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There are four categories in boxing today. Prospect, contender, champion and then the elites. For the purpose of this list, we are focusing on just the prospects.
To be a top prospect, you have to have three redeeming qualities. Good amateur background, skills and potential star power.
Now, you don’t necessarily have to have any of those qualities to be a superstar, but some who did include Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Muhammad Ali, Miguel Cotto and the list could go on and on.
Here are the worlds top five prospects coming up in the boxing world today.
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Photo courtesy of Top Rank
5. Oscar Valdez
Oscar Valdez, a two time Mexican Olympian, has a record of 12 wins and zero losses with 11 of his victories coming by way of knockout.
He is quickly becoming a regional star in the southwest for his promoter, Top Rank, selling out local venues in Phoenix, Tijuana and Hermosillo. Fighting in the featherweight division that has become loaded with notable names, Valdez is rising his stock up with a fan friendly style.
He is consistently getting bigger and better after every fight. Already a fixture on UniMas’ Solo Boxeo broadcasts and having Top Rank and manager Frank Espinoza guiding him up the ranks the smart way, I envision Valdez making noise in his division within the next two years.
Photo by Esther Lin/Showtime
4. Errol Spence Jr
Errol Spence Jr., a former USA Olympian who showed the most promise out of all the Olympians coming back from London, is a undefeated fighter that has 14 wins and zero losses, with 11 of his wins coming by way of knockout.
He fights in the welterweight division and is pretty tall, reaching 5’10” in height, much taller than the bigger names fighting at 147. By all accounts, Spence Jr. is a humble fighter, showing similarities with Sugar Ray Leonard, just without the gold medal around his neck.
He is managed by the powerful Al Haymon and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. He has been showcased on Fox Sports 1 boxing cards and has shown off his power in both hands, a quality that has garnered much attention from boxing fans already.
I do wish he could be more personable with the media and get his name out there among the not-so-hardcore fans, but so far, he has shown the most promise from any American prospect today. Look for him to be on Showtime sometime in 2015.
Photo by Frank Coppi
3. Anthony Joshua
Olympic gold medalist, Anthony Joshua holds a unblemished record so far in his young career, going nine fights without going past the third round. He has 9 wins and all are by knockout.
Already a hot name in the UK, Joshua is signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. Joshua shows qualities that remind you of another English gold medalist, Lennox Lewis.
To be compared with a heavyweight great is a great way to start a young career. Already sparring with the division’s best, Wladimir Klitchsko, Joshua has been on a fast track to stardom. Boasting a record that holds decent opposition on his KO list, Joshua has proven he isn’t afraid of stepping up in competition.
Already a celebrity in England, the fighter has been linked romantically with different UK models in many English publications. No matter the reasons, any press is good press.
With his skills being finely tuned fight after fight, I can’t wait to see Joshua in the ring with a quality contender, such as Tyson Fury or Manuel Charr.
Photo by RubenCortez/Top Rank
2. Gilberto Ramirez
Gilberto Ramirez is heralded as the best prospect to come out of Mexico since Saul Canelo Alvarez.
He boasts a record of 29 wins and zero losses. 23 of those wins are by KO. He is a co-promoted by Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions, the same duo that has handled Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez.
Ramirez has shown great promise in the ring, albeit not against the best competition. Hopefully, with Top Rank as his chief promoter, they will start matching him up against the upper echelon of the Super Middleweight division.
With the skills he has shown so far and a rise in competitive opposition coming up, now is the time for Ramirez to show why he is so hyped. We’ll see if he is worth it.
Photo by Peter Amador/Top Rank
1. Felix Verdejo
Topping our list is Felix Verdejo, the young, undefeated boxing sensation fighting out of the boxing crazed island of Puerto Rico.
He holds a perfect record of 15 wins with zero losses, 11 of his wins coming by KO. “El Diamante” is already a star on his home island and reminds everybody who has caught a glimpse of him of a young Miguel Cotto.
The baby faced Lightweight is promoted by Top Rank Promotions and has already carved out boxing home bases in San Juan along with Southern Florida and has done well fighting in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Cotto’s under card.
He has the intangibles to be a star, with his boyish charm and in the ring savvy, Verdejo is the new PR King in waiting.
Expect him to step up in competition in 2015 and become a staple on HBO under cards.
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