Boxing Analysis: Who\’s Next?

2006 will be the last year for one of these fighters!

2005 brought a changing of the guard in boxing as longtime champions and top pound for pound kings either fell hard or had time finally catch up with them and 2006 so far has brought more of the same. 2005 cemented the end of Roy Jones’ career, although his back to back KO losses had already told us that, with his final bout against Antonio Tarver nailing the coffin shut. Roy is no longer among the elite of the sport and never will be again. Bernard Hopkins was finally dethroned and lost again in his rematch with Taylor, the Executioner’s heir apparent to the middleweight crown. Time finally caught up with the seemingly ageless Hopkins and after being on top for so long, there is nothing left for the record breaking middleweight legend to accomplish in boxing. The exit of divisional king Vitali Klitschko left us again with no dominate heavyweight champion. Longtime great Erik Morales was upset by Zahir Raheem, Kostya Tszyu was beaten into submission by his heir apparent Ricky Hatton and Felix Trinidad was sent again into retirement by Winky Wright.

Some of these departures or losses were shockers to us all. No one expected Morales to lose to Raheem, nor did we expect Tszyu to quit on his stool during his shock loss to Hatton. Vitali Klitschko, who seemed to be getting better with every fight, was forced to retire due to constant injuries to his back, a smart decision as some fighters don’t know when to quit for their own good and end up permanently hurt. Trinidad once again showed what he was made of by quitting after a loss to Wright.

The biggest shocker to me was Hopkins, although Taylor was the future of the middles in everyone’s opinion. It was the lackluster way the fights were conducted that surprised me as I always figured that Hopkins would go out big when he finally went. Either by way of a great performance or on his back, but in any case, at least in spectacular style. Instead, he goes out in two snoozefests that could be considered robbery, given how they were on PPV while not even being worthy of ESPN.

There are four fighters that should consider retirement, in my opinion, or at least make some changes in their game plans if they don’t accomplish something big in 2006.

Its time to either step it up or step out!

Erik Morales: what happened here? “El Terrible” is terrible no more. He loses to Zahir Raheem in an upset, okay, that happens but then his KO loss to Pacquiao? I never thought I would see Morales slide down so far. Its almost as though he aged overnight and I have seen this happen to fighters in the past. I remember it happening to Holyfield as he went from the best to joining the rest during heavyweight boxing’s weakest era to date.

Morales is in a tough, tough division. Three of Ring Magazine’s top ten pound for pound fighters are in the junior lightweight division and the rest of the 130lb top ten are young improving fighters. Janos Nagy, 23-0, and Alex Arthur, 23-1 (17), are dangerous young men for an aged veteran with eroded skills. I think one more fight with a non-dangerous opponent should answer the question for Morales. If he doesn’t dominate his next fight it is time to go. Like I said, this division is talent packed. Anyone in it can hurt you on any given night and if your not 100%, they can hurt you permanently. I wouldn’t be surprised if 2006 is Morales’ last year as a professional boxer.

Antonio Tarver: the “Magic Man” seems as though he considers boxing a side job. Other than his predictable fights with Roy Jones and the series with Glen Johnson, what has he done? Tarver is not a kid here. Antonio is in his mid 30’s and now is not the time to take it easy. He has a history of not being overly active, as a look at the amount of fights he has will reveal. Not a high total.

Tarver lately has spent more time harassing Mike Tyson over the telephone and playing Mason Dixon in the upcoming Rocky 6 (Stallone, give it a rest already) than making defenses. He has to remember that Glen Johnson is always out there and in great shape. Fabrice Tiozzo has had two world title reigns and would love a third. Plus, his biggest threat of all, Zsolt Erdei, is beating hard at his door. The Balkan boxer has called Tarver out and publicly stated that he would knock out the current light heavyweight champion.

So far no one has been able to prove the undefeated Hungarian unable to back up his threats. An unfocused and rusty Tarver may be exposed as an actor pretending to rule the division rather than a fighter who actually does. My guess is that his next legitimate defense may be his last. This is not pro wrestling, Antonio; you are not “The Rock” as you can’t be a boxer and an actor.

Cory Spinks: he goes from the elite to the obscure. Spinks was not to long ago one of the pound for pound best in the world. After coming to the ring in poor shape and overlooking Zab Judah in their rematch, Spinks loses his belts and disappears. Maybe he is just taking some time to recover, I don’t know? But he is still very much able to give it another run. Although he can’t move up in weight due to his lack of power, he can still be one of the top men at welterweight.

With Zab crumbling to Baldomir, the division is wide open again. Cory has the boxing skills to frustrate any opponent and speed to keep himself out of harm’s way and he is still young enough to have another successful run at the belts. He hasn’t had any real wars in the ring so I think that he may be the best still among the welterweights if he can get motivated. Maybe he has the drive his father did as a fighter and not his uncle’s? Time will tell but Cory needs to decide now. If he does come back soon. I don’t see why he couldn’t enter 2007 as the champion.

Shane Mosley: once the most exciting fighter in all of boxing, but this former pound for pound king hasn’t had a win over a big time opponent since beating Oscar De La Hoya in their rematch. Mosley hasn’t been the same since his first loss to Vernon Forrest and his back to back losses to Winky Wright seemed to hurt his psyche even more, yet all Shane’s speed and power remain. His KO percentage is one of the most impressive in the game but the lackluster performances he has had against opponents like David Estrada and Jose Luis Cruz aren’t getting the job done here.

If Mosley can win against Vargas, he can make another serious run at a title. If he loses, then he should go as Shane just hasn’t seemed to have the hunger to be the fighter he once was. If this is the case, then move on. I don’t think he needs the money but if he stays he could have a strap by the end of the year.

Why these four fighters have taken a step back is beyond me. Age, confidence, money in the bank…who knows? They have all started to decline. Looking at what happened in 2005 to others once in their position in the pound for pound rankings should be a wake call. 2006 has a lot of up and coming fighters or former champions who are hungry for greatness. If these fighters aren’t on their A game, they to will fall hard this year. All four of them still have the goods as of now but will they keep them is the question? They have themselves in do or die situations and with so many hungry fighters out there, they need to take care of business or business will take care of them.