Professional boxing is slowly fighting its way out of the corner. What I'm talking about is the slump boxing has been in for the last several years. I'm talking about the lackluster fighters we refer to as world champions. I'm talking about having to watch champions like Roy Jones Jr. fight skid row bums passing as professional boxers. I'm talking about Mike Tyson fighting cadavers shot up with adrenalin so they can emulate a prize fighter. As a matter a fact, Tyson's last opponent was a Bum with a capital "B" who built up his record fighting bums with lower case "b" to fabricate himself as a contender.
Thank goodness for Marco Antonio Barrera, Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya, fighters who have brought us good, clean, competitive fights. Had it not been for fighters like these, we may have had to resort to watching hockey for uncompromising fights.
The new generation of up-and-coming fighters are taking two different roads. Let's start with the America's most promising fighters, the Olympians.
Olympic fighters hand picked by DiBella Entertainment are having the luxury of taking the Roy Jones Jr. road to success. Betting on these guys to become champions is your best bet. They will never face an opponent who has a slight chance of beating them as they build significant ring records. When and if they ever fight for a championship, the odds will be stacked heavily in their favor. They can only lose if they get knocked out and knocked out cold. Business fights are what these Olympians will engage in. Not the competitive and entertaining fights boxing fans want.
But brush off the cob webs and sweep the streets and you'll find promising up-and-coming fighters who have made the turn and have started the journey down the "other" road to success. These fighters are hungry and plan to earn their championships. When the time comes, take your money off the Mercedes and BMW's and put it on the Chevy's and Ford's because the Benz can't win when the driver can't drive!
Blood, Sweat and Tears is what's ahead for this group of up promising fighters. Boxing fans throughout the world will be cheering for them.
I give you my list of upcoming fighters:
1.. FRANCISCO BOJADO - (Lightweight) On May 21, I wrote an article called SuperMex on this young hombre. The 18-year-old Bojado was the youngest member of Mexico's 2000 Olympic team. Born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico, his family came to the United States in 1985 where they now live in Commerce, Calif. Bojado fought 183 times as an amateur with 168 wins and only 15 losses and an impressive 85 knockouts. As a pro he has knocked out all eight of his opponents, his record an unblemished 8-0. Bojado may not not yet believe he's earned the tag "SuperMex," but he will.
2.. JEFF LACY - (Super Middleweight) Extremely close to being No. 1. The distance is so tight between the No. 1 and No. 2 spots that John Elway couldn't throw a football between them. Lacy, like Bojado, has taken no prisoners in knocking out all six of his opponents. A member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team, Lacy fought 221 times as an amateur and inked 209 wins with only 12 losses. The 24-year-old Lacy is from St. Petersburg, Florida and definitely a "SuperStar" in boxing.
3.. RICARDO WILLIAMS - (Junior Welterweight) A DiBella Entertainment fighter, Williams does not need to be hand fed. He possesses the talent and skills to become a world champion. Regardless of the talent of his opponents, Williams is destined for greatness. The 2000 U.S. Olympic team Silver Medallist, Williams is only 20 and lives in Cincinnati.
4.. FRES OQUENDO - (Heavyweight) The Latin Assassin has matured in his last couple fights. Since being trained by Felix Trinidad Sr., he has shown great improvement. His recent wins over Clifford Etienne and Obed Sullivan have made Oquendo a fighter to be reckoned with. He lives in Chicago.
5.. JEVON LANGFORD - (Heavyweight) This Washington D.C. athlete makes professional football his priority...today. While simultaneously juggling a boxing and football career, Langford has recorded a 2-0 boxing record. He started his pro boxing career last summer during the off season of professional football. Langford grew up in a boxing gym and comes from a boxing family. He currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.
6.. JHONNY GONZALEZ - (Bantamweight) Fighting out of Mexico, Gonzalez shows the hunger and displays the talent to become a top contender. Look to hear more of Gonzalez as he works his way to more fights in America.
7.. J.C. CANDELLO - (Junior Middleweight) Columbian-born Candello has new found skills now that he's being trained by Larry Goossen. His ring record stands at 24-3-3 with 18 knockouts. With 30 fights to his credit, Candello has ring experience. Now, if Goossen can do his magic in fine tuning his skills, Candello will fare well in this game.
8.. JEFFREY RESTO - (Welterweight) Straight from the Bronx, this youngster is 8-0 with 5 knockouts as a professional prize fighter. Relatively tall for a welterweight at 5-foot-11, Resto, 24, had an outstanding amateur career, winning the Golden Gloves in 1996. A Puerto Rican/Mexican, he also has the blood lines to go with his pugilistic skills.
With new blood entering the arena, boxing fans should be in for a treat in the near future. Let's hope these youngsters make their way through the tough avenue and prevail. Finding success in the fight game is tough to say the least. Sometimes, heart and talent aren't enough to take a fighter to a championship and world fame.
-Blackbull- October 22, 2001