A NEW GENERATION OF FIGHTERS ARE MATERIALIZING
Can we be headed into a decade of quality battles?
By Moncayo Blackbull

IB-June 6, 2007 - Less and less you hear of Arturo Gatti, Evander Holyfield and Chris Byrd, the likes of these active fighters are fading combinations. No more Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Micky Ward, even Eric Morales, Marcos Barrera and Bernard Hopkins are looked at in past tense. And now with Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather contemplating an exit to the sport, we as boxing fans are left with a weak pool of headliners.

While the present may be a little gloomy with headliners such as Antonio Tarver vs. Elvir Muriqi, and Wladimir Klitschko, vs. Lamon Brewster coming our way, we do have a little sunshine coming our way in the form of new blood.

Today boxing is filled with quality prospects working their way to contender status.

Fighters like Miguel Cotto, Paulie Malignaggi and David Diaz have broke barriers, Cotto will be defending his WBA title on June 9 against Zab Judah, Malignaggi will be fighting Lovemore N’dou for the IBF world title on June 16 and David Diaz faces Eric Morales on August 4 for his WBC strap.

Fighters like Herman Ngoudjo, Kendall Holt and Paul Williams have indeed made contender status with significant career defining bouts on schedule, look for these fighters to be in the immediate mix for future headline battles. Kelly Pavlik with his win over Edison Miranda has also put himself in the mix.

Other fighters on the horizon and making strong statements include Andre Ward, James Kirkland, Joachim Alcine, Andre Berto, Lamont & Anthony Peterson, Timothy Bradley, Almazbek Raiymkulov, Ray Narh, Jose Miguel Cotto, Joan Guzman, and Rey Bautista.

Not to leave out fighters like Kermit Cintron, Donald Camarena, Juan Urango, Chad Brisson, Victor Ortiz, Mike Arnaoutis, Darling Jimenez, Lamont Pearson, and Steven Luevano. Look for these guys to come on strong and make an impact to championship boxing in the near future.

While we read more and more about the demise of boxing, all I can say is “I don’t think so.” With this crew of upcoming boxers, I believe we’re in for an exciting decade of boxing. Although the heavyweights are most entertaining they no longer dictate the state of boxing.