Under-the-Radar Boxers Whose Names Fans Should Know

In recent years, boxers from the old Soviet-Bloc nations have emerged as major players in the sport in Western Europe and North America. This list reflects that, as it is populated heavily by fighter from the former USSR.

But it's still very much an international list. Boxing is one of the biggest sport's worldwide, and despite its niche status most of the time in the United States, we still develop top stars here at home, as well.

Boxing careers are built up tough, one win at a time. Most guys ranked in the top-10 will fail to achieve world-title status.

When you start looking at guys outside the top 20, your projections are bound to be off at times. Still, I expect to see the majority of names on this list in relevant fights over the next couple of years.

Lightweight: Petr Petrov

Petr Petrov is a Russian fighter now living in Spain. His record is 35-4-2 with 17 KOs, and his only losses in the past five years came against light welterweight Marcos Maidana and undefeated Dejan Zlaticanin. 

Petrov established himself as a legitimate contender this past year when he won ESPN's Boxcino Championship tournament. His Round 8 TKO in the finals against of Fernando Carcamo was particularly impressive. Petrov has very good reach for a 5'6" fighter, and is able to fight well on both the outside and in tight. 

Petrov will fight Juan Carlos Burgos in January. It's a fight that will tell a lot about where Petrov stands as a true threat to the belt holders.

Welterweight: Luis Abregu

A lot of the reason why Argentine Luis Abregu is off-the-radar is due to the extremely competitive nature of the welterweight division. There is always a surplus of talent there. 

Still, Abregu is a clear world-class fighter and wouldn't look out of place in a bout with almost any top-10 fighter in the division. His only career loss came by decision against Timothy Bradley, in a fight where Abregu injured his hand. 

Abregu is a boxer-brawler with power. Abregu was brought in against undefeated, rising star Thomas Dulorme as an opponent in October 2012 and hammered him, knocking him down twice and stopping him in seven.

Abregu will get another shot at national exposure in the United States on November 8, when he faces unbeaten Sadam Ali on the Bernard Hopkins-Sergey Kovalev card. Maybe another big performance will finally start getting Abregu the fights he deserves.

Welterweight: Konstantin Ponomarev

Undefeated Russian Konstantin Ponomarev has yet to beat any notable fighters, but he has looked very good against tough journeymen and trial horses. At only 22 years of age, he already demonstrates strong ring generalship.

Ponomarev's last two fights have been in the United States, and I expect he will continue to establish his career here. According to a report in September by Yuri Tarantin on Boxing Scene, Ponomarev was scheduled to spend the fall in the Philippines, serving as a chief sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao in advance of his November 22 pay-per-view with Chris Algieri.

Ponomarev is set to return to action in December in Malta. But I predict he'll be fighting again in the U.S. early next year. He's still young and doesn't need to rush in too tough too soon, but he will be in big fights within the next few years. 

Junior Middleweight: Zaurbek Baysangurov

Zaurbek Baysangurov of Russia is the former WBO belt holder at light middleweight, but he withdrew from the fight that could have established him in the U.S. when he vacated his belt rather than defend it against Demetrius Andrade.

Still, I have to think he's going to make a push to put himself on the map in the U.S. at some point. That's where all the big fights are waiting at 154 pounds.

With a record of 29-1 and 21 KOs, Baysangurov is a boxer-puncher. He's a stalking fighter who cuts off the ring and looks to land big, overhand rights.

Baysangurov's only loss to date came back in 2008, when he was stopped by current IBF champion Cornelius Bundrage in a brawl. A rematch would be a very intriguing fight.

Middleweight: Willie Monroe Jr.

Willie Monroe Jr. is from a great boxing family. His father, Willie Monroe Sr., was a contender in the 1990s. His great-uncle, Willie "The Worm" Monroe, is the only fighter in history to record an uncontroversial win over the legendary Marvelous Marvin Hagler. 

Monroe Jr. took a major step in his career this year when he won the middleweight bracket in the ESPN Boxcino tournament. He cruised through with surprising ease, beating Donatas Bondorovas, Vitaliy Kopylenko and Brandon Adams by wide margins in all three fights. He handed Kopylenko and Adams their first losses. 

Monroe Jr. lacks some in the power department, but he is a slick boxer who nearly made the 2008 Olympic team. His only career loss came by split decision against super-journeyman Darnell Boone, a much larger fighter who also holds a win over current light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson and who knocked down Andre Ward.

Middleweight: Tony Harrison

At 24, undefeated middleweight Tony Harrison of Detroit is one of the last links to Emanuel Steward and the Kronk Gym tradition. Originally trained by the late, great boxing legend, Harrison looks very much like a Kronk-style fighter. 

He has the lanky frame and the powerful, straight right hand. Fifteen of his 18 professional wins have come by stoppage.

In his last two fights, Harrison stopped fading journeymen Bronco McKart and Grady Brewer. Those are both experienced fighter who represented potential stumbling blocks, but Harrison cleared them with elan.

It will be exciting to see Harrison pair off eventually with another rising contender. On paper and in his pedigree, he looks like he could be a special fighter.

Super Middleweight: Fedor Chudinov

The younger brother of WBA interim middleweight belt holder Dmitry Chudinov, Fedor Chudinov is an undefeated super middleweight who has stopped nine of his 11 opponents. Chudinov is a stocky, compact 168-pounder, but he has deceptively long reach.

Chudinov has an extensive amateur background and was a world champion as an amateur in the under-19 group. He definitely relies on his power and strength as a professional, but his ability to slip or catch punches and his timing as a counterpuncher demonstrate solid boxing craft. 

Super middleweight has been a weight class with few great fights in recent years. Chudinov has the chance to enter the mix.

Super Middleweight: Callum Smith

After Andre Ward, Carl Froch is the top fighter in the world in the super middleweight division. Younger Brits James DeGale and George Groves are also legit, top-10 fighters at 168. 

Liverpool native Callum Smith looks like he might be the next super middleweight contender to emerge from the UK. Now 14-0 with 11 KOs, he's due for a significant step up. 

The youngest of four brothers who fight professionally, Smith has a strong amateur background and solid physical tools. A lanky 6'3", he has serious punching power. 

I think he has a bit of a tendency to give up his height, and that's a bad habit he'll need to refine before he faces better competition. Nevertheless, he is clearly a prospect to watch at this point.

Light Heavyweight: Artur Beterbiev

Artur Beterbiev has fought the fewest fights of anybody on this list, yet he might be the closest to establishing himself as a true star. He's 6-0 with six knockouts and stopped former title-holder Tavoris Cloud in his last fight. 

Beterbiev has an outstanding amateur background. He is a two-time Olympian and won the amateur world championship in 2009. 

He's also picked an outstanding base to launch his career in North America by locating himself in Montreal, Quebec. Montreal is a great fight city with a history of providing fighters with a welcoming new hometown. 

Beterbiev frankly looks like he's from the same mold as Gennady Golovkin and Sergey Kovalev. He's got great boxing skills, but he mostly relies on intimidating opponents with his power and then walking them down.

Light Heavyweight: Umberto Savigne

Umberto Savigne is a former Cuban amateur standout who fought over 400 times before turning professional. Now based out of Miami, he should be poised to make himself a factor at light heayvweight. 

Savigne has a 13-1 record with 10 KOs. The fact that he was KO'd in his third fight has probably been a bigger setback for him than it should be. He is an extremely skilled boxer with dangerous power. 

His biggest wins to date are stoppages of previously unbeaten Jackson Junior and an over-the-hill Jeff Lacy. I feel like Savigne is sort of stuck at a spot right now where he is a legitimate threat to almost everybody, without having the name recognition to be worth the risk. 

But when he finally gets the right breaks, don't be surprised if Savigne moves up the rankings with a bullet. Unfortunately, at 35, he's no youth.