Bits and Pieces

The sport of boxing longs for mainstream appeal, yet politics and promotional in fighting pushes away the causal boxing fan. Love or hate Floyd Mayweather Jr. he was/is what the sport of boxing needed. His flash and style gave fans that spice that we in America like in our superstars. I for one am glad to see him walk away from the sport because no matter who he fought a lot of people would never give him the credit that he has earned.

Now, with that said let me dive into the state of boxing as I see it, the heavyweight division is awful. Many people long for another young Tyson to come along to generate some type of buzz. But what they are fed is the extremely boring style of Wladimir Klitschko, who many believe to be the best in that awful division. It is amazing to me that he is considered the top draw of the division. Until we have a heavyweight whose name my grandmother can pronounce we will monitor this situation until a real champion steps up to unify the division. Peter vs W. Klitschko II would be a step in that direction, to bad we have to wait until 2009 for that to happen.

The cruiserweight division is pretty dang competive. However David Haye should stay there and truly be the undisputed champion. Golden Boy has signed Haye to a promotional deal which means David has left that building. Steve Cunningham is the next best in the division, he should pressure his promoters to set up a four or fight series to unify the division and then rule as the undisputed champion.

The light heavyweight division is VERY deep. The recognized champions are:Hugo Hernan Garay, Adrian Diaconu, Antonio Tarver, Zsolt Erdei, the ring magazine champion is Joe Calzaghe. The reason that this division is so deep is because all the champions step to the plate and defend their titles. Tarver has the correct idea in wanting to collect all of the belts. But let's consider this; Joe Calzaghe fights Roy Jones in November(Jones will win), Tarver fights Chad Dawson in October(this is a pick'em fight), now the reason that I point these two fights out are because Tarver beat an unmotivated Roy Jones. Dawson in young and hungry which could lead to the end of Tarver. Garay and Diaconu should meet to set up better pay days for the winner of that fight. Erdei should fight Glenn Johnson. In the end, we the fans win because the best would be fighting the best.

Kelly Pavlik holds two of the belt at middleweight, and is given credit for being the best in the division. I tend to disagree with that statement. Felix Sturm and Arthur Abrahamalso hold titles at middleweight, so why isnt there a rush to get Pavlik in the ring with one of them before the end of the year? Pavlik vs Sturm would be a great prelim for a Pavilk vs Abraham fight. Also, why hasn't one of the jabbed a stick at the dead career of Winky Wright? There are so many questions, and the answers are easily found IF the fighters could remove promoters and politics to give the fans what they deserve.

The Junior middleweight division is nothing to really write about. NEXT!

The cream of the crop of boxing right now is the welterweight division. I refuse to acknowledge Antonio Margarito as the division king. Yes, he beat Cotto, but frankly who cares. Paul Williams not so long ago out worked him. Clottey and Berto should meet and the winner of that fight should meet the winner of a Margarito/Williams II winner. But that wont happen because Margarito believes that he is a superstar and Williams team is going away from what got him the championship (staying active!). None the less, the fans deserve the best fights for their dollar, simply put, PUT UP OR SHUT UP! MAKE THE FIGHTS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE!

We all know that Ricky Hatton is the so called best at 140, but lets be real, he sucks! He will win in November because the only thing that Paulie Malignaggi is good at is running his mouth. He will run from Hatton which will work against him beating Hatton. Bradley and Holt are title holders in this division as well, they need to become more active so that the American public can embrace these young superstars.

As a fight fan I for one would love to see the establishment of one sanctioning body that kills the politics of this ruthless business. If there were such a sanctioning body in place we(the fight fans) would have the benefit from fan friendly fights that would draw in mainstream attention.