blistering right crosses.
Sure there are new challenges for the Klitschkos such as David Haye, Alexander Povetkin, and the overstuffed Cruiserweight Tomasz Adamek, but as long as the Klitschkos are around, I believe the Heavyweight Division will remain the same, unless someone can get inside of the Klitschkos’ jabs and be willing and able to take punishment to give some.
On The Rise – The Junior Middleweight Division, (154 lbs.)
Miguel Cotto looked like the old destroyer in his stoppage of Yuri Foreman in the ninth round to capture a world title in the 154 pound weight class. This division also showcases the undefeated Ukrainian star Sergiy Dzinziruk who may possibly be the best fighter at 154 pounds. Kermit Cintron, Alfredo Angulo, and Cory Spinks, all are still formable opponents in the division, and the up and coming undefeated Vanes Martirosyan is coming off a lop-sided victory over then undefeated “Mean” Joe Greene.
“The Punisher” Paul Williams can easily move down from 160 to fight in the division. Sergio Martinez can also throw himself into the 154 pound mix at any time he decides to move down to 154 from 160. This division has the possibility to become one of the best one of the best divisions, if not the best division in boxing in the near future.
So there you have it! This is my take on the best divisions in boxing and the worst weight division in boxing. As we all wait patiently for the mega fight to happen between Mayweather and Pacquiao, there will be some good fights all around in other divisions for the boxing world to munch on until the main course between the two best fighters in the sport happens.
