The Super Middleweight scene remains an exciting one for fight fans, with plenty of young blood rising through the ranks. Let’s check out the landscape, what’s been going on recently, and what fans have to look forward to in the near future.
Super Middleweight Scene Overview
Champions: James DeGale, IBF (23-1, 14 KO), Badou Jack, WBC (20-1-2, 12 KO), Gilberto Ramirez, WBO (34-0, 24 KO), Felix Sturm, WBA (40-5-3, 18 KO)
Game-Changing Fights: James DeGale vs Andre Dirrell, UD 12 (May 2015), Gilberto Ramirez vs Arthur Abraham, UD 12 (April 2016). OK, these outcomes haven’t transformed the landscape per se, but DeGale and Ramirez’s arrival on the world scene is certainly refreshing.
Best Fights: James DeGale vs Rogelio Medina, UD 12 (April 2016), James DeGale vs Lucian Bute, UD 12 (Nov 2015), Badou Jack vs George Groves, SD 12 (Sept 2015)
Biggest Upset: Felix Sturm vs Fedor Chudinov II, MD 12 (Feb 2016), Badou Jack vs Lucian Bute, Draw (April 2016). These meetings seem to have riled a fair bunch of fight fans; for what it’s worth, BB also saw Sturm vs Chudinov a Draw, and had Jack vs Bute 115-113 for Jack.
KO King: Callum Smith (19-0, 14 KO). This rising contender has been doing plenty of damage on the UK and European scene, and, in style. Smith’s most recent outings include 1st round TKOs of then-unbeaten Rocky Fielding (Nov 2015) and Hadillah Mohoumadi (April 2016) to lift the European title.
Best Boxers: No fighter seems to be head and shoulders above the rest right now (in the Top 10), but the slick, naturally-gifted James DeGale and sharp-shooting Anthony Dirrell are in the top-drawer category.
Division Top 10: (See Boxing Base’s 168-Pound World Top 10)
Noteworthy Top 10 Outsiders: Martin Murray (33-3-1, 16 KO), Lucian Bute (32-3-1, 25 KO), Giovanni De Carolis (24-6, 12 KO), Schiller Hyppolite (20-1, 13 KO), Matt Korobov (25-1, 14 KO), Dilmurod Satybaldiev (10-1, 2 KO), Patrick Nielsen (28-1, 14 KO), Zac Dunn (21-0, 17 KO), Juergen Doberstein (20-2-1, 6 KO), J’Leon Love (22-1, 12 KO)
Best Prospect: Callum Smith. He’s 6’ 3”, carries a mean left hook, and looks more devastating with every performance under esteemed trainer Joe Gallagher.
Most Protected: Difficult to say, given most of the top players are about where they should be in their careers, such as new-blood-champions James DeGale, Badou Jack and Gilberto Ramirez.
Most Avoided: Jose Uzcategui (24-1, 20 KO). Well, you never hear his name being mentioned, anyway. The Venezuelan is a bona-fide puncher who wiped out rising prospect Julius Jackson inside 2 rounds last October, and, at just 25-years-old, is a dangerous, prime opponent for anyone.
Catch Premier Boxing Champion’s Jackson vs Uzcategui Highlights:
Big Upcoming Fights: James DeGale vs Badou Jack (TBA 2016), George Groves vs Martin Murray (June 25), Gilberto Ramirez vs Dominik Britsch (July 23)
Winner in Defeat: Frank Buglioni (18-2-1, 14 KO). The British contender was outclassed during his shutout defeat to Fedor Chudinov last September, but left it all in the ring. Buglioni didn’t do much damage on the scorecards, but went against the pre-fight script by going the distance.
Back With a Bang: Lucian Bute. The ex-champ is 2-2-1 since being throttled by Carl Froch in 2012, but has put in some very inspired performances, forcing a prime James DeGale to work hard for 12 rounds last November, and rallying back against Badou Jack in April to claim a Draw.
On the Way Down: Arthur Abraham (44-5, 29 KO). The ex-champ is still a solid figure at 168 pounds, but isn’t the formidable force he once was. Abraham eked out a razor-thin decision over Martin Murray last November, and was shutout by Gilberto Ramirez in April.
Is He the Real Deal?: J’Leon Love. The Mayweather-promoted prospect has been developing well, but came up against a major speed bump in Rogelio Medina in late 2014. Medina can be a nightmare opponent for anyone, granted, but who foresaw Love getting demolished in 3 rounds? Love has since rebuilt against some capable opposition, but will need a career-defining win to shake off his nay-sayers.
Will He Return?: Sakio Bika (32-7-3, 21 KO). The veteran former champ, who actually jumped up to 175 pounds to find Adonis Stevenson last April, is 2-1-2 in his last 5 fights and has now been out of the ring for thirteen months. Was this the Aussie’s last hurrah?
Dream Fights: There’s a fair few salivating affairs at Super Middleweight, but James DeGale vs Callum Smith, Gilberto Ramirez vs Anthony Dirrell would definitely be embraced with open arms.
Record Breaker: Gilberto Ramirez. The undefeated boxer-puncher became the first Mexican to lift a 168-pound title after shutting out Arthur Abraham in April.
Threats from Below: Gennady Golovkin (34-0, 31 KO), Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KO), Daniel Jacobs (31-1, 28 KO). These guys can bang. And Golovkin knocks down houses. Nuf’ said.
What’s your take on the current Super Middleweight scene? Agree with our overview on today’s landscape? Fire away in the comments below.
