Looking for Sweetness

By Moncayo Blackbull

InsideBoxing.com (April 14, 2008) - I think every generation of boxing should have its sugar.

It started with “Sugar” Ray Robinson.

You may have been too young or maybe not into boxing but even if you never witnessed Robinson fight first hand, I’m sure you’ve heard of him. You see, Robinson fought in the fifties and sixties and Robinson was what sweetness was all about.

In the seventies, eighties and nineties we had “Sugar” Ray Leonard. It was not unusual to tune in to the Wide World of Sports and catch Sugar Ray demonstrating the art of the sweet science. Boxing was part of weekend sports… on free T.V. I can remember the days, an era filled with talent like “Hands of Stone” Roberto Duran, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, Wilfred Benitez, “Hitman” Thomas Hearns, Hector “Macho” Camancho and the list continues.

The nineties brought “Sugar” Shane Mosley into the picture of sweetness. Currently still active, who can forget the sweet domination of superstar Oscar DeLaHoya.  Yes, Sugar is sweet.

With Mosley well into his golden years of boxing, who will step up and keep the sweetness in boxing?

Who do we have lurking in the horizon? Who will step it up?

Carlos DeLeon Jr.  carries the moniker “Baby Sugar”, as he follows in the footsteps of his father Carlos DeLeon Sr. a former world champion who was also known as “Sugar”.

With his recent victory over James McGirt Jr., DeLeon certainly continues to move in the right direction of becoming today’s sugar man.

Afore mentioned McGirt Jr.  can easily regroup from the loss to DeLeon Jr. and make a run at becoming the next sugar. McGirt Jr. has shown signs of approval when it comes to his talent in the ring.

Undefeated Joan Guzman has displayed a lot of sweet moves in the ring, his offense continues to improve giving him a run at sweetness. At the age of 31, he’ll have to make a move and mix it up with the top fighters if he’s to become the next sugar.

Kendall Holt has shown a lot of promise, we’ll have to see how he handles his rematch against Ricardo Torres. Will he go for the gusto and flow in the ring or will he ride that bike and hope for a US tilted decision? Remember Sugar Ray Leonard in his rematch against Roberto Duran?

Sechew Powell has been impressive lately, can he continue on this road and vie for the name tag of sugar?

And with a whole crew of young pugs entering the arena like Lamont and Anthony Peterson, Andre Berto, Andre and Anthony Direll, who knows who will step up?

Who knows, maybe Inside Boxing will initiate an annual “Sugar” awards gala event. I kind of like the idea, rings a bell don’t it

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