{"id":234,"date":"2023-10-23T07:53:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T04:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/2023\/10\/13\/surprised-new-middleweight-king-emerges-saturday-tyson-fury-francis-ngannou-competitive\/"},"modified":"2023-10-23T07:53:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T04:53:16","slug":"surprised-new-middleweight-king-emerges-saturday-tyson-fury-francis-ngannou-competitive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/?p=234","title":{"rendered":"A new middleweight king? Will Fury-Ngannou be competitive?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>On Saturday, Janibek Alimkhanuly will have the chance to take over a division that was once one of the best in boxing.  With top middleweights like Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin and Erislandy Lara fighting in heavier divisions or inactive, can Alimkhanuly, already a WBO champion, become the No. 1 fighter at 160 pounds?  If he beats IBF champion Vincenzo Gualtieri (ESPN\/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET), there&#8217;s enough of a case to claim that title.<\/p>\n<p>On the undercard, young lightweight Keyshawn Davis (9-0, 6 KOs) fights for the third time this year when he takes on Nahir Albright in a 10-round bout.  With a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/tag\/win\/\"   title=\"win\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">win<\/a>, can he be in the conversation to be the 2023 prospect of the year?<\/p>\n<p>Also Saturday, junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu will face Brian Mendoza in the first defense of the title he inherited when Jermell Charlo was stripped of the belt before his super middleweight fight against Alvarez in September.  Tszyu has been impressive this year, with two KO victories over Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo.  Can he follow it up with another stoppage victory against Mendoza, who has never been knocked out in his career?<\/p>\n<p>And what about heavyweight champion Tyson Fury&#8217;s fight against former MMA champion Francis Ngannou?  Can this be a competitive fight?  And will Terence Crawford fight Errol Spence Jr. next?<\/p>\n<p>Mike Coppinger, Timothy Bradley Jr., Ben Baby, Nick Parkinson and Brett Okamoto have some answers.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Don&#8217;t be surprised if&#8230; Janibek Alimkhanuly rules the middleweight division<\/h3>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure><picture><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Janibek Alimkhanuly, right, could become the No. 1 middleweight with a win Saturday against Vincenzo Gualtieri in their title unification fight. <cite>Steve Marcus\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The fact that he is positioned to be #1 in the 160-pound weight class is a testament to his success.  The 30-year-old undefeated Kazakh fighter beat quality opponents before winning the WBO belt.  Two years ago, he stopped former titlist Rob Brant and overpowered a faded Hassan N&#8217;Dam.  He also has impressive second round knockout victories over Danny Dignum and Steven Butler.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline float-r inline-track\">Top Rank Boxing is now on ESPN and <b>ESPN+<\/b>. <strong>Subscribe to ESPN+<\/strong> get <strong>exclusive boxing events<\/strong>weigh-ins and more.<\/p>\n<p><b>Saturday, October 14 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV:<\/b> Full PPV card of KSI-Tommy Fury and Logan Paul-Dillon Danis<\/p>\n<p><b>Saturday, October 14 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+:<\/b> Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Vincenzo Gualtieri undercard<\/p>\n<p><b>Saturday, October 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+:<\/b> Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Vincenzo Gualtieri, 12 rounds, for Alimkhanuly&#8217;s WBO middleweight and Gualtiere&#8217;s IBF middleweight titles<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There appears to be no one in the division to truly challenge Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9 KOs).  This has been the worst the middleweights have had in recent memory.  Many of the big names named above who have come through the division are either inactive or in other weight classes, leaving one of boxing&#8217;s most famous weight classes quite light.<\/p>\n<p>This also explains how Gualtieri (21-0-1, 7 KOs) obtained his title.  He won the vacant IBF belt with a victory over Esquiva Falcao in a fight between two mid-range contenders ranked highly by the sanctioning body.<\/p>\n<p>What makes Janibek an interesting fighter is that he possesses excellent power, as evidenced by his 64.3% stoppage rate.  An impressive victory could see him gain more attention in one of boxing&#8217;s most storied divisions. <i>&#8212; Baby<\/i><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Don&#8217;t be surprised if&#8230; Keyshawn Davis finishes as the 2023 Men&#8217;s Prospect of the Year<\/h3>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure><picture><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Lightweight Keyshawn Davis, left, is poised to become the 2023 prospect of the year. <cite>Elsa\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Davis, a rising star in the boxing world, is well-positioned to win Prospect of the Year and make a remarkable leap into the realm of world champions in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>This is no surprise given his exceptional talent.  Davis has already defeated three opponents this year, with an impressive combined record of 70 wins and just seven losses.  His victories over Juan Carlos Burgos, Anthony Yigit and Francesco Patera have solidified his position as a fighter to watch right now.<\/p>\n<p>What sets Davis apart is not only his lightning-fast hands, but also his extraordinary skills.  He stunned fans in just nine professional bouts, fighting on the undercard in numerous championship bouts.  Davis displays elite mastery of techniques, including excellent control, frames and impeccable timing.  His mastery of these techniques reveals a maturity and finesse beyond his years, and his ability to close the show \u2013 possessing a fierce killer instinct \u2013 further cements his status as a top-notch talent and formidable contender.<\/p>\n<p>Davis continues to elevate his game, getting closer to the ultimate goal of winning a world title and becoming a new player in the sport. <i>-Bradley<\/i><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Don&#8217;t be surprised if&#8230; Francis Ngannou poses a real challenge to Tyson Fury<\/h3>\n<div data-behavior=\"video_scroll\" class=\"contentItem__content contentItem__content--media-card contentItem__content--fullWidth contentItem__content--inline\">\n<figure data-video=\"watch,640,360,38133624\" data-cerebro-id=\"64cd1e97ca84b76f3469ea20\" data-title=\"Mike Tyson: Fury vs. Ngannou won't be as one-sided as people think\" class=\"media-wrapper_image video\" data-source=\"espn\"><picture class=\"media-wrapper_image\"><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><span class=\"video-play-button\" data-id=\"38133624\">play<\/span><figcaption class=\"media-caption\">2:00 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"contentItem__contentWrapper\">\n<p>Mike Tyson: Fury vs. Ngannou won&#8217;t be as one-sided as people think<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim sit down with Mike Tyson and Francis Ngannou to discuss Ngannou&#8217;s mindset and strategy ahead of his first-ever boxing match against Tyson Fury.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>I&#8217;m not predicting a victory here.  ALL RIGHT?  So calm down with the \u201cOh, sure, the MMA reporter thinks Francis is going to win.\u201d  That&#8217;s not what I&#8217;m saying.  If Ngannou, in his first boxing match, beat the best heavyweight boxer in the world, I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised, I would be completely shocked.  But will I be surprised if he has his moments during the fight?  No.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline editorial float-r\" data-behavior=\"article_related\">\n<h2 class=\"editorial-title\">Editor&#8217;s Choice<\/h2>\n<p>2 Related<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>I thought <a href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/1927\/a-detailed-explainer-happening-ufc-usada-conor-mcgregor\/\">Conor McGregor<\/a> would get clowned by Floyd Mayweather in 2016. I thought there was a legitimate chance he would look awkward, struggle on shots and tire early.  I didn&#8217;t think that because I was depressed about McGregor, I was just respecting the sweet science of boxing.  I appreciate that when someone is world class in boxing, like Mayweather and Fury, they are able to ridicule others who are not world class in the sport, like McGregor and Ngannou.<\/p>\n<p>McGregor, however, put in a respectable performance.  I think Ngannou can too, for the same reasons.  He is intelligent and will be prepared.  He also said something to me personally that I cannot disagree with.  A fight is a fight.  When there is a fight in any situation, Ngannou is a fighter.  Plain and simple. <i>&#8211;Okamoto<\/i><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Don&#8217;t be surprised if&#8230;Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza is closer than expected<\/h3>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure><picture><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Junior middleweight Tim Tszyu, left, demolished Carlos Ocampo in the first round in June in Australia. <cite>Chris Hyde\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>If Tszyu shows the same finishing instinct he showed against Ocampo, Mendoza will be in trouble on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Tszyu (23-0, 17 KO) is flying at the moment, having answered questions about his ability to take on opponents at the highest level.  Momentum is important in boxing and Tszyu&#8217;s belief is in the right place after a brutal knockout of Tony Harrison in March and that first-round demolition of Ocampo in June.  Mendoza has never been arrested, but how will he cope if Tszyu assaults him like he did to Ocampo this summer?<\/p>\n<p>Tszyu, 28, begins his first defense of the WBO junior middleweight <a href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/656\/nikola-jokic-summer-denver-nugget-nba-repeat-title-hopes\/\">title with hopes<\/a> of retaining the belt after putting in a strong performance.  Still, Mendoza is also on a roll, so don&#8217;t be surprised if you also see Mendoza&#8217;s hand raised in a surprise victory.<\/p>\n<p>Mendoza&#8217;s confidence was restored with knockout victories over Sebastian Fundora (seventh round) in April and Jeison Rosario (fifth round) in November, when he also started as an underdog as he will against Tszyu.  Both setbacks are a testament to the American challenger&#8217;s desire, and the way Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs) felled the bigger Fundora with a devastating left hook made one wonder if he can do it again to silence Tszyu&#8217;s crowd.  Sydney.<\/p>\n<p>This is a brilliant match (one of the best in 2023), likely to end in a knockout and most people expect Tszyu to deliver.  But that may not be the case. <i>-Parkinson<\/i><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Don&#8217;t be surprised if&#8230;a rematch between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. doesn&#8217;t happen next<\/h3>\n<div data-behavior=\"video_scroll\" class=\"contentItem__content contentItem__content--media-card contentItem__content--fullWidth contentItem__content--inline\">\n<figure data-video=\"watch,640,360,38098463\" data-cerebro-id=\"64c5f393be6ab35d7e97b8bf\" data-title=\"Stephen A.: Terence Crawford is the best in the world right now\" class=\"media-wrapper_image video\" data-source=\"espn\"><picture class=\"media-wrapper_image\"><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><span class=\"video-play-button\" data-id=\"38098463\">play<\/span><figcaption class=\"media-caption\">1:16<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"contentItem__contentWrapper\">\n<p>Stephen A.: Terence Crawford is currently the best in the world<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Stephen A. Smith ranks Terence Crawford as the best pound-for-pound fighter after his victory over Errol Spence Jr.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It is extremely likely that Crawford and Spence will fight one more time after Spence exercises the rematch clause in August, but there is still work to be done before the rematch is finalized.<\/p>\n<p>Crawford won the undisputed welterweight championship in dominant fashion via seventh-round TKO, and the two-way rematch clause in the contract stipulated that the winner would select weight for the second fight.<\/p>\n<p>During his post-fight interview, Spence said he would weigh up to 154 pounds.  Crawford, meanwhile, is inclined to campaign at 147 pounds.  The rematch, given the lopsided nature of the first fight, is more intriguing at a new weight, but that depends on Crawford.  He could agree to a fight at 154 pounds, but could also ask Spence to make financial concessions to get there.<\/p>\n<p>At this time, the weight has not been agreed upon, sources told ESPN, although the pay-per-view rematch is scheduled for February.  A weight between 147 and 154 pounds makes sense, although Crawford could agree to move up to 154. However, he said after Canelo Alvarez&#8217;s victory over Jermell Charlo that he was no longer interested in a fight with Charlo.<\/p>\n<p>If Spence doesn&#8217;t fight Crawford next, a first fight at junior middleweight against someone like Brian Castano would be interesting.  But it&#8217;s much more likely that we&#8217;ll see Crawford-Spence 2 at a weight above 147 pounds. <i>&#8212; Copper<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Saturday, Janibek Alimkhanuly will have the chance to take over a division that was once one of the best in boxing. With top middleweights like Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin and Erislandy Lara fighting in heavier divisions or inactive, can Alimkhanuly, already a WBO champion, become the No. 1 fighter at 160 pounds? If he [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[186,185,184,183],"class_list":["post-234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-sports","tag-competitive","tag-furyngannou","tag-king","tag-middleweight"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=234"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3750,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234\/revisions\/3750"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}