lpinoy
09-24-2010, 02:20 AM
C/P
By Dave Carlson
After a slow start to 2010, boxing is now buzzing with exciting storylines from flyweight to heavyweight, and new young champions are on the doorstep of superstardom.
After some lean years, there are finally reasons to be excited about American boxers and the heavyweight division. And the omnipresent saga of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao looms.
Old rivalries, new fighters, careers on the ropes and chances at redemption.
A slideshow of the 12 top stories in boxing today.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images After a slow start to 2010, boxing is now buzzing with exciting storylines from flyweight to heavyweight, and new young champions are on the doorstep of superstardom.
After some lean years, there are finally reasons to be excited about American boxers and the heavyweight division. And the omnipresent saga of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao looms.
Old rivalries, new fighters, careers on the ropes and chances at redemption.
A slideshow of the 12 top stories in boxing today.
12. The Rebirth Of The Heavyweight Division
Yes, that heavyweight division. Remember when this used to be the premier division in boxing? Well, it's been dull lately for a number of reasons that have left the division on the dole.
It's still hard to argue that anyone other than Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko can beat either of these champions, and the two will never fight.
However, there are some exciting rumblings happening. Tomasz Adamek (pictured against Steve Cunningham) and his promoter Kathy Duva the most important woman in boxing today—have done a great job of booking frequent high-level fights for the newly-minted heavyweight contender.
Adamek—a light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champ—is joined by another top star moving up in weight who has already claimed a heavyweight title.
England's David Haye is another rising star. Unlike Adamek, who will fight anyone, Haye has been ducking the Klitschkos for a while, but he is a more marketable persona than anyone in the division, and if he can man up for a Klitschko or Adamek fight, we have a major heavyweight event on our hands.
Alexander Povetkin is the other fighter in the top five. He's undefeated and consistently impressive, but his trainer Teddy Atlas thinks he needs another year or two of maturation before he can tackle Vitali or Wladimir. But these three hot young stars have made the heavyweight division fun again.
11. The Fall of Britain's Finest: Hatton and Calzaghe's Cocaine Troubles
Three years ago, these were boxing's two "great white hopes." Both from the UK, both handsome, exciting and colorful fighters, and both considered top five pound for pound boxers by many observers. Eighteen months later, they were both out of boxing.
Joe Calzaghe retired on top, undefeated at age 36 after consecutive high-profile victories over Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins, and Roy Jones, Jr. Ricky Hatton's end was tough. A tough loss to Mayweather and a two-round battering at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in Hatton's final fight.
Yet recently, both have been exposed as cocaine users. There may not be much more to say. Neither seems to have fallen off the rails and they both recently partook in a charity soccer game that raised over $3 million for Unicef.
However, given their different fates and close proximity, it is at the very least an intriguing story that we want to know more about.
10. How Much Longer Will Pacquiao Fight?
Manny Pacquiao is a top pound for pound fighter and holds the record for titles held in the most weight divisions (7, going on 8). He is also now an elected Congressman in the Phillipines and has expressed interest in stopping after another one or two fights.
Given what's happening with Floyd Mayweather, there is a lot of pressure associated with making boxing's most-talked-about match happen.
I doubt Pacquiao would bypass an opportunity to fight Mayweather (if Floyd is willing), whether it's one or three fights from now, but Pacquiao is one of boxing's treasures and he is beloved by fans worldwide. How long will he stay a fighter?
By Dave Carlson
After a slow start to 2010, boxing is now buzzing with exciting storylines from flyweight to heavyweight, and new young champions are on the doorstep of superstardom.
After some lean years, there are finally reasons to be excited about American boxers and the heavyweight division. And the omnipresent saga of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao looms.
Old rivalries, new fighters, careers on the ropes and chances at redemption.
A slideshow of the 12 top stories in boxing today.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images After a slow start to 2010, boxing is now buzzing with exciting storylines from flyweight to heavyweight, and new young champions are on the doorstep of superstardom.
After some lean years, there are finally reasons to be excited about American boxers and the heavyweight division. And the omnipresent saga of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao looms.
Old rivalries, new fighters, careers on the ropes and chances at redemption.
A slideshow of the 12 top stories in boxing today.
12. The Rebirth Of The Heavyweight Division
Yes, that heavyweight division. Remember when this used to be the premier division in boxing? Well, it's been dull lately for a number of reasons that have left the division on the dole.
It's still hard to argue that anyone other than Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko can beat either of these champions, and the two will never fight.
However, there are some exciting rumblings happening. Tomasz Adamek (pictured against Steve Cunningham) and his promoter Kathy Duva the most important woman in boxing today—have done a great job of booking frequent high-level fights for the newly-minted heavyweight contender.
Adamek—a light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champ—is joined by another top star moving up in weight who has already claimed a heavyweight title.
England's David Haye is another rising star. Unlike Adamek, who will fight anyone, Haye has been ducking the Klitschkos for a while, but he is a more marketable persona than anyone in the division, and if he can man up for a Klitschko or Adamek fight, we have a major heavyweight event on our hands.
Alexander Povetkin is the other fighter in the top five. He's undefeated and consistently impressive, but his trainer Teddy Atlas thinks he needs another year or two of maturation before he can tackle Vitali or Wladimir. But these three hot young stars have made the heavyweight division fun again.
11. The Fall of Britain's Finest: Hatton and Calzaghe's Cocaine Troubles
Three years ago, these were boxing's two "great white hopes." Both from the UK, both handsome, exciting and colorful fighters, and both considered top five pound for pound boxers by many observers. Eighteen months later, they were both out of boxing.
Joe Calzaghe retired on top, undefeated at age 36 after consecutive high-profile victories over Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins, and Roy Jones, Jr. Ricky Hatton's end was tough. A tough loss to Mayweather and a two-round battering at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in Hatton's final fight.
Yet recently, both have been exposed as cocaine users. There may not be much more to say. Neither seems to have fallen off the rails and they both recently partook in a charity soccer game that raised over $3 million for Unicef.
However, given their different fates and close proximity, it is at the very least an intriguing story that we want to know more about.
10. How Much Longer Will Pacquiao Fight?
Manny Pacquiao is a top pound for pound fighter and holds the record for titles held in the most weight divisions (7, going on 8). He is also now an elected Congressman in the Phillipines and has expressed interest in stopping after another one or two fights.
Given what's happening with Floyd Mayweather, there is a lot of pressure associated with making boxing's most-talked-about match happen.
I doubt Pacquiao would bypass an opportunity to fight Mayweather (if Floyd is willing), whether it's one or three fights from now, but Pacquiao is one of boxing's treasures and he is beloved by fans worldwide. How long will he stay a fighter?