THE latest edition of the AIBA World Championships concluded at the the Ali Bin Hamad Ali Attiyah Arena in Doha, Qatar on Thursday (October 15). Significantly an Olympic qualification event it was probably the most professional World championships yet. The boxers had to qualify for tournament (rather than just being selected by their national side), the top nations all have full-time programmes and many of the competitors had already experienced pro style formats like the World Series of Boxing, in which five rounders are contested, or the new AIBA Pro Boxing event, which has just finished its first season. Boxing News was ringside, so don’t miss our report in this week’s issue of the magazine, and here we count down the list of the top 10 prospects, i.e. those who will be most suited to professional boxing (whether it’s WSB, APB or traditional pro boxing), to emerge from the tournament. Click below to read on.
10. Robson Conceicao
The Brazilian lightweight had the dubious distinction of losing twice at the World championships, Albert Selimov got the win over him in their semi-final and then he lost his box-off for an Olympic place. But he’s a rough, strong customer, beat Wales’ excellent European champion Joe Cordina in their quarter-final and, if he eventually qualifies, could be the home nation hero at Rio 2016.
9. Johanys Argilagos
Paddy Barnes, planet earth’s favourite light-flyweight, wasn’t at these Worlds – he’s already qualified for the Olympic Games. But Cuba’s flashy 49kgs Johanys Argilagos won the gold, showboating exuberantly along the way.
8. Pat McCormack
The Briton is a light-welterweight and given he didn’t medal, while Russian Vitaly Dunaytsev picked up the gold and Cuba’s electric Yasniel Toledo Lopez is also in his division, you might be surprised to see him on this list. But McCormack fell only a fraction short of beating the eventual champion, he’s young and could well rise to prominence after this competition.
7. Joe Joyce
Big Joe won Britain’s only medal in Doha. He may not be a smooth boxing technician but he looks frightening enough, sets a high pace for a super-heavyweight and has a solid jaw. Joyce’s impressive track record in the World Series of Boxing also proves he gets stronger as the rounds go on.
6. Mohammad Rabii
Morocco is not exactly known as a boxing hotbed but Rabii was undoubtedly impressive. He has a good style for the pros, throwing hard, well-timed combinations and he spectacularly upset reigning World gold medallist Daniyar Yeleussinov in their welterweight final.
5. Joe Ward
Irish boxers tend to make popular pros, whether at home or abroad (well, particularly in the States). Light-heavyweight Joe Ward has won medals in nearly every tournament going and in Doha not only did he gain valuable Olympic qualification, the young phenom also put in a series of mature displays.
4. Ivan Dychko
Yes, the big Kazakh had to settle for silver (Tony Yoka secured the place at the top of the podium) but he did show punching power, so important for the pro ranks. Plus with his height, mesmerizingly bald dome, he just looks like the perfect villain for TV too.
3. Erislandy Savon
Cubans aren’t loved in the pro ranks but Savon can switch from defence to offence with ease. He too had to settle for silver but Russia’s Evgeny Tishchenko is more textbook in his approach, Savon has a flair that’s enjoyable to watch and, crucially, appears to carry the weightier punch.
2. Bektemir Melikuziev
It’s hard to say who the next Gennady Golovkin will be? Maybe he’ll come from Uzbekistan? Maybe he’ll be Bektemir Melikuziev? It’s too early to give the youngster such a tag but he was one of the few previously unknown boxers to come to the fore at these Worlds. He cuts off the ring with seeming ease, always pressing his opponents and throws fast punches with real power. He was a silver medallist here but he’s young. By 2016 he could be a real force in the division.
1. Michael Conlan
The Irish bantamweight can do it all. He won most of his bouts at the Worlds boxing off the backfoot. In the final he decided to go forward and have a tear-up. He recovered from a knockdown but is a tough, durable sort who’s performed well in the World Series of Boxing. He’s already won gold at the Commonwealth Games, European championships and now the World championships. If he scoops the gold at Rio 2016, well, Ireland might just have a superstar on their hands.
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