The 2014 Welterweight Division

In my opinion, the welterweight division has always been the premier division in professional boxing. It’s been lack luster for some years now due to the dominance of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the soap opera about the mega fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather jr. that lost its luster long ago.  Only a dream for the casual fans and the boxers’ respected fan base.  Currently the Welterweight division is on fire with very interesting match ups that can be made with no promotional problems.

v  Keith “One Time” Thurman: (25) 22-0 20 KO’s 5’ 7 ½” with a reach at 69”

v  Shawn “Showtime” Porter: (26) 24-0-1 (15KO) 5’7” with a reach at 69 ½”

v  Kell “The Special One” Brook:   (27) 32-0 (22KO) 5’9” with a reach at 69”

v  Devon Alexander: (27) 25-2 (14KO) 5’8” with a reach at 70”

v  Luis Collazo: 35-5 (18KO) 5’9” with a reach at 72”

v  Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero: (31) 31-2-1 (18KO) 5’8” with a reach at 70”

v  Amir “King Khan” Khan: (27) 28-3 (19KO) 5’8 ½” with a reach at 71”

v  Luis C. Abregu: (30) 36-1 (29KO) 5’10” with a reach at 72”

v  Diego G. Chaves: (28) 23-1 (19KO) 5’ 7 ½” with a reach at 661/2”

v  Danny “Swift” Garcia: (26) 28-0 (16 KO) 5’ 8 ½ ” with a reach at 68 ½”

The most dangerous welterweight at the moment, I strongly believe that it’s Keith “One Time” Thurman the 25 years old, standing at 5’ 7 ½” with a reach of 69” and a record of 22-0 with 20 KO’s. He is the current Interim WBA World Welterweight Champion and should be fighting Marcos Rene Maidana the WBA Welterweight Champion and not Julio Diaz 40-9 (29KO) but that is the business of boxing. In his last six fights he has won five of them via KO or TKO only going 12 vs. Jan Zaveck. What makes Keith Thurman dangerous is his power that can KO anyone at 154 lbs. and 147 lbs. add to that good boxing and he is dangerous. 

Shawn “Showtime” Porter is the IBF Welterweight Champion from Akron, Ohio. Who is 26 years old standing at 5’7” with a reach of 69 ½” recently he demolished Paulie Malignaggi in four rounds for his first title defense. Porter is a relentless and a force to be reckoned with; however, his record is not one of a KO artist.  Although, Porter can hurt any boxer in the 147 lbs. division in his last six fights there has been only one TKO. How will Porter handle a power puncher like Keith Thurman?  His only threat at the moment is the U.K.’s Kell “The Special One” Brook at the age of 27; he has been the eternal contender for a world title shot. Brook stands at 5’9” with a 69” reach and a record of 32-0 with 22 KO’s, yet he has made his career in the U.K. against sub-par opponents. Outside the European Vyacheslav Senchenko, who he defeated by TKO in four rounds in a IBF Welterweight title eliminator Brook has not faced any of true world class recognition.

The ex-IBF Welterweight World Champion and still a good boxer is the 5’8” 27 year old Devon Alexander from St. Louis, Missouri. Alexander professional boxing record is 25-2 with 14 KO’s he has defeated the current WBA Welterweight Champion Marcos Rene Maidana 33-3 (31KO), and Lucas M. Matthysse 34-3 (32KO).  His only two defeats have been against the ex-WBO Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley who recently lost to Manny Pacquiao, and the current IBF Welterweight Champion Shawn Porter. Devon Alexander is still a solid contender and it will be interesting if he regains his title again.

There are two dark horses with the boxing experience to upset any boxer on a given night. The first is the crafty New York / Puerto Rican veteran ex-champion Luis Collazo 35-5 with 18 KO’s who recently KO’s Victor Ortiz and is facing on May 3^rd the 5’8” ex-world Light Welterweight Champion Amir “King Khan” Khan 28-3 (19KO) for the Vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Title. Khan lately has been dropped 4 times in his last 3 fights, but he holds important victories versus Zab Judah, Marcos R. Maidana, and Paulie Malignaggi.

The next dark horse is the 5’8” Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero at age 31 with a professional record 31-2-1 with 18 KO’s. Guerrero can defeat almost any B+ class boxer at 147 lbs. and upset any boxer on any given night. 

The Argentines have a good stable of boxers within the welterweight division. Among them the dangerous 30 year old Argentine Luis C. “El Potro” Abregu standing at 5’10 with a 72” reach. His professional record 36-1 with 29 KO’s the most recognizable fight was against Timothy Bradley, a fight in which he lost by a 12 round unanimous decision.  The 5’7” Argentine Diego G. “La Joya” Chaves is an interesting welterweight but the majority of his fights have been in Argentina. When he finally faced a boxer in the USA it was Keith Thurman and within 10 rounds he lost by KO. Chaves has a professional record of 23-1 with 19 KO’s a decent boxer, be that as it may, he stays fighting in Argentina and doesn’t seem to follow the steps of other Argentine boxers like Maidana, Sergio Martinez, and Matthysse.  The final welterweight is the current WBA Champion Marcos Rene Maidana with a professional record 35-3 with 31 KO’s coming of a victory over Adrien Broner for the WBA Welterweight World title. This fight catapult him into a title shot vs. the undefeated Welterweight King Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 3^rd, 2014. Regardless, of the result Marcos Rene Maidana may stay around the welterweight division for a few more fights.