By Vivek Wallace – The welter-weight division has long been known as perhaps the deepest the sport has to offer. For a while this truth was uncontested, and despite the depth just one division south as well as a couple blocks north in the super-middleweight ranks, as we look around and survey the terrain, suddenly we’re reminded once again precisely how deep this division can be. In an era where popularity and mega-fight magnetism can trump the actual hardware brandished, several players find themselves eager to separate from the pack. Some are familiar faces, others once familiar, yet somewhat forgotten; but regardless of classification, each man is well accounted for and clearly has a vested interest in the difficult road that lies ahead. With a minimal of 7 ‘heavies’ and a maximum of four straps to go around, the term slim pickings develops wide appeal. In an effort to hone in on the division, we take a closer look at the central figures involved:
Shane Mosley – (46-5, 39KO’s) – In Shane Mosley, you have one of the perennial forces of this era, and arguably one of the best of all-time. His career has seen many highs and several lows, but in the midst of it all, despite his budding age, he’s still standing. Links to banned substances and inactivity have stripped quite a bit of the ‘sweetness’ many of us once found in ole ‘Sugar’, but his last effort was clearly enough to pique the interest of fight fans, as he turned back the clock like few could. Despite his great accomplishments of the past, Mosley has failed to maintain that global appeal once held by his fellow ‘Sugar’ predecessor (Leonard).. The irony here, though, is that his book isn’t quite finished. A potential showdown with Mayweather looms, and the outcome will either cement his name in the tunnel of greatness, or cast him down the hallway of those who remain honored, yet barely mentioned. Failure to take advantages of key opportunities (Cotto loss) and inconsistencies (unimpressive victory – Mayorga) will forever haunt him if his pending attempt at the pantheon of greatness fails.
Andre Berto – (25-0, 19KO’s) – In Andre Berto, you have the youngest, and clearly one of the most talented of the bunch. In an odd set of circumstances, this powerful young stud is the holder of the famed WBC ‘green belt’, and listening to his critics, that color (green) couldn’t be any more fitting, as despite his raw blend of speed, power, and precision, he’s also the least battle-tested of the bunch. The biggest showdown of his still young career was recently waved off by an act of nature. Some call it an unfortunate coincidence, while supporters of him probably view it as little less than divine intervention. Similar to the weather, few of us have any true indication what this forecast may yield, but be it rain or shine, the verdict on this rising talent will no longer be a question when 2010 finally ends. Some may view him as the weakest link in this group, but despite his perceived weakness, if he can continue to hold on and hold up, he’ll support that chain of victories he’s already strung together. Stay tuned.
Miguel Cotto – (34-2, 27KO’s) – Rarely in the sport of boxing have we seen a man who with so much upside fizzle so quickly. Even a strong resume that boast solid victories over guys like Mosley, Judah, and Quintana hasn’t been enough to support the development of a fighter who’s downside arrived prior to the tender age of 30. The case of Miguel Cotto shows us precisely how dangerous this sport is, and exactly how difficult it is to ascend to the top when the moral fiber of an opponent stoops as low as the basement level. Power, along with a vision for success propelled Cotto early on, but questionable commitment and sudden lapses in focus are the possible culprits that stripped him of an outcome that many of us envisioned as he made a name for himself. Key question marks surrounding Margarito and brewing question marks surrounding Pacquiao have led many to wonder where would Cotto be had those questions never surfaced? Unfortunately, we’ll never know, but what we do know is that the culmination of those events brought us to the end of an otherwise peaceful journey. Hopefully somewhere along the way this proud Puerto Rican can re-establish his hunger and fight on.
Joshua Clottey – (35-3, 20KO’s) – Of all the men in the welterweight division, the one who probably has the most question marks surrounding his presence is Joshua Clottey. With each of the other men we know precisely what we have and what we get. With Clottey, it all remains a mystery. He has 3 career losses, none which were ever definitive, in the sense that he had a strong case for victory in all of them, yet a passive nature did him more harm than either of the men he stood across from. His chin has allowed him to withstand the wrath of both Margarito and Cotto. His power has proven strong enough to earn the respect of each of those men. Yet in 38 fights, he only has 20KO’s, and none of them came against a top tier opponent. Truth is, we don’t know what we really have in Clottey. What we do know is that his fundamental defense, coupled with his power in both hands and come-straight-ahead aggression gives him the tools to handle most anyone – WHEN HE COMES TO PLAY BALL. As he prepares for a shot against Pacquiao, few give him a shot, but if his determination level is on par with his skill level, no question, we may all experience shock! Judging by overall individual attributes, Clottey is arguably the most complete fighter of all. He has the defense of Mayweather, the unabated aggression of Margarito, the power of Cotto, and the heart of Pacquiao. If he ever learns how to seize the moment like those men, there will come a point where they may all wish they were more like him. His time has come….will he seize it?
Antonio Margarito – (37-6, 27KO’s) – The mere name of Antonio Margarito sparks a very heated and sudden debate. Does he belong in the sport? Should he be banished away from it? Regardless of which side of the fence you reside, the one thing we can all agree on is that it’s practically certain that he’ll be back in the ring soon, so what we think probably doesn’t matter. And now that know this, whether we agree or not, it’s time to size him up next to his opponents, because one of these men will soon have to test their mettle against him. A victory over Joshua Clottey in March would mean that opponent would be none other than Manny Pacquiao. Each of us will forever question how long he wore those illegal hand-wraps, but the one thing that allowed him to last long enough to use them (his chin) is the one and probably only thing about him that none of us can question. It’s also the one thing about him that keeps him relevant in this welterweight race, because if you can’t hurt him (which few can) there’s a great chance that you won’t beat him. This rugged Mexican warrior – like it or not – will be in theater near you real soon. As Bob Arum’s current monopoly on the sport grows deeper, each of us can prepare ourselves to see him live again, because rather than sticking a fork in him and declaring him “done”, we’ll have to eat ’em up, knowing Arum plans to feed him to us in heavy doses. Should we plan to see him soon? The honest and operative answer is a familiar three letter word….Y-E-S!
Manny Pacquiao – (50-3-2, 38KO’s) – A year ago, I would have been called crazy for including this name on this roster. Fast-forward a few colossal beatdowns and few months later, and suddenly we learn that big things really do come in little packages. Pacquiao’s rise to greatness has come in a very huge and unexpected way. The determination and uncanny ability to rise to the occasion at every level has separated Pacquiao from the rest of the pack. How strong are his chances in the midst of this group of walking giants? Truthfully…..as good as any of the other men. Already, prior to even becoming a full time resident here, Pacquiao has a resume which includes a stunning victory over Cotto and a pending showdown against Clottey. With a Margarito showdown said to be the next pit stop, this fightin’ Filipino provides new meaning to the term ‘walking tall’. Reality teaches us in life that all good things must come to an end, yet Pacquiao has found a way to defy most things relative. Can he continue this welterweight assault before being stopped? Logic says yes, but I wouldn’t be the man bold enough to place my money on the line. Stay tuned.
Floyd Mayweather jr. – (40-0, 25KO’s) – Floyd Mayweather jr. is easily the most profoundly talented man the sport has seen in quite some time. Literally every attribute a fighter can possess, somewhere in the deep pockets of the Mayweather, each of them can be found. Known to be elusive, the one major flaw surrounding Mayweather provides greater depth to the term itself, as a look at his resume serves as an undeniable example. Clottey has faced Margarito, who faced Mosley, who faced Cotto, who faced Pacquiao, who’s about to face Clottey, who faced….yeah, yeah…..OK…..you get the point. Now…..missing from the resume of all of these men who’ve faced one another is Floyd Mayweather, who has yet to face any. A near 2 year hiatus from the sport certainly didn’t help the cause, but in his return to the ring, the ever-apparent bulls-eye on his back is larger than ever, as the world now awaits a showdown between Mayweather and any one of these contenders. Granted, he can’t be blamed for the Pacquiao fiasco, because 14days is clearly enough time to ease the discomfort of a drug test; but anything less than stellar at this point would be met with a chorus of boos and more questions than a Tiger Woods return-to-action press conference. Shane Mosley is up to bat next. Would another shut-out for Mayweather increase his legend of dominance? Or would it simply spark another wave of never-ending questions? It often seems with him that nothing is ever good enough. Based on that truth alone, I say the questions will keep coming…..That’s if he doesn’t decide he no longer wants to keep going…..again!
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, YouTube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook, and Myspace).