Just take a look at most of the pound 4 pound rankings out there and you will find Pacquiao, Mayweather, Mosley, and Hopkins finding a home at the top of the list. Many observers are right now saying that the sport of boxing is in deep trouble considering the fact that the four horsemen mentioned above are on their way out and into their retirement seat.
The biggest storm of them all in Pacquiao is already talking retirement, Mayweather, well Mayweather as we all know is a light switch kinda guy, Mosley at 38 can say that he plans on fighting forever but forever is right around the corner, and Hopkins, good ol’ Hopkins already has one foot in and one foot out.
Earlier in the year, I put together a list of the next wave of stars age 25 and younger, Today I put together a list of the next wave of stars that shall occupy the pound 4 pound list. So who has what it takes to lead the way? Only time will tell. Here is my list, in no particular order. Enjoy.
#1- Chad Dawson- Awsome Dawson at 27 years old is going to be somewhere on this list for the next 5-7 years. Bad Chad in my eyes will be right at the top of this list at one time or another.
#2- Andre Ward- This 26 year old in my opinion is going to be one of the most complete fighters in the sport. I feel that there is a huge possibility that Dawson and Ward will be 1, 2, or 3 on this list for years to come. Then in 2012 the debate will come to an end when Ward versus Dawson collide once and for all to see who really is the best.
#3- Timothy Bradley- The more and more that I see The Desert Storm box, the more I’m amazed by him. Bradley to me is dynamic, Bradley can switch it up and has a complete fighting game.
#4- David Haye- Many feel that Haye doesn’t have the whiskers to remain standing in this debate. With the right trainer, I feel that Haye just may be the right guy to bring the spotlight back to the heavyweight division. Haye already has Mayweather’s mouth so selling fights will not be a problem.
#5- Paul Williams- The Punisher at 154 is going to be a real problem for everyone. I don’t see anyone at 154 that can stand a chance to The Punisher’s high work rate.
#6- Andre Berto- When and if Berto can put it all together, this kid can one day have it all.
#7- Edwin Valero- The Human Wrecking Film. Valero needs a disciplined trainer first and stick to him like glue, once Valero does this, the wrecking will really begin. Valero doesn’t have the almost complete game that Pacquiao has now, but once he does, watch out. I call Valero sushi, because right now Valero is a very raw Manny Pacquiao. In terms of excitement, Valero is the closest thing to Manny Pacquiao.
#8- Nonito Donaire- Do not let this very humble kid with great personality fool you. Donaire is a fast slick fighter that will put it on you. Very smart fighter.
#9- Juan Manuel Lopez- Has looked like the total package to me before in the past, but his battle against Mtagwa changed things a bit. Maybe Lopez simply just over looked Mtagwa. At his best though, Lopez is the Lex Luger of them all.
#10- Yuriorkis Gamboa- Combinations that flow like water. This speedy demon is flat out scary. Mr. Excitement is very fierce and just may have the fastest hands in the biz. Anybody else out there wish that Valero and Gamboa were in the same weight class?
Others in the running- Lucian Bute, Arthur Abraham, Amir Khan, Jorge Linares, Devon Alexander, Victor Ortiz, Abner Mares, Anthony Peterson, Lamont Peterson, Anselmo Moreno, Jean Pascal, and Tavoris Cloud.
