By Jaime Ortega:
Lamont Peterson versus Saddam Ali
Akin Devon Alexander, Peterson was once the new Errol Spence Jr. Everyone expected Peterson to dominate the welterweight division and eventually fight the king-ping Floyd Mayweather Jr., but in boxing unexpected events set the standards and not fans expectations. Timothy Bradley ended his undefeated aspirations, and Lucas Matisse hurt his career. Peterson has slowly emerged as a casted shadow to rise to the top again. A lot of fans felt Saddam Ali, was also going to make noise, but after his fight with Jessy Vargas his fans vanished onto thin air. Ali has a lot of speed and great boxing ability, he dominated Vargas most of the fight, but like Amir Khan against Danny Garcia the more focused man won the fight, and Vargas landed a devastating punch. Ali lost focus against Vargas, but he was winning the rounds. Ali has very good foot movement and likes to fight on his toes. Ali could give anyone problems and outbox most boxers in the welterweight division if 100 percent focused. Peterson is a veteran who lacks focus especially earlier during the rounds – a bad habit that he hasn’t fully corrected. Ali versus Peterson would be a great boxing match that would end on UD in favor of Saddam Ali. Ali is too fast for Peterson.
Jessie Vargas versus Danny Garcia
Vargas and Garcia are the most underestimated boxers in the welterweight division. They knew each other back in the amateurs and progressed to become world champions. Vargas would be a great matchup to pair against Garcia — and make no mistake it would be an action packed fight with all ingredients to become fight of the year. Those who know Vargas believe he would outbox Garcia, and knock him out; on the other hand, those who know Garcia say Vargas couldn’t handle his left hook. Few people have the guts to stay toe to toe with Garcia as he moves forward. Garcia’s hand movement is fast and he throws bombs with both hands. Vargas is the type of boxing who chases his opponents and tries to knock them out, with one punch while exchanging heavy blows. The truth is both boxers have a great chin, and it would be a fight of mental attrition and will. They also have great energy, are young and they can last twelve rounds fighting at a frenetic pace. They would both eventually exchange punches and would get hit a lot, but I pick Vargas to win via SD, if not knockout.
Diego Chaves versus Jeff Horn
Don’t get it wrong, whereas Garcia and Vargas are underestimated, Chaves is the most underrated boxer in the welterweight division. The Argentinian boxer can box and hang with any top elite fighter and expose their defensive flaws. There is a reason why Spence’s team never called on Chaves while he was roaming the welterweight division free of opponents. Horn disposed of Rico Muller, and he did it using great boxing pedigree. The eye test alone shows that Horn is no slouch, the man has great fundamentals and uses well his defense– and unlike most Australian boxers who’re flat footed – he doesn’t have flat feet and moves a lot to keep out of trouble. If Chaves were to fight against Horn, it would present a great combination of power and skill. Horn hasn’t fought elite boxers yet, so I would have to pic Chaves – only because he can adapt to any boxer and hurt them, but would be a close fight.
Shawn Porter versus Errol Spence Jr.
Porter is the highest pressure fighter I’ve witnessed in boxing, outside of Rocky Marciano and Henry Armstrong; he keeps coming and it is almost impossible to slow down his pace. Porter’s high pressure disables the timing and range of many high technical boxers and forces them to fight wild or remain defensively on backpedal – it is very hard to counter a boxer like Porter who doesn’t yield space and fights in the inside 90 percent of the fight pushing his opponents around. Spence is the complete opposite, he range finds mistakes and likes to systematically destroy his opponents with long reach vicious punches while using step pressure – Spence is very aggressive and likes to let his hands go a lot. With that said, despite Spence’s aggression, in the sport of boxing styles make fights and from what I’ve observed his foot movement is not highly impressive, and would have a hard time containing Porter’s asphyxiating pressure. Another problem is that Porter likes to rush forward forcing his opponent to fight on the inside, which would pose problems for Spence, who has a hard time bobbing his head to evade counters. If these two were to clash, I truly believe Porter’s chaotic pressure would mow down the actual chain saw. Porter beats Spence based on my observations via UD.
Timothy Bradley versus Kerman Lajarra
Bradley isn’t scared to face any top welter no matter the risk. He fought high risk opponents when he fought Rios, Chaves and Vargas. Bradley is the most complete boxer, only second to Pacquiao. Bradley brawls when required, and boxes his opponents when it is time to turn the notch. Bradley has a great jaw and one that has survived great battles during the spawn of his professional career. Lajarra is not the most skilled boxer on the welterweight division, but he carries thunder power on both hands. He is a straight forward boxer with a formidable right hand. Bradley would have no problem out-maneuvering LaJarra, as long as he doesn’t turn the fight into a brawl. Lajarra has poor defensive skills, but he knows how to absorb punches while he exchanges lethal punches. Bradley wins UD, only as long as he doesn’t turn it into a brawl. Lajarra ain’t Brandon Rios or Provodnikov, his punch is more devastating and dangerous.
Tewa Kiram versus Amir Khan
This comprises an interesting matchup where speed meets timing. Khan’s biggest flaw is not his boxing ability, but his glass chin – if Khan had a decent chin, he would already be the undisputed unified champion at 147lbs. Khan outboxes any opponent in the welterweight division based on style and his speed remains key to victory. On the other hand, Kiram has the fastest jab in the welterweight division and packs power. Kiram also has a unique natural body type, his shoulders protect his chin while he moves forward with a high guard making it virtually impossible for his opponents to breakdown. Khan would have to box Kiram on the outside and use his reach to keep Kiram out of range. The problem is Kiram would land his punches and his strong calves would also allow him to explode the inside with quick rushes — it would eventually wear-down Khan and ultimately knock him out. Even though Khan outboxes Kiram, Khan’s defensive response is nothing out ordinary; Kiram’s jab would certainly land repeatedly and take its toll. Kiram wins via TKO.
Kell Brook versus Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao is a complete boxer, and like old wine he has adjusted his game and refined his skills. His resume as an active veteran speaks for itself, it is stacked with stylistically different opponents and knows the game well. He lost against Marquez after fighting the man ‘four times’ –anyone who fights someone four times understands the patterns of his opponent and his defensive flaws. Pacquiao’s defense is highly underrated because fans compare it to Mayweather’s defense. Brook times punches and packs power with both hands, but he is not faster than Floyd Mayweather Jr. Brook also lacks the experience and depth to read the awkwardness of Pacquiao and has no one on his resume who mimics his style. Pacquiao doesn’t fight like Golovkin, Porter, or Frankie Gavin —Pacquiao is extremely difficult to contain and harder to catch while in motion. I don’t believe Brook has the skills to defeat Pacquiao and protect against his counters — Pacquiao’s foot movement is on another level. If Brook couldn’t buck down Porter, he won’t intimidate Pacquiao. Pacquiao easily wins via UD.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Keith Thurman
Floyd is the ring general of boxing, and there is a high chance he might fight an elite boxer instead of Connor McGregor —if negotiations don’t follow through and the fight stalls– as McGregor stands absolutely no chance in beating Floyd. Floyd has a genius IQ, and has the speed and boxing knowledge to stop almost everyone. He is for a reason one of the top five technical boxers to ever lace a pair of boxing gloves. On the other hand, you have a unique guy by the name of Thurman, who comprises the character and poise of a future legend. If Floyd is a genius, so is Thurman. Thurman boxes for the love of the sport, and is anti PPV’s and anti-prizefighting. Thurman fights with awkwardness and he wins rounds boxing. The first time Marcos Maidana fought Floyd it was a very close decision, the first time Shawn Porter fought Thurman was a close decision. Thurman is a very adaptable boxer in the ring who has power and underrated technique. He is the only boxer who can counter Floyd and play his ‘catch me’ game. Floyd is old, Thurman is young and hungry. Floyd wins because of money, Thurman wins because of Ben Getty. Floyd had no intention of fighting Thurman as his mandatory, and ducked him for over two years. Thurman is special, and he is the best welterweight today. At his age, Thurman would surely counter Floyd, and hurt him in the exchange. Thurman would TKO Floyd, and give him his first loss. Thurman has all the tools to do it and the IQ to become unpredictable.
Terrence Crawford
As soon as he moves to the 147lbs division he is about to face a new conundrum of challenges which didn’t exist in the 140lbs. He will have to outclass very dangerous boxers who know how to take and give away. Crawford would have a hard time with Vargas, Ali, Garcia, Chaves, Bradley, Kiram, Horn, Peterson, Spence, Brook, Pacquiao and Thurman. Till he moves to the 147lbs division and faces a few of these dangerous and undefeated boxers it is impossible to know how great his caliber truly is.