The American heavyweight has been a
very hot topic in Boxing for some time now. Gone are the glory days
of Mike Tyson and other great former United States Heavyweights. Many
may even say Boxings decline from the most popular sport in the U.S
has to deal with the low of great American heavyweights in the sport.
A lot of it undoubtedly has to deal with the Klitschkos dominating
run over seas capturing all four of the major heavyweight titles. The
other part of it has been many of the U.S. Heavyweights have turned
into missed prospects. However this time around there may be a
handful of U.S. Heavyweight prospects that are the best we have seen
in years now. But what prospect right now has the best shot to bring
back a title to North America in the future?
First things first lets take a closer
look at the United States top three heavyweight prospects Seth
Mitchell, Bryant Jennings and Deontay Wilder. What does it take to be
a heavyweight and have the ability to be a world champion? Some of
these may be debatable but in my mind a top heavyweight has the
ability to close the show with a great knockout, as well as speed and
can be able to take a punch as well as they can give one.
All three U.S. Prospects are talented
no doubt but in my eyes only two of them meet the criteria thus far
that I listed above. The only prospect I feel cant close the show and doesn't meet the criteria, is the man we saw just this last Saturday
Bryant Jennings. Jennings is very fast and has shown the ability at
times to throw with bad intentions, but along his wild punches and
confusion on when to go from a Boxer who wins rounds to a Boxer who
gets knockouts. Jennings has showed his raw talent is still yet to be
cultivated. Jennings would greatly be helped by a great trainer such
as Freddie Roach, Emmanuel Steward, or Teddy Atlas to help sand down his
rough edges. But until then Jennings is the farthest from being what
we will call Klitschko ready.
That leaves two heavyweights to look at
who I believe like Jennings have great talent, but these guys are a
few steps ahead, those two are Deontay Wilder and Seth Mitchell. Deontay Wilder has
won all 21 of his pro fights all by knockout. Wilder holds the power
to be exciting and had a good amateur career winning a bronze medal
in 2008's Olympic games. The biggest knock against him is he hasn't
been tested as a pro yet with most of his opponents being somewhat
handpicked. Wilder wants to move up the ladder but at what risk does
it happen to fast? Wilder will have to be very careful.
That only leaves us with one U.S.
Heavyweight prospect and the best chance the United States has to dethrone a Klitschko and become the next big heavyweight phenom, Seth
Mitchell. Mitchell a former Michigan State football player who
turned to Boxing after injuring his knee has all the attributes.
Mitchell is fast, athletic, powerful and the most important the
ability to grind out a fight and win tough bouts. We witnessed this
in Mitchell's last bout April 28th on the Hopkins-Dawson
under card. In the first round Mitchell was staggered by a big punch
from fellow heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon but somehow stayed on his
feet and made it to the bell. From there Mitchell rebounded for a
dominate TKO in the third. Mitchell will have to continue to impress
and move up the degrees of competition but after his first 26 bouts
he has showed the most promise.
All three top U.S. Heavyweight
prospects have a lot of upside,but some more then others right now. But
with some teaching we could be seeing the birth of some great
heavyweights. If Wladimir Klitschko or Vitali Klitschko don't retire
in the next year and a half we could be seeing a heavyweight title
belt coming back to North America. No matter how you look at it you
have to be excited to see the group of talent being brought up right in
front of us.
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