05/01/2015
Top 15 Boxing Prospects to watch in 2015
- 15- Frankie Gomez: Lw and
welterweight 22yr, 18(13)-0-0
Frankie Gomez started to make real noise in the light welterweight division in 2014 beating Orlando Vazquez by KO and Vernon Paris by UD. He trains with the legendary Freddie Roach at the Famous Wildcard Gym (Los Angeles). Gomez is a clever figter who waits for the oportunity to fight inside and throw a quality uppercut.He turned pro in 2010 with an amateur career of 120-8 and winning silver medal on 2009 World Championships. He is currently with Golden boy promotions and he should try and keep more active and gain experience as he steps up the game gor 2015.
- 14- Julian Williams: LightMiddleweight 24yr, 18(11)-0-0_
Julian williams (orthodox) had a busy 2014 where he showed his abilities and collected 4 wins with 3 coming by a way of Knockout. He is a nice inside and outside fighter who showed a big amount of speed and skill with quick jabs to head and body followed by powerfull right hands. He has good defensive skills, should try and avoid jumping in with shots and keep calm like he did in some of his last fights. A rematch with Centeno for the last No contest Decision will be a nice way to start the Year as last December he expressed his desire of making the fight happen again.
- 13- Hugo Centeno Jr: Middleweight 23yr, 22(12)-0-0
Centeno is a boxer from Oxnard California and a "must watch out" for the top boxers in his division. In 2014 Centeno defeated the undefeated Gerardo Ibarra by unanimous decision and then he destroyed Jr. Middleweight contender, James De la Rosa with a 5th round TKO. He surely has some power and he will be heading big cards very soon.
- 12- Errol Spence Jr: Welterweight 24yr, 15(12)-0-0
Olympic amateur boxer in 2012 he managed to get to the quarter finals and thanks to his amateur background he became very popular as a prospect in the pro level. He had a very busy 2014 ending on 5-0 with 4 KO's. He only when on distance of 10 rounds defeating Ronald Cruz in June. He is ready to step up competitions and start fighting some of the top 20 guys at welter in order to gain experience. I just watched his fight against javier castro where spence won by TKO in round 5 and there is no doubt, he is talented but needs to keep growing.
- 11- Jesse Magdaleno: Super Bantanweight 23yr, 19(15)-0-0
Jesse claims to be ready for Guillermo rigondeaux, Leo santa Cruz, Carl Frampton... I don't think so but he surely will be in a close future if he stills showing his abilities the way he did in 2014 with 2 wins both by KO. He is a clever quick fighter with decent footwork and amateur pedigree with a record of 111-16 with a gold medall in the U.S. National championships. If he keeps doing the work he needs to do Big fights will be a guarantee.
- 10- Eubank Jr: Middleweight 25yr, 18(13)-1-0
Slick and cocky, he does not need the help of his famous father to fight, especially when he does not litsen to his trainir and all Chris Eubank sr says in the corner is "Knock him out Jr." Really? The guy has a lot of power, quality footwork and good body movement. He also has quick hands and should try to avoid jumping in with shots like he did against Billy Joe Saunders giving up the first 5 rounds. Hoping he has learn from his first defeat 2015 will be an interesting year for him as he tries to make his comeback.
- 9- Artur Beterbiyev: Light Heavyweight 29yr, 7(7)-0-0
Making professional Debut in 2013 after being 2-time Olympian at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gamesgames Beterbiyev has quickly moved up in the rankings and could become a Title challenger very soon. Beterbiev had a really good end of the year, with 4-0 all by knockout. Recently he woke up from a knockdown in the very first round and stopped Jeff Page Jr in the second round. Beterbiev has claimed the NABA and WBO NABO Light Heavyweight titles and He completly outclased and destroyed former world champion, Tavoris Cloud in 2 rounds. Beterbiev is another eastern european beast with knockout instinct and at age 29 he could be leaving the prospects list very soon as he steps up his game, to play in the same league as hopkins, Kovalev, Stevenson and Jean Pascal. Will he go all the way and make it this year? Will see.
- 8- Luke Campbell: Lightweight 27yr, 9(7)-0-0
Campbell turned pro in 2013 at age 26 after a successful amateur career ending in a gold medal on the 2012 Olympic Games. He is a really nice technical fighter who uses his jab to find openings and place in body shots and use his hand speed. He had a busy year in 2014 5(4)-0. I specially like his last fight against Daniel Brizuela where Campbell placed really hard body shots to end the night in round 5. Im sure he will move up in the rankings as he keeps fighting better opponents in 2015.
- 7- Billy Joe Saunders: Middleweight 25yr, 21(11)-0-0
Now he is tough, This guy is also ready to fight top opposition this year and there is already talks of a possible fight with another traveller, Andy Lee. He culminated a good 2-0 in 2014 ending with the rivality between him and Eubank Jr. where Saunders was the clever fighter using the distance and the Jab to win the first 5 rounds. When Eubank Jr wanted to wake up it was too late for the young talent and the win was in Saunders pocket. Saunders surely has a good chin, decent footwork, nice jab and power. Surely will be nice to see him fighting fellow traveler Andy Lee in 2015
- 6- Oscar Valdez: Featherweight 24yr,14(13)-0-0
He is very good. For many 2014 prospect of the year and is a two-time Olympian from Mexico. He is Quick, powerful and patient who attacks as soon as he sees the opportunity. He had a busy year with 6 fights ending in 6-0 with 5 KO's and an unaniomous decision against Juan Ruiz so it was the only time Valdez got to the final bell. As the year goes on I think the mexican will fight better opposition and surely find big opportunities to leave a mark in the featherweight diviseion. Looks like a future champion to me.
- 5- Callum Smith: Super Middleweight 24yr, 14(11)-0-0
This is the youngest of the Smith brother trained by Joe Gallagher and promoted by Match room as AJ and Luke Campbell. He had an amazing 2014 with 6(4)-0 Finishing the year going to distance with his biggest opponent so far Nikola SjeKloka where he showed amazing jab use and brilliant techinque fighting in and out. He is a very technical fighter who does not make many mistakes and uses his jab to find opportunities to throw body shots and right hands. He also has nice defense and footwork. Surely he will be fighting even better guys in 2015 and will search for a world title eliminator very soon.
- 4- Felix Verdejo: Super Featherweight 21yr, 16(12)-0-0
The Puertorican Felix Verdejo is a brutal Machine! After his successful amateur career With gold in the panamerican games and representing Puerto Rico in the Olympics (losing in the quarter finals against vasyl Lomachenko), he turned pro signing with top rank. He had a busy year competing in 6 bouts this year. He went 6-0 with 5KO’s and is surely ready for big fights. He has scary power, good technique and a very effective boxer who could be Puerto Rico next big star. - 3- Jermell Charlo: Light Middleweight 24yr, 25(11)-0-0
Jermell Charlo a minute younger than his brother jermall and both have tremendous abilities and a bright future but the reason why I decided to use Jermell is because jermall is to agressive and Jermell is the most complete fighter of them two. Jermell has an amateur background of 56-8 and is a junior olympic bronze medallist. He is a sharp boxer with solid defence and very patience. He is also very fast and has very decent footwork. He has everything he needs for a world title challenge right now.
- 2- Anthony Joshua: Heavyweight 25yr, 10(10)-0-0
Let's make it simple Anthony Joshua Might not have a big level of experience as Jermell Charlo does, but in the Hevyweigt division Joshua is the real Deal. "AJ" is a late start in the sport (at age 18) who managed to build a successful amateur career after winning a Gold Medal in the 2012 summer Olympic games and silver at the World Championships. Joshua has the body of a prototypical old times Heavy weight, he is really build but very agile for his size and he is in top conditions. Joshua masters the basics and the jab on the outside and surely is a big puncher on the inside as well. He has perfect timing on his punches and I am expecting to see him steping up competition as he faces his bigger challenge so far, Kevin Johnson in January the 31st. He is surely ready for big fights coming up.
- 1-Keith Thurman: Welterweight 26yr, 24(21)-0-0
Thurman has more than enough experience to leave the prospects list but the guy is nor a world champion yer and as he destroyes better opponents each time, big fights should be knocking at the door. Thurman will be a star with his rangy punching style and his big power. He does a lot of training for power to remark his natural strength. He has a fluid style and amazing footwork plus the guy is quick! Thurman can hurt other fighters with both hands, specially with his powerful left hook. He had a decent 2014 ending on a distance fight with Leonard Bundu as thurman subestimated his opponent. He won the other fight against julio diaz with a round 3 RTD. Names like Mayweather and Pacquiao on the division sound too good to materialise yet but as he steps up his game for 2015 big fights should be open to him.