Half-Year 25 Favorite Prospects Report Card

Half-Year 25 Favorite Prospects Report Card
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 4, 2012


In January, one of my first contributions to TQBR was a list of my 25 favorite prospects to start 2012. Now that we have met the halfway point of the year, compiled here is a report on how those 25 prospects have fared and a grade letter assigned. Over the first six months, prospects were 41-2 with 27 knockouts. Not a bad start.

MAKING THE GRADE 

Eleider Alvarez, light heavyweight, 28, 9-0, 5 KOs (2-0) B+ 
Alvarez didn't sparkle against Rayco Saunders on ESPN2 in April, but returned to the Bell Centre in early June to lay a whooping on once-beaten Shawn Hawk. Alvarez needs to be a little more active at 28, and if he is able to get two fights to close out '12 it will have been a good year for him. Next fight: N/A

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Billy Joe Saunders Rolls Against Bradley Pryce

Billy Joe Saunders Rolls Against Bradley Pryce
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
June 2, 2012

Friday night from York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, Billy Joe Saunders scored the biggest win of his career as he lopsidedly dominated Bradley Pryce to successfully retain his Commonwealth middleweight title by scores of 120-108, 120-109 twice in the main event of a full card televised by BoxNation.

The former British Olympian Saunders (14-0, 9 KOs) had no trouble piling up the points against his most skilled and experienced opponent to date, getting extended the 12 round distance for the first time in his young professional career.

Pryce, to his credit, never kept trying but was just outclassed on many levels. Saunders caught Pryce in the 3rd with a big combination that began swelling around the left, which only worsened as the fight wore on thanks to the constant popping of Saunders' jab.

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Twenty-Five Favorites For the Future, Part I

Twenty-Five Favorites For the Future, Part I
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 4, 2012

Don't mistake this list as one to bank future successes of any of these fighters on, though I have faith that more than a handful of them will break through to the top level of the sport. No, what this list serves as is my 25 favorite prospects that I will be keeping an eye on in 2012 and beyond. What this means is the rubric is more than just in-ring ability. It takes into account whether or not they likely will emerge as big time ticket sellers, as determined by their fighting styles and personalities, among other things. One thing you can count on is this list features quite a number of names you won’t see elsewhere.

Sadam Ali, welterweight, 23 years old, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. [14-0, 8 KOs] 
The quick-fisted Ali was the first Arab-American fighter to box in the Olympics when he made the U.S. team in 2008. Since turning pro in January of 2009, the sharp punching Ali has yet to face a real test. He may be a bit undersized at welterweight and would probably find more success at 140 when he steps up his level of competition. After encountering managerial problems early in his career, Ali has begun to guide his own career. It will be interesting to see how Ali’s plans of getting to the top will work out without a major guiding influence. At 23 years old, Ali has a fair amount of time to get there.

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