By Ken Hissner: Following are a couple approaching Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr.’s 50-0 record and 15 with the best records today.
Former WBC World Heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, 42-2-1 with 41 knockouts from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
He lost his last two fights to current champ Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury, the last in October of 2021. This former Olympian Bronze Medalist is not scheduled at present, but I am sure, like most former world champions, he will be fighting before the year is out.
Speaking of Fury, he is 32-0-1 with 23 knockouts from Morecambe, Lancashire, UK, and I understand a place in Carson, Nevada. Fury has talked about retiring, but I’m sure he awaits the winner of Anthony “AJ” Joshua, 24-2 with 22 knockouts from the UK, and Oleksandr Usyk, 19-0 with 13 knockouts, who holds the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles from Ukraine scheduled for August 20th in Saudi Arabia. Others mentioned as possible opponents are Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce, 14-0 with 13 knockouts from Putney, London, UK.
Former WBO World Super Middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, 44-0 with 30 knockouts from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. He is now campaigning at light heavyweight though a match with fellow Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez would be accepted.
A possible match with Callum “Mundo” Smith, 28-1 with 20 knockouts from Liverpool, UK, is a possibility who hasn’t fought since last September, and his only loss is to Alvarez. A bout with WBA champ Dmitrii Bivol, 20-0 with 11 knockouts out of Indio, California, would undoubtedly be another bout Ramirez would like to get. Bivol, having stopped the winning streak of 15 plus a draw by Alvarez, was a big win for him.
Speaking of Alvarez, he is 57-2-2 with 39 knockouts from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He is scheduled on September 17th for a third fight with WBA and IBF World Middleweight champion Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin, 42-1-1 with 37 knockouts from KAZ and L.A., California. Both Alvarez and Golovkin are on the list of the 15.
Former WBO Light Middleweight champion Jaime Munguia, 40-0 with 32 knockouts, is from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He fought in June, stopping Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly, 26-2, weighing a career-high of 165 pounds. He’s been rumored to fight at 160 against any of the champions such as Charlo or Andrade.
WBC World Middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo, 32-0 with 22 knockouts from Houston, Texas. He never mentioned fighting Golovkin until the Alvarez fight was finalized. He also talks of moving up to 168. He hadn’t fought since June 2021, when he defeated Juan Macias Montiel, 22-4-2.
WBO World Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, 31-0 with 19 knockouts from Providence, Rhode Island. He last fought in November, stopping Jason Quigley, 19-1, with nothing scheduled. Andrade has been willing to fight GGG or Charlo and also Alvarez.
WBO World Welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford, 38-0 with 29 knockouts from Omaha, Nebraska, is negotiating with WBC, WBA, and IBF champion Errol “The Truth” Spence, 28-0 with 22 knockouts. Vergil Ortiz, Jr., 18-0 with 18 knockouts, and Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 29-0 with 27 knockouts are awaiting their turn, with both Crawford and Spence talking about moving up to super welterweight after their fight.
WBC World Super Bantamweight champion Rey Vargas, 35-0 with 22 knockouts from Otumba, Mexico. In his last bout in November, he defeated in a non-title bout Leonardo Baez, 21-4. He is scheduled this weekend to meet WBC World Featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, 24-0 with 16 knockouts from the Philippines, in San Antonio, Texas.
WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental Bantamweight champion Tasana “Petch CP Freshmart” Salapat, 66-1 with 49 knockouts from Roi-Et, Thailand. He just fought in a stay-busy fight against a debuting opponent. It’s been since April of 2021 since he fought anyone with a decent record in Chaiwat Buatkrathok, 33-3, stopping him in 4 rounds.
WBA World Super Flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, 51-3 with 41 knockouts from Managua, Nicaragua. In his last fight in March, he defeated Julio Cesar Martinez, 18-1, for the Diamond Super Flyweight title. He was coming off a loss to Juan Estrada, 42-3 with 28 knockouts, to whom he lost his WBA title.
WBO International Super Flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, 43-1-6 with 23 knockouts from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He is scheduled on July 13th to meet WBO World Super Flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka for his title. In December, in his last fight, he drew with Norbelto Jimenez, 30-9-5. In December of 2018, he drew with Ioka.
Former WBC Minimumweight champ Chayaphon Moonsri, 55-2 with 19 knockouts from Bangkok, Thailand. He’s coming off a no-contest stay busy fight with Jinnawat Rienpit, 6-6. Before that, he lost to Panya Pradabsri, 37-1. He is scheduled for July 20th against WBA Super World Mini champ Thammanoon Niyomtrong, 23-0.
Speaking of Pradabsri, 38-1 with 23 knockouts from Bangkok, Thailand. In March, he defeated Moonsri.