Up and Coming Boxers Who Will Be World Champions Someday

Up and Coming Boxers Who Will Be World Champions Someday

Check out all the upcoming boxers who are on their way in being the next Champions.

1. Luke Campbell

England’s Luke Campbell is the only boxer on this list to have already fought for a world title. And although he lost a split decision to WBA Champion Jorge Linares in September, he proved he’s one of the best lightweights in the world and is ready, willing and able for another title bout at anytime. The 30-year-old southpaw fought extremely well against Linares in California and his stock definitely rose due to his heart, boxing skills and punching power. 

2. Olexander Gvozdyk

It looks like it’s also just a matter of time before NABF and WBO NABO Light Heavyweight Champion Olexander Gvozdyk of Ukraine claims a world title. The 30-year-old won the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics before turning pro two years later. He fights out of Oxnard, California and has racked up a perfect record of 14-0 along with an 81 per cent knockout ratio and 12 Kos. 

3. Artur Beterbiev

Thirty-two-year-old Russian light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev should be the first boxer on this list to win a world title when he faces Enrico Koelling for the vacant IBF Crown on November 11th. Beterbiev is just 11-0 as a pro since 2013 with a 100 per cent knockout ratio.

4. Joseph Diaz

NABF Featherweight Champion Joseph Diaz is another former U.S. Olympian who competed at the 2012 Games in London, where he went 1-1 as a bantamweight. He’s also a former two-time National Bantamweight Champion and a former National Featherweight Champion. The 24-year-old southpaw turned pro in 2012 with a mark of 25-0 with 13 Kos since then. 

5. Felix Verdejo

Formerly ranked number one in the world by the WBO, Puerto Rico’s Felix Verdejo was all lined up for a title shot against WBO Champion Terry Flanagan, but had to pull out after a motorcycle accident. The 24-year-old has now slipped down the rankings to number six due to relative inactivity this year and is scheduled to return to the ring in January. 

6. Jose Carlos Ramirez

California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez represented the U.S. At the 2012 Olympics and went 2-1 after winning the Nationals two years earlier as a lightweight. Ramirez is also a former Jr. Golden Gloves National Champion and two-time Jr. Olympic National Champion. He turned pro in 2012 and has a perfect record of 20-0 along with 15 Kos in the super lightweight (junior welterweight) division.

7. Antonio Orozco

Before he becomes a world champion, Mexico’s Antonio Orozco needs to figure out what weight division he should be competing in. The 29-year-old failed to make the 140 lb junior welterweight (super lightweight) limit twice in the past year and had two fights canceled because of it.

8. Michael Conlan

Most fans believed Ireland’s Michael Conlan was robbed during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro where he was beaten in the bantamweight quarterfinals. Conlan then made the headlines by making rude hand gestures to the judges in the ring after the decision was announced, but most understood his feelings. 

9. Lamont Roach Jr.

Lamont Roach Jr is another young American with a lot of potential. The 22-year-old from Washington DC is 15-0 with 6 Kos since turning pro in 2014 while attending the University of Maryland. He’s promoted by Oscar De la Hoya’s Golden Boy company. Roach began boxing at the age of nine, had over 100 wins as an amateur and was a National Golden Gloves and U.S. National Champion in 2013 in the 132 lb division.

10. Shakur Stevenson

Although he’s just 3-0 with one KO since turning pro earlier this year, 20-year-old Shakur Stevenson of Newark, New Jersey seems destined to become a world champion. Stevenson won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil as a bantamweight after losing to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez and has now moved up to the 126 lb featherweight division as a pro.