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I created the Young Guns list late last year to highlight several young heavyweights that I feel have the potential to make a real splash in the pool that is the sport of boxing. Over the last few weeks three of these young guns have extended their unbeaten streaks in their quest for heavyweight glory and fistic immortality.
BJ Flores, 15-0-1 (10), defeated Jermell Barnes by a wide unanimous decision. In Barnes, Flores faced a fellow smaller sized heavyweight, and a veteran journeyman. Hopefully the experience of going eight rounds helps young Mr. Flores in his career advancement. Flores should fight someone like Kenny Kraven in his next fight, an opponent that has good experience, but probably doesn’t have the skill to beat him.
Egon Roth, 14-0 (12), easily dispatched of Jeff Yeoman in two rounds. The massive Roth, standing at 6’6” and weighing in at 240 pounds, continues to win by mixing in skill with good power and size. Roth’s management should consider stepping him up a little, and putting him in with someone like Najee Shaheed. Shaheed can test how skilled Roth is, as well as give us an idea of how powerful Roth is. Shaheed also has just enough pop to give us an idea of what kind of chin Egon possesses. All in all someone like Shaheed should be the logical next step for Roth.
Last on the list, but certainly not least, is Denis Boytosv, 12-0 (12). The very young Boytsov, only 19, went past the second round for the first time in his career when he beat Hein van Bosch by sixth round TKO. Bosch actually retired in between rounds five and six, but nonetheless he took Denis quite a longer distance than he has gone before. By all accounts Denis looked good, using the speed and power he has to keep his opponent on the defensive. Word is that Boytsov was still a little wild, but much more controlled then he had been previously. At this point it is better that Boytsov gets some experience past round four, since his fights will probably only get longer as he steps up his competition. Boytsov should, in the next two or three fights, be matched with someone like Friday Ahunanya. Ahunanya is decently skilled enough to test a young heavy like Boytsov, and has enough pop to test his chin. If Boytsov is the real deal then he should be able to dispatch of someone in Ahunanya’s caliber within the next two or three months.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2006
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By Julian Kasdin (March 3, 2006) 
