The Light-Middleweight Mix

By Jeff Day

28.01 - It is rare in boxing when a weight division suddenly find itself in such a talent-laden state as Britain's light-middleweight division.

Now we are not talking two, or maybe three fighters all emerging at the same time. In Britain we have several, any of whom could go on and win a major world championship.

I will go through them one by one in descending order:

8. Michael Jones

At 27, Michael may have get moving quicker than perhaps his manager Jack Trickett would like.

An excellent amateur, the 6 feet tall prospect has had just 14 professional fights (all wins, though only four inside schedule.

Punching power may come as he gains more experience. It's a different game than trying to score computer points in the amateur sport

This is the year Jones will be looking to make his mark on the domestic scene, though it may be a couple of years before Michael gets to world level, though his progress is well worth keeping an eye on.

7. Ryan Rhodes

At 25, time is still very much on the side of Rhodes. He fights out of the Brendan Ingle gym where Naseem Hamed once plied his trade and where Junior Witter and Johnny Nelson still do.

He boasts a fine record 25-2 (17 Ko's), and is managed and promoted by Frank Warren. He has a slippery 'Naz' type of style, although lack of activity counts against him.

Although he was former British light-middleweight champion, Rhodes has had two unsuccessful cracks at the WBO middleweight title.

The first, in his 17th fight, came against Canada's Otis Grant. Rhodes performed respectably, though clearly out-pointed in what was perhaps a premature shot at world class for the then 21-year-old. This occurred in December 1997

The other defeat was more shattering. A two round defeat at the hands of fellow Brit Jason Matthews in July 1999. Rhodes' hands were far too low against naturally bigger and harder punching Matthews.

With six straight wins since, a big domestic match-up against Takaloo is mooted for the early part of this year.

6. Takaloo

Mehrdud Takalobigashi, (love to see Michael Buffer introducing that), yes that's right, is a 26 year old who is one of the most improved boxers in Britain.

With 18 wins and two defeats, the man of Iranian descent has come on a storm since linking up with former European Featherweight Champion, Jim McDonnell.

Under McDonnell's regime there is no time for slackers. Takaloo's fitness and confidence has been boosted by a superb last 12 months.

A four round defeat by IBO Welterweight king Jawaid Khaliq in 1998, together with a points defeat over six by Michael Jones looked to leave Takaloo with only modest domestic paydays to look forward to.

However, although beaten by the aforementioned Jones, I have rated him higher due to greater activity and quality of opposition.

When he met Anthony Farnell in an eagerly awaited all-British showdown, he was a substantial underdog. As mentioned earlier he stunned the favourite in his hometown with a devastating first round win.

That was for the spurious WBU title, although if 2002 is anything like 2001, look out for Takaloo.

5.Gary Lockett

This is perhaps the surprise packet. Due to out of the ring problems, Lockett has not been as active as he would have liked.

He finished his amateur career with a staggering 29 wins, 28 inside schedule, 17 in the first round. He has a fearsome left hook and has so far amassed fifteen straight wins (12 inside schedule).

I have a feeling Lockett could be the best of the lot, though we shall see if the Welshman can fulfil what looks like huge potential.

His most notable scalp so far is former IBF light-middleweight champion Howard Clarke, who he has destroyed once in two rounds, then in a rematch he did it even quicker in the first.

At 25, time is very much on his side. He looks like a 'can't miss' prospect, yet there have been many of those before!

4.Steve Roberts

It's now getting to the stage where it becomes increasingly difficult to rank one fighter over another, but Steve Roberts had an outstanding year 2000.

He made five defences of the spurious WBF title including a two round victory over former WBC champion Keith Mullings.

He is unbeaten in twenty-eight fights, and although only twelve inside the distance wins are on the record, only two of his last ten have gone the distance. He is clearly punching with more authority than earlier in his career.

He has made eight defences of his WBF bauble, though was floored himself in his last fight against America's Ron Weaver, and reverted to his old boxing and moving style.

He is managed by Barry Hearn, the man who promoted Chris Eubank on his rise to the top, and at 29 the 5 feet 11 inch Londoner knows that 2002 is the year he must break into real world class.

3.Wayne Alexander

Wayne Alexander has barely got home as I write this with his European Boxing Union Championship, after taking Italy's outclassed Paolo Pizzamiglio apart in three brutal rounds in London on Saturday (19 January).

Alexander, 28, is now British and European champion; has awesome power and could probably knock out any light-middleweight in the world he catches cleanly.

He has had 19 fights, 18 wins, and 15 inside schedule. The sole defeat was in five rounds to quality fighter Harry Simon in February 2001. This can also be excused as Wayne came in at a day's notice as a substitute to challenge the Namibian for the WBO light-middleweight title.

The man from Croydon reminds me a little of former champion, Nigel Benn. It's knockout or get knocked out. Although he was an excellent amateur, has good skills and could well get another world title fight this year, he has a vulnerability about him that may well get exposed at the highest level.

2. Adrian Stone

Stone I have rated at number two at 154lbs, despite his last fight being at welterweight against the brilliant Shane Mosley for the WBC championship.

Stone was IBO champion at light-middle and it would seem his future lies in this division where the domestic scene still offers Stone with a large part to play.

It wasn't so much the fact he lost against Mosley, more the manner of the loss. It was the kind that can finish a man's career both physically and mentally. We won't know the true effect of the defeat until Stone fights again.

With his record at a highly respectable 30 wins, 4 defeats and two draws, Adrian is the most experienced of Britain's light-middles. His last defeat prior to the Mosley match was an 11th round defeat to Vernon Forrest.

If the Mosley defeat hasn't shattered Adrian's confidence, the 30-year-old can come again and be force in this division at least at domestic level.

1. Richard Williams

The silky smooth Londoner seems to have the whole package. Decent power; good chin; excellent repertoire of punches and the speed needed to go the whole way.

He has 15 wins in 16 fights, the only defeat in his third fight against fellow Brit, Michael Alexander.

As he has progressed, the quality of the opposition has too. Richard has not been found wanting when presented with what seems a serious test.

The man from south London is managed and promoted by Barry Hearn, though it might not make good business sense just yet to pit Williams against the aforementioned Steve Roberts, his stablemate.

At 30, time is of the essence. His last victory in December saw him flatten Australia's Shannon Taylor in four rounds. This was a round quicker than the Aussie's defeat against Shane Mosley in a bid for the WBC welterweight title nine months earlier.

All things considered, maybe you could make a case for Stone being the number one in Britain at light-middleweight, due to his greater experience and overall quality of opposition, though I feel Williams would be fresher and perhaps have that bit more desire at their respective stages of their careers.

So there you have it, and as I write, Frank Warren has mentioned putting on a light-middleweight tournament, though the politics of our sport may have something to say about that