Who will be at the top of their weightclasses late 09?

[Tam Seddon]

With it being late 08 now, I think it will be a good time to have a prediciton of who we think will be top of their respected weightclasses in a years time. Ill start with Heavyweights and work my way down.

Heavyweight: Vitali Klitschko - I think he will beat Haye and beat Gomez.

Cruiserweight: Tomasz Adamek - I think we still have a lot to see from him !! I wouldnt mind a rematch with Cunningham in 09

Lightheavyweight: Joe Calzaghe or Chad Dawson - If JC retires I have full faith we will see a new star in Dawson, its bullshit that hes fighting Tarver again but I think a match up with Hopkins or Johnson again will be very interesting.

Supermiddleweight: Mikkel Kessler or Carl Froch - This weight class is so wide open with so much talent in it. I did a post about it once about the talent booming from it, I believe 09 is going to be outstanding!

Middleweight: Arthur Abraham - One of the most underrated champions IMO, hes an awesome fighter and I believe he would beat Kelly Pavlik. If he moves up to 168 I wouldnt be surprised him beating Froch or Kessler.

Lightmiddleweight: Paul Williams - The 154 weight class will have some very interesting match ups in 09. But I really can see Paul Willams being far too much for anybody at the weight with his punchrate and speed. He will have some very tough battles, but I think Paul Williams is one of the best champions around.

Welterweight: Antonio Margartio - Im confident that Margarito can clean up 147, he has two very tough fights with Cotto and Mosley but I think hes too much for them. I wouldnt mind seeing Margarito moving up to 154 if he gets through these fights.

Lightwelterweight: Ricky Hatton - He has the second hardest fight of his career ahead of him but im confident he can beat Manny. 140 will become very interesting in 09 with so many promising fighters just one weight class below, I would be interested to see if they are tempted to move up.

Lightweight: Joan Guzman or Juan Manuel Marquez - If Guzman can make the weight im confident with his speed he would beat any fighter at 135. Technically if he fought Marquez I believe we would see a fight that could go either way, I want to see it badly! I dont think Campbell would be too interested fighting him after all of this BS that happened between them, but the match up would still be good to watch.

Superfeatherweight: Jorge Linares - After an injury packed 08 I think he will be back in 09 and show the boxing world what he is made of. Hes awesome talent and im looking foward to seeing the best from him.

Featherweight: tough call - I would like to say Chris John but he just doesnt want to leave his backyard, hes a really good fighter and hes just wasting away fighting shit fighters. Luevano is still up there but he needs to look for some big names and not just title defence fighters. There is a lot of talent in the weight class below and I wouldnt be surprised to see them move up. Gamboa is a very talented fighter, but from what I have seen maybe hes been rushed too much?

Superbantamweight: too hard to say - The top 4 fighters in the weight class are all p4p top 10 worthy IMO. Im interested to see how Vazquez and Marquez are after their wars. I have been very imperessed with Lopez and Caballero. Lopez needs a fight to go past the first round to fully judge his talent, from what I have seen he is so good. But I dont think he will beat any of the other 3 so fast. It will be a very interesting year for them and i look forward to watching this weightclass this year. De leon, Gonzalez and Molitor can still top it too.

Bantamweight: I havent really followed this weight class!

Superflyweight: Vic Darchinyan - After his loss to Donaire I think hes really worked hard to improve some of his flaws. His win against Mijares was outstanding and I cant wait for him to beat up Arce. I wouldnt mind him to fight Donaire.

Flyweight: I havent really followed this weight class!

Lightflyweight: I havent really followed this weight class!

Minimumweight: I havent really followed this weight class!






Im interested to see who you think will be top.

[El Kabong]

Heavy: Wladimir...he has 3 belts (2 good ones and one extra the IBO) and no threatening matches to speak of in the future

Cruiser: Adamek

Light Heavy: Tavoris Cloud, I think he's going to move up quickly

Super Middle: Jermain Taylor, I think this weight suits him very well

Middle: Pavlik

Jr. Middle: Paul Williams

Welter: Margarito

Jr. Welter: Pacquiao, he'll fight and beat Hatton at 140


That's all I have for you right now

[JazMerkin]

Heavyweight: David Haye, I'll admit this is probably my heart ruling my head.

Cruiserweight: Tomasz Adamek

Light-Heavyweight: Chad Dawson, by next year I wouldn't be surprised if he could beat JC.

Super-Middleweight: Mikkel Kessler - In my mind head & shoulders above a very tough division.

Middleweight: Kelly Pavlik - I think he will come back from the Hopkins defeat, and hopefully fight Abraham to decide it in the next year.

Light-Middleweight: Paul Williams - if he stays at this weight.

Welterweight: Antonio Margarito/Paul Williams - will beat Mosley & Cotto. However, if he fights Williams again (which he probably won't as I think PW will stay at 154) then I think he will lose.

Light-Welterweight: Manny Pacquiao - Let's face it everyone knows this is between two guys, but I think Manny's speed will be just a bit too much for Ricky.

Lightweight: Juan Manuel Marquez
Super-Featherweight: Edwin Valero - If he gets the fights he will destroy everyone.

Featherweight: Yuriorkis Gamboa - Like you say a very tough division, I'm going with Gamboa purely on how much I enjoy watching him, and the fact I think he will take riskier fights than Luevano or John.

Super-Bantamweight: Juan Manuel Lopez - Think he will take over this year. I think Marquez & Vasquez have been in the wars too much with each other & will have lost something.

Bantamweight: Abner Mares - Between him & Penalosa here.

Super-Flyweight: Vic Darchinyan

Flyweight: Nonito Donaire - If he stays at this weight obviously.

Junior-Flyweight: Ivan Calderon

Minimumweight: Have to admit don't know enough about anyone at this weight.

[ICB]

Heavyweight = Vitali Klitschko/David Haye
Cruiserweight = Tomasz Adamek
Light Heavyweight = Chad Dawson
Super Middleweight = Jermain Taylor
Middleweight = Arthur Abraham
Jr Middleweight = Paul Williams
Welterweight = Antonio Margarito
Jr Welterweight = Manny Pacquiao/Ricky Hatton
Lightweight = Juan Manuel Marquez
Super Featherweight = Jorge Linares
Featherweight = Chris John
Super Bantamweight = Juan Manuel Lopez
Bantamweight = Abner Mares
Super Flyweight = Vic Darchinyan
Flyweight = Nonito Donaire if he stays there
Jr Flyweight = Ivan Calderon
Minimumweight = Roman Gonzalez

[The Fightfan]

Heavyweight = Wlad or Vitali
Cruiser = I think Cunnigham will win if a rematch occurs, if not Adamek
Lightheavy = Tarver.......just kidding Dawson
SuperMiddle = Kessler
Middle = Kelly
Juniormiddle = Williams
Welter = Mosley I believe he will stop Maragrito's future plans of a great year
junior welter = Pacquiao
Lightweight = JMM
Don't care too much about the lower classes anymore as Marquez,Morales,Barrera,and Pacquiao are longer around.

[HattonTheHammer]

Heavyweight = Wlad or Vitali
Cruiser = I think Cunnigham will win if a rematch occurs, if not Adamek
Lightheavy = Tarver.......just kidding Dawson
SuperMiddle = Kessler
Middle = Kelly
Juniormiddle = Williams
Welter = Mosley I believe he will stop Maragrito's future plans of a great year
junior welter = Pacquiao
Lightweight = JMM
Don't care too much about the lower classes anymore as Marquez,Morales,Barrera,and Pacquiao are longer around.

how the hell would cunningham beat Adamek


Heavyweight - Vitali Klitschko
Cruserweight - Tomasz Adamek
Light Heavyweight - Chad Dawson (pending JC`s retirement)
Super Middleweight - Mikkel Kessler
Middleweight - Arthur Abraham
Light Middleweight - Sergei Dzindrizuk
Welterweight - Miguel Cotto (marg is going down on points to sugar and pac will get a hiding from ricky)
Light welterweight - Ricky Hatton
Lightweight - Juan Manuel Marquez
Super Featherweight - Jorge Linares



dont really pay much attention to anything lower (other than izzy of course)

[Rantcatrat]

Heavyweight: Klitschko's. One of them easily will take the belt off Valuev. Haye chose the wrong one to fight.
Cruiserweight: Adamek, but difficult decision.
Light-heavyweight: Calzaghe retires. Dawson begins reign. I also like Diaconu who should face Glenn Johnson by the end of the year in what is sure to be a slugfest.
Supermiddleweight - Kessler.
Middleweight - Pavlik, but I am curious to see how he performs in February against #8 Rubio.
Jr. Middleweight - Paul Williams.
Welterweight - Margarito
Jr. Welterweight - Pacman, but he may not fight the other big names besides Hatton - so, Tim Bradley too.
Lightweight - Nate Campbell
Jr. Lightweight-Not sure.
Featherweight - Chris John, not that he'll leave Indonesia.
Jr. Featherweight - Juanma.
Bantamweight - not sure
Jr. Bantamweight - Vic.

[Violent Demise]

Heavyweight = Vitali & Wladimir Klitschko- They'll own it together
Cruiserweight = Guillermo Jones- He can beat Adamek and I think he already beat Cunningham
Light Heavyweight = Chad Dawson- I doubt Calzaghe or Hopkins fight him
Super Middleweight = Jermain Taylor- Beats Kessler and crushes Fraud
Middleweight = Felix Strum- I got this nagging feeling he'll out box Pavlik if he ever gets the heart to fight him
Jr Middleweight = Alfredo Angulo- He'll run this place by the end of the year
Welterweight = Antonio Margarito- Who's going to beat him?
Jr Welterweight = Timothy Bradley- Somebody needs to run this crap division.
Lightweight = Juan Manuel Marquez- Pac is scared of him. And he already beat the best Lightweight in Casamayor
Super Featherweight = Robert Guerrero- Better than Valero, Soto or Linares
Featherweight = Steven Luevano- John is overrated. Luevano the best of a mediocre division
Super Bantamweight = Rafael Marquez- He's coming back strong. Should of got the Win in his last fight
Bantamweight = Eric Morel- Looking at good at this weight
Super Flyweight = Fernando Montiel- Best of a strong division
Flyweight = Koki Kameda- 2009 will be big for him
Jr Flyweight = Ulises Solis- Calderon is ducking him for a reason
Minimumweight = Roman Gonzalez- With Yutaka Niida retired has no real threat. Might not be long for the division though

[El Kabong]

Angulo over Kirkland and Williams


It's going to be interesting

[killersheep]

Heavyweight = Wlad Klitschko
Cruiserweight = Tomasz Adamek
Light Heavyweight = Chad Dawson
Super Middleweight = Mikkel Kessler
Middleweight = Paul Williams
Jr Middleweight = Sergio Martinez
Welterweight = Antonio Margarito
Jr Welterweight = Ricky Hatton
Lightweight = Juan Manuel Marquez
Super Featherweight = Robert Guerero
Featherweight = Chris John
Super Bantamweight = Juan Manuel Lopez
Bantamweight = Hozumi Hasegawa
Super Flyweight = Fernando Montiel
Flyweight = Nonito Donaire
Jr Flyweight = Ulises Solis
Minimumweight = Roman Gonzalez

[CutMeMick]

H: Wladdy
C: Adamek
LH: BCD
SM: Kess
M: Pavlik
LM: Williams
W: Cotto
LW: Pac
L: JMM
SF: Linares
F: Luevano
SB: Cordoba
B: Moreno
SFly: Montiel
Fly: Nonito
LFly: Solis
Mini: Gonzalez

[ClubberLang]

Middleweight = Paul Williams

Interesting choice. The word from Dan Rafael is that he and Winky will fight at 160 in April, which I think he will win in a wide points decision given Wright's long layoff and age. I take it you see him fighting and beating Pavlik in '09?

[ClubberLang]

how the hell would cunningham beat Adamek

He nearly beat him in the first fight. In fact, he would have won a UD but for the three knockdowns, and he was not seriously in danger of being stopped on any of those. Why is it inconceivable that Cunningham could win a rematch.? At times, he was battering Adamek from pillar to post.

[killersheep]

Middleweight = Paul Williams

Interesting choice. The word from Dan Rafael is that he and Winky will fight at 160 in April, which I think he will win in a wide points decision given Wright's long layoff and age. I take it you see him fighting and beating Pavlik in '09?

I do think Williams will see bigger paydays at 160, and I think he would be too much for Pavlik. Pavlik/Williams at 160 would be an entertaining one though.

[KananKrus]

In this day and age, a few on the very top of the boxing heirarchy, move quite a bit too much to give a list credence and a lasting accuracy. Without these superstars on the list, so doing without accuracy, the list's value is greatly diminished.