Featherweight is heading towards being the most exciting division in boxing, and it does not appear that there are any promotional problems. Even Gary Russell, who is an Al Haymon fighter was allowed to lose to Top Rank's Lomachencko. Russell vs. Mares or Gonzalez is an natural in-house, and Gradovich, Velez, Donaire, and Vetyeka being the appetizers makes the division look all the more exciting. However, the fight for supremacy is Walters vs. Lomachencko. Hard to imagine anyone handling Loma's skills, or Walters' power. Perhaps neither, and that's why we want to see it.
Speaking of wanting to see it: Stiverne-Wilder has already accomplished its goal. It is an all North American title fight in the heavyweight division, that people are talking about. Either way, there will be a US-based heavyweight belt holder who will be recognized as the #1 contender to Klitschko. The only other is Bryant Jennings, who Klitschko may jump ahead to fight in April. Long dominated by Europeans, the heavyweight division seems to be slowly coming home. Say what you want about Klitschko's dominance, men like Arreola, Mitchell, Thompson, etc at least keep trying to win when they are overmatched. The Europeans are more than willing dance partners in dull defenses of the undisputed title. Britain has a few exciting names, but only Fury is somewhat active and even he has been a bit exposed.
Speaking of exposure, I'd like to see more of Tony Harrison. I don't just mean an opponent who can go more than a round (Brunson wasn't that guy when he was winning!). I mean building a hometown star. Detroit needs this more than any US city, and it seemed to work for a time in Cincinnati with Broner, and it's making a killing with Crawford in Omaha. Take a downtrodden Midwestern city, without much to cheer for in pro sports, and give them a hero, and racial lines fall away. These are the only scenarios in the US lately where fighters who are not Irish in the Northeast, Mexican in the Southwest, Puerto Rican in NYC, or Filipino in California are selling tickets.
Speaking of racial lines falling away, the trend towards ignoring them has slowly started, and I could not be happier. Chat rooms, Twitter feeds, and Facebook groups still erupt into ignorant racism, but for the most part, the voice of those who appreciate skill and heart first is getting louder. GGG is the biggest example, as he is attracting Mexican fans, even when facing Mexican opponents. Don't get me wrong, all things being equal, people tend to root for their own, but those who entertain, and even those who dominate, are starting to get more and more across-the-board respect.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
