The 168lbs division in 2008!

[Maxime]

2008 should be a very interesting year for the 168 lbs.

Here's how I see it:

1- Kessler wins against Calzaghe and becomes THE top dog at 168lbs.
2- Mundine retires because of his eye injury.
3- Taylor loses to Pavlik and moves up to 168lbs.
4- Bute wins the IBF title and make a fight title difense against Markus Beyer.
5- Miranda fights Jean Pascal at 168lbs.
6- Taylor takes a "tune up" and tries to capture a belt in a second weight class by taking on IBF champion, Lucian Bute, before his anticipated fight against Kessler.
7- Kessler takes on the winner of Miranda-Pascal on the same card as Taylor-Bute.
8- The winners of those two fights meet in the fall.

:deal

[CASH_718]

No Calzaghe???

[Maxime]

No Calzaghe???

Calzaghe will lose to Kessler and either retire or move up to 175lbs to fight Hopkins, Tarver, Jones or Woods.

[DanePugilist]

Very possible, but why the hell would Kessler meet winner of Pascal-Miranda? No, Kessler don't need a tune-up before Bute.:D

[Maxime]

Very possible, but why the hell would Kessler meet winner of Pascal-Miranda? No, Kessler don't need a tune-up before Bute.:D

He would fight on the same card has Taylor-Bute to hype the fight with Taylor.

DLH - Sturm
Hopkins - Allen

Remember? ;)

[DanePugilist]

He would fight on the same card has Taylor-Bute to hype the fight with Taylor.

DLH - Sturm
Hopkins - Allen

Remember? ;)Yes, I remember, but this is Kessler, he will only fight the best from now on:smoke - or so I hope. I think Kessler would rather chop off his arm to make weight to fight Pavlik, than meeting winner of Pascal-Miranda.

Btw I almost feel bad for all the true 168'ers you have bypassed to complete your list. Poor Andrade, Froch, Lacy and Inkin.

[cuchulain]

2008 should be a very interesting year for the 168 lbs.

Here's how I see it:

1- Kessler wins against Calzaghe and becomes THE top dog at 168lbs.
2- Mundine retires because of his eye injury.
3- Taylor loses to Pavlik and moves up to 168lbs.
4- Bute wins the IBF title and make a fight title difense against Markus Beyer.
5- Miranda fights Jean Pascal at 168lbs.
6- Taylor takes a "tune up" and tries to capture a belt in a second weight class by taking on IBF champion, Lucian Bute, before his anticipated fight against Kessler.
7- Kessler takes on the winner of Miranda-Pascal on the same card as Taylor-Bute.
8- The winners of those two fights meet in the fall.

:deal

What happens to your chain of scenarios if 1. doesn't happen?

[CASH_718]

Yes, I remember, but this is Kessler, he will only fight the best from now on:smoke - or so I hope. I think Kessler would rather chop off his arm to make weight to fight Pavlik, than meeting winner of Pascal-Miranda.

Btw I almost feel bad for all the true 168'ers you have bypassed to complete your list. Poor Andrade, Froch, Lacy and Inkin.What makes Andrade better the Mirnada or Pascal???

[T.C.W]

Mundine will fight again, He will be back next year.

[CASH_718]

Mundine will fight again, He will be back next year.Then in training he will rub raw chicken on his mouth piece so he has the hunger and will get salmonella poisoning.

[Fat Tony]

3- Taylor loses to Pavlik and moves up to 168lbs.

:deal


Taylor will move to 175 or fight Hopkins at 168/170.
There are no top Americans at 168 and HBO is only interested in Americans.

[CASH_718]

Taylor will move to 175 or fight Hopkins at 168/170.
There are no top Americans at 168 and HBO is only interested in Americans.That's why Kessler vs Calzaghe is going to be on HBO.

[Fat Tony]

That's why Kessler vs Calzaghe is going to be on HBO.

:D :good

We'll see what's next for Taylor.

[Grabonator]

What makes Andrade better the Mirnada or Pascal???

Nothing.

[dwilson]

Looks like one boring long year at 168 then.

[Grabonator]

Pascal is a verry interesting good young prospect and Miranda is a good fighter and will propably look verry good at 168. Miranda will make his first fight on Oktober at 168, after that he will propably fight Pascal in early 2008. The winner of that fight would be a good challenger.

[Grabonator]

Looks like one boring long year at 168 then.

No, i dont think its boring! SM is a verry strong interesting division with lots of elite fighters.

[Decebal]

2008 should be a very interesting year for the 168 lbs.

Here's how I see it:

1- Kessler wins against Calzaghe and becomes THE top dog at 168lbs.
2- Mundine retires because of his eye injury.
3- Taylor loses to Pavlik and moves up to 168lbs.
4- Bute wins the IBF title and make a fight title difense against Markus Beyer.
5- Miranda fights Jean Pascal at 168lbs.
6- Taylor takes a "tune up" and tries to capture a belt in a second weight class by taking on IBF champion, Lucian Bute, before his anticipated fight against Kessler.
7- Kessler takes on the winner of Miranda-Pascal on the same card as Taylor-Bute.
8- The winners of those two fights meet in the fall.

:deal

In parts, unduly and characteristically :yep pessimistic, Maxime...Here's a more upbeat prediction:

1. Calzaghe beats Kessler, but only by a narrow margin. He was going to fight Dawson next...but the latter's shareprice is not what is used to be after being KD'ed by Diaconu twice and barely surviving a split decision...:-( ...looking for a big money low risk NAME - he goes for Bhop, whom he beats easily. The American boxing media establishment finally books that cruise around the world, payed for by Bhop himself, of course...

2. Bute beats Berrio...he realises there's no point in fighting Beyer anyway...he sets up a fight with Lacy, Mundine having retired and Andrade not being such a big draw. He beats Lacy by UD! The American boxing media establishment extends that cruise around the world for another couple of months.

3. Pavlik beats Taylor. Everyone is afraid of facing him. Froch is busy chopping leaves to feed the dogs :huh Inkin has finally decided to fight Bika, whom he just manages to beat...somehow! The American boxing media establishment finally comes in from the cold all bushy-tailed!

4. Calzaghe who has been thinking of retiring is changing his mind. He fights a Dawson who has just beaten Erdei and become a big star! He beats Dawson! The American boxing media establishment finally retires for good, taking Don King with them...

5. Kessler beats Inkin.

6. Bute is the only man who says YES! to Pavlik. He beats Pavlik in the fight of the year by SD.

7. Calzaghe is egged on by his fans to vaporise Bute. But it is a bridge too far, at his age...He loses a close UD.:D Nevertheless, his legacy is secure! He retires much loved and admired - an ATG!

8. Erdei beats Diaconu convincingly. Oh, dear!:-(

9. Bute draws against Kessler and a rematch is set up!:yep Kessler wins the rematch!


¬:deal

[DanePugilist]

What makes Andrade better the Mirnada or Pascal???Mandatory? Pascal is not even on the map at 168, and Miranda fights at LMW. If you think Andrade looked foolish vs Kessler, imagine how Pascal would look like - it would be a JC-Manfredo rerun.

[BigEars]

Mandatory? Pascal is not even on the map at 168, and Miranda fights at LMW. If you think Andrade looked foolish vs Kessler, imagine how Pascal would look like - it would be a JC-Manfredo rerun.

Miranda is at 168 now .

[Decebal]

Hahahahaha - even too old, Joe can beat Bute.

:lol: even too old? Surely, this is logically false, unless Bute abandons for no apparent reason or has a heart attack in the middle of the fight.

[Maxime]

What happens to your chain of scenarios if 1. doesn't happen?

It fucks it all up. :lol:

[Maxime]

In parts, unduly and characteristically :yep pessimistic, Maxime...Here's a more upbeat prediction:

1. Calzaghe beats Kessler, but only by a narrow margin. He was going to fight Dawson next...but the latter's shareprice is not what is used to be after being KD'ed by Diaconu twice and barely surviving a split decision...:-( ...looking for a big money low risk NAME - he goes for Bhop, whom he beats easily. The American boxing media establishment finally books that cruise around the world, payed for by Bhop himself, of course...

2. Bute beats Berrio...he realises there's no point in fighting Beyer anyway...he sets up a fight with Lacy, Mundine having retired and Andrade not being such a big draw. He beats Lacy by UD! The American boxing media establishment extends that cruise around the world for another couple of months.

3. Pavlik beats Taylor. Everyone is afraid of facing him. Froch is busy chopping leaves to feed the dogs :huh Inkin has finally decided to fight Bika, whom he just manages to beat...somehow! The American boxing media establishment finally comes in from the cold all bushy-tailed!

4. Calzaghe who has been thinking of retiring is changing his mind. He fights a Dawson who has just beaten Erdei and become a big star! He beats Dawson! The American boxing media establishment finally retires for good, taking Don King with them...

5. Kessler beats Inkin.

6. Bute is the only man who says YES! to Pavlik. He beats Pavlik in the fight of the year by SD.

7. Calzaghe is egged on by his fans to vaporise Bute. But it is a bridge too far, at his age...He loses a close UD.:D Nevertheless, his legacy is secure! He retires much loved and admired - an ATG!

8. Erdei beats Diaconu convincingly. Oh, dear!:-(

9. Bute draws against Kessler and a rematch is set up!:yep Kessler wins the rematch!


¬:deal

Do not underestimate the power of attraction and the money involve in a Bute-Beyer fight in Montreal.

[Decebal]

Do not underestimate the power of attraction and the money involve in a Bute-Beyer fight in Montreal.

Yeah, you're right...I just don't want Lucian Bute to become one of those fighters - who fight low-risk high reward NAMES for a lot of money. I'd rather he did his best against the very best and lost, and got up to fight another day - sure, less money, and fewer fans, but more glory, truer fans, less hype and a better legacy!

Or, as DanePugilist would put it, I don't want Bute to become a prime shaker in a circle jerk...Lucian needs to stay true, fight the best out there he can, and dare to be great.:deal

[Fat Tony]

Do not underestimate the power of attraction and the money involve in a Bute-Beyer fight in Montreal.

It seems to me the Canadians still suffer from the Beyer-Lucas trauma.
Now they need a shot Beyer to get over it.

[Decebal]

It seems to me the Canadians still suffer from the Beyer-Lucas trauma.
Now they need a shot Beyer to get over it.

Damn right! Let the past lie! Bute is the future! He should look forward, not back! He should take risks, win glory, develop character through losses, become the best he can - greater than Lucas.

[DanePugilist]

In parts, unduly and characteristically :yep pessimistic, Maxime...Here's a more upbeat prediction:

1. Calzaghe beats Kessler, but only by a narrow margin. He was going to fight Dawson next...but the latter's shareprice is not what is used to be after being KD'ed by Diaconu twice and barely surviving a split decision...:-( ...looking for a big money low risk NAME - he goes for Bhop, whom he beats easily. The American boxing media establishment finally books that cruise around the world, payed for by Bhop himself, of course...

2. Bute beats Berrio...he realises there's no point in fighting Beyer anyway...he sets up a fight with Lacy, Mundine having retired and Andrade not being such a big draw. He beats Lacy by UD! The American boxing media establishment extends that cruise around the world for another couple of months.

3. Pavlik beats Taylor. Everyone is afraid of facing him. Froch is busy chopping leaves to feed the dogs :huh Inkin has finally decided to fight Bika, whom he just manages to beat...somehow! The American boxing media establishment finally comes in from the cold all bushy-tailed!

4. Calzaghe who has been thinking of retiring is changing his mind. He fights a Dawson who has just beaten Erdei and become a big star! He beats Dawson! The American boxing media establishment finally retires for good, taking Don King with them...

5. Kessler beats Inkin.

6. Bute is the only man who says YES! to Pavlik. He beats Pavlik in the fight of the year by SD.

7. Calzaghe is egged on by his fans to vaporise Bute. But it is a bridge too far, at his age...He loses a close UD.:D Nevertheless, his legacy is secure! He retires much loved and admired - an ATG!

8. Erdei beats Diaconu convincingly. Oh, dear!:-(

9. Bute draws against Kessler and a rematch is set up!:yep Kessler wins the rematch!


¬:dealUtopia comes to mind:lol: .

[Decebal]

Utopia comes to mind:lol: .

Yeah, you're right! There's no way Dawson beats Diaconu!:D

[DanePugilist]

Yeah, you're right...I just don't want Lucian Bute to become one of those fighters - who fight low-risk high reward NAMES for a lot of money. I'd rather he did his best against the very best and lost, and got up to fight another day - sure, less money, and fewer fans, but more glory, truer fans, less hype and a better legacy!

Or, as DanePugilist would put it, I don't want Bute to become a prime shaker in a circle jerk...Lucian needs to stay true, fight the best out there he can, and dare to be great.:dealAmen.

[DanePugilist]

Yeah, you're right! There's no way Dawson beats Diaconu!:DTouché, but not really what popped to mind:lol:

[Decebal]

Touché, but not really what popped to mind:lol:

:D

[Maxime]

Yeah, you're right...I just don't want Lucian Bute to become one of those fighters - who fight low-risk high reward NAMES for a lot of money. I'd rather he did his best against the very best and lost, and got up to fight another day - sure, less money, and fewer fans, but more glory, truer fans, less hype and a better legacy!

Or, as DanePugilist would put it, I don't want Bute to become a prime shaker in a circle jerk...Lucian needs to stay true, fight the best out there he can, and dare to be great.:deal

Beyer would simply be the easy first title defense that most champions do after winning the title.

Do not forget that Bute accepted to receive a small purse to fight both Bika and Berrio so that the fights can happen in Montreal. So he's gonna want to cash in for his first title defense.

Not to mention his promoter also had to give Berrio a crap load of money to get the title fight in Montreal. They will also want to cash with an easy (but big $$$) first title defense.

This is business. ;)

[DanePugilist]

Beyer would simply be the easy first title defense that most champions do after winning the title.

Do not forget that Bute accepted to receive a small purse to fight both Bika and Berrio so that the fights can happen in Montreal. So he's gonna want to cash in for his first title defense.

Not to mention his promoter also had to give Berrio a crap load of money to get the title fight in Montreal. They will also want to cash with an easy (but big $$$) first title defense.

This is business. ;)Can Beyer even travel that far:lol: :lol: - but yes, I think its an okay first defence.

[Decebal]

Beyer would simply be the easy first title defense that most champions do after winning the title.

Do not forget that Bute accepted to receive a small purse to fight both Bika and Berrio so that the fights can happen in Montreal. So he's gonna want to cash in for his first title defense.

Not to mention his promoter also had to give Berrio a crap load of money to get the title fight in Montreal. They will also want to cash with an easy (but big $$$) first title defense.

This is business. ;)

Yes, this is business, you are right...but I was hoping Bute and InterBox were going to travel the path of greatness, not the path of the Dollar...In the long-run, the path of greatness makes you more money too. But faith doesn't come cheap! :good

Also...the easiest defence...for Bute...let's hope not - he needs to kep the ball rolling if he is to have a chance against the big boys...

Not least...Bute might be looking up to DLH, including with respect to his business career...but he shouldn't take the impresonation too far. He comes from a poor country; he should be able to overcome greed. And InterBox should rewrite the rule-book, not take after the likes of Don King! We need more good, true guys and promoters in the sport, not less! Will they have the guts to swim the hard swim towards the distant light?:think

[DanePugilist]

Yes, this is business, you are right...but I was hoping Bute and InterBox were going to travel the path of greatness, not the path of the Dollar...In the long-run, the path of greatness makes you more money too. But faith doesn't come cheap! :good

Also...the easiest defence...for Bute...let's hope not - he needs to kep the ball rolling if he is to have a chance against the big boys...

Not least...Bute might be looking up to DLH, including with respect to his business career...but he shouldn't take the impresonation too far. He comes from a poor country; he should be able to overcome greed. And InterBox should rewrite the rule-book, not take after the likes of Don King! We need more good, true guys and promoters in the sport, not less! Will they have the guts to swim the hard swim towards the distant light?:thinkBute chose right in rerouting through IBF. I was beginning to fear he would tread quicksand like Inkin.

[Decebal]

Bute chose right in rerouting through IBF. I was beginning to fear he would tread quicksand like Inkin.

Yes, it was the right thing...and he should carry on doing the right thing. Let the likes of Froch and Inkin "take care of business"!

[LeedsLad]

To end 2007, Calzaghe will win a close, but clear UD over Kessler. Kessler will put in a good effort, and some of his more fanatic fans will claim he won, but Calzaghe will edge it. Bute will also KO Berrio in the middle rounds in an entertaining fight. Calzaghe will step upto LHW, leaving the titles:

WBO, WBC- Vacant
WBA- Mundine (he'll get given the title, as a 'get well soon' present)
IBF- Bute

In 2008: Mundine makes a mysterious recovery, and is back to the tough match-ups against seasoned pro's:good Taylor will have a tune-up for the vacant WBC, possibly against Andrade. Carl Froch will finally give into the devil, and sign with FW:twisted: That means he fights for the vacant WBO title, again he wont fight anyone significant.

Now Kessler will get back into the mix, he'll fight Mundine for the second time for the WBA title. This time, Mundine is less timid and throws more punches... so he gets KO'd:good FW and Froch are, as usual, taking the biggest fights and risky match-ups.

Miranda has KO'd some bums, so then meets Taylor, a rivalry that brewed up since their days at 160lbs. Meanwhile, the two young guns and best in the division, Bute and Kessler, fight some worthy challengers while building up a big-money unification bout for 2009. Froch and Inkin will probably get it on for the WBO at some point too.

By the end of 2008, the 168 mix will look even better. Big unification bouts with Bute, Taylor and Kessler, with Pavlik on his way upto 168 too after finishing the 160 division. And Mundine too, he will beat a couple more mediocure fighters for the interim WBA title, and will once again be claiming how much he has improved and how he deserves another shot at the big boys:good

[djb2009]

[quote=Maxime]2008 should be a very interesting year for the 168 lbs.

1- Kessler wins against Calzaghe and becomes THE top dog at 168lbs. Joker!!!!!:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Calzaghe 44-0 After Kessler

[Smazz20]

Calzaghe humiliates Kessler in November. Everybody is astounded at the thrashing he gives him. All sanctioning bodies then declare the 168 division null and void because it's quite obvious no one can ever beat or match the achievements of Calzaghe:D

[Snorkel]

Where are Froch and Lacy in all of this? Somebody's going to have to fight them as either a mandatory or in an eliminator eventually and I reckon they've both got at least a punchers chance of beating most of the people mentioned here.

When Calzaghe wins, I suspect he'll move up and leave all the belts vacant again so there's going to be some good match ups as everybody tries to grab a piece. It'll be too fractured to predict what's going to happen in only a few steps.

[Odo]

2008 should be a very interesting year for the 168 lbs.

Here's how I see it:

1- Kessler wins against Calzaghe and becomes THE top dog at 168lbs.
2- Mundine retires because of his eye injury.
3- Taylor loses to Pavlik and moves up to 168lbs.
4- Bute wins the IBF title and make a fight title difense against Markus Beyer.
5- Miranda fights Jean Pascal at 168lbs.
6- Taylor takes a "tune up" and tries to capture a belt in a second weight class by taking on IBF champion, Lucian Bute, before his anticipated fight against Kessler.
7- Kessler takes on the winner of Miranda-Pascal on the same card as Taylor-Bute.


8- The winners of those two fights meet in the fall.

:deal





There are other big fishs swimming in that pond like Inkin,Braehmer,Stieglitz,Larsen,Froch,Tsypko,and so on.
If Braehmer beats his compatriot Veit in their upcomming bout by impressive ko he will be a huge draw in his native country once again.
Denis Inkin is on the point of a title shot,too.And he has all the neccessary tools to beat limited punchers like Miranda.

[DanePugilist]

You most be a MK-fan in disguise;)Yes, but don't tell anyone:lol: .

[Stinky gloves]

No Lacy ?

[Decebal]

You most be a MK-fan in disguise;)

I am OPENLY a fan of Mikkel Kessler! :D

[PrideOfWales]

2008 should be a very interesting year for the 168 lbs.

Here's how I see it:

1- Kessler wins against Calzaghe and becomes THE top dog at 168lbs.
2- Mundine retires because of his eye injury.
3- Taylor loses to Pavlik and moves up to 168lbs.
4- Bute wins the IBF title and make a fight title difense against Markus Beyer.
5- Miranda fights Jean Pascal at 168lbs.
6- Taylor takes a "tune up" and tries to capture a belt in a second weight class by taking on IBF champion, Lucian Bute, before his anticipated fight against Kessler.
7- Kessler takes on the winner of Miranda-Pascal on the same card as Taylor-Bute.
8- The winners of those two fights meet in the fall.

:deal

Not much of a prophet are you?

1 out of 8 :thumbsup

[bxrfan]

Wow, where have all of these guys gone? I miss 'em. :verysad