Middleweight is one of boxing’s classic divisions, with fighters from across generations such as Marvin Hagler, Jake LaMotta and Harry Greb making 160 pounds the mainstay of their careers, while others such as “Sugar” Ray Robinson and Sam Langford spent time at the weight.
In a recent episode of ProBox TV’s Top Stories, analysts Chris Algieri, Teddy Atlas and Paulie Malignaggi focused on the up-to-date middleweight division, specifically BoxingScene’s ranking of the top five fighters.
About the only consensus reached was that today’s middleweight ranks could utilize Greb and Hagler — or maybe Tony Zale and Billy Conn. “The weight class isn’t that deep,” Algieri said. But boxing being what it is, fortunes can change quickly. At least one could be on the cusp of stardom, threatening to bring the division back into the spotlight.
5. Hamza Sheraz (20-0, 16 KOs)
Sheeraz, a 25-year-old from the UK, has stopped each of his nine opponents, including Liam Williams in February and Ammo Williams in June so far in 2024. At 6ft 3ins, he is high, powerful and, it seems, has barely scratched the surface of his potential.
“It’s only going to get better,” analyst Teddy Atlas said of Sheeraz. “Really, the best thing you can say about him is I think he’s just at the beginning of where he’s going to go — where he can go — in terms of his development.”
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4. Erislandy Lara (30-3-3, 18 KO)
Even at 41, and having established himself over the course of a 16-year professional career, Lara isn’t just holding his own. The Cuban left-hander, who has only been defeated by split or majority decision – by Paul Williams, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Jarrett Hurd – is still finding recent dimensions to his skills.
“Sometimes he comes out like a bat out of hell and knocks guys out in the first or second round at 160 pounds,” Algieri said of Lara, who will face Danny Garcia in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. “It’s almost like he found his punch here at 160 pounds, even 154 pounds. The higher he went, the harder he punched.”
3. Chris Eubank Jr (33-3, 24 KO)
ProBox TV analysts weren’t as enthusiastic about Eubank Jr. as BoxingScene journalists were, but the 34-year-old son of a former two-division world champion deserves some consideration in the lower weight class – especially after he rehabilitated himself from the only knockout loss of his career by getting even with Liam Smith in a rematch in September 2023.
“He’s talented, athletic, he can punch – and until the Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith fight he was really strong,” Algieri said of Eubank Jr.
While Malignaggi admits Eubank Jr. is a charismatic figure with a vast following, he also describes him as the “ideal” candidate to fight Alvarez at some point – which is not the compliment it might initially seem.
“Eubank Jr. wasn’t even on my list,” Malignaggi said, ranking him just outside his top five middleweight contenders. “He’s one of those guys who’s just there for the name recognition.”
2. Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KO)
The physically fit 30-year-old Dominican native Adames came onto the radar of most fans and pundits in 2021 with a dominant win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He has since stopped Juan Macias Montiel and Julian Williams, and most recently defeated Terrell Gausha by wide decision in June.
“I’m a large fan of Carlos Adames,” Algieri said. “I like the way he fights; I like his physicality; I like his skill set. I think he’s got a lot of momentum and the right attitude to be a great fighter.”
Malignaggi, for his part, said he would even bet on Adames to beat the number one player on this list.
1. Janibek Alimkhanukly (15-0, 10 KO)
Kazakhstan’s Alimhanukly is a unique case in that he’s a talented dual-belt holder who is also virtually untested at the elite level and has left much to be desired of tardy, most recently dropping out of his July defense against Andrei Mikhailovich after being hospitalized after struggling to make weight.
Still, Malignaggi, who calls Alimkhanukly “very simple to beat,” still ranks him atop his list of the five best middleweights. And Algieri, despite his own reservations, has been effusive in his praise. In any case, the ProBox TV analysts agree that Alimkhanukly has reached a turning point in his career.
“I voted on a few of his fights in The Bubble for Top Rank when he was starting out, and I was thrilled – he looked fantastic,” Algieri said. “And then recently he looked flat. And then, in his last fight, he missed weight and got diseased. So something changed. Something turned around.”
“He’s huge!” Atlas said. “I mean, when I first saw him, a few things stood out to me: how large he was, how powerful he was, and his length, and he knew how to utilize that length.”
Whether Alimkhanukly has outgrown the middleweight division or cracks are showing in the discipline’s once-shakable foundation, he may not have much longer to earn the number one spot — or any other — at 160 pounds.
Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.
Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.
Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.
Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.
Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.
Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.
There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.
Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.
McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.
English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.
Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.
Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.
After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.
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