The most exciting fighters we don't get to see

A few days ago, Thomas Hauser put up an article on ESPN.com listing the guys who he thought were the 16 most exciting boxers today.  While I can't quibble with his list (for the most part, other than maybe Arthur Abraham, I agree with his list), he does make a nod that he might not be including everyone, simply because he focused on fighters we get to see in the US a fair amount.  On that note, I just wanted to highlight a few more fighters who didn't make his list who are exciting as heck, but maybe don't get as much US TV exposure as the fighters he listed.

Roman Gonzalez

Gonzalez has a few things working against him in terms of popularity.  He fights in the minimumweight and junior flyweight divisions, which generally don't get much attention stateside.  He comes from Nicaragua, so he doesn't have a big boxing fanbase behind him.  But boy can he light it up in the ring.  In 23 fights, he has 20 KOs, which is an almost unheard of knockout ratio in the lower divisions.  He's done this by being a violent and aggressive boxer-puncher who waits for his opening and then pounces on it once it's there.  If you like Edwin Valero, you'll love Roman Gonzalez.

Daisuke Naito

Naito may not be the most powerful puncher in the world, but he throws a lot of punches, and he has a tendency to throw caution to the wind when doing so.  In Japan, they generally regard him as the most exciting fighter there, although their idea of excitement in the ring may be a little different than what we think of in the US.

Kevin Mitchell

Mitchell is an up-and-coming prospect in the UK under Frank Warren's stable, which means we'll probably see him fighting for a WBO title pretty soon.  While I can't say I find him to be the most skilled fighter in the world, he does bring some level of excitement to the ring, keeping his hands busy and having 20 KOs in 27 fights. 

Fernando Angulo

Alfredo Angulo managed to make the list, but I'm not sure he's even the most exciting Angulo right now.  Fernando has been on TV a couple of times, in a losing effort against Juan Diaz and an upset victory over Colombian prospect Patrick Lopez, but unfortunately, all that's up on Youtube at the moment are clips from the Diaz fight, in which he was thoroughly dominated.  Still, he managed to make it an entertaining fight, even if he was outgunned.  Though he doesn't have great power, he's one of those guys who just keeps on the offensive, even when he's getting nailed.  He should be tough - after being orphaned as a child, he went out to live in the Amazon for a number of years, not rejoining civilization until his teens.  Rumor has it that he'll be fighting for one of the belts vacated by Nate Campbell (he lost his last fight, but that was at 140, and he's near the top of the IBF mandatory list).

Somsak Sithchatchawal

If the name rings a bell, it's because his war with Mayhar Monshipour was many writers' fight of the year, despite not being televised in the US.  Sithchatchawal always brings that attitude into the ring - never say die, take punishment to give punishment.  This attitude was his undoing against Celestino Caballero, who knocked out Sithchatchawal cold with a big counter.  Unfortunately, his best days are probably behind him at this point, meaning it's unlikely we'll ever get to see him on US TV.  Also, while Monshipour first retired after this fight, he has been attempting a comeback recently as well.

Eagle Den Junlaphan (formerly Eagle Kyowa)

Eagle, a Thai native fighting out of Tokyo, is another minimumweight who tends to put on exciting performances.  The other fighter in the video, Rodel Mayol, is an exciting fighter in his own right, and the kid who fought the other night on the Global Supremacy undercard, Denver Cuello, reminds me a lot of Mayol.  While Eagle isn't a big puncher, he'll get hit to get off a punch, and he'll provide relatively steady action for the full 12 rounds.

A few other guys who do get regular US TV exposure who were missing from the list: Michael Katsidis, King Kong Agbeko, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Torres, David Haye, John Duddy and Juan Diaz.

Guys who did make the list: Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Tomasz Adamek, Arthur Abraham, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams, James Kirkland, Alfredo Angulo, Edwin Valero, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Israel Vasquez, Vic Darchinyan and Cristobal Arreola.

If you've got others, feel free to post them below.