A look at the best Colombian boxing prospects

Colombia is the 27^th most populated country in the world, though in terms of boxing the country hasn't really had a great boxing history. Whilst it has had over 20 world champions only a handful would be known by your average fight fan. In fact in recent years only Juan Urango (former Light Welterweight title holder), Ricardo Torres (Also a former Light Welterweight title holder), Alejandro Berrio (a former Super Middleweight title holder) and Yonnhy Perez (former Bantamweight title holder) have even been featured on a major US broadcast. Though it's very interesting to note that Colombia has a vast number of emerging boxing prospects that we should expect to make a mark on the sport in 2012 and 2013.

Alex “El Principe” Theran
Boxing's Middleweight is one of the most under-rated divisions in the sport with a huge number of fighters all wanting to get their title shot. Whilst 21 year old Theran isn't going to be challenging for a title any time soon he is a fighter that is worth following to the top. Currently with a record of 5-0 (4) the southpaw from Barranquilla is already facing solid tests that are sure to make him sink or swim. Although he does look flawed he does carry really potent stopping power in his left hand, and with that sort of power he could easily become a must watch fighter as his career progresses.
Although Theran has only had 5 professional bouts he was a top rated Colombian amateur and actually won a silver medal at the 2010 South American Games in the Middleweight division, as well as having won a number of national titles.
As a professional Theran only debuted in July 2011 and has already finished 4 fights in the opening round with only former world title contender Oney Valdez having gone the distance with Theran. Theran however isn't done for the year and will face another former world title contender before the end of the year when he meets Milton Nunez on December 16^th. A win over Nunez will really boost Theran up the ratings and by the end of 2012 we could seriously see him breaking into the top 10 rankings.

Video thanks to Yalter777

Eleider Alvarez
At 27 years old Eleider is one of the oldest fighter on this list though he is also arguable the guy that could break through first. The 6'0” Light Heavyweight prospect is 6-0 (4) since turning professional back in 2009 though it's his amateur background that makes him so interesting. Alvarez has won gold at both the South American Games (2006) and the Pan Am games (2007) as well as competing in both the 2007 World Amateur Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games.
Since turning professional Alvarez has been based in Canada and been fighting under the Groupe Yvon Michel banner alongside countryman Oscar Rivas (see below).
Alvarez made his professional debut in August 2009 when he knocked out Jesse Sanders inside a round and since then has faced relatively solid competition for such a novice though he is stepping up in just a few days when he faces Emiliano Cayetano in a fight for the WBO NABO Light Heavyweight title.

Oscar Escandon
Also 27 is Oscar Escandon an emerging Bantamweight who has run up a record of 17-0 (11) and has already won the WBC Latino Bantamweight title and started to threaten the top 10 rankings with a few organisations (most notably the WBC who rank him #14). To date his best win has come against Argentine Jesus Marcelo Andres Cuellar who was 17-0 prior to Escandon stopping him in 7 rounds. An interesting side note to the win over Cuellar is the fact that it was the first time Escandon has fought outside of his native Colombia (travelling to Argentina for the bout).

Escandon turned professional after a solid amateur career in which he competed in the 2004 Olympics and won Silver at the 2006 Pan Am games. Although he was a solid amateur it's not an amateur career that screams out to anyone that he would be a great professional, instead it's what he's done in the professional ranks that has genuinely got him attention. This lack of great amateur pedigree has allowed Escandon to remain somewhat obscure and allowed him to perfect his craft before being thrust into anything major. Escandon has shown a great ability to throw combinations and seems to have respectable power in both hands though still has some flaws he's ready for a decent test.

Video thanks to boxeola1

Jonatan Romero
When a fighter makes his US debut on ShoBox and BEATS a top US prospect then you know it's time to sit up and take note and that's exactly what Romero did when he out pointed Chris Avalos in an all out war in early December. For some that was a huge surprise, for others however it Romero finally making the breakthrough that his talent had deserved. Known as “Momo” Romero has advanced his record to 20-0 (12) and has shown he's a fighter who could be in a host of fun to watch fights with his toughness and his tenacity.
Romero, like most of the others on this list has a credible amateur background and had won a bronze medal at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games as well as competing in the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships and the 2008 Olympics.
After failing to shine in the Olympics Romero turned professional and debuted in May 2009 and has strung together some relatively underwhelming wins with the occasional stand out victory. Of course the win over Avalos stands out, he has also beaten Mario Macias (who recently failed in a world title challenge). If he can build on the win over Avalos in 2012 then he could seriously be mixing in with the title contenders by the end of the year.

Oscar Rivas
Rivas is one of the Heavyweight prospects that has remained under-the-radar which is a bit surprising seeing as how everyone is wanting a Heavyweight saviour. Rivas at 24 years old is still a baby Heavyweight though one who is slowly maturing under Groupe Yvon Michel in Canada (alongside Eleider Alvarez). Although relatively short for a heavyweight (around 6'1”) he lives up to his nickname of “Kaboom” and has run up a record of 7-0 (4) since October 2009 stopping his last 3 opponents.
Before turning professional Rivas had an excellent amateur background and had mixed with the real elite of the amateur rankings, in fact at the 2008 Olympics he beat the highly rated Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev before losing to eventual gold medal winner Roberto Cammarelle. As well the 2008 Olympics Rivas would compete at the 2007 Pan Am games (where he won a Silver medal) and the 2007 World Amateur Championships (where he would lose to Vyacheslav Glazkov). So whilst he didn't really win anything major on the top tier of amateur boxing, he did mix with the elite.
Rivas is looking for his biggest professional scalp when he faces hard hitting American Heavyweight Matthew Greer December 10^th (on the same card as Alvarez v Cayetano). A win over Greer is expected though a stoppage win would be mildly impressive, in fact it took highly rated Denis Boytsov 6 rounds to stop Greer earlier this year, so Greer could be a good mark stick to compare Rivas to Boytsov.

Whilst Colombia isn't a country that jumps out at you when you talking about boxing, it wouldn't be a surprise to see at least one of these men go on to win a genuine world title over the next few years.