2007 Shaping Up To Be Heavy Weight To Carry For Top Welters

Miami, Fl- What started as strong speculation has emerged from the shadows of the underground and indeed become a reality as word has officially dropped that Kermit Cintron and “Sugar” Shane Mosley have agreed to terms and are scheduled to enter the ring on February 10th, 2K7 to wage war for the IBF Strap that Cintron currently holds. Golden Boy Promotions and Bobby Bostick Promotions will team up with HBO to take the event from a mere possiblity to an eye opening reality as it comes to you live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in the first quarter of the new year. This matchup will be the first of a possible many intriguing showdowns to be scheduled in a year that seems to be sparking more fireworks than any division of the recent past. The welterweight division has a number of key figures who can make for an interesting ’07 campaign as there is anything but a clear cut favorite. All current welterweight champs, (Floyd Mayweather (WBC), Miguel Cotto (WBO), Kermit Cintron (IBF), and Antonio Margarito), have strongly imprinted themselves in the division as the head figures in charge, but Shane Mosley is the one figure who when added to the mix may indeed be strong enough to overcome all with one possible exception, (PBF). As if this weren’t enough “characters” to stir up an interesting sub-plot, we still have yet to see what role “up and comer’s” like Paul Williams and Joshua Clottey will play in the equation; And not to be outdone, still you have an eager Zab Judah, a hungry Carlos Baldomir, and a raw, yet talented Carlos Quintana. However it plays out, no doubt, ’07 will be a year full of epic battles in the welterweight division if the politics are put aside and the best matches are made. Personally, If I had to play matchmaker, I would love to see the following fights happen at some point during the next year in no special order: 1. Paul Williams vs Antonio Margarito (Battle of the two most potentially dangerous up and comer’s in the division) 2. Shane Mosley vs Kermit Cintron (Already Scheduled) 3. Joshua Clottey vs Miguel Cotto (Best test for both before they step in w/a PBF or “Sugar” Shane caliber fighter) 4. Shane Mosley vs Floyd Mayweather (Possible fall fight if they both win their scheduled matches/Best potential showdown in division…Hands down)! These four fights are dream fights by any estimation, and the great thing is that this dream of mine and millions of boxing fans alike may be closer to reality than any of us know. Guess we’ll have to see how things unfold, but if I had to title the possibility, it would be “2007: HELL TO PAY FOR ALL WELTERWEIGHTS”!!! Two of them, (Pretty Boy Floyd and Shane Mosley), are already scheduled for fights…Let’s see how the remaining chips align themselves in the race for welterweight supremacy. Stay tuned.

About Tim Starks

Tim is the founder of The Queensberry Rules and co-founder of The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (http://www.tbrb.org). He lives in Washington, D.C. He has written for the Guardian, Economist, New Republic, Chicago Tribune and more.

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