British Pound-for-Pound Rankings After the 1st Quarter of 2015
With March now done and dusted, it seems as good a time as any to take stock of the boxing year so far.
The British Isles boxing scene is blossoming, and there is even further cause for optimism when looking ahead to the coming months.
Considering the deep pool of talented fighters, we thought it would be interesting to try to pick our top 10 Brits across all the weight divisions.
Producing pound-for-pound rankings is never easy, and it must be remembered this is all a matter of opinion.
The idea here is to open it up for you to have your say in the comments section.
Give us your list of fighters, and feel free to suggest who you think might gatecrash their way into it in the near future.
Every quarter of the way through the year we will revisit the rankings, looking at whose stock is on the rise and who is falling back in the other direction.
Basically, consider it the boxing equivalent to the Top 40 music charts.
Selection Criteria
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Before you read on, here is a little explanation behind the thought that went into the selection process.
As this is the starting point for the rankings, history has been taken into account. For example, Carl Froch has been inactive for some time, but that should not overshadow what he has achieved in his career.
All fighters from the British Isles qualify.
World champions, for the most part, deserve greater recognition for their achievements (but should not necessarily be prioritised).
A fighter is not automatically punished for a recent defeat. Depending on the circumstances, a loss against a top-class opponent can be more valuable than an easy night's work against an overmatched opponent.
Remember, there is no right or wrong answer.
BoxRec uses a points system to work out whom it rates as the best. The method used here, however, is nowhere near as technical.
Take the above criteria into consideration before you comment. Perhaps, rather than criticise, choose to argue your case.
Honourable Mentions
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So this is to those who did not quite make the final cut this time around.
In no particular order: Paul Butler, Lee Selby, Martin Murray and George Groves all offer strong cases but did not quite make it in.
Then there were Andy Lee, Derry Mathews and Anthony Crolla to consider, not to mention Callum and Paul Smith. The list goes on and on of fighters who will feel they merit a place.
Meanwhile, young, up-and-coming fighters such as Anthony Joshua, Frankie Gavin, Kid Galahad, Luke Campbell and Billy Joe Saunders will all surely fight their way into the top 10 in the future.
Right now, with the apologies finished with, it is time to begin the countdown.
10. Tony Bellew
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Career record: 23-2-1 (14 KO)
Since winning the long-awaited rematch against rival Nathan Cleverly last November, Tony Bellew has been a busy man out of the ring.
The Liverpudlian has just finished filming a Rocky spin-off movie in Hollywood, telling Phil D Jay of World Boxing News: “I don’t see me acting for a living to be honest, no. I’m not in a position to say no to it all, but for now it’s just fighting for me.”
He has had two failed attempts to win a world title previously, both at light heavyweight.
Now more comfortable after moving to cruiserweight, Bellew will be bidding to make it third-time lucky when he gets another crack at a major belt.
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9. Kevin Mitchell
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Record: 39-2 (29 KO)
Kevin Mitchell has threatened to become a world champion for a long, long time. On May 30, he could finally fulfill his potential and climb to the top.
The Hammer will have home advantage in London when he faces reigning WBC lightweight titleholder Jorge Linares at The O2 Arena.
It is rich reward for Mitchell after he had to rebuild his career following the defeat to Ricky Burns back in 2012 when the WBO strap was on the line.
Since being stopped inside four rounds by the Scot, the 30-year-old has won six successive fights. His most recent success came at the end of January, as he dismantled Mexican Daniel Estrada.
8. Tyson Fury
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Record: 24-0 (18 KO)
Whatever your opinion of Tyson Fury, it is difficult to deny that the heavyweight deserves a crack at a world title very soon.
The 26-year-old is the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko’s WBO belt, though the Ukrainian is booked to face Bryant Jennings next.
Fury, per ESPN.co.uk, has suggested he might be willing to take another fight in the near future while he waits for his opportunity at Klitschko.
He last fought in February, seeing off German Christian Hammer to move to 24-0 as a professional.
7. James DeGale
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Record: 20-1 (14 KO)
James DeGale will get the chance to make history when he takes on Andre Dirrell for the IBF super middleweight belt on May 23.
If he is victorious on American soil, the Londoner will become the first Olympic gold medalist for Great Britain to go on and win a world title.
Promoter Eddie Hearn lost the purse bid to host the bout in England, though DeGale told Martin Domin of the Daily Mail that travelling to the United States is not an issue for him: “I would have liked to have boxed for a world title in my home city but it is what it is.”
Chunky won three times in 2014 to move into the mandatory position.
However, Carl Froch opted to relinquish the title rather than face his compatriot, meaning DeGale faces Dirrell for the vacant belt.
6. Jamie McDonnell
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Record: 25-2-1 (12 KO)
May will be a big month for WBA champion Jamie McDonnell, as he faces Tomoki Kameda in a unification fight.
The Doncaster bantamweight takes on the unbeaten Japanese boxer, who currently holds the WBO title, on American soil at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.
McDonnell—who was stripped of the IBF belt two years ago—has won 17 straight bouts since being beaten by Lee Haskins back in 2008.
He will want to keep extending that streak, even if it is just to maintain bragging rights in the family—twin brother Gavin is currently climbing the world rankings in the super bantamweight division.
5. Scott Quigg
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Record: 30-0-2 (22 KO)
It has been a frustrating 2015 so far for WBA super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg.
The 26-year-old underwent surgery at the end of last year on a hand injury he suffered in his points victory over Hidenori Otake.
Expect the Bury boxer to be desperate to make up for lost time when he eventually makes his return to action in the coming months.
Whether that comeback is against Carl Frampton, however, remains to be seen. Quigg was a very interested spectator at ringside when his longtime rival defeated Chris Avalos in February.
4. Carl Frampton
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Record: 20-0 (14 KO)
Carl Frampton just seems to be getting better and better with every fight.
The IBF super bantamweight champion successfully defended the belt for the first time in February, stopping Chris Avalos in front of a raucous crowd at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
A showdown with Scott Quigg has long been talked about but has yet to materialise, and the Englishman suggested on Twitter that a deal for a showdown on June 20 is no certainty.
Still, Frampton is not short of options. He did his popularity no harm by having his last bout shown on free-to-air television, impressing all who watched him on ITV with his performance against Avalos.
3. Amir Khan
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Record: 30-3 (19 KO)
The boxing world is waiting to find out the identity of Amir Khan’s next opponent.
BBC Sport reported the 28-year-old could be set to take on Adrien Broner in May. Judging from Khan's recent Twitter activity, it certainly won’t be fellow Brit Kell Brook.
Whichever fighter he faces next, Khan will be eager to follow up his impressive display against Devon Alexander at the end of 2014. He dominated the American, winning by a landslide on the scorecards.
He has won four on the spin since being stopped by Danny Garcia in 2012.
2. Kell Brook
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Record: 34-0 (23 KO)
Kell Brook retained his IBF welterweight title with a four-round demolition job on Jo Jo Dan on March 28—in the process stretching his unbeaten professional record.
It was a welcome return for the Yorkshireman, who had seen his plans for a first defence in his home city of Sheffield, England, held up by a serious leg injury from a stabbing incident in Spain.
Victory at the Motorpoint Arena proved he is back to full fitness—now he is taking aim at some of the biggest names in a star-studded division.
Judging from his post-fight interview, Amir Khan seems to top a list that also includes Brandon Rios, Juan Manuel Marquez and Keith Thurman.
1. Carl Froch
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Record: 33-2 (24 KO)
It may have been awhile now since The Cobra was last in action, but to kick off these rankings it only seems right for Carl Froch to be in the top spot.
The 37-year-old has not fought since emphatically knocking out George Groves in a rematch that was played out in front of a full house at Wembley last May.
Since then he has opted to give up the IBF super middleweight title rather than defend it against another domestic rival, James DeGale. He is, though, still the WBA champion.
It remains to be seen what Froch’s long-term plans are. A potential return has been delayed by injury—have we possibly seen him fight for the last time?
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