American Heavyweight Future
Book:
Guru Bos Says Heavyweight To
Watch Is Rapley, Believe It
Or Not;
"The fistic world was dull
and weary..with a champ like
Liston things had to be
dreary. Then someone with
color, someone with dash,
brought fight fans running
with cash!"
(First part of a continuing
series on
FightNightNews.com)
By
MICHAEL MARLEY
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Who was it who brought fight
fans dashing with
greenbacks? Of course, it
was Cassius Clay and the
brief poem is from "I Am The
Greatest," the Columbia
Records album which I bought
the very first day it was
released.
The year was XYZ and let's
get back to today and now
look to the future. In the
coming weeks,
FightNightNews.com will be
taking a closer look at the
future of the heavyweight
division though the eyes of
various matchmakers, agents
and promoters. Our theme
will be red, white and blue,
looking at American
heavyweights to possibly
discern who might be the man
to lift the division out of
its current doldrums.
Before we look into the
crystal ball, another toast
to our 110 percent,
redblooded, Staten Island,
NY, resident and WBC champ
Oleg Maskaev. Long may he
wave the WBC banner, the US
flag and any others he cares
to carry with him. Remember
when Frank Maloney used to
wear that stupid-looking
Union Jack flag suit to
Lennox Lewis fights?
I hear Dennis Rappaport is
out shopping for an Uncle
Sam suit with appropriate
whiskers. Uncle Dennis wants
you to be Maskaev's next
victim. (The fighters named
below are not listed in any
particular order.)
1. DAMIEN RAPLEY:
This 31-year-old prospect
is, according to Bos, the
hardest-hitting guy coming
up through the ranks.
Bos even mentions "Earnie
Shavers-like" power for the
former college football
player. He is training in
New York under former world
champion Joey Gamache. The
6-1-1 pro record is
deceiving because Rapley was
told his "pro debut" in
Memphis was an exhibition.
He owns a KO 2 over 9-0 Paul
Jennette and his four-round
draw against 3-0 Tyrone
Smith at Foxwoods is said to
have been a ripoff. "He lost
a 3-2 decision to Calvin
Brock in the amateurs also,"
Bos said. Rapley is about
205 pounds and looking to
get to about 218 pounds.
Bos claims he is the only
legit banger among the
various heavyweight
prospects and suspects.
PRO
RECORD IS 6-1-1, FIGHTS OUT
OF QUEENS, NY.
2. FAST EDDIE CHAMBERS:
"Really good boxer," Bos
said. "But not a puncher. He
makes you think of Maurice
Harris."
PRO
RECORD IS 26-0, FIGHTS OUT
OF HOMEWOOD, PA.
3. MALIK SCOTT:
"Another beautiful boxer.
All the various skills in
the world but here's another
big guy with limited to no
punching power."
PRO
RECORD IS 25-0, FIGHTS OUT
OF PHILADELPHIA.
|
4. JASON ESTRADA:
"Interesting prospect for
sure. Reminds me of a big
Chris Byrd, weighs 250
pounds and doesn't look so
exciting many times. But he
gets the job done."
PRO
RECORD IS 6-0, FIGHTS OUT OF
PROVIDENCE.
5. KINGPIN KEVIN JOHNSON:
"Yet another master blaster
with no blasting power.
Technically, he may be the
best guy out there.
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 |
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Jason Estrada
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But he could not break an
egg, even a small egg, with
a ballpeen hammer."
PRO
RECORD IS 10-0-1, FIGHTS OUT
OF ASBURY PARK, NJ. |
|
6. DERRICK ROSSY: "Former
Boston College football player with
very limited amateur background.
Because of that, he is behind the
others in terms of ring experience.
Sal Musumeci moving him along the
proper way. His people know they
have to take their time with him.
Being a solid, in shape athletic guy
cannot hurt him."
PRO RECORD IS
12-0, FIGHTS OUT OF MEDFORD, NY.
7. GENTLEMAN CHAZZ WITHERSPOON:
"To me, he does a lot of nice
things. But then you see him do a
lot of things in a very amateurish
way. He can also punch better than
most of the guys on this list but he
is not, by any means, a tremendous
puncher." PRO
RECORD IS 13-0, FIGHTS OUT OF
PHILADELPHIA.
8. DAMIAN BOLO WILLS: "He is
a West Coast guy so I have never
seen him." PRO
RECORD IS 20-0-1, FIGHTS OUT OF
HOLLYWOOD, CA.
9. CHRIS THE NIGHTMARE ARREOLA:
"One of the worst-looking
physical specimens in heavyweight
history. He is fat and he looks like
he just won a tortilla-eating
contest. Once you get past his
physical look, you realize that he
is another guy who gets the job
done." PRO
RECORD IS 16-0, FIGHTS OUT OF
RIVERSIDE, CA. |
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