Okay gents, it may be a bit hit or miss timing wise, cos I got a few other things going on too, but I'm planning on a series of focus threads on hot prospects for the 2020s... thinking of maybe calling it 'Prospect Focus: 2020 vision' or some such bullchit to make it sound all epic..
Anyways when ever I get round to it I'll try to post a focus thread for some of tomorrows future stars, be whatever footage I can find, links etc. What I'm hoping is that other posters will join in with similar pieces about their own favourite prospects and ultimately we'll be able to link all the various threads into one master and maybe get it pinned on the front page. But I'm getting ahead of myself. One step at a time...
Gonna start with one of several hot Uzbek amateurs who have recently moved into the pro ranks, Israil Madrimov:
4 (4) - 0 - 0
25 year old Israil Madrimov, out of Khiva, Uzbekistan was an amateur standout at national and continental level and saw action and success in the WSB going 5 - 1 against elite opposition but losing in the quarter finals at the 2017 World Championships to Troy Isley.
Signing up with Ryabinsky's World of Boxing promotion straight outta the ams and linking with the Diaz brothers to pursue a US career, Madrimov debuted into the pro ranks on 24th November 2018 against Mexico's Vladimir Hernandez, punishing the limited but tenacious Hernandez in the early rounds though showing definite signs of fatgue later in the fight - a hangover from his ammy days I'm sure, though his energy management looks to have improved since. The 6th round stoppage may well have been premature, but as a debut opponent Hernandez was certainly no soft touch.
Signing with Matchroom in March 2019 to continue his US career on DAZN Israil took on his softest touch to date Frank Rojas, flattening the Venezuelan over two rounds with the kinda KO you ain't sure the dudes gonna get up from (Rojas hasn't fought since).
Following up on that Israil fought durable but limited Mexican journeyman Norberto Gonzalez, making perhaps harder work of it than he should, but viviously closing the show in the 6th stanza:
In October last year Madrimov became only the second fighter - after Spence - to stop tough Mexican veteran Alejandro Barrera on the GGG - D'Chenko undercard, though more to save Barrera from further punishment than from some kinda highlight reel.
Overall stylistically he's a bit scrappy and he does get hit though maybe not quite as much as you'd think on a first viewing... His hands down style could probably use faster feet than he's actually got and whilst he does change stance to southpaw fairly often it's not really 100% whether he's as effective outta a lefty stance or whether he uses the ability to it's best effect tactically.
Anyways, Madrimov is back in action on the 29th against Charlie Navarro on the Garcia vs Vargas card and one has imagine that his KO run is likely to continue, but hopefully Matchroom will be looking at steering him towards a title shot at either 154 or MW within the next coupla years.. his opponents may not have been top class, but in boxing terms he's being pretty much fast tracked. Not sure he's quite ready for the elite at either weight yet, but I think a year or two's worth of seasoning could have him as ready as he's gonna get for the top guys in the division.
Anyways when ever I get round to it I'll try to post a focus thread for some of tomorrows future stars, be whatever footage I can find, links etc. What I'm hoping is that other posters will join in with similar pieces about their own favourite prospects and ultimately we'll be able to link all the various threads into one master and maybe get it pinned on the front page. But I'm getting ahead of myself. One step at a time...
Gonna start with one of several hot Uzbek amateurs who have recently moved into the pro ranks, Israil Madrimov:
4 (4) - 0 - 0
25 year old Israil Madrimov, out of Khiva, Uzbekistan was an amateur standout at national and continental level and saw action and success in the WSB going 5 - 1 against elite opposition but losing in the quarter finals at the 2017 World Championships to Troy Isley.
Signing up with Ryabinsky's World of Boxing promotion straight outta the ams and linking with the Diaz brothers to pursue a US career, Madrimov debuted into the pro ranks on 24th November 2018 against Mexico's Vladimir Hernandez, punishing the limited but tenacious Hernandez in the early rounds though showing definite signs of fatgue later in the fight - a hangover from his ammy days I'm sure, though his energy management looks to have improved since. The 6th round stoppage may well have been premature, but as a debut opponent Hernandez was certainly no soft touch.
Signing with Matchroom in March 2019 to continue his US career on DAZN Israil took on his softest touch to date Frank Rojas, flattening the Venezuelan over two rounds with the kinda KO you ain't sure the dudes gonna get up from (Rojas hasn't fought since).
Following up on that Israil fought durable but limited Mexican journeyman Norberto Gonzalez, making perhaps harder work of it than he should, but viviously closing the show in the 6th stanza:
In October last year Madrimov became only the second fighter - after Spence - to stop tough Mexican veteran Alejandro Barrera on the GGG - D'Chenko undercard, though more to save Barrera from further punishment than from some kinda highlight reel.
Overall stylistically he's a bit scrappy and he does get hit though maybe not quite as much as you'd think on a first viewing... His hands down style could probably use faster feet than he's actually got and whilst he does change stance to southpaw fairly often it's not really 100% whether he's as effective outta a lefty stance or whether he uses the ability to it's best effect tactically.
Anyways, Madrimov is back in action on the 29th against Charlie Navarro on the Garcia vs Vargas card and one has imagine that his KO run is likely to continue, but hopefully Matchroom will be looking at steering him towards a title shot at either 154 or MW within the next coupla years.. his opponents may not have been top class, but in boxing terms he's being pretty much fast tracked. Not sure he's quite ready for the elite at either weight yet, but I think a year or two's worth of seasoning could have him as ready as he's gonna get for the top guys in the division.
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