By Ted Sares – These days, boxing fans seemed focused on Danny Jacobs, the Cuban invasion of Lara, Rigondeaux, and Gamboa, and also the rise of Olympian heavyweight Deontay Wilder. But there are other names out there to keep in mind. Whether they achieve the stature of the aforementioned remains to be seen, but I’m betting that at least one will. Here are five; there are many more.
Sueng Kue Park (South Korean)
Sueng-Kue Park, a South Korean, resides and fights in Sao Paulo, Brazil. That in and of itself is an anomaly, but what really makes Park stand out is his 10-0 record with all wins coming by way of knockout.. In ten fights, he has boxed 23 rounds and 8 of those involved his last fight, an eighth round icing of Claudio Sampaio Morreira. Park is the Brazilian light middleweight title holder (FNBPB version). If he can maintain this pace as he steps up his level of opposition, he will be someone to watch.
Fidel Monterrosa Munoz (Colombian)
Colombian lightweight title holder Fidel Monterrosa Munoz out of Galapa is a budding light welterweight bomber at 19-0, but has fought all but two of his bouts in Barranquilla. He is due to fight Montreal-based Ali “The Angel” Chebah (30-10) in July in France An extremely bold move as he will be the underdog, but if he wins, he leaps to the top of any and all lists of hot fighters. By the way, Chebah starched Pipino Cuevas Jr last year to win the vacant WBC Youth World light welterweight title, but was himself chilled earlier by Rey Sanchez in Mexico City.
Jackson Asiku (Australian by way of Uganda)
I want to bring the title back to Uganda and make my people proud, boxing is big in Uganda but I will make it bigger and give all of the youth something to aim for. You will see many Ugandan Champions after I win the title.
–Asiku
Jackson “Action” Asiku (25-3) prefers South Australia to Uganda and has been on a tear since losing to Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in Thailand in 2004. This followed a loss to former IBF super featherweight title holder Gairy St. Clair whom he TKOd in a rematch on April 26, 2009. He now has a 13-fight winning streak along with the Commonwealth (British Empire) and the Australian featherweight titles. Against St. Clair, he put on a clinic using a great jab blended with superb body work. He dropped St. Clair in the second with a short right, staggered him in the seventh, and knocked him out in the ninth for the first time in the former Champion’s 53 fight career. He beat limited Junmar Dulog the following month. Look for this contender to control the action in future fights.
Fernando Guerrero (American)
Nice to see the local boy do good, but I’m AMAZED he filled that civic center – Jesus could come back, and you couldn’t get 6,000 people in Salisbury to show up for free. That might be the most impressive thing he did Friday night.
–Poster named Brickhaus
But he’s a good-looking young fighter and someone I’m sure we’re going to see more of on ShoBox and ESPN in the near future. He brings it, man. This is a kid worth the time to watch.
— SC (sachrist)
This fan-friendly middleweight and all-around athlete from the Dominican Republic who now lives in Salisbury, Maryland calls himself “Warrior of the Cross” and has built up a hugh following. Streaking to a 13-0 mark, he is a very accomplished and strong fighter who may be the real sleeper in the entire Beltway bunch. He seems destined for great things.
Sharif Bogere (Uganda)
He’s the king of the jungle and people love a big entrance. We’re trying to get his name out there, because he was one of the best fighters in Africa.
–Bogere’s manager, Jimmy Alex
This youngster (9-0) bills himself as “The Lion Warrior” and is someone to watch. He lives in Las Vegas via Uganda from which he defected.
In addition to being a highly skilled (and experienced amateur) fighter, he likes to make his way to the ring dressed in a half lion costume complete with head while being carried inside a cage by four ripped men dressed in tribal African clothing. Bogere has attracted many promoters in America, and is fast becoming a highly rated lightweight prospect.
Oh yes, the one I’m betting on is southpaw Fernando Guerrero. But the sleeper might be a guy named Shawn Porter (9-0) who was a member of the 2008 US Olympic Boxing Team, and won more than 260 amateur bouts and 13 titles in national and international events.