Boxing is in incredibly good hands…scratch that. With promotional crossover becoming increasingly rare, boxing is actually in very unsteady hands. As the fight for eyes on the product becomes ever more stiff in a saturated media landscape, the most popular fights are rarely being made. Boxing does have one saving grace: explosive young talent. These young future stars all have explosive talent, and the ability to draw viewers back to the sport. Here are the top 10 boxers under 25:
- Teofimo Lopez
The easiest selection of the top 10. Teofimo is already located on almost every P4P list after having defeated one of the most revered names in modern day boxing. The question isn’t how good Teofimo is, it’s what is his next move? Will he vacate the titles at 135 and move up to 140 possibly fighting the winner or loser of the Taylor-Ramirez unification? Will he fight Devin Haney at 135 and challenge the “email champion” for his WBC title? Will he pursue a difficult-to-negotiate fight with Gervonta Davis? Time will tell, but for now Teofimo remains near the top of the boxing world.
2. Shakur Stevenson
Shakur claims #2 purely on speculation. Easily stripping Joet Gonzalez of his “0” was a notable feat, and in doing so he claimed the WBO Feather title, but Shakur’s resume still needs work. The skill set he displays is one that definitely demands recognition, and the big fights seem just around the corner, but for Shakur to truly claim a P4P number, he’ll have to step up sooner rather than later. The youth around seem to be rising fast and furious.
3. David Benavidez
Benavidez lost his #2 spot on this list the same way he lost his belt, through a lack of discipline. Although arguably one of the most accomplished fighters on the list, his cocaine problems, as well as his lack of ability to make weight contribute to his fall to #3. Should he put the pieces together, Benavidez could become one of the most feared fighters in boxing, but the question marks remain.
4. Vergil Ortiz Jr.
The monster of the list. Along with the other top young guns, the only thing Vergil Ortiz Jr is lacking is a name on his record. His previous opponents have been underwhelming and he’s never fought anyone with a “0”, but if I were to pick the most dominant boxer in the next five years from this list, it might be Vergil. He is a huge 147 and his power is undeniable. Hopefully a step up is in the near future.
5. Devin Haney
Devin Haney certainly picked the wrong time to underwhelm. Although technically he put in a solid performance against an aging and grabby Gamboa, he was following arguably the performance of the year in Teofimo Lopez, and the KO of the year in Gervonta Davis. Haney had the chance to add himself to the list of “must-watch” boxers but he failed to deliver on what some saw as a crucial night to prove himself.
6. Ryan Garcia
Number one on the p4p instagram list, KingRy is one of the most divisive boxers in the sport. Hated by many, the young social media phenom is still looking to prove himself in the world of pugilists. His power and speed seem to rank up there with the best, but with Luke Campbell testing positive for COVID, what many see as the first true test of Garcia will have to wait. Until then, we’ll just have to keep watching his TikToks.
7. Jaime Munguia
The most underwhelming champion on the list, Munguia has just never looked great. Ask yourself who is his best win? Tureano Johnson? Sadam Ali? Liam Smith? Munguia also gets tagged whenever he starts swinging. A champion? Sure. A legit contender for P4P in the future? Not so sure.
8. Jaron “Boots” Ennis
“Boots” is an enigma on this list. Seen by some as one of the most electrifying prospects in the sport, he really hasn’t fought anyone. He is 23, with a record of 26–0 with 24 KO, but until he sees a step up in competition, it is extremely hard to judge where he really falls in the list of upcoming stars. His next fight is against Thomas Dulorme, who has three wins in his last seven, so the step up isn’t coming in 2020.
9. Edgar Berlanga
Edgar Berlanga has 15 fights. He also has 15 first round knockouts. Although the level of competition hasn’t really been there, his most recent opponent had never been knocked out. At just 23 years old, Berlanga has a chance to really shake up a relatively empty 168 division. The power is undeniable. The potential is undeniable. The skillset is still in question.
10. Daniel Dubois
The only Brit on the list, the 23 year old pugilist from Greenwich has 14 KOS in his 15 contests. Another young gun lacking a big name, Dubois looks to really cement his position on the heavyweight stage when he faces Joe Joyce on Nov. 28. The sedate Joyce will have his deliberate hands full, and Dubois should take the victory, setting up his next fight against a top 10 heavy.
Just missed: Claressa Shields (age 25), Gervonta Davis (age 25), Erickson Lubin (age 25)