No weight class has housed more talent or been more consistent over the past 30 years -- if not history -- than the welterweight division. Almost exclusive to combat sports, the term "welter" is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a state of wild disorder."
In the first installment of "Weighing In," where I rank a division's fighters and offer other analysis, I will try to bring order to the 147-pound class. "Weighing In" will be a monthly installment appearing at the beginning of the second week each month. Comments and suggestions are encouraged.
In the words of the legendary Mills Lane: Let's get it on.
Top 10 at 147:
1. Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs): Despite ESPN jumping the gun and reporting Manny Pacquiao accepted Mosley's challenge (without checking with boxing writer Dan Rafael), Sugar Shane is still without an opponent for the second half of the year. He may just have to take a risk and fight Paul Williams. According to the RING's championship policy, Mosley should own the title after battering Antonio Margarito. It's a shame "The Bible of Boxing" didn't crown him.
2. Miguel Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs): He'll have his hands full with a very determined Clottey in Madison Square Garden on June 13. Cotto is no stranger to fighting at MSG, having fought there five times prior. This will be the fourth time he headlines a card on the weekend of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. He bounced back from his knockout loss to Margarito by disposing of Michael Jennings in five rounds in February and will have the crowd behind him against Clottey.
3. Joshua Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs): The tough-as-nails Ghanaian relinquished the IBF trinket he won in his technical decision over Judah last August. That's how much he wants to fight the best. If every boxer was as resolute as Clottey, Mosley would have an opponent by now.
4. Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KOs): He didn't surprise nor disappoint anybody by earning a unanimous decision win over junior welterweight Juan Urango on May 30. He has the physical tools to maintain a high ranking, but he needs to grasp his star potential and get rid of guys like Urango.
5. Luis Collazo (29-4, 14 KOs): The slick southpaw from Queens, N.Y., proved he was an elite welterweight when he took Berto through hell in January. The bout was closer than a unanimous loss for Collazo, which included judge Bill Clancy's ludicrous 116-111 score in Berto's favor.
6. Carlos Quintana (26-2, KOs): Speaking of Puerto Rican lefties, Quintana showed superior skill in easily outpointing Joel Julio and Paul Williams. He followed each of those huge wins with knockout losses against Cotto (KO5) and in a rematch with Williams (KO1).
7. Zab Judah (37-6, 25 KOs): No rematch with a shower door for "Super" Judah. The unpredictable Brooklynite is scheduled to face Hatton -- Matthew Hatton -- on the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez undercard.
8. Isaac Hlatshwayo (28-1-1, 10 KOs): Remember, this guy does own a win over Nate Campbell. After a strange draw with Rodriguez in his home country of South Africa, the two will fight for the IFB strap vacated by Clottey.
9. Delvin Rodriguez (24-2-2, 14 KOs): Seriously, within the next 12 months we need a Berto-Rodriguez bout. Anybody down to see that? If he gets by Hlatshwayo (and another rematch isn't mandated), there might be a chance for the showdown.
10. Vyacheslav Senchenko (29-0, 20 KOs): The great unknown of the ranked welters (all but three of his fights were in Ukraine). The 2000 Olympian hasn't fought much since 2002, but when he has, he's won.
Notably absent: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (returning from retirement), Antonio Margarito (suspended), Manny Pacquiao (campaigning as 140-pound champ) and Paul Williams (last three bouts at 154 and 160).
As promised, and appropriate for this month's "Weighing In," how about a Cotto-Clottey report card?
Speed: Cotto: B | Clottey: B
Power: Cotto: B+ | Clottey: B-
Chin: Cotto: C+ | Clottey: A
Ring Generalship: Cotto: A- | Clottey: B-
Intangibles: Cotto: A- | Clottey: B
Check back for a full preview and the lowdown on the "Fight Night Club" premiere.
Until then, the Sweet Science lab is closed.
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3 comments:
I totally agree with the entire list.
Looks like you give the slight edge to Cotto on Saturday. I think the power may be more than Clottey can handle.
Appearances may be deceiving...
My prediction will come with a detailed preview Thursday.
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