Top boxing prospects to watch in 2012

At the start of 2011 I did a hub looking at a number of boxing prospects who I thought would make a mark through 2011. Of those boxers mentioned in the previous hub a number have come through to become serious players in the sport. For example from that list we've seen Adrien Broner go on to win the WBO Super Featherwieght title, Edmund Gerber is currently ranked at 49 as a heavyweight (on boxrec.com), Lateef Kayode is on the verge of a world title fight as is Brad Solomon, whilst the Mexican pair of Marco Antonio Periban and Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez are all making an impact.

Of course the 2011 prospects weren't all a perfect selection with Mike Dallas Jr and Archie Ray Marquez both being "exposed" but overall my list was generally a success. Hopefully this 2012 list will build on the success of 2011.

Froilan Saludar
Filipino Flyweight Froilan "The Sniper" Saludar is currently 13-0-1 (10) and ranked by the WBO (due mainly to his reign as WBO Asia Pacific champion) and has all the hall marks of a champion. The 22 year old how shown explosive power, lighting handspeed and the ability to land right on the button time and time again.

Whilst Saludar may lack any notable names on his record he is being destructive at the lower level and swiftly rising through the ranks. By the end of 2012 he should be approaching a world title fight and hopefully and if he continues his career the way it's started, he'll be dubbed "the next Manny Pacquiao".
The video to the right shows Saludar beating Jack Amisa back in May 2011 and is courtesy of youtube users localhawaiian1

Leo Santa Cruz
It can be hard to proclaim someone as a champion in the making but Mexican Super Flyweight Leo Santa Cruz is a real banker. Currently with a record of 18-0-1 (10) the 23 year old is a real rising star and has had one of the best 2011's of any fighter with 4 wins (all by stoppage) including an excellent win over Stephane Jamoye.

Leo is the brother of former interim WBC lightweight champion, Jose Armando Santa Cruz and looks likely to have a career that overshines his older brother. Whilst Jose has retired Leo has really begun to improve as a fighter by developing real power on his shots (having stopped his last 8 opponents) and an aggressive mindset that should make him popular with fans.

Leo is managed by famed boxing managed Cameron Dunkin which should, hopefully, lead to him getting some major exposure in 2012 on US TV or at very least a big under-card.

Yohei Tobe
It's hard to find a fighter who has done more in 3 fights in 2011 than Yohei Tobe who is current 3-0 (2) having beaten 2 incredibly tough tests. The 24 year old Japanese Bantamweight has demolished Wandee Singwancha (a former 2-time interim world champion) and outpointed the former world title challenger Kohei Kono in a year to remember.

Whilst Bantamweight is a solid division Tobe could well emerge as a title contender by the end of 2012, in fact at the rate he is progressing he could be a genuine world champion by the end of the year. He has already shown he has real power in his right hand and has a very fun to watch style which will hopefully carry him to the top of the Bantamweight division to compete with current champion Koki Kameda.

Shuhei Tsuchiya
It's always fun to see a KO machine and Shuhei Tsuchiya is a true KO machine with a record of 11-0 (11). Whilst Shuhei is unlikely to make an impact in America the Japanese Lightweight is a rising star in the East having demolished 7 unbeaten fighters in just 11 fights.

Whilst Shuhei looks like he is still a flawed fighter, especially in regards to his defense he certainly hits hard and should be able to hurt anyone he can connect with. Hopefully he will develop the defensive side of his game before he ends up being beaten because at the moment he has real potential to make an impact in the sport in a division that Japan isn't commonly associated with.

Levan Ghvamichava
No fighter in the sport is really as feared as Levan "The Wolf" Ghvamichava (6-0, 5) who is originally from Georgia though is based in Ireland under the management of Gary Hyde. Levan debuted back in January and stopped the experienced Konstantins Sakara in 2 rounds before quickly adding a stoppage of the very experienced trial horse Laszlo Komjathi and most recently former European champion Giuseppe Lauri (TKO2). In fact in his first 6 fights only Mihaita Mutu has managed to hear the final bell.

Whilst Levan is being spoken about on boxing forums by hardcore fans he's really yet to be taken seriously despite having a 2011 to remember. Hopefully 2012 will follow in a similar vein as Levan gets some experience and really builds on creating a true following. Whilst it may be difficult for Hyde to match him he's a fighter that could very easily build a huge following very quickly in the Welterweight and Light Welterweight division.

Thomas Dulorme
The Puerto Rican boxing fan base is undoubtedly one of the best in the world and this is somewhat due to the history of their fighters including recent fighters like Miguel Cotto and Felix Trinidad. Many such fans are hoping that welterweight Thomas Dulorme (13-0, 10) will become the heir apparent to Cotto.

So far the 21 year old has gone from strength to strength with a number impressive victories such as his highlight reel KO over Harrison Cuello and his complete domination of DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley. Although he is extremely young in a division that boasts the top 2 P4P fighters in the world he is a fighter that appears to have everything from power to Speed and the ability to land the perfect shot on anyone. Dulorme is genuinely considered one of the very top Welterweight prospects and with good reason.

Jorge Cota
Mexican fighters appear to be emerging more and more in the heavier divisions with Marco Antonio Periban (Super Middleweight) and Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez (Middleweight) both becoming real names in their divisions, now we have an emerging Light Middleweigth as well in Jorge Cota. 23 year old Cota made his debut in 2009 and has ran up a record of 10-0 (10).

Whilst many of Cota's opponents have been relatively unknown he did recently stop former world champion Luis Ramon Campas who was searching for his 100th professional win. Although Campas is a long way from being the fighter he once was he's still tough and a stoppage win over him should still be noted as an impressive feat.

Billy Joe Saunders
When the 2008 British Olympians signed professional contracts it was James DeGale and Frankie Gavin that stole the limelight whilst the baby of the group, Billy Joe Saunders was somewhat forgotten about. Now 3 years later Billy Joe seems to be the name on everyones lips as he continues to improve and looks like real quality.

Despite being just 22 years old the 11-0 (7) Saunders is currently emerging as a real force. Although Saunders was given a tough test by Gary Boulden last time out Saunders clearly won the fight and proved his stamina by going 10 rounds for the first time. He currently has his 12th fight scheduled for December 2011 (where he will be facing Vitor Sa) and a win over Sa will hopefully help him move up a level and by the end of 2012 we may be talking about Saunders as a European title contender.

Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna
The Super Middleweight is currently one of the most exciting divisions in the sport of boxing. We currently have the Super 6 final to look forward to between Carl Froch and Andre Ward, we also have established fighters such as Mikkel Kessler and Lucien Bute battling at the top of the division and emerging fighters like George Groves, James DeGale, Marco Antonio Periban and now we should add the name of Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna.

Argentinian Maderna is currently 16-0 (12) and has managed to rip though a number of B and C level fighters whilst still remaining somewhat under the radar. Wins against the likes of former title contender Ruben Eduardo Acosta have done little to catch the public's attention which is a bit of a shame as the hard punching Maderna is really one to watch due to his thunderous power which broke Dario German Balmaceda ribs in just a single round.

Frank Buglioni
Former amateur star Frank Buglioni recently turned professional in Britain and made an almost immediate impact on specialist boxing channel Box Nation by stopping the tough Sabie Montieth in just 124 seconds back on November 5th. Just 2 weeks later Buglioni was out again and stopped the teak tough Paul Morby in just a round to advance his record to 2-0 (2).

Whilst it may be fair to say that it's too early in his career to get too excited about him he has caused a fair bit of a buzz in the UK. Whilst the Light Heavyweight division is quite tough Buglioni may rise quickly to the European level inside just a year or two as he really does look like a special talent with speed, power, accuracy and the sort of following that can make people a star. Despite having just 2 fights he's already a proven ticket seller and has everything going for him, hopefully promoter Frank Warren won't be holding him back.

Yunier Dorticos
It can be difficult to predict the Cruiserweight division as it's all but died in the US whilst almost emigrating to Europe where all the top fighters seem to be based. Despite this a few names are emerging in the US such as Lateef Kayode, Jermiah Graziano and Cuban KO sensation Yunier Dorticos (13-0, 13). 25 year old Dorticos is swiftly moving through the rankings and through his opponents having required just 26 rounds for his 13 fights.

Dorticos had reportedly had over 250 amateur fights before moving to the US to make his professional debut and has already beaten a number a handful of decent fighters including Epifanio Mendoza (TKO6) and Livin Castillo (TKO3). Whilst he's certainly on the up he's going to be at least a year from a major world title fight so hopefully we'll see him really tested before then.

Whilst of course there is a huge number of prospects I've not included it's impossible to include everyone. Hopefully however at least 1 of these fighters manages to make a real impact and maybe even secure themselves a world title during 2012.