Star Power is often the lifeblood of a sport. Times can be tough for the fans even when they are commercially positive for the owners. The level of competition is the most important factor to a hardcore fan, but commercial success depends on the average consumer rather than the hardcore fan. The average consumer wants to see a name he or she can identify with, such as Kobe Bryant or Peyton Manning.
Floyd Mayweather, JR., was the Kobe Bryant of boxing. While Mayweather had not brought attention to the sport since his disappointing stinker against Oscar De La Hoya, his worldwide fame and portrayal of class in non-boxing endeavors popularized characters such as Ricky Hatton, who initially had no fame in America. Soon De La Hoya will retire, a moment that will serve as the climactic exit of the old guard of boxing. Left in the prime-powered crater will remain the likes of fighters that have yet to grow into the commercial phenomenons that are Mayweather, De La Hoya and old timers such as George Foreman, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.
There are several candidates that are available to take the place of Mayweather and fill the hole. Listed here for your reading pleasure are the strongest candidates, ranked from least likely to most likely to become the face of the sport.
Ivan Calderon
The miniature boxer has compiled an undefeated record. He makes this list because he does the best impression of Mayweather in the ring. Calderon is the best technical fighter around. Unfortunately, he carries less pop than Mayweather and he is located in ranks that garner little world attention. Divisions lack attention from the mainstream world until you reach the lightweight division. Furthermore, Calderon?s lack or power takes him out of the running for becoming the type of fighter to score the highlight reel KO that might bring fame to other fighters out there.
Bernard Hopkins
Hopkins has the best legacy of any fighter on this list. If every fighter listed here today retired, then there is a good case that he has the most impressive resume of the bunch. There are several major problems with elevating Hopkins as the face of the sport. The first is that his horrifically boring, awkward style could never draw in fans again. The second problem is that he has not knocked a guy out since his bout with Oscar De La Hoya. The third problem is that he is coming off of a loss. The fourth is that Hopkins has already been the Pound for Pound Champion and one of the faces of the sport in the past several years. Star Power tends to wear as time goes on if it carries no success to follow.
Joe Calzaghe
Calzaghe is a more well rounded fighter than the other two men on this list so far. Calzaghe is carrying an undefeated record, plenty of knockouts and title defenses galore. He has great hands and a piston jab from the southpaw stance. Unfortunately, his strengths are neutralized when it comes to the mainstream market. The average everyman does not care whether or not a fighter punches from the right or the left; Instead, he wants to see whether a guy is exciting and fits into the hero archetype. Calzaghe is a likable enough character with a good enough story to play the part of the hero of the sport. His fighting style has not made for many fireworks lately and his small but of exposure to the American fight scene was a close, somewhat ugly fight with Bernard Hopkins.
Ricky Hatton
Hatton?s tavern style is the exact type of story that has international appeal. He and his training team look like something out of the movie ?Snatch,? a cut of seemingly playful characters that fit right into the Grand Theft Auto version of a crime syndicate (in appearance, not in reality).
Hatton is the engine that runs the train. His heart and abilities are great. Hatton has never been a guy to lie down during the fight. Only once did a shot reach his face clean enough to check him out of a fight, when Mayweather?s mighty left hook put him down for good in the tenth round of their fight.
This is precisely the problem with making Hatton the poster child for the sport. He may be marketable and likable enough to fit the part, but he?s not talented enough. Hatton had trouble with Juan Lazcano earlier this year and he can not be depended upon for a victory.
Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao is all action. His resume is as good as they come. There is a good case that Manny is the best Pound for Pound fighter in the sport. He is unafraid to battle with the best and his name generates controversy in different crowds. The Mexican fans have a rivalry with him over his label as ?Mexecutioner? while Mayweather supporters used to downplay his abilities while making the case that ?Money? was better. Pacquiao is a prime, fast fighter with plenty of power and plenty of victories.
He may have been set back by his small size in the past, but he has gotten bigger and may get bigger still. The only drawback in the ?Pacman? is that his victory over Juan Manuel Marquez was questionable last year. In many ways, he is coming off a loss. Even so, he is the first man on this list with real, legitimate potential for pervasiveness in mainstream society.
Kelly Pavlik
Pavlik is the best American fighter, a title that should prove plenty by itself. While the heavyweights struggle, Pavlik is learning to lock down and clean up a division the old fashioned, crushing fighter after fighter until he owns all of the belts and the spoils. Pavlik is a crusher. His punches are stiffer than almost any man in the sport.
Pavlik?s back story is as good as any other story. A small town son of a rust belt state and community, Pavlik has brought hope to a rebuilding area that was once based on factory jobs that have since waved goodbye to the American economy. He has been the rock of a cancer survivor in the past. His abilities could not belong to a nicer guy.
Pavlik still has plenty of work to do if he wants to become known as the world?s best fighter. However, he is on his way to the top. There have been rumors of several fights between Pavlik and top contenders, including Joe Calzaghe, and Roy Jones, JR. While those fights may not be the dream matches of fight fans, they are big money fights with the chance to catapult the winner to the top of the fight game.
Miguel Cotto
The most well known and supported fighter on the planet, Cotto is the best welterweight left since Mayweather has retired. His punching power is exciting to any and all watchers. Cotto has beaten several great, well known fighters. His win over Shane Mosley is worth plenty of money as it is. Should he defeat Antonio Margarito in their upcoming bout, Cotto will have accomplished something Mayweather has not done in a long time by beating down a legitimate top ten welterweight. Cotto, a native Puerto Rican, is a humble and relaxed personality that will come across well in the press. If he could find a way to add a real smile to his repertoire, Cotto will become the face of boxing.
Although boxing has taken a blow with the retirement of Floyd Mayweather, JR., there is enough star power to keep the sport moving forward.
