By Nick Hagan: Never before has so many articles been written about Boxers from the past and present. Social Media and the Internet have enabled easy access to some great reads and opinions on the Sport that I enjoy immensely.
I’m a regular reader of the many articles published on “Boxing News 24” and find it interesting how people’s views differ so widely, in respect to the Boxers of today. I have read articles on this website for instance where writers make predictions on fight outcomes and make “fantasy” fights by pitching their favourite Boxers of today against Boxers from the past and state what they feel would have happened and so on.
In the following article I have decided to write about what’s already happened in the careers, thus far to the most talked about Boxer’s of our generation. I’m going to discuss their individual strengths and weaknesses and where I feel appropriate, how they could have done things better. Please note that it’s only my own opinions, however from my many reads on “Boxing News 24”, I realise others will agree with various parts of the article.
Floyd Mayweather:
Mayweather is the current number “1” on the P4P list. I used to really enjoy watching quite possibly the most skilfully blessed boxer of all time. In his prime, he really mastered the term “hit and don’t get hit”, however I personally feel his last great fight was beating Ricky Hatton, which was all of seven years ago. Since then it’s been all about the money for Mayweather and protecting the “0”. He has undoubtedly ducked potentially opponents with any movement, such as Mannzy Pacquiao, Paul William and Sergio Martinez and decided to opt for “flat footed” boxers such as Robert Guerrero, Saul “Canel” Alvarez and Marcus Maidana. Mayweather should be forced by Showtime to fight Manny Pacquiao. Either that or just retire.
Manny Pacquiao:
Undoubtedly the most entertaining, Boxer of the past ten years. I will never forget the way he absolutely destroyed Ricky Hatton and made Oscar Dela Hoya quit on his stool. As a person Pacquiao is as likeable as Mayweather is unlikeable and has really connected with fans all around the world. Pacquiao’s downfall is resigning with Bob Arum and it’s sad to say, has almost become like a “puppet on a string”. I still feel that he has two or three good fights left in him, but will unfortunately he will be left fighting regurgitated opponents such as Marquez and Bradley, which does nothing for his legacy.
Saul “Canel” Alvarez:
This is one Boxer, which I really fail to see what all the hype is about. I have thus far watched Alvarez face Trout, Mayweather and Lara. Arguably he has lost all three and in doing so, has been badly exposed. Alvarez is a Middleweight (at least), fighting as a Light Middleweight. If he doe’s move up to Middleweight, I think he will struggle badly against any boxer in the top ten of the division. He is a likeable and has proven a hit on PPV but if he was not fighting under Goldenboy, he would be a no-body in the world of boxing.
Amir Khan:
I loved the way that Khan burst onto the scene after the Olympic Games in 2008. He was exciting to watch, with the blazing hand speed and footwork. He had an early loss to Prescott, however he come back from that defeat to win a version of the Light Welterweight Title and in doing so had credible wins against Marcus Maidana, Zab Judah and Paullie Malignaggi. However since his loss to Danny Garcia, he hasn’t been the same inside or outside the ring. He has become somewhat deluded in thinking that he deserves a shot at Mayweather, without even holding a belt, or rematching with any of three Boxers who have beaten him.
Khan still has a future in Boxing, (still only 28), however he needs to get off his “high horse” and avenge at least one of the defeats and also start facing credible Welterweights Champions, such as Keith Thurman or Kell Brook.
Gennady GolovKin:
This is another Boxer who has burst onto the scene. I have had the joy of watching him box on a couple of occasions thus far,against Matthew Macklin and Daniel Geale. Golvkin walks his opponents down and then lays into them with his “hammer fists”. I don’t see him having problems with any boxer at 160; however this could be a different story if ever he moved up to 168.
Thus far Golovkin has hardly put a step wrong, however going forward he could struggle to find a decent champion willing to get in the ring with him. Also there is uncertainty on how well he is being promoted. He appears to fight a lot on HBO, however to my knowledge he is not tied to any Network. I would like to see him get signed to a top promoter such as “Goldenboy” or even “Top Rank”, where he would get a long term contract with either Showtime/ HBO and face good opponents with decent pay-packets for his fights.
Please note again the opinions that I’m expressing above are my own, however I have tried to be as truthful about each of the Boxer’s in question. It would be interesting to hear other peoples view’s.
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