The Welterweight Division 2015: August to December 2015 By M.DeTyrone

The Welterweight Division 2015: August to December 2015

By M.DeTyrone

There’s only one star in the welterweight division and it's Floyd Mayweather Jr. Unlikely to retire from boxing when there’s so much money to make.  Nevertheless, the welterweight division is shaping up to be very competitive despite the several promotional companies not working together out of spite, rivalry, etc.  There’s plenty of talent but none truly tested in the welterweight division.

Currently, the WBA “Regular” world welterweight champion Keith Thurman 26-0 (22 KO) is being build up as the next big welterweight boxer. He has defeated five former world champions but his best opponent to this date has been Robert Guerrero 33-3-1 (18KO). There’s still much that Thurman must show the boxing world before anyone believes what the boxing media wants to construct.

In my opinion, Keith Thurman is the number one power puncher in the welterweight division with an 81KO percentage that is 26 KOs out of 26 bouts.

The 32-year-old veteran Robert Guerrero although he didn’t look great versus Aaron Martinez 19-4-1 (4KO) in his last fight the fans don’t know how he will perform in his next fight. What I do know is that Guerrero comes to fight and is a solid veteran with experience. A fight vs. former WBO world super lightweight champion Chris Algieri 20-2 (8KO) for Guerrero’s career it could be a very interesting especially if marketed on the West Coast. Algieri is coming off a good performance vs. Amir Khan after months of ridiculed by the media with the “Out of the Cage” comment from his corner. Against Khan, Algieri was out the cage and put on a good performance. One good option for Guerrero is Amir Khan.

I rank Marcos Maidana the number two power puncher in the welterweight division with a 78KO percentage that is 31 KOs in 40 bouts.

However, Amir Khan 31-3 (19KO) has a regional threat in the 29 –year-old Kell Brook 35-0 (24 KO) the current IBF World Champion that hasn’t faced any true opposition outside Shawn Porter 26-1-1 (16KO) and has a record of 3-0 (2KO) in world title fights. The level of opposition hasn’t been great and the strategy seems to build up a mega regional fight between Brook and Khan. In any case, Khan doesn’t seem that interested. Khan is obsessed with fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. even though many fans don’t believe he hasn’t earned the fight and is delusional. The best options for Khan would be Manny Pacquiao 57-6- 2 (38KO) and a rematch vs. Marcos Maidana 35-5 (31KO), if he ever returns to boxing.

I rank Kell Brook the number eight power puncher in the welterweight division with a 69KO percentage that is 24 KOs in 35bouts.

Now going back to Brook we have to see if he lives up to his alias of  “The Special One” or will be he just “special” in the United Kingdom vs. sublevel opposition. I’ve honestly been waiting for the last 3 years for the tough Argentinian Diego Chaves 23-2-1 (19KO) vs. Brook. Diego Chaves is battle tested, tough, and a good puncher.

I rank Diego Chaves the number four power puncher in the welterweight division with a 73KO percentage that is 24 KOs in 26 bouts.

The 27-year-old Shawn Porter 26-1-1 (16KO) is slowly gaining momentum after his defeat to Kell Brook in 2014. Porter recently defeated former WBA world welterweight champion Adrien Broner, but suffered a 12^th round knockdown. A rematch versus Brook or a fight vs. Robert Guerrero or Keith Thurman could be very interesting. I would prefer to see Porter vs. Guerrero, for the casual fan entertainment value.

I rank Shawn Porter the number nine power puncher in the welterweight division with a 57KO percentage that is 16 KOs in 28 bouts.

 Timothy Bradley Jr. 32-1-1 (12KO) the Interim-WBO World Champion is a threat to any boxer although he doesn’t possess the KO power he has good experience and boxing ability to give any opponent problems. A fight vs. Brandon Rios 33-2-1 (24KO) is a possibility due to an in house promotional company, a rematch vs. the tough Argentinian Diego Chaves 23-2-1 (19KO).

I rank Brandon Rios the number five power puncher in the welterweight division with a 67KO percentage that is 24 KOs in 36 bouts.

Former WBA super world lightweight & WBC world super lightweight champion Philly-Rican Danny Garcia 31-0 (18KO) has slowly moved up to the welterweight division by fighting two welterweight catchweights fights and finally facing a fading former world champion Paul Malignaggi 33-7 (7KO). Garcia vs. former world champion Devon Alexander 26-3 (14KO) would be an interesting fight.

I rank Danny Garcia the number six power puncher in the welterweight division with a 58KO percentage that is 18 KOs in 37 bouts.

Two prospects that are being pushed by the networks and have talent are the 5’9” 26-year-old prospect out NYC Sadam Ali 22-0 (13KO) whose best opponent up to date has been the Argentine knock out artist Luis Carlos Abregu who was TKO’d in nine rounds. Although highly ranked by the IBF and WBO, in my opinion, I don’t see him being a true threat for now at the welterweight division. Now, the best prospect is the 5’9.5” 25-year-old southpaw Errol Spence Jr. 17-0 (14KO) in the welterweight division. Already in the top 10 of the WBA welterweight rankings and should be getting a world title shot very soon.