Custio “War Machine” Clayton is true to his alias. With an arsenal of weapons and ring strategy, Clayton has rising names in the welterweight division looking the other way.
If you hear the word machine, you think of a man-made workhorse designed to address a difficult task. Add war to the reference, and you have Custio Clayton.
Nobody wants to box a technician. It’s not an ideal night of fighting for guys who look to expose an erroneous opponent and get a knockout win. Look at Canelo Alvarez vs. Floyd Mayweather. Canelo, who couldn’t land punches of significance, was picked apart. That fight taught me a lot about how composure, defense, and, most importantly, how the jab can play a defining role in winning a fight. I picked Canelo to win.
Rising welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis picked a struggling unranked fighter coming off two TKO losses over former 2012 Olympian Custio Clayton. Not only did he avoid Clayton twice before, but he’s also not the only one playing the “household name” card. Clayton’s fight with Sergey Lipinets showed everyone in the welterweight division that he has a precise punching ability as sharp as a knife.
Clayton’s defense, which is unlike anyone in the top ten. picked apart Lipinets that night. The fight, judged to be a majority draw, may have caused some delays for Custio Clayton in getting fights.
After his fight, no takers came forward. I get that: it is a high-risk/low-reward proposition. At the same time, if you are the real deal, you always want to fight a top ten opponent. It’s not only what the fans want. It’s exactly what fighters work hard for.
Custio had his first fight at 11 years old (watch it here). Since then, he has been a six-time Canadian National champion and 2012 Olympic competitor–only one of two Canadians who qualified to represent Canada in boxing–and the first boxer in eight years to win a bout–when he beat Oscar Molina in R9und 1. Clayton made it all the way to the quarterfinals, where he lost a controversial decision to Fred Evans.
Flash forward, and Clayton has a pro record of 18-0-1, ranked #7 in late August by WBO and #5 by IBF in the welterweight division.
But nobody wants to fight Clayton, and that troubles me. I follow boxing careers, and Clayton stands out to me. That’s why I’m taking the time to write this article. Clayton is special, a boxing superstar, and a rare talent out of Nova Scotia, Canada–that small but mighty province that’s home to hockey superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan Mackinnon. I believe it’s Custio Clayton’s time to have the same recognition.
I also believe it’s only a matter of time before rising stars in the welterweight division will have to go through Clayton. With that, here’s my judgment about the top five guys who could possibly be the “War Machine’s” next opponent.
Keith Thurman (WBC #5, 29-1-0)
Danny Garcia (WBC #6, 36-3)
Mikey Garcia (WBC #3, 40-1)
Shawn Porter (#1 contender WBC, 31-3-1)
Rashidi Ellis (IBF #10, 23-0).
