Top 10 List | Top Ten Lists

When assessing a prospect, it is crucial to forget about their age, how many defeats they had on their ledger and how many knockouts. Taking these variables into account, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 Boxing Prospects to watch out for in the coming years.

1. Carlos Velasquez: Featherweight

Carlos, like most fighters from Puerto Rico and Cuba, has a long amateur career, winning many major titles–including the gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean games in 2006.

Carlos convincingly defeated the Cuban Superstar Yuriorkis Gamboa and won the gold medal at the games in 2006. As one would expect, the win did more than just show the Puerto Rican boxing community that he is no one-hit wonder. He underscored his success from 2006 by trouncing the Dominican Republic fighter Ronald de la Rosa–the outcome of this bout made Carlos a true contender. However, out of the last 12 bouts, which he won consecutively, his most impressive win came against Ira Terry. Fans, promoters and everyone in between witnessed what Carlos could do.

2. Daniel Jacobs: Middleweight

Daniel, a diamond in the rough, has not only been named on ESPN several times, but he also is seeing the success that Riddick Bowe saw. Fighting-wise, Daniel possesses ferocious power and can deliver punishing knockouts like Mike Tyson. He is blessed with many skills, making him a well-rounded fighter.

Currently, Daniel is signed to a lucrative promotional contract with Goldenboy Promotions. Oscar De La Hoya, the owner of Goldenboy Promotions, is convinced that Daniel can be the next “big thing,” seeing that he is on the road to becoming a complete fighter. Daniel stays busy in the ring and shows no fear.

3. Erislandy Lara: Middleweight

Since becoming a professional, Lara has performed well in every fight. He has beaten big names like Grady Brewer and the veteran Danny Perez, and without an ounce of nervousness, he remains comfortable in the ring.

Lara hits opponents with his unbelievable jab combinations and swift moves. One of his signature moves is a long snapping jab, which he uses to gauge distance quite often. Ultimately, Lara is a wonderful fighter who packs a mean punch, with a lot of speed and precision. He has what it takes to be a dominant force that is reckoned with for years to come.

4. Guillermo Rigondeaux: Super Bantamweight

Guillermo wasted little time with transitioning from the amateur ranks, and with his amateur background and training, Guillermo can only go as far as his hard hands and quick feet will take him.

Guillermo certainly does not lack versatility in his skill set. With his excellent power and technical ability, it was not long before the Cuban started to receive many offers from trainers, but he stuck with Freddy. On a scale, Guillermo rates incredibly high. His progression has been steady, so it is not a stretch to say he is perhaps the most complete fighter to watch.

5. Matvey Korobov: Middleweight

Matvey presence in the ring warrants much excitement. He is a strong southpaw middleweight who punches with immense power, good speed and remarkable patience. Matvey learned his craft, like many others, throughout an illustrious amateur career.

What is more, he has won just about everything except for the gold medal in the Olympics, and for a good while, he was Russia’s best prospect.

Although his professional experience is quite limited, he has what it takes to trounce the divisions’ champions–including the likes of Arthur Abraham and Kelly Pavlik.

Neither tennis, football nor any other sport generates as much passion from its supporters when speculating as to who would succeed whom or who is superior to whom as boxing fans. The following is the listing of the ten finest heavyweight boxing champions in history.

1. Muhammad Ali

He fought every other contender during the time when there were many popular champions in this arena. Simply the Greatest, he earned points as the first man in history to win the title three times. He became the first person to win the lineal heavyweight championship three times as a professional.

2. Jack Johnson

Nicknamed the “Galveston Giant”, Johnson was an American boxer and arguably the best heavyweight boxer of his generation. Being the first black world heavyweight boxing champion (1908-1915), he was a defensive master. He could avoid blows with great ability and had great punching power.

3. Jack Dempsey

He transformed the sport with his superb fighting style. He is also popular for his granite jaw. An American boxer, he held the world heavyweight title from from 1919 to 1926.

4. Joe Louis

Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. Having the longest reign in heavyweight history, he also had an astonishing unbeaten record 25 title defenses. His championship reign extended for 140 consecutive months, during which he took part in 27 championship fights, including 25 successful title defenses – all records for the heavyweight division.

5. Rocky Marciano

Rocky Marciano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969), born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was the heavy weight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. He retired unbeaten! He has great punching power and endless stamina.

These top 10 greatest boxers of all time are chosen not only because of their household names but also because of their solid affirmation of their supremacy during the time of their reign as champions.

1. Sugar Ray Robinson; 179 W, 19 L, 6 D, 2 NC, 109 KO

Born Walker Smith Jr., May 3, 1921 – April 12, 1989 made his professional debut on October 4, 1940. Sugar Ray Robinson is admittedly the hands down choice of of greatest boxer of all time and to this date, no one comes close of surpassing or even equaling his achievement as a boxer.

2. Muhhamed Ali; 56 W, 5 L, 37 KO

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He had an unorthodox style for a heavyweight boxer relying on foot speed and quickness to avoid punches and carried his hands low.  Muhammad will come down in boxing history as one of the greatest human being that has fought in the square canvas.

3. Henry Armstrong; 150 W, 21 L, 101 KO

Henry Jackson Jr., born December 12, 1912 was the only boxer to hold three world championships at the same time. These titles included the Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight crowns. He also defended the Welterweight championship more times than any other fighter.

4. Julio Cesar Chavez; 104 W, 5 L, 2 D, 80 KO

Julio Cesar Chavez was born on July 12, 1962 in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. He is the ultimate Mexican champion of all time. He began boxing as an amateur at the age of sixteen and had demolished practically all the top fighters during his time. He went on to fight for 13 years with a unblemished record.

5. Joe Louis; 68 W, 3 L, 54 KO

Joseph Louis Barrow  born May 13, 1914–April 12, 1981 nicknamed the Brown Bomber, he is considered to be one of the greatest in boxing history. Among his numerous victories Louis coined two of boxing’s most famous quotes: “He can run, but he can’t hide” and “Everyone has a plan until they’ve been hit.”