Philly Keith Boxing Top 10 Rankings

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Philly Top 10

December 2006

November 2006

August 2006

Philly National top 10 pound for pound list

It is recognized fact that the city of Philadelphia produces some of the best talent in the boxing world. Right now, there are quite a few fighters coming through the ranks and ready to make a major splash and attain world titleholder status. If you look through the world rankings in every talent rich division, you will find a Philly based fighter in almost every one. In the past I created a list tracking the best of the best coming through the ranks on the local circuit but have not yet made the jump to the next level. This time around I am giving props to those who have paid their dues and are ready to make major headlines. Most of the names on this list you have seen on network TV and some are graduates on the local p4p list. For the boxers on here who you haven't seen just yet, remember the names because they are on their way to big things. You have been wanting it for a while now and here it is, a top 10 list of fighters born in Philadelphia. As always, feel free to send your thoughts!

Bernard Hopkins

Lt Heavyweight

(48 - 4 -1 32ko’s)

B-Hop is a true champion and high ranking member of the Philly All time p4p list. The Executioner has beaten some of the top names in the history of the sport and has decided he just isn’t ready for retirement. After a year off he returned to defend his "Ring Magaizne" Light Heavy strap successfully against Winy Wright in July. It wasn't a great fight but it was better than the dose of Nyquil predicted by most. In his fight previous to that, he destroyed Antonio Tarver to rebound from two tough losses to current Middleweight champ Jermain Taylor. Now, he calls out Joe Calzaghe in a fight that stylistically could be a very good one. When it is all said and done, expect to see The Executioner go in as a 1st ballet Hall of Famer.

Steve "USS" Cunningham

Cruiserweight (20 – 1 10ko’s)

USS is a boxing machine. He rose through the Cruiserweight ranks in a short period on time, beating everyone they put in front of him including a long list of perennial contenders. In '06 he lost a controversial decision to Krzysztok Wlodarczyk of Poland his opponent’s hometown. After this alleged robbery, the IBF demanded a rematch and USS got the job done to become the IBF Cruiserweight Champion. Steve is one of the best in the world and hopefully he will get a crack at O’Neill Bell or Mormeck soon enough, but for now he has to look at others since those two are tied up at the moment. The Cruiserweight division has a very good pile of talent, wouldn't it be nice to see USS take on the Ding -A-Ling Man on a televised card? If not there are a load of others out there who are worthy of a shot. Thomasz Adamek, David Haye, Matt Godfrey anyone? Why the cruiserweight division isn't one that is showcased I will never know.

"Fast" Eddie Chambers

Heavyweight (29 – 0 16ko’s)

Fast Eddie is the new toast of the heavyweight division and now has a chance to fight for the gold as he is been selected to take part in a 4 man eliminator where the last man standing gets to square up against The Steel Hammer Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF heavyweight crown. Since signing with Goossen- Tutor promotions, "Fast" Eddie taken the fast track to the top. First step was a demolition of Derrick Rossy live on ESPN, next was a one sides boxing lesson given to former contender Dominick Guinn. It will get tougher this time around as he is said to be matched up against former world title challenger Calvin Brock, a fighter looking to get his name back on the map. No date has been set for the former Blue Horizon King but his speed and smarts could be enough to get him to the top in the near future.

Anthony "The Messenger" Thompson

Jr. Middleweight

(23 – 1 17ko’s) –

“The Messenger” has been racking up the wins and put the world on notice that he is ready to take on the best in the business. The former amateur standout was a dominant in his last performance, scoring a knockout win over former contender Robert “Pushup” Frazier. Frazier may be used up at this point but you can’t take away the fact that in the past he has gone the distance with champions Winky Wright and Felix Strum as well as hot prospect Sechew Powell and Tarvis Simms. Most recently, Ant has been the primary sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather as he preps for his showdown against De La Hoya. Next up for Ant is a junior middleweight showdown with undefeated prospect Yori Foreman on the under card of Cotto – Judah in July. Promoted by Top Rank, he could be in the title mix as early as 2008.

Demetrius Hopkins

Jr. Welterweight(27 – 0 – 1 11ko’s)

In his most recent fight he smoked a very outgunned Haider Berrio in Las Vegas. Prior to that, he has his hands full with Steve “2 Pound” Forbes in a fight many said he should have lost. But hey, where I come from, a win is a win and Demetrius is still in the thick of things in the Junior Welterweight division which is becoming flooded with young talent. In his previous fight, he easily won the USBA Junior Welterweight title and before that, scored one of the best knockouts of 2006 in Atlantic City live on ESPN. He is backed by Golden Boy so you know he will get the right fights. Another win or two and he will be ready to get that push in a very slim Jr. Welterweight division. Let's see him in next against a Paulie Maglinaggi or Julio Caesar Chavez Jr!

Rogers"The Tiger" Mtagwa

featherweight

(24-11-2, 17ko's)

I know there are a lot of losses on the record but still, Rogers "The Tiger" Mtagwa is the type of fighter every boxing fan should have an opportunity to see. He fights fire with fire and if it goes to the cards, you just never know how the outcome is going to turn out. After finding himself on the wrong end of some bum decisions, Mtagwa most recently surprisingly found himself on the good end of a split decision over Aldo Valtierra this past July at The New Alhambra to claim the vacant NABF Featherweight title. The win finally opens some doors for Mtagwa who is now ranked #5 by the IBF and in the WBC's top 15. A fight with Jason Litzau would produce major fireworks, not to mention ratings!

Yusef Mack

Super Middleweight(22 - 2 – 2 14ko’s)

After a year on the pine where fights with Joe Calzaghe, Curtis Stevens and Allan Green all fell through, The Mack Attack finally got back to business live on ESPN in June and gave a boxing lesson to Jose Juan Vasquez and erased some of the taint left from his loss to Alejandro Berrio. When in action, Yusef is the kind of fighter who does it all and has the talent to beat the best in the world. The time should be coming soon for the solider from Shulers Gym. He wants to avenge his lone loss and then travel to take on the likes of Mikkel Kessler and Joe Calzaghe to show he is the man at 168 lbs.

Rock Allen

Welteweight

(10 – 0 7ko’s)

Rock is another Golden Boy farm hand and is slowly but surely making a name for himself. His pro experience doesn’t match up to some others on the list at this point but combine his amateur pedigree with the team he is surrounded by and in my opinion you have the making of the next great champion to come out of Philly. Rock has been raising his level of competition and until recently, was fighting at a steady pace. He will next fight on May 5^th on the under card of Mayweather – De La Hoya. Look for Rock to make noise in the welterweight division in 2009.

Terrance "Heat" Cauthen

Jr. Middleweight(32 – 3 9ko’s)

“Heat” made a couple of cameos in the Philly area last year and after turning in a couple of shut out victories, he now finds himself as the USBA jr. middleweight champ with a major promoter backing him and if the cards fall the right way, his next upcoming fight against former champ Roman Karmazin would be for the IBF junior middleweight title. His in ring style is that of a pure boxer who picks his opposition apart. He lacks in the power department but his speed more than makes up for it.

10.

Harry Joe Yorgey

Jr. Middleweight(18 - 0 - 1 9ko's)

After turning in an action packed 2006, the up and coming junior middleweight from Bridgeport, PA is ready to make the jump to the next level. He has the all out go to war style that the fans pay to see and with Arturo Gatti on the verge of retirement; he could be the next big thing to hit the Atlantic City casinos. After taking on and beating a line of tough road warriors, he is gunning for bigger names, in particular a showdown with Mike “No Joke” Stewart. Watch for Yorgey to make a big move in late 2007.

Honorable mentions: Chazz Witherspoon, Mike "No Joke" Stewart, Prince Badi Ajamu, Malik Scott, Rogers Mtagwa, Gerald “The Jedi” Nobels, Willie Gibbs, Aaron Mitchell, Eric Mitchell, Randy Griffin, Koba Gogoladze, Saeed Hawkins.