Coming Alive in 2005.
The Best to Come in Boxing’s Rising Stars.
As the saying goes “out with the old and in with the new,” so applies this saying to boxing. But let’s not get it twisted, this year alone, we have witnessed some of the most exciting and upsetting moments in boxing. Changing of titles and dramatic twelve round knockouts were just some of the events boxing fans were treated to. Boxing has become increasingly exciting with every fight in almost every weight class. From the lightweights to the heavyweights, fighters are coming out with something to prove. Just take Ebo Elder and his dramatic twelve round KO over Courtney Burton. Ebo was all but counted out, but a straight left that landed flush on Burton’s face marked the beginning of the end for Burton. But the best is yet to come. 2005 will prove to be an exciting year, and the proof is in some of boxing’s talented stars. This years Olympics in Athens produced talented fighters well beyond their years. Amir Khan is one to watch. Gifted and talented can be used to describe this young phenomenon. Although it is not clear whether or not this eighteen year old Pakistani born, Bolton, England resident will turn professional or try out for the Olympics when he turns twenty-two in four years, one thing is certain and that is that this lightweight fighter came out in impressive fashion to capture the silver medal.
Andre Berto, who overcame a controversial disqualification in the US trails, was allowed to enter the Olympics a second time, this time representing his parents native homeland of Haiti. This year’s Olympics also produced Andre Ward, a middleweight, who captured the gold medal for the United States. Ward went on and dominated his opponent with a second round stoppage in his professional debut fight on the Tarver/Johnson card on December 18. Much is to be expected from this talented twenty-year-old from California.
Super lightweight Miguel Cotto overcame a devastating car accident, recouped and came back to dominate opponent after opponent before gaining the WBC international title in his weight division and finally the WBO championship of the world. He is firmly on the comeback trail. There’s so much to look for this upcoming year in these young talented fighters. Ricardo “Rocky” Juarez, the WBC continental America’s featherweight champion and IBF number one ranked fighter in his division, continues to dominate and march forward hurdling over all obstacles.
Anyone with an eye for talent can clearly see the potential growing in this great sport. With so much new talent arising, Jermain Taylor and Jeff Lacy seem like near veterans in the game, and with their fight records combined, they barely reach forty total fights. There is so much more for these fighters to achieve. Jeff Lacy must continue to successfully defend his title while Jermain Taylor continues his quest for a championship belt and to gain the respect that comes along with beating the best. Both of these young men are talented separately and collectively hold the keys to become great at what they do, which is to fight and win. Time will definitely tell what the future holds for all these dynamic stars, and the ones waiting in the wings for their time to shine. Just another reason to keep watching.
Katrina Walters can be reached at wsteve555@aol.com