The Birth of a Boxing Featherweight Dreamland
Since the demise of the heavyweight division most outsiders have focused their attention on the lower divisions. In truth it’s the lower divisions that produce the many titanic battles we have witnessed over the years, this is evident in the coveted ring magazine fight of the year, not since Holyfield – Tyson II, in 1996 has the division captured that particular award. Of recent years the welterweight division has been rich in talent, and with the birth of the Showtime super six classics tournament, the super middleweight division is sure to thrill. However things are taking shape in the featherweight division, until now it’s been cruising below the boxing radar, but this weekend that radar intercepted another two legitimate champions who are sure to thrill as the boxing world gazes on.
The Dragon captured the WBA featherweight title in 2004, and has successfully defended his title 11 times. In 2009 John competed in the United States for the first time, his fight with Texan Rocky Juarez indeed a draw, in Texas? In their re-match the Indonesian outclassed Juarez; due to the performance the WBA elevated John to super champion. It’s unclear if John will continue to fight in the states or choose to have a fight in his native Indonesia.
Juanma is a former super bantamweight champion who made a successful transition to the featherweight division winning the WBO title in his first fight at the weight, making him a two division champion. With fellow countryman Miguel Cotto’s career on the slide the Puerto Rican is the next rising star from the boxing hotbed. Lopez remains undefeated, has a 89% knockout ratio and possesses excellent boxing ability. A bout with Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa is much anticipated.
The former Cuban Olympic gold medallist made short work (2 rounds to be precise) of the man who very nearly conquered Lopez a few months previously. Gamboa is fast with lateral movement; however he does leave gaps and has been on the canvas several times before. We await a bout with an experienced fighter who could take the WBA featherweight champion the championship distance for the first time in his career.
Elio won the WBC Featherweight title defeating Takahiro Aoh by Unanimous Decision on July 14th. Rojas, Dominican Republic , known as “The Kid” is due to make is first defence of the title against Guty Espadas Jr on February 20th, Mexico. Should he overcome this obstacle he would relish the opportunity to unify against any of the above mentioned.
As boxing fans we are all to accustom to politics within our sport, like a cancer it kills many fights from taking place, that should be taking place, so some promoter can line their pockets with gold. It’s always been the case, some promoter standing on a podium trying to insult our boxing intelligence by telling us the fight we are about to witness in the greatest thing to happen since Armstrong landed on the moon, when in most cases we are being served leftovers.
Unfortunately for us and the featherweight division, two of the top fighters Yuriorkis Gamboa and Juan Manuel Lopez are both signed with the same promoter, so a bout between the two looks unlikely. Not until the promoter has milked it and exhausted all other avenues will this fight be made.
Others in the division include former super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon, there is also a real possibility of the WBA and IBF super bantamweight reigning champion Celestino Caballero moving north to join the party, the Panamanian stands 5’ 11” and would have no trouble making the transition . Two Mexican warriors Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez may fancy the opportunity to challenge for a title in another weight class.
