Tavoris Cloud and His Journey to a Title

I am a member of an internet boxing prediction site.  I also happen to be ranked 27th overall, out of thousands of other boxing fans, but that isn’t important.

You are probably asking, so what’s your point?

Last week, before I made my predictions, I was looking through the possible fights on which to bet.  One of my choices was the fight presented on Friday Night Fights between Tavoris Cloud (19-0, 18 KOs) and Julio Cesar Gonzalez (41-5, 25 KOs).

I knew immediately that I would avoid betting on this fight at all costs.  Too many times have I bet on the fighter with the glossy record instead of the veteran journeyman.  The latest error of that type occurred when Tye “Big Sky” Fields (41-2, 37 KOs) was knocked out in the first round by Monte Barrett (34-6, 20 KOs). 

I was all ready to see Gonzalez punish the untested Cloud.  But then the fight started and Cloud jumped on Gonzalez and began to punish him.

Cloud sure proved me wrong.  Not only did he win the fight, he was entertaining in doing so. 

For lack of a better word, Cloud’s first appearance on television was phenomenal.

He threw power punches throughout the fight and hurt Gonzalez in the first, fifth, sixth, and 10th rounds, resulting in a referee stoppage.  Judging from Cloud’s performance on Friday, he has plenty of potential which should lead him to a title shot in a couple of years.

There were many factors of Cloud’s fight against Gonzalez which impressed me.  Obviously he has a great deal of power, which is reflected in his knockout rate.  Up until Friday, Gonzalez had never been stopped, but Cloud managed to TKO him (although I doubt that Gonzalez would have been knocked out if the fight continued). 

However his power was not what impressed me the most.  Before his fight with Gonzalez, Cloud had never fought past the fifth round.  While Cloud’s pace slowed after his initial speed seen in the first six rounds, he never showed any sign of fatigue. 

In addition, when he chose to slow down the pace of the fight, he did an excellent job boxing at a distance. 

Cloud’s ability to box and not get tired certainly made me believe that one day he could be a champion. 

There is one major problem that I noticed that may delay or even prevent Cloud from becoming a champion: the light heavyweight division.

As of late, the light heavyweight division has been one of boxing’s deepest divisions.  Top fighters such as Joe Calzaghe, Bernard Hopkins, and even the great Roy Jones, Jr. are intimidating opponents to anyone.

However, it is very likely that when Cloud gets his opportunity for a title, all three of the fighters mentioned above will (hopefully) be retired. 

This can only come as minimal comfort for Cloud.

Quality fighters such as Chad Dawson, Antonio Tarver, Clinton Woods, Zsolt Erdei, and Adrian Diaconu, all pose legitimate threats to Cloud’s hope for a title.

Think that list of opponents is impressive?  Well there is even a possibility that Ring Magazine middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik might choose to move up in weight (depending on the result of his matchup at light heavyweight with Bernard Hopkins).

Although still young, Tavoris Cloud’s hope for a title is high, high above the clouds.