Ranking the Young Boxers Most Likely to Become Pay-Per-View Stars

As kingpins Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao head into the sunset of their illustrious boxing careers, fight fans and media members are probably starting to wonder where the next big pay-per-view (PPV) stars will come from.

It’s one thing to be a good fighter. It’s quite another to sell it to the masses as a PPV attraction. Consider Bernard Hopkins, one of the true all-time great pugilists, but he never came close to becoming a PPV stalwart.

To become a PPV star, a fighter must be equal parts successful, stylish and supported.

Success is determined by wins and losses. Does the fighter win? Does he beat other good fighters?

Style, on the other hand, is important both inside and outside the ring. Is the fighter flamboyant or interesting outside of the ring? Does he fight with a pleasing style inside of it?

Finally, a fighter’s support can be determined by many different factors. Some cultures, for example Mexican and Irish, tend to support their fighters better than other ones. Additionally, the heavier the division he fights in, the better. Mainstream fight fans flock to the larger weight classes. They just can’t help themselves.

With all that in mind, here are the five young fighters most likely to become PPV stars.

5. Tyson Fury, Age 24

Undefeated Irish-English heavyweight Tyson Fury doesn’t seem to possess the talent to be on this list. Sure, he’s a giant of a man. He stands 6’9” tall and weighs 260 pounds. But he fights in an awkward style that leaves him open to the chin, and he crumbles to the ground whenever he’s hit there.

But he always gets up, this Tyson Fury. And he always wins too.

Fury has already defeated notable heavyweights Dereck Chisora and Steve Cunningham. A win over David Haye this September would catapult the loudmouthed braggart to the top of the division, right behind the unparalleled but unloved Klitschko brothers.

Fury’s young enough and fights in a fun enough style to take some losses on his ledger so long as he finds interesting enough heavyweights to stand there and trade with him. If that happens, and heavyweight boxing glory returns, expect Fury to land right in the middle of the heavyweights PPV bonanza.

4. Leo Santa Cruz, Age 24

Bright-eyed Leo Santa Cruz is something of an anomaly. His diminutive stature should keep him off this list, at least for the time being, but something about the kid just draws people into wanting to both see and support him.

Santa Cruz is basically adored by both the hardcore fight fans and the usually curmudgeonly boxing media. So much so, in fact, that whenever the super bantamweight is scheduled for a fight, Christmas songs spring forth joyously as if it were already December, except that “Santa Claus” is replaced with “Santa Cruz.”

Santa Cruz, who was born in Mexico, is lauded for his aggressive style, and he fights at such a vigorous pace that it seems as though almost anyone who sees him lace up the gloves will be interested in seeing him fight.  

So here comes Santa Cruz, here comes Santa Cruz, right down Santa Cruz…errr...Sorry.

3. Deontay Wilder, Age 27

Old man Wilder is on this list for one reason: Americans love heavyweights. Actually, it’s probably more correct to say that Americans love American heavyweights, especially bold and brash ones who knock people out. Such is the case of Deontay Wilder, who has defeated everyone of the 28 men he’s faced as a professional by knockout.

Wilder is fun-loving and seems to love being in front of the camera. That should help him get a relatively apathetic American fan base behind him as much as possible, and being the last man from his country to medal in the Olympic Games has to help some too.

But nothing lends so much to his status as Wilder’s devastating power. The boxing world is absolutely craving a heavyweight to support with lead in his hands and fire in his heart, and Wilder just might be that man.

2. Adrien Broner, Age 24

The enigmatic Adrien Broner already considers himself a top earner in the sport. He must, the way he’s destroying and defacing his hard-earned money all the time. Still, for all his outside-the-ring antics (which honestly helps draw more attention to him), Broner’s good enough inside of it to already be hailed one of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the sport according to Ring Magazine.

Broner is well on his way to becoming the next Floyd Mayweather. He’s flashy, stylish and, like Floyd, is more talented than perhaps anyone he stands in against on fight night. Undefeated in 27 professional fights, Broner is already putting up big numbers on Showtime, and he should continue to head towards PPV stardom as his career progresses.

If he can keep his head on straight (which isn’t a given), Broner will do quite well for himself, assuming he doesn’t literally flush all his money down the toilet.

1. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Age 23

Alvarez has everything. He’s young and undefeated in an astounding 43 professional fights. He fights in an aggressive, crowd-pleasing manner, and his outside-the-ring charm has sparked an incredible amount of interest in him.

Alvarez hails from a Mexican culture that loves and supports their boxers better than probably any other on the planet. He helped pack over 40,000 into the Alamo Dome in April to see him defeat Austin Trout, and his September bout against Floyd Mayweather has already broken boxing’s live-gate record.  

Regardless the outcome of the Mayweather fight, Canelo Alvarez will be a PPV star for years to come. And if he wins…

Others on the Rise

Lightweight Omar Figueroa of Texas showed his stuff last month against Nihito Arakawa in what even those fancy Grantland writers are considering the Fight of the Year so far. Figueroa is 23 years old, fights with real passion and should continue to move up the ranks, provided he isn’t in too many more wars before he can cash it in.

Another Texan, 2012 Olympian Errol Spence, is far and wide considered the best prospect of a disappointing American men’s team that did not medal in London. Still, Spence is as good a prospect as America has right now, and insiders are expecting big things from the 23-year-old light middleweight.

Finally, be on the lookout for featherweight prospect Oscar Valdez. A decorated amateur from Mexico, the hard puncher is managed by Frank Espinoza, one of the more knowledgeable and successful fight game managers in the sport. Valdez fights like a bull and could be the next big thing in the sport of boxing.

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