Solving the junior middleweight puzzle

By Janne Romppainen

23.07 - It is not usual that he have as deep division as the junior middleweight is right now. The weight category includes multi-champions Oscar De la Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Shane Mosley and Winky Wright. Add this to the fact that both the former welterweight champion Vernon Forrest and his recent conqueror Ricardo Mayorga have planned to move up for big fights, and we have no less than five recent or former top-10 pound-for-pound ranked fighters and one very talented challenger competing against each other.

Whoever wins the big rematch between Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Shane Mosley next September will be considered as the best fighter of the group. However, as we have seen recently from the fights between Mosley-Forrest and Forrest-Mayorga, styles make fights and the winner of that battle might well lose to others in the division. To really find out who is the best fighter of the group we would need a five-round tournament where everybody would face each other. Because this kind of tournament will not happen in the real world, I decided to make it happen virtually.

All fights are scheduled for 12 rounds and no bogus judges, inept referees nor blind broadcasters will be included. A loss doesn’t have an effect to the fighter’s capabilities in his next bouts. The winner of each fight will get two points, and a draw scores a point for each fighter. If two fighters have the same score in the end, the one who has won the bout between them is ranked higher. The winner of the league will get a trip to Las Vegas and a fight against Bernard Hopkins (who is held in a cage so that he can’t back out from another big fight). So take a ringside seat and remember, don’t take this too seriously.

Round 1

Vernon Forrest – Shane Mosley

What happens: We have seen this pair square it off twice already. It seems that Forrest has Mosley’s number. Forrest keeps Mosley at bay with his jab and clinches whenever they get to close quarters. Both score with some good shots in a slow-paced fight but neither is troubled. Forrest scores his first points with close, unanimous decision.

Oscar De La Hoya – Ricardo Mayorga

What happens: Mayorga comes out strongly and tries to out-muscle De La Hoya. The Golden Boy takes some shots early but his chin holds up and he replies with sharp jabs through Mayorga’s wide guard. The fight is about even for five rounds but then De La Hoya’s more systematic boxing takes over. Mayorga keeps trying till the very end, but he can’t threat De La Hoya’s clear-cut points victory.

Winky Wright – Fernando Vargas

What happens: Last time these men met Vargas took a majority decision victory. This time he seems to carry much more muscle than back then. Wright starts the fight boxing beautifully and snapping Vargas’ face with quick jabs. Vargas seeks for a chance to get his man to the ropes and whenever he is able to do that, he pounds Wright’s midsection with solid shots. Wright doesn’t fold easily but in the seventh round Vargas is able to trap him to a corner and he keeps pounding his tired foe until the referee has to step in. Vargas takes his first points of the tournament via seventh-round TKO

Round 2

Forrest – De La Hoya

What happens: The battle between two tall, rangy boxers turns out to be interesting if tactical one. Both fighters come out boxing, with De La Hoya having a slight edge in the jabbing contest. De La Hoya eats a couple of right-handers from The Viper but he takes them well and returns with some stinging left hooks. Later in the fight De La Hoya starts to press the action more and more, and a knockdown in the eleventh round seals De La Hoya’s victory on points.

Mosley – Wright

What happens: Mosley starts the fight aggressively and puts the pressure on Wright early. Wright responds with quick combinations, but he is not able to move out of Sugarman’s range. The high pace continues throughout the fight, but Mosley’s faster hands, quicker defensive reflexes and better stamina prove to be a bit too much for Wright. Mosley takes the decision.

Mayorga – Vargas

What happens: The wildest fight of the tournament so far. Mayorga comes out firing looping bombs and Vargas, ever willing to go to war, stands and trades with him. Vargas’ more accurate short punching gives him the edge early, but he has to take some punishment in the progress. Vargas is able to rock Mayorga slightly, but the welterweight champion’s chin holds up. The dramatic fight ends suddenly in the sixth round when Mayorga’s right hook blasts Vargas down. Vargas beats the count but Mayorga finishes him with another combination. Mayorga KO6

Round 3

Mayorga – Forrest

What happens: The third fight between the two welterweights doesn’t turn out to be much different from their second meeting. Mayorga comes out strong and Forrest’s jab is not enough to hold him off and Mayorga’s power keeps him on the defensive. Forrest rallies in the late sounds, but it is not enough to level the scales anymore. Mayorga wins on points.

De La Hoya – Wright

What happens: De La Hoya pushes the action with his strong jab and his heavier punches control the pace. Wright seems to be quite puzzled he can’t figure out a way to overcome The Golden Boy’s aggression. The fight is quite competitive and it lacks high drama, but De La Hoya’s point victory is not really threatened at any point. De La Hoya UD12.

Mosley – Vargas

What happens: Two fighters who love to slug can not help themselves. Vargas throws heavy-handed shots and Mosley answers with quick jabs and left hooks to the body in a thrilling phone booth war. Mosley has a lead on points early, but little by little Vargas starts to take over. Vargas seems to be too strong for the former lightweight who doesn’t seem to carry his punching power from the earlier weight divisions. After the tenth round Mosley changes his strategies and goes to boxing, but he is too tired to turn the tables anymore. Vargas wins a close decision.

Round 4

Forrest – Wright

What happens: Forrest comes out throwing his jab and looks for the place to land his right cross. Wright is able to slip most of the punches and returns the fire with quick combinations. In this fight Forrest doesn’t have a big edge in power and he is not able to force the pace. Wright’s skilful basic boxing earns him a close victory on points.

Mosley – Mayorga

What happens: Another war. On the basis of earlier Mosley-Vargas and Mayorga-Vargas fights it seems like the man from Nicaragua should have the edge but styles make fights. Mayorga doesn’t have the quick sharp punching of Vargas’ and Mosley is able to duck most of his swings with his slick reflexes. Mosley continuously beats Mayorga to the punch with his quicker hands and survives some shaky moments on a way to a comfortable decision victory.

Vargas – De La Hoya

What happens: We saw the preview of this match-up last September. Vargas tries to drive De La Hoya back and threatens him early, but much because of De La Hoya’s splendid chin he isn’t able to produce a solution. De La Hoya is able to finish stronger in the second half of the fight and he stops his exhausted foe in the eleventh round.

Round 5 and the final round

Forrest – Vargas

What happens: Vargas starts by employing the same strategy that Mayorga used effectively against Forrest. Vargas takes some jabs as he forces his way inside and punishes The Viper with effective power punches. Forrest is not able to clinch his physically stronger foe effectively enough and Vargas captures round after round. Again Forrest is able to finish well as Vargas tires slightly but it is too little and too late. Vargas ends his tournament with a solid points victory.

Wright – Mayorga

What happens: Wright is smart enough to stay away from Mayorga early. Mayorga is aggressive as usual, but Wright’s good lateral movement keeps him mostly out of trouble and Wright is able to score points. Wright takes home a decision victory

De La Hoya – Mosley

What happens: Mosley, confident for defeating De La Hoya the last time they fought comes out quick. De La Hoya has success from the long range with his jab, but at close he is not able to clinch Mosley as effectively as Forrest, nor is he able to dominate with his power like Vargas did, and so Mosley has the slight edge in the exchanges. Mosley’s quick feet enable him to get close often enough and he again wins a close decision over The Golden Boy

The Final Standings Of The Great Imaginary Tournament

Ranking Name W-L Points

1. Oscar De La Hoya 4-1 8

2. Fernando Vargas 3-2 6

3. Shane Mosley 3-2 6

4. Winky Wright 2-3 4

5. Ricardo Mayorga 2-3 4

6. Vernon Forrest 1-4 2

Agree or disagree with my results, other comments or questions? Sent them to janneromppainen@hotmail.com