State of the Boxing Union: The Light Welterweights.

1. Kostya Tszyu: A technician, a tactician with power, poise and precision, Kostya Tszyu is a boxing legend. Great amateurs should translate into great professionals, and Tszyu is the example of that philosophy. Victims of Tszyu’s power are legion, but not shamed in being so, as the naturalized Australian conceivably carries middleweight power in a 140-pound body. As innovative in training, dedicated and intense as any fighter in the world, and having gathered the undisputed championship in dominating fashion, Tszyu deserves recognition as the greatest light welterweight of his time. The former undisputed champion expects a spirited challenge from England’s Ricky Hatton in June, but to say the odds are stacked against the Briton is an understatement. One as shrewd as Tszyu would not look past an opponent, but hopefully, victory will prompt Tszyu to finally try his hand in the welterweight division where Shane Mosley, Oscar de la Hoya and Zab Judah await.

2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Technically, Mayweather is probably the most talented fighter in the world today. It is only a matter of time until Mayweather usurps the position of Bernard Hopkins as pound-for-pound champion, but his achievements in this weight class cannot displace the great Tszyu. With such talent, and certainly a vast amount of quality opposition to test it against, the sky is the limit for Mayweather. A win over Arturo Gatti in June yields a third WBC title in as many weight classes; a feat of legend, but I feel that Mayweather is capable of much more if he so chooses. As the fast, classy boxer in contrast to his peers, Mayweather is an essential component of the future success of the light welterweight and welterweight divisions.

3. Arturo Gatti: Only Gatti’s several losses prevent him from a higher placement here. A throwback fighter responsible for some of boxing’s greatest fights of the last ten years, with great skill, a great punch and more courage than sense, Gatti will be revered as a great fighter, if not as a great champion. The reconstruction of his style under Buddy McGirt is admirable, as he has come to rely more on his natural ability than his reputation as a big-hitter. I have a sneaking suspicion that he holds more than a few surprises in store for Mayweather next month, but either way, as long as there are fighters such as Arturo Gatti around, boxing shall remain healthy enough to survive.

4. Miguel Cotto: The Puerto Rican is a world champion, but you would never know it because of the immense criticism he receives and the extreme demands placed upon him by the general boxing media and the fans. After the overwhelming early stage of his career in which Cotto steamrolled over such notable fighters as Cesar Bazan, Demetrio Ceballos and Victoriano Sosa, Cotto’s career directions now seems somewhat subdued. A fortuitous turn of events saw him take a referee’s stoppage earlier this year over DeMarcus Corley, and his progression is set to take a back-step as he is set to take on Mohamad Abdulaev in a nonsensical match-up. It is not inconceivable that Cotto is boxing’s future superstar, but having struggled to reach the 140-pound weight class, he would certainly benefit from a move up to welterweight where there are currently many more lucrative fight options.

5. Ricky Hatton: Having endured the stinging criticism of press, fans and fighters alike, Hatton now receives his chance to prove everyone wrong with a fight against the number one fighter on this list, Kostya Tszyu. As England’s highest-profile fighter, Hatton holds a nation’s expectations on his shoulders, but regardless of his many qualities as a fighter, many believe he has a slim chance of dethroning Tszyu. Hatton’s notable performances have come against such opposition as an aged Vince Phillips and a limited Ben Tackie; he shall find a world of difference between those fighters and Tszyu. Hatton is a pressure fighter that loads up on the left hook to the body, making him vulnerable for the straight right hand, which is of course Tszyu’s most damaging punch. An upset victory would secure Hatton’s place in British fight folklore, but in defeat, it will be interesting to see how he responds.

6. Sharmba Mitchell: This former WBA world champion took two cracks at Kostya Tszyu, and regretted doing so on both occasions. Once again, Mitchell is yet another fighter that stands as an example of Tszyu’s greatness; Mitchell’s dominance in Tszyu’s absence became undone in a single night. Mitchell is a southpaw with respectable power, speed and plenty of skill, but he failed to impose himself against Tszyu in two fights that inescapably define him. Mitchell, reportedly finished with his fighting days at light welterweight, may resurface in the welterweight division. But his exploits at light welterweight keep him here for now and if a return to the weight occurs, he has the talent to recapture former glories, just not against Kostya Tszyu.

7. DeMarcus Corley: Corley may enjoy a resurgence of sorts, something that depends greatly on the quality of his next fight. Having looked certain to stop young phenomenon Miguel Cotto, Corley failed at the last but has the comfort of an excuse to fall back on. The inadequate officiating in the Cotto fight is the latest in a long line of excuses used to full effect by Corley, to his detriment. Once seen as a potential star, Corley’s performances became as unpredictable as his ring attire; also not to everyone’s tastes. Decision losses to Zab Judah and Floyd Mayweather seem to define Corley’s place, but the Cotto performance offers slight hope that he may still have something to offer.

8. Vivian Harris: A young fighter of promise, Harris merely needs to get involved in some big fights, but appears stuck in a never-ending cycle of negotiations keeping him out of action, meanwhile, the rest of the light welterweight division moves on to define itself in his absence. Harris recently stopped the granite-chinned European Oktay Urkal, a feat not even equaled by Tszyu, but any momentum gathered by Harris becomes undone by a stubbornness to engage in any more meaningful matches. The guidance of Emanuel Steward has not yielded any more success in bringing Harris the fights he desires, and if this trend continues, he will merely be a title-holder in a division of champions.

9. Junior Witter: This British fighter recently stepped out of the shadow of countryman Ricky Hatton to finally assert himself on the world stage. “The Hitter,” impressed the American market with a solid display against Lovemore N’dou, dropping the Australian “Black Panther” twice en route to a decision win. In doing so, Witter somewhat redeemed himself for his awful showing in his first title shot against Zab Judah in 2000. A meaningful follow-up to this success does not figure in Witter’s immediate future, therefore, it is inappropriate to be overly optimistic about his chances of setting the world stage alight. However, with his speed, power and awkward switch-hitting style, descended from the Brendan Ingle gym that spawned Naseem Hamed’s success, there is a chance that Witter may cause a stir somewhere down the line.

10. Francisco Bojado: This youngster stands at a crucial crossroads in his career. Having experienced Olympic boxing, been touted as a future superstar and received all of the trappings that accompany that status, Bojado surprisingly suffered two losses to upset his world championship plans. Juggled between respected trainers and considered undisciplined in the gym, it is difficult to imagine Bojado realizing the great potential his talent once promised. However, it is not yet too late to hope that he may acquire a level of maturity in time to salvage some of this failing hope, and with his speed, skill and power, Bojado would certainly be a welcome edition to the world-class ranks of any division in which he happened to fight.

Stay tuned for more from the State of the Boxing Union Series coming very soon.

Jim Cawkwell can be reached at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk