Top 10 Boxing Prospects of 2014

Top 10 Boxing Prospects of 2014

2013 was a great year for boxing and boxing fans in general.  We witnessed a record breaking event when Floyd “Money” Mayweather defeated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.  Manny Pacquiao returned to the upper echelon of the boxing world with his one-sided whipping of Brandon Rios.  Ander Ward returned from an injury and proved that technically, he is unflawed.  Timothy Bradley had a huge year in ’13, defeating newly crowned WBA Titlist, Ruslan Provodnikov in a fight of the year candidate as well future hall of famer, Juan Manuel Marquez.  Guillermo Rigondeaux solved the puzzle that was Nonito Donaire, stamping his arrival to the pound for pound rankings.  Sergio Martinez returned from injury and looked human in his only bout 0f ’13.  The Klitschko’s dominated the heavyweight division again.  We saw the rise of fighters like Danny Garcia, Gennady Golovkin, Adonis Stevenson, Ruslan Provodnikov, Leo Santa Cruz and Mikey Garcia.  Bernard Hopkins is still fighting but hopefully we’ve seen the last of a fading Shane Mosley.  We learned that Miguel Cotto is still a box office star and Roy Jones Jr. can pack a venue in Russia.  Adrian Broner proved he was more bark than bite while Marcos Maidana resurrected his career.  Paulie Malignaggi is a born again fighter and is proving to be a wonderful broadcaster.  And at last check, Amir Khan is still around here somewhere.   Oh yeah, and Brooklyn was still in the house although Zab Judah went 0-2 in ’13.

As we look ahead to 2014, we do so with a list of prospects ready to take the boxing world by storm.  Dating back to 2000, many fighters considered prospects of the year have either become, competed for or on the cusp of World Champion ambitions.  Miguel Cotto took home the crown in ’02 and became a PPV star and multi divisional champion.  Jermaine Taylor followed Cotto in ’03 and defeated the legendary Bernard Hopkins to win the Middleweight title.  Samuel Peter claimed the WBC strap when he defeated Oleg Maskaev and was a staple in the heavyweight division for many years.  Joel Julio had a good career but never garnered a world title. Andre Berto became the WBC title holder and was considered at one point, to be the next budding star in boxing.  Amir Khan followed and was being built as a superstar, capturing the WBO title in the process.  Then there was Victor Ortiz, who defeated previous prospect of the year fighter, Andre Berto, for the WBC strap.  In recent years, Daniel Jacobs is resuming his career after a bout with cancer.  Canelo Alvarez is a mega star and former world champion.  Gary Russell Jr. is an enigma, blessed with talent but won’t showcase it against top level competition.  David Price was climbing the ladder but faltered in his step up bouts.

So who will take that next step in ’14? I give you a list of ten fighters who should compete for world titles or move closer to championship status by years end.

10. Errol Spence 10-0 Jr. Middleweight- Spence was a decorated amateur, winning the 2011 U.S. National Championships.  He also represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games.  Spence sports a record of 10-0 and currently trains out of the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas, NV.

9. Bryant Jennings 16-0 Heavyweight- After a blistering 2012, fighting and winning 5 times, Jennings only fought once in 2013.  However, he is already scheduled to take the ring on January 25^th, against his toughest opponent to date, Arthur Szpika.  Jennings is considered a hopeful to return ta portion of the Heavyweight lineage back to the states.

8. Antonio Orozco 18-0 Light Welterweight- Orozco, 18-0, fought twice in 2013, stopping credible opponents, Jose Reynosa and Ivan Hernandez. The Golden Boy light welterweight prospect is schedule to step into the ring on January 24^th.  In front of him will be the grizzled veteran, Miguel Angel Huerta, 27-11-1.  The bout will serve as the co-main event on Fox Sports 1

7.  Jessie Magdaleno 17-0 Featherweight- It’s safe to say that at 17-0 and under the watchful eye of Top Rank, Magdaleno could still be a prospect by years end.  Top Rank usually brings their fighter along slowly; we’ve seen it with Brandon Rios, Mike Alvarado and his brother, Diego, before him.  Magdelano is scheduled to face the durable Roberto Castaneda in February

6. Ivan Redkack 16-0 Lightweight- A Dibella signed prospect, the 16-0 Ukrainian will display his talents on national TV January 17^th, on ShoBox: The Next Generation.  His television debut will not be an easy one as he faces once beaten, Tony Luis of Canada.  Redkack was an alternate on the 2008 Ukraine Olympic team.

5.  Deontay Wilder 30-0 Heavyweight- After returning home with an unexpected Bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, Wilder has by far been the most active fighter on the list.  At 30-0, most fighters have competed for, won or lost a bid at a championship belt.   Not Wilder, however, 2014 may be the year we see if Wilder will sink or swim with big boys.  Vitale Klitschko just vacated his title and Chris Arreola will rematch Bermane Stiverne for the vacant title.  Wilder could and should, eventually, face the winner of this bout in 2014 0r 2015.

4.  Jermell Charllo Jr. Middleweight 22-0- Another Golden Boy prospect, the fourth on the list, Charllo is opening 2014 with a bang.  On January 25, airing on Showtime, Charllo will face multiple world title challenger and Philly’s own, Gabriel Rosado.   A win against Rosado could propel to a world title shot by years end.

3.  Anthony Dirrell Super Middleweight 26-0-1-   We can debate whether or not he belongs on a list of prospect.  Granted he just compete for a world title, Sakio Bika isn’t the lineal champ at 168.  Dirrell took a huge step up in competition in facing Bika and proved that a bout with Ward, Froch or the winner of Bute-Pascal isn’t as far-fetched to believe.

2.  Vasyl Lomachenko 1-0 Featherweight- Lomachenko compiled an amateur record of 396-1, winning 2 gold medals in the process.   Top Rank has stated that Lomachenko will compete for a world title in only his second bout.  Orlando Salido seems to the viable opponent for Lomachenko as this moment but in a stacked featherweight division, future bouts could produce dangerous results.  Is Lomachenko ready for Donaire or Rigondeaux? What if Golden Boy and Top Rank reconcile, could we him face the winner of Gonzales-Mares II?

After going 3-0 in 2013 and appearing on Showtime numerous times, my numero uno prospect competes in the deepest division in the game.  The Welterweight division is stacked with champions, contenders, veterans and gate-keepers.  So the rise to the top of the food chain proved to be a difficult road traveled with many more bumps to follow.  Hopefully, One Time, is ready for the big stage

1. Keith Thurman 22-0 Welterweight- Thurman just stopped the durable, tough as nails, Jesus Soto Karass.  Thurman is ready for the next level and has many opponents to choose from.  A Marcos Maidana would produce fireworks.  A Paulie Malignaggi bout is interesting.  If Danny Garcia and Lucas Matthysse move up to 147, Thurman will be waiting for both of them.  Heck, if Adrian Broner reclaims a belt, think about the pre-fight trash talk between these two.   Wait, could Thurman challenge “Money” in 2014?

-Eric “Sugar Foot” Duran/ @sexlovepain83

Contributor for www.BehindTheGloves.com