By Gav Duthie: At one point earlier this year the UK celebrated having 14 world champions at the same time making it arguably the best boxing country pound for pound. Within the last month 3 have fallen in Anthony Crolla (To Jorge Linares), Liam Smith who lost to Canelo and Tyson Fury who relinquished his WBA and WBO titles due to depression and allegations of drug taking, both performance enhancing and recreational. Recently one of the UK’s best in Carl Frampton said that although the number of champions were great he didn’t feel they were all true champions. This piece discusses the 11 world champions who remain and how long they might be champions for.
Anthony Joshua 17-0 (17)
AJ is the current IBF champion but its possible that the WBA and WBO titles could be on the line if he faces Wladimir Klitschko on December 10. Whether he wins or not depends on at what stage of his career you feel The 40 year old Wlad is now. For me Wlad was confused against Fury after finally facing someone taller, with a longer reach and he couldn’t dictate the pace. Joshua will come to fight and be easier to hit. I don’t think Wlad is finished just yet so I pick him to knock Joshua out. If the fight doesn’t come off he will likely defend against someone like Bermaine Stiverne and keep his title a bit longer.
Joshua title reign ends: December 2016 to Klitschko (If they fight)
Tony ‘Bomber’ Bellew 28-2-1 (18)
Bellew impressively defended his WBC cruiserweight title against the experienced BJ Flores and immediately went after David Haye post fight. His title wouldn’t be on the line if he fought Haye as there is no way David would come back down to the 200lb limit having weighed 225lbs for his comeback fights this year. Bellew has dangerous fights looming at Cruiser with Mairis Breidis as his mandatory challenger and Grigory Drozd (arguably best Cruiser in the world) as WBC champion in recess. All 3 fights are very dangerous but obviously a fight with Haye would make him lots more money. Hearn says it could happen in March so win or lose Bellew probably won’t face Breidis or Drozd until next summer.
Bellew title reign ends: Summer 2017 to Mairis Breidis
Nathan ‘Clev’ Cleverly 30-3 (16)
Bellew’s old nemesis Cleverly won his second world title when WBA champ Jurgen Braehmer quit with an elbow injury after round 6. The German was ahead on the cards at the time and a clause for an immediate rematch is set to be triggered. The fight was 5 years in the making and didn’t disappoint with see-saw action throughout. Despite it being close I think Braehmer at 38 years old now was struggling with the pace. He has been a fantastic boxer but I fancy Cleverly to win again. His next defence could be against Joe Smith Jnr (if he beats Bernard Hopkins), a rematch with Andrej Fonfara or even Artur Beterbiev. Cleverly struggles to win those.
Cleverly title reign ends: End of 2017 v Beterbiev
James ‘Chunky’ Degale 23-1 (14)
One of the UK’s best pound for pound fighters but not always marketable. Chunky also seems to go through spells of being highly active then highly inactive. The only bout that makes him big money at present is a rematch with George Groves but that isn’t viable right now. A unification contest against Badou Jack has been mentioned but never cemented. I feel Degale is the best 168lb fighter even against the other champions Jack and Gilberto Ramirez. He could be champion for a while.
DeGale title reign ends: Not in foreseeable future
Billy Joe Saunders 23-0 (12)
Saunders is a classy performer but can graft also. He is a very underrated UK fighter and after injury he makes the first defence of his WBO Middleweight title against Artur Akavov. Akavov has little experience so this should be an easy win. The WBO rankings are suspect as is often the case with 1. Avtandil Khurtsidze, 2. Tommy Langford. David Lemieux is at number 4 is the best but seeing as both Saunders and Langford are promoted by Warren that could be next. There is a possibility that Billy may get a big fight against Canelo, if he relinquishes the WBO belt at the weight below, or a unification bout against Gennady Golovkin. To be honest I don’t see those fights happening too soon.
Saunders title reign ends: 2018 unless he fights Canelo before
Kell ‘Special K’ Brook 36-1 (25)
It looks as though Special K might give up his title rather than fight mandatory IBF challenger Errol Spence Jnr. Brook v Spence would be a great fight but it will be very difficult for Brook to drop the 13lbs of muscle he gained to fight GGG. He has hinted that he may fight next in the Super Welterweight division but he hasn’t given up his title just yet. Whether he gives it up or not he is under serious threat of losing it because Spence is fantastic. I hope Brook stays at 147 but its too hard to tell at this stage.
Brooks title reign ends: Unknown
Ricky ‘The Rickster’ Burns 41-5-1 (14)
The UK’s only current 3 weight world champion has just successfully defended his title against dangerous mandatory Kyrill Relikh. Getting his mandatory out of the way has paved the way for a fight with Adrien Broner. This fight has been talked about for 5 years as they were simultaneously champions at super featherweight and lightweight. Now Burns has what Broner wants so it should happen. Even if this fight doesn’t happen, at 33 years old and bankrupt only last year Burns is only looking at big fights now so if not Broner look at the likes of Matthyse, Provodnikov, Molina Jnr or a rematch with Terrence Crawford or Omar Figueroa.
Burns title reign ends: Early 2017 to Adrien Broner
Terry ‘Turbo’ Flanagan 31-0 (12)
I believe Flanagan to be one of the genuine world title holders the UK has. He is arguably Britain’s best lightweight despite not having the exposure of being with Matchroom boxing. His title win over Jose Zepeda was controversial but he has comfortably defended it since against Diego Magdaleno, Derry Matthews and former champion Mzonke Fana. However the rankings in the WBO have some quality bloodthirsty challengers like Sherif Bogere, Jose Felix Jnr and the most dangerous of all mandatory challenger Felix Verdejo. Some think Verdejo is good enough to dominate the division in the future so Flanagan has his work cut out for him. He has also been linked with ex-champ Juan Diaz and is expected to return in November against an unnamed opponent as of yet.
Flanagan title reign ends: Not in foreseeable future
Lee ‘Lightning’ Selby 23-1 (8)
After Joe Calzaghe Welsh boxers have had a tough time promoting themselves including world champions Nathan Cleverly and Lee Selby. As a result Lee’s next defence will likely be in America against the dangerous Jonathon Victor Barros. I expect Lee to come through that one. Hearn wants to organise a contest with Leeds based Josh Warrington which would be a great fight with Lee’s silky skills against Josh’s workrate and stamina. If the money is there he would also be looking to unify against Carl Frampton.
Selby title reign ends: Not in foreseeable future
Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton 23-0 (14)
Britain’s pound for pound best? Wins over elite fighters Scott Quigg and Leo Santa Cruz and a strong following have made him a superstar. After those wins its hard to see Frampton making umpteen defences against average mandatories, he will demand big fights. With Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters fighting at Super featherweight I don’t see anyone else beating Frampton in his current weight class. I keep saying it I would love him to fight Rigondeaux but it seems unlikely.
Frampton title reign ends: Not in foreseeable future
Jamie McDonnell 28-2-1 (13)
I keep tipping this guy to lose and it never happens. It goes back to a fight I thought he won controversially against domestic level fighter Ian Napa. Since then though McDonnell has been superb. He freely admits little interest in boxing but he trains hard, has amazing stamina and always has a height and reach advantage over his opponents at bantamweight. He has a seemingly routine defence in November against Liborio Solis to look forward to but a rematch with Lee Haskins or a move up to Scott Quigg needs to be a priority.
McDonnell title reign ends: Not in foreseeable future