There isn't too much going on this weekend that excites me (no disrespect to Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora) so I thought it was time to update my must-see TV list. This isn't about who is necessarily the best, or the most notable. But five boxers who when they fight, I make it a point to watch them.
Here's the column listing my original 'Fab Five' from February of 2022:
https://snac.com/blogs/k-9-kims-corner/my-fab-five
Outside of Danny Roman, who has not boxed since 2022, and is for all intents and purposes retired, the likes of Jaron Ennis, Bam Rodriguez, Naoya Inoue, and William Zepeda are still very much fighters that I enjoy. Any time they are scheduled, I look forward to it. So this time around, to shuffle the deck a bit, this current list will not include any of the above-mentioned quartet.
Here's my latest Fab Five (in no particular order)....
- Bruce Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs)
'Shu Shu' is a rising featherweight contender from Brooklyn, who is now featured on ESPN. What I like best about Carrington is that he's a technically sound boxer, who reminds me a lot of the boxers I grew up watching in the 80s and 90s. He doesn't just box for decisions, but he understands that how you win matters. There is a craftsmenship to his work that appeals to me.
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Carrington has scored some eye-opening highlight reel KO's that have generated a lot buzz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niTcgdrqMQQ&t=110s
Now, you could counter by saying that he hasn't faced any real legitimate world-class featherweights, yet. No argument here. But I like what I see (and this is my list, which caters to my preferences) and it's my belief that his strong fundamentals and all-around skills will translate as he gets moved up the ladder by Top Rank.
- Abdullah Mason (14-0, 12 KOs)
OK, I am definitely projecting ahead here a bit. But in my view this is one of the very best prospects in the world. From the moment he was signed by Top Rank at the age of 17, I was tipped off to the abilities of this quicksilver southpaw from Cleveland, Ohio.
Up to this juncture, he has not disappointed. Mason has consistently developed his vast array of skills, and now at age 20, is beginning to develop his man strength. In his most recent outing a few weeks ago, he blew out the previously un-stopped, Luis Lebron, in three rounds, back a few weeks ago. Mason makes a quick turn around as he is scheduled to go again on August 17 in Quebec City.
Top Rank
It's clear that as Top Rank closes the chapter on their run with Shakur Stevenson, that they are relying on this blue-chipper to carry the torch forward. A lot still has to be proven with Mason. How does he catch on the chin? Can he handle prosperity?
Also, just how fast will he be moved? Within a year or two, Mason will be creeping up to 20 fights, and still will be in his early 20s.
- Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs)
One of my favorite old-time boxing phrases is: he fights like he's double-parked. This refers to fighters who fight at a rapid and aggressive pace. There are no feel-out rounds with them. They are looking to end things as quickly as possible.
Well, Mbilli, is a guy that not only goes about things like he's double-parked, but also robbing a bank. From the very moment the bell rings for round one, he jumps out at his opponents, and throws everything he can -- including the kitchen sink.
Eye of the Tiger
This world-rated super middleweight simply cannot be in a bad fight. The question is would he get sliced up at the upper echelon of 168? Possibly. But at the same time, you're telling me that you wouldn't want to find out what would happen in such a match-up?
Mbilli returns on August 17 versus the seasoned Sergey Derevyanchenko.
- Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs)
In recent fights, this long, lanky southpaw from Japan has opened a lot of eyes to the point the three-division champion is now popping up on various pound-for-pound lists. While it is the above mentioned 'Monster' who is considered the best boxer in Japan (if not the whole planet), Nakatani is now regarded as a worthy adversary for Inoue in the future.
A Inoue-Nakatani fight could be the biggest all-Japanese showdown, ever.
Banzai.
Top Rank
Nakatani, who has trained under the watchful eye of Rudy Hernandez in Los Angeles, is just 26 years old. He is now entering his physical apex. Nakatani, the current WBC bantamweight champion does as good a job at turning over his punches and locking them out as any fighter in the world. Hernandez believes that Nakatani's best form is still ahead of him. It was announced on Wednesday that Nakatani would now be co-promoted by Top Rank, meaning that Stateside fans will have an opportunity to see him again in the upcoming years.
- Gervonta Davis (30-0, 28 KOs)
Yeah, yeah, I know, there are those of you who will point out that Tank's resume is a bit thin, and has more holes in it than Augusta National Golf Club. I won't argue that. But again, this isn't about ranking the best fighters within a division, or a pound-for-pound list.
It's about who gives me the best night of entertainment.
Well, ask yourself this, who would you rather spend your hard-earned money on: Tank or Shakur Stevenson?
PBC
The bottom line is this, 'Tank' creates mayhem and madness inside the ring. You might win a few early battles against him, but you will lose the war. The general public likes knockouts. I mean, nothing against 'the sweet science' and all that, but how many clips of a guy slipping a punch ever go viral on social media?
When Davis does what he usually does, you will see fireworks and some good ol' fashioned violence.
3KR
This week on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule', Tom Loeffler and Serhii Bohachuk joined Mario Lopez and I in-studio to discuss their August 10 clash against Vergil Ortiz:
THE 3 KNOCKDOWN RULE EPISODE 53 | SERHII BOHACHUK AND TOM LOEFFLER INTERVIEW | JUNTO BANZAI!!
To subscribe to '3KR' on your preferred podcast platform, click on the Linktree:
3knockdownrule - Listen on YouTube, Spotify - Linktree
FINAL FLURRIES
So did Errol Spence walk off into the sunset? It's been one year since his loss to Terence Crawford.... It will be Canelo Alvarez versus Edgar Berlanga on September 14 on pay-per-view? Good luck with that....Jaime Munguia is now reportedly under the Top Rank banner...I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com....
