Top 20 British Boxers Pound for Pound by Julian Wilson Aug 12th 2004

BBN staff writer Julian Wilson has been wringing his hands for weeks trying to work out who are the best fighters our nation has to offer. After many sleepless nights, he has put his reputation as a boxing pundit on the line with not just his top ten, but his top twenty British boxers, pound for pound... Hi there fight fans! Not content with collating and thinking about the top ten in the country, in true BBN fashion I have gone the whole hog and collated the top twenty fighters in the country (in my humble opinion anyway.) There are bound to be fighters that you feel have been omitted but I had to draw the line somewhere (which is a bit tough on the likes of Craig Docherty, Mark Hobson, Gavin Rees, Jamie Moore, Graeme Earl, Carl Froch and the likes but such is the nature of these lists.) I have tried to compile not only a collection of the obvious champions but also those who are making the most waves both domestically, internationally and in some cases potentially, giving you a small resume of where they find their careers at present and where they maybe heading in the near future. So as you can see, this article is not just based on achievement but the movers and shakers and some of the potential champs of the future. After much thought, deliberation even agonising, then subsequent chopping and changing of positions and names here goes... 1. Scott Harrison – 22(12)-2-1 It's rather ironic that Scott finds himself top of my list here, as I'm not known as his number one fan. However, his destruction of Willie Abelyan, a fighter many thought would derail the “Real McCoy”, is by far the most impressive win of the year to date by one of our headline acts. This followed a rather shakier victory over Walter Estrada in March when there were a few doubts raised over the Scotsman's technique and defence. He soon laid these to rest in June when he knocked Abelyan to the canvas three times in the third round to remain WBO featherweight champion. Scott has made five defences of the aforementioned title and a 'super fight' with either Korean WBC champ Injin Chi or Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barerra are being mooted. Both are extremely appealing for various reasons, Chi to bring another belt to these shores and Barerra, well just because it's Marco! Either way these fights would launch Scott's career into the stratosphere, should he win (by no means a formality in either case) he can rightly be celebrated as a great in the annals of British boxing. 2. Ricky Hatton – 36(26)-0-0 Much has been written about Ricky of late, much has been written of the promotions team also and to be honest it's all wearing a bit thin so I will steer away from these contentious issues for now. Scheduled to fight Kelson Pinto in April, Ricky still did a very professional job against Pedersen, the game substitute opponent, stopping the Dane in six. Add to this a further (distance) fight against tough Argentinean Carlos Wilfredo Vilches, which was effectively a shut out though Ricky was far from his best. The general opinion is that now is the time for global push for Ricky and Frank Warren to deliver a fight in the autumn which will enable the Hitman to cement his legacy on the world scene. The opponent was hopefully to be WBA champ Vivian Harris but reports are circulating as I type this that Harris for all his trash talk has pulled out of the fight. So who for Hatton is once again the question? (Recent Sharmba Mitchell victim Michael Stewart was yesterday confirmed as Hatton's next opponent - ed.) One suggests you may have to look no further than the gentleman at number five in my list, not that this is likely to happen (however we can but dream). 3. Joe Calzaghe – 37(30)-0-0 Joe, like Ricky, has had some difficult times of late, injury and personal problems robbing him of his golden opportunity against IBF light-heavyweight holder Glengoffe Johnson. Undoubtedly talented, Joe would have been at the head of the P4P list at the end of last year after his destruction of Byron Mitchell however, one fight this year against outclassed and Mger Mkrtchian in February simply isn't enough to keep his mantle at the top of the tree. Joe's career at present is somewhat on hold, struggling to make the super-middleweight limit and seemingly faced with a lack of options with Johnson now fighting Jones. Frank Warren has apparently opened negotiations with Antonio Tarver for a match at the higher weight and this really would open some doors. Calzaghe must fight soon to take advantage of what is left of his prime as at 31 he has possibly two years at his peak left. Certain concerns have been expressed over whether Joe really wants it. I guess a fight like Tarver would really get the juices flowing but for now Joe due to inactivity and injury languishes at third in my list. 4. Howard Eastman - 39(34)-1-0 The Battersea Bomber is somewhat of an enigma. After a great 2003 and a good rebuilding job post his loss to William Joppy, Howard has gone on the missing in 2004. Having fought only once in a professional but tedious defence of his European title, this way back in January, he really needs to get busy. Since then we have heard mixed reports of him calling out P4P numero uno Bernard Hopkins, but then that he is on holiday in his native Guyana where by all accounts he has been resting on his laurels. Howard will be 34 a the end of the year and one wonders if he really does want another world title shot. If he does it must happen next year before age starts to catch up with the number one contender. Undoubtedly he has the class to challenge for world honours but at 34 is the desire still there? One feels that we will have to wait until 2005 for a definite answer. 5. Junior Witter - 29(18)-1-2 Junior had a busy first half of the year and it cannot be denied that “The Hitter's” stock rose massively with his two round destruction of Salvatore Battaglia, who in fairness never knew what hit him (literally). A slick, hard hitting counter puncher, his rivalry with nemesis Ricky Hatton is well publicised, and what better to generate the public interest than a much-anticipated clash of styles? Junior would love this, as it would give him a route to another world title shot. The public would love this, as it is a fight to salivate over. The question is, would Hatton and his promoters take a fight that really has so many downsides for them after years of manoeuvring their man into a top five slot? I doubt it, and to be fair if I were them I wouldn't take Witter as the next opponent either. I still think Ricky would win but simply put Witter would have it all to gain and Hatton all to lose. 6. Nicky Cook - 23(14)-0-0 Many people will raise their eyebrows at how high I have Dagenham featherweight Nicky Cook in the P4P stakes here, but I rate him. I think there is a gutsy element to complement those fast hands and angles of punches. Nicky beat Cyril Thomas in March to claim the European featherweight title and I feel after a few more defences he could go on to challenge for world honours. The problem he has of course is that the global featherweight picture is something of a masterpiece. Whether he develops enough to challenge the likes of Barerra, Marquez, Pacman, Chi or Harrison is open to much doubt at this stage, simply as they are so outstanding and all vying for dominance in one of the strongest divisions in the sport. However as the man next in P4P list showed us last weekend, this is boxing and anything can happen. 7. Danny Williams - 32(27)-3-0 If I am honest, prior to last weekend I didn't have Danny in the top 15 P4P, but such is the global impact of his victory over Tyson, that it would have just been plain wrong to leave him out of the top ten. Williams now finds himself in a most unbelievable position, such is the name of Tyson. As the man to scrap Iron Mike, Danny is being lined up for potential big money earning bouts with the top echelon of the division, something he could have only dreamed about after his controversial defeat to Michael Sprott at the beginning of year. He then despatched Ratko Draskovic in awesome manner in a round, before taking on Augustine Ndou who retired through a torn bicep muscle, all this before a July date with the former baddest man on the planet. So our Danny has been a busy boy and this looks set to continue if the big fights being mooted come to fruition. Good luck to Danny. I've always had a soft spot for him since the Potter fight and I hope he goes on to consolidate his position as one of the top heavyweights in the world. (Oleg Maskeav has been announced as Danny's next opponent - ed.) 8. Johnny Nelson - 43(28)-12-2 Amazingly Johnny hasn't fought yet this year, though he is scheduled to defend his WBO title against Rudiger May in September. Johnny has stated that he will retire at Christmas, possibly fitting in one last defence. While he has been inactive, his dedication to training has never been questioned, he still remains tactically one of our best professionals, and judging by his astute comments and observations recently as pundit on Sky we can see how that boxing brain has helped stay at the top for so long. Truly a model pro, if not with the most exciting of styles we may well yet get Johnny against Enzo Maccerinelli as his final curtain call. 9. Jason Cook – 23(10)-0-1 Jason Cook heads up one of the brightest domestic divisions in boxing. However for me, he stands a little bit ahead of the crowd. Now aged 29, the next year could be crucial for Jason, a former European champion (a title he sadly lost on the scales) he currently holds the lightly regarded IBO world title and in fairness is fringe top ten. Whether he can make a push to enter that top ten this year and make a late run for a decent belt is open to conjecture. Much of this I feel will come down to Cook's personal ambitions but I think he has nothing to lose. Better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all, as they say, even a loss at this stage wouldn't harm his career because as aforementioned, a scrap against any of his top domestic foes would generate great interest. A match against Graeme Earl, Bobby Vanzie or a scrap for the pride of Wales against fellow countryman Dean Phillips would all be a safety net if a world tilt was unsuccessful. 10. David Haye – 10 (10)-0-0 David gets into the top ten in my view on potential alone, at 23 years old he could be the next big thing for British boxing in my opinion and seems not to care whom he fights, nor when or where. (What a refreshing change that makes in this modern era of ducking and diving.) A slugfest against seasoned concussive puncher Carl Thompson is scheduled on September the 10th. A pretty impressive stage to be at in only your 11th fight. Of course David has question marks over his chin after the Lolenga Mock knockdown. His defence undoubtedly needs to tighten, he keeps that left hand far too low but if anyone can point me out a more ruthless, aggressive, powerful finisher on the British scene I would like to hear from you. A definite crowd pleaser, I expect David to make big waves on the world scene in the coming year and have never hidden this fact. Having said that, write off Carl Thompson at your peril as Seb Rothman found out! Should be a cracker of a fight on the tenth, can't wait! 11. Esham Pickering - 26(10)-3-0 Well, what can you say about Esham Pickering's 2004? Outstanding. This was the year that saw Pickering elevate himself from decent British level fighter to potential world class. (He was ko'd in the first in his previous world title tilt by Mauricio Martinez). He captured the vacant European title by stopping seasoned Italian Vincenzo Giglotti in the tenth round back in January. A similar TKO of unbeaten Juan Garcia Martin (eighth round) has seen Esham consolidate his position and I would like to see him make another defence before the year is out, setting himself up to take that famous Ingle style onto the world stage once more. At 28 Esham probably needs to get a shift on, to strike while he is at the peak of his powers, after all the little men allegedly age quicker. Could 2005 be the Year of “Brown Sugar”? Let's hope so. 12. Enzo Maccerinelli - 18(13) –1-0 Britain has a plethora of potential European/World-class cruisers at the moment and Enzo is right up there with the best of them. He defeated the game and brave Garry Delaney at the start of the year and since then had a points win over durable Ismail Abdoul, the first time the big Welshman had gone the distance. Keeping customarily busy, Enzo is up to fight once more against Jesper Kristiansen in September and a royal battle of Britain is being touted against Johnnny Nelson before the year is out. Obviously should Enzo prevail against Nelson then this really establishes him as Britain's top cruiserweight, but this is a big ask at this stage of his career. Mind you, with his dynamite power you wouldn't write him off would you? 13. Michael Gomez - 31(21)-5-0 The second coming of Gomez (or Predator II as it could be known!) is a somewhat endearing tale of a man who managed to sort out his personal and training difficulties to win the British title last year against Alex Arthur, in a fight few (including myself) gave him little chance of winning. Since then he has gone from strength to strength, smashing overmatched Ben Odamattey in April and adding the name of former world class contender Justin Juuko to his list of victims last time out. With Diego Corrales moving up to lightweight, Gomez could be in with an outside chance of a shot at one of the main titles, and I for one hope he gets this. Maybe he would be outboxed, outclassed and beaten but I just have a funny feeling he may rise to the occasion and pull off an upset, but hey I'm an optimist! Either way I would like Michael to get his fairytale shot at one of the big boys, a ferocious fighter when in the mood, on his night he may just shock a few. 14. Carl Johanneson – 18(11) –1-0 Close on the heels of rival Gomez comes a great little box-fighter who could turn out to be the best of the bunch of our super-feathers in my opinion. Improving at a rate of knots, the U.S. influence prevalent on his style, Carl would not be an easy night's work for any of the domestic guys out there, and you can include Scott Harrison in that! With more experience and careful matchmaking he could go all the way. Yes I've been that impressed, his slightly crouched stance and solid punching in addition to decent movement; Johanneson could well yet turn out to be the division's dark horse. Problem Carl has, is that no-one will relish fighting him, I can't exactly hear the likes of Messrs Gomez, Arthur and Docherty calling him out at present! 15. Audley Harrison – 17(12)-0-0 A somewhat difficult year for A-force, what with losing his backing with the Beeb and mixed reports on his performances against Bonin and Francis. On the up side he has kept his perfect record and his best professional performance came at the beginning of the year against Dutchman Richel Herisisa. A frustrating end to the year has seen “Big Aud” frozen out of the domestic scene. With Williams elevated to world contender status and his proposed fight against British and Commonwealth champ Matt Skelton falling through, then perhaps Aud could show his mettle and go after Krasniqi the European title holder, or perhaps he move to the States and commence the process of becoming a contender out there. Either way, I have a feeling that 2005 will be the make or break of Harrison, whether he will be remembered as A-force or A-farce. I believe it will be the former - I think his punch power is being dismissed and admittedly he has looked sluggish of late but a trip to the good ole U.S. of A could well prove to be just the tonic. 16. Clinton Woods - 35(21)-3-1 A pro's pro, Clinton has had a quiet 2004, suffering a loss to the underrated but world class Glengoffe Johnson in his IBF world title bid back in February. Clinton, like many of our top class pros finds himself in the frustrating band of fighters who are too good for European level opposition but not quite good enough to succeed at the highest level. Coming to the twilight of his career at 32, Clinton may well be looking at one last big payday, the name Joe Calzaghe has been bandied around but this looks unlikely in the immediate future. Solid chinned as ever, an all heart fighter, it's hard not to like the man of Steel from Sheffield. His problem is - where does he go next? Answers on a postcard please... 17. Robin Reid - 37(27)-4-1 Another fighter entering the twilight of his career, Reid overcame the travesty late last year that is fighting Sven Ottke in Germany (enough said). He bounced back and outpointed Irishman Brian Magee in June. This claimed him a version of the paper world title belts, but it proved Reid was still a force to be reckoned with. Personally I think now that Calzaghe has been forced, well by himself really, to drop back down to super-middle that there is still unfinished business there. I am not saying Reid would prevail but it would provide him with a big payday either way. Though considerably slower than he once was, Robin still packs a punch as Magee will testify having been up and down more times than a …well let's leave it there shall we? 18. Jawaid Khaliq – 23 (13)-1-1 Another fighter with limited time left in the game, 'Too Sleek' has been pretty inactive this year. His one defence of his paper title came against Ener Julio in February. After an impressive 2003, “Too Sleek” seems to have gone backwards in terms of his world ambitions. Former Shane Moseley conqueror Vernon Forrest was being bandied around as a potential opponent. With maybe a year or so left at the top level, is next year to be the time when the likeable Nottingham cabbie makes his push for a real title? 19. James Hare – 30 (16)–1-1 Hot on the heels of Khaliq is switch-hitting stylist James Hare, a beautiful counter-punching boxer who has underrated power and a very busy work ethic. In fact in my opinion, it was this very desire to stay so busy that caused the shock upset against vastly underrated Cosmo Rivera a the end of last year. His fifth fight in eight months, Hare shouldn't have been taking on someone of Rivera's class after such an arduous schedule. James has come back strongly with two stoppage wins already this year and the rebuilding job has well and truly commenced. This year I would like to maybe see him fight Jawaid, a real domestic dust up that would be, failing this then maybe a tilt at the European title after another one or maybe two fights. Hare has the skills and the style to give any boxer at European level problems. 20. Matt Skelton – 14(13)-0-0 Matt Skelton has had a phenomenal year, beating Julius Francis to claim the English heavyweight title, then Michael Sprott to add the British and Commonwealth titles to his collection and finally a slugfest against big Aussie Bob Mirovic. Let me be clear on his inclusion on this list, Skelton is an out and out brawler with extremely limited boxing technique, but boy does he have heart and instinct for a scrap. He is relentless. If only we could transfer some of his heart and desire to some of our more skilled fighters or vice versa we would have an undisputed world heavyweight champ! Matt had been scheduled to fight Audley but once more negotiations fell apart between the two camps. In my view Matt should go for the European belt and take stock from there.

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