By Ivan Godfrey: The present number of British world champions is already a reasonably healthy four, however, that number surely will rise in the very near future. I do not envisage any of the current crop losing their titles any time soon.
Jamie Mcdonnell (22-2-1,9KO`s) is the best of an average bunch in the bantamweight division with no champion reigning supreme and he is improving with each fight.
Ricky Burns perhaps would have met with defeat had Adrien Broner remained in the lightweight picture. Despite a perhaps overeager performance in the first half against Jose Gonzalez, he displayed enough courage and punch resistance to go with his undoubted boxing ability to suggest he will become undisputed lightweight champion.
Nathan Cleverly has all the attributes to be a worldwide boxing star. The one attribute he lacks is knockout power, which means he generally has to last the full 12 rounds but he possesses a terrific chin and phenomenal stamina to enable him to do this. There is a look of Joe Calzaghe about him and i believe he will match Joe by retiring with an unblemished record.
Carl Froch needs no explanation, a throw back boxer whom takes on all challenges and fights the best of the best. The one man he has faced and failed to get the better of is Andre Ward and there is certainly no shame in that and the fact Froch remains determined to try to avenge that defeat is testament to his heart.
Scott Quigg, Darren Barker, Tony Bellew and Amir khan could well raise the number of British world champions to eight by the end of 2013. Expect the majority of Billie Joe Saunders, Carl Frampton, Frankie Gavin, Kell Brook, George Groves(after a close defeat to the legend that is Mr Froch), David Haye, Martin Murray, James Degale, Lee Selby, and Liam Smith to be challenging for world honors in 2014.
This is not to mention 2015 and 2016 which could well include the stupendously talented Olympic Gold medalist Luke Campbell, the highly skilled Hughie Fury, and Kid Galahad among others all challenging for world crowns. These are all realistic and I think it is safe to say that all British boxing fans should buckle up for some enthralling years to come.
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