Ranking the 10 Most Exciting Fighters in Boxing Today

Heading into his October 18 fight with Marco Antonio Rubio, WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin is riding a 17-fight knockout streak. After his Round 3 knockout of Daniel Geale in his last fight, GGG told HBO's Max Kellerman that his style of fighting was "a Mexican style."

It was a smart choice of phrasing for the Kazakhstan native. Because for North American fans, Mexican style is immediately recognizable as a synonym for exciting.

As a fan of the Sweet Science, I have a deep appreciation for defensive fighters. I like to watch a guy who can avoid getting hit.

But the fighters who put it on the line and go to war sell the most tickets for a reason. That's the kind of spectacle that resonates with what UFC color commentator Joe Rogan frequently calls our "Chimapanzee DNA."

Prizefighting is full of fighters who do that. Right now, I'd rate the following 10 as the best.  

10. Brandon Rios

Brandon Rios might not be the most talented boxer in the sport, but his heart and durability have made him a star. Fans know that when his name is on the placard, an exciting fight is almost guaranteed.

I watched Rios fight John Murray from the auxiliary press section at Madison Square Garden in 2011. It was an action-packed brawl, and Rios' enjoyment could be read on his face, even from a couple hundred feet away.

Similarly, when I've interviewed him by phone, his passion for fighting is obvious in his tone of voice, even when he's talking about other people's fights. I got the impression that if he wasn't a professional boxer, he'd still be a huge fan, arguing back and forth on the Internet.

Athletes who are also fans often make the most exciting performers. They seem to have a special understanding of how great it is to be able to do what they do.

9. Saul Alvarez

Against the right opponent, Saul Alvarez fights are action-packed and exciting. Like so many other great Mexican ring warriors, Canelo prides himself on standing in the pocket and trading.

But Alvarez's desire to fight the top stars in the world has led to some less-than-thrilling matchups. His fights against Austin Trout, Floyd Mayweather and Erislandy Lara all fell short of Fight of the Year.

Still, no matter who Canelo is fighting, the excitement around the event is electric. And his willingness to go after the other big names means he should be in some thrillers in the next few years.

With boxing's niche status in contemporary sports, just the fact that a young star like Alvarez is emerging on the scene is exciting.

8. Leo Santa Cruz

Undefeated IBF super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz has the potential to become a breakout star in the sport. He's already been featured prominently on the undercard for Golden Boy pay-per-views.

While Santa Cruz is not a knockout artist like some on this list, he does pack respectable power. But it's Santa Cruz's relentless pace that makes him a crowd-pleaser.

Santa Cruz is a pressure fighter who has good head movement and almost always finishes his combinations with his hands in tight defensive position. His fights are wars of attrition, generally exciting from the opening bell for as long as they last.

There are two great potential matchups for Santa Cruz at 122 pounds, with fellow unbeaten champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Carl Frampton. Hopefully Golden Boy and Showtime can make them happen.

7. Takashi Uchiyama

There's a chance I'm selling Takashi Uchiyama short by ranking him this low here. When your primary exposure to a fighter is Youtube instead of live-time fights, it can be tough to get a full appreciation for how exciting he is.

Either way, there's no doubt that Uchiyama is a thriller. The WBA super featherweight champion is 21-0 with 17 KOs. He attacks with relentless fury.

Among his stoppage victims are Jorge Solis and Bryan Vazquez. In a perfect world, Uchiyama would face fellow unbeaten super featherweight champ Mikey Garcia.

I'd love to see Top Rank build a card around that fight in Macau.

6. Marcos Maidana

Marcos Maidana showed just how exciting he was as a fighter last May when he made his first fight against Floyd Mayweather the pound-for-pound king's most action-packed bout in years. In the first half of the fight, especially, Maidana attacked at a relentless pace.

Maidana has always created exciting fights. But his work with trainer Robert Garcia has allowed him to develop the wrinkles necessary to force slick boxers into his kind of brawl.

Mayweather was able to make adjustments and win a far less exciting rematch last September. But the two-fight series has showcased the potential Maidana has for making some of the best fights in a very competitive division.  

5. Keith Thurman

Undefeated welterweight contender Keith Thurman's one-punch power is exciting in and of itself. They call him "One Time" for a reason, and the sudden KO has always been the most exciting moment in professional sports.

But the excitement around Thurman is multiplied by his potential to become a major superstar in the sport. Thurman can hit like a truck, but he also has the sort of technical skills and tactical intelligence that could make him one of the sport's big names over the next decade.

Prizefighting has always been driven by individual personalities. The greatest chapters in the sport's history have been written by charismatic fighters with transcendent talent.

It's always exciting when it looks like that could be about to happen again.

4. Lucas Matthysse

Lucas Matthysse's KO of John Molina remains in the lead for 2014's Fight of the Year as we approach the home stretch. This is no surprise. Matthysse is the kind of fighter fans expect to see in a potential Fight of the Year every time he enters the ring.

Matthysse is 36-3 with 34 KOs. He's knocked down virtually every fighter he's faced, including two of the three men who have beaten him.

As Matthysse showed against Molina, he does not hesitate to put himself into a position to be hit. As he also showed, he can quickly recover and continue with his relentless assault.

3. Sergey Kovalev

In November, undefeated WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev will face the legendary Bernard Hopkins in a unification bout, as The Alien puts his own IBF and WBA belts on the line. The crafty, 49-year-old Hopkins will no doubt try to make the fight into an awkward, slow-paced affair.

But against Kovalev, that will be no easy task. The Russian is a relentless, physically powerful pressure fighter.

He is also a well-schooled boxer. His deep amateur experience make him a patient, savvy fighter.

That methodical approach almost emphasizes by contrast the sudden violence when this dangerous puncher explodes.

2. Roman Gonzalez

Roman Gonzalez is the classic case of a small fighter failing to get the respect he deserves. He is an undefeated, three-division world champion. He combines explosive athleticism with outstanding technical skills.

He's one of the most exciting fighters in the sport, without question, and yet many casual fans don't even know who he is. Even the hardcore must search him out on live streaming or on YouTube, after the fact.

Gonzalez is the greatest lower weight fighter since Ricardo Lopez. Since talent can only be denied for so long, he is slowly starting to garner some of the respect he deserves. His name now appears in any credible pound-for-pound top 10.  

Still, he's way overdue for a featured fight on Showtime or HBO.

1. Gennady Golovkin

Since making his U.S. debut in September 2012, Gennady Golovkin has quickly developed into the hottest fighter in North America. Riding a 17-fight KO streak, GGG has demolished former world champions and top contenders in unprecedented fashion.

Golovkin was a silver medalist in the 2004 Olympics, so he has solid boxing skills. But it's his stunning power that makes him so special.

Outside of the ring, Golovkin is soft-spoken and quick to smile. Inside the ropes, he's an assassin. He stalks opponents relentlessly, moving from one good offensive position to the next.

Against former champ Daniel Geale earlier this year, Golovkin delivered the knockout blow even as he absorbed a flush, hard shot from Geale.

Expect Golovkin's October 18 bout with tough Mexican Marco Antonio Rubio to be an exciting, highly entertaining fight. But don't expect it to end any differently than GGG's last 17 bouts.