Ranking the Top 10 Boxers in the Middleweight Division

Boxing’s middleweight division, arguably the second-most-important weight class historically behind heavyweight, has a slew of interesting divisional matchups on the horizon. With superstars such as Miguel Cotto and Gennady Golovkin within its ranks, as well as knockout artist Andy Lee and up-and-coming phenom Daniel Jacobs, the 160-pound weight class has increasingly become a hotbed of intriguing boxing showdowns.

Bleacher Report offers one take on the fighters inhabiting the 160-pound division today: Boxing’s top 10 fighters at middleweight.

10. Chris Eubank Jr. (19-1, 14 KOs)

Why He’s Here: Son of former world champion Chris Eubank, British fighter Chris Eubank Jr. is an athletic middleweight with serious potential. The former reality-TV star suffered his one and only loss last year to Billy Joe Saunders. The fight was a nip-and-tuck slugfest between two solid undefeated fighters. Saunders edged Eubank Jr. on the scorecards in a fight that could have gone either way. Still, at just 25 years old, the best boxing of Eubank Jr’s career is ahead of him.

Last Fight: Eubank Jr. rebounded nicely from the Saunders loss by dominating and stopping Dmitry Chudinov in 12 rounds for an interim alphabet title belt. Eubank Jr. threw power shots in combination in the fight, something he’ll need to do more of as he progresses back up the ranks.  

Who He Should Fight Next: A rematch with Saunders would make a lot of sense, though Saunders already has a fight on the horizon. In the meantime, any notable name at middleweight would do for Eubank so that he can stay active and in the minds and hearts of boxing fans. 

9. Daniel Geale (31-4, 16 KOs)

Associated Press

Geale did his best but was overwhelmed by Cotto.

Why He’s Here: Australia’s best middleweight, Daniel Geale is a crafty, awkward and fast-handed former titleholder who is tough as nails. He holds notable wins over the likes of Felix Sturm, Anthony Mundine and Jarrod Fletcher but hasn’t been able to defeat good-to-elite 160-pounders like Gennady Golovkin and Miguel Cotto.

Last Fight: Geale was butchered by Cotto in just four rounds in his last fight. Was that the end of the road for the 34-year-old, or does Geale have more left in the tank?

Who He Should Fight Next: Geale’s a notable middleweight, something he should be able to use to land a bout against top-level competition. Another win, though, wouldn't hurt him in that endeavor so a rubber match with fellow countryman Mundine, who he defeated in 2013 but lost to in 2009, seems appropriate.

8. Billy Joe Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs)

Why He’s Here: Undefeated British middleweight Billy Joe Saunders was a decorated amateur for his home country. He participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as an 18-year-old and since launching his professional career a year later has become one of Great Britain’s best young prospects. His narrow win over archrival Eubank Jr. earned him a WBO title shot against Andy Lee. A win over Lee would vault Saunders’ young career to the next level.

Last Fight: Saunders took a stay-busy fight at cruiserweight against the unheralded Yoann Bloyer and knocked him out in four rounds. Taking any fight before a sure title shot, even against subpar competition, is a risk. That Saunders did it speaks to the confidence he and his team have in him as a fighter.

Who He Should Fight Next: Saunders is scheduled to face Andy Lee for Lee’s WBO middleweight title on October 10 in Manchester, England. The winner will be positioned nicely for another big fight. 

7. Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-2, 18 KOs)

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N'Dam used his reach to try to keep Lemieux at bay.

Why He’s Here: Hassan N’Dam is a good, tough boxer who is a solid counterpuncher with good timing, an iron chin and loads of spirit. He’s a former alphabet titleholder who has fought some of the best middleweights in the world. In 2013, N’Dam boxed the ears off of Curtis Stevens over 12 rounds to earn a title shot against David Lemieux for the vacant IBF title.

Last Fight: N’Dam was spilled to the canvas four times by Lemieux and lost a unanimous decision. But like any N’Dam fight, the 31-year-old French-Cameroonian fighter was in it until the end.

Who He Should Fight Next: N’Dam is a solid contender. His losses to Peter Quillin and Lemieux indicate he’s not quite elite but a steady middleweight slugger nonetheless who can hang in with anyone. N’Dam should fight someone like Martin Murray next. A win over a notable name could launch N’Dam right back into title contention.

6. Daniel Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs)

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Jacobs has a bright future.

Why He’s Here: Brooklyn’s Daniel Jacobs, age 28, has a heart-warming story. In May 2011, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. After doctors removed a tumor near his spine, doctors told Jacobs he’d never fight again. But a year and a half later, Jacobs was back in the ring, doing what he does best. Jacobs is a talented, athletic and possibly elite-level fighter. His victory over cancer should only embolden him going forward.  

Last Fight: Jacobs suffered a knockdown against light-hitter Sergio Mora but ultimately won via Round 2 stoppage when Mora’s knee buckled after Jacobs landed a glancing blow.

Who He Should Fight Next: According to ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael, Jacobs is “penciled in” to face fellow Brooklyn middleweight Peter Quillin on December 5. The middleweight contest could be one of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions series’ best matchups to date.

5. David Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs)

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Lemieux is the IBF world champion.

Why He’s Here: Lemieux, age 26, is one of Canada’s best fighters. He's a middleweight version of Jack Dempsey at times, a ruthless and aggressive stalker who bobs and weaves his way into throwing powerful hooks and uppercuts. But Lemieux has a pretty decent jab too. And his status as the IBF titleholder gives him instant credibility in a division bereft of many superstars.

Last Fight: Lemieux knocked N’Dam down four times en route to a unanimous-decision win. It was a good fight. N’Dam took punishment but kept on coming, something that tested Lemieux’s resolve. Lemieux passed the test with flying colors and will need even more resolve for his next fight.

Who He Should Fight Next: In one of the better scheduled fights of the year, Lemieux will face WBA champion Gennady Golovkin in a middleweight title unification bout. Golovkin-Lemieux is almost sure to end in a knockout and will be a fun middleweight brawl for however long it lasts.

4. Peter Quillin (31-0-1, 22 KOs)

Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Quillin is a good puncher with solid skills.

Why He’s Here: Brooklyn’s other notable middleweight, Quillin, is a former titleholder with excellent power and underrated boxing ability. Quillin doesn’t have the best set of tools. He’s a good athlete but not an incredible one the way some fighters are. But Quillin, nicknamed “Kid Chocolate” in homage to one of Cuba’s greatest all-time fighters, gets everything he can get out of his talent and is one of the better middleweights in the world because of it.

Last Fight: Quillin fought Irish southpaw Andy Lee to a draw in April in a close fight that could have gone either way. Quillin knocked Lee down in Rounds 1 and 3, but Lee rebounded nicely and took over the bout as the fight progressed, knocking Quillin down in Round 7. Quillin did not make the 160-pound weight limit for the fight, something that may mean he’s not long for the middleweight division.

Who He Should Fight Next: According to ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael, Quillin will face Jacobs on December 5 in Brooklyn in one of the best-matched middleweight fights of the year.

3. Andy Lee (34-2-1, 24 KOs)

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Lee is the WBO middleweight champion

Why He’s Here: Lee, a former protege of the late Emanuel Steward, is one of the most underrated fighters in boxing. Lee, who is now trained by Adam Booth, possesses maybe the single best punch in the sport: his patented right hook that has gotten him out of more jams then he can probably count. The Irishman is a solid, tough and resilient boxer. Lee’s tremendous Round 6 knockout over Matt Korobov earned him the WBO middleweight title he carries today.

Last Fight: Lee was down big against Quillin in April in front of the latter’s home crowd but fought back hard over the last part of the fight to earn a draw. 

Who He Should Fight Next: Lee, age 31, will put his WBO middleweight title on the line against Saunders on October 10 in Manchester. The bout was originally scheduled to be in Lee’s hometown of Limerick, Ireland, before it was postponed and moved to England, something that should give Lee a little extra motivation.  

2. Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs)

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Cotto is the lineal and WBC middleweight champion.

Why He’s Here: A four-division world titlist, Miguel Cotto has only fought twice at middleweight, but he’s looked spectacular in each case. He dominated and stopped longtime lineal champion Sergio Martinez last year in a brutally one-sided bout that might have been the best performance of Cotto’s career. And earlier this year, he annihilated former titleholder Geale in just four rounds. Cotto looks great as a middleweight.

Last Fight: Cotto defended his lineal and WBC world championship by stopping the aforementioned Geale with brutal hooks to the Australian’s head and torso that were so hard they must have woken up poor Geale’s ancestors. 

Who He Should Fight Next: Cotto should fight longtime No. 1 contender to the middleweight throne Gennady Golovkin but instead is facing former junior middleweight titlist and Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Despite the snub of Golovkin, Cotto-Canelo is one of the most intriguing superfights in a long time, one that has the potential to be the best fight of the year.

1. Gennady Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs)

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

Behold the best middleweight on the planet.

Why He’s Here: Golovkin, the WBA middleweight champion, appears to be equal parts Joe Louis and Mike Tyson in a friendly looking but also absurdly menacing middleweight package. While Golovkin isn’t the lineal middleweight champion, he is clearly the best 160-pound fighter in the world today. He has ridiculous power, great footwork, impeccable timing and an aggressive, fan-friendly style. Because of it, Golovkin is fast becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport.

Last Fight: Golovkin decimated an overmatched Willie Monroe Jr. in six rounds to earn his 20th straight win by knockout. It was Golovkin’s 14th WBA title defense, leaving him six short of Bernard Hopkins' all time record. 

Who He Should Fight Next: Golovkin will face Lemieux on October 17 in New York. The bout is one of the most anticipated Golovkin fights ever, one that could help launch the already huge star to even broader heights as a superstar prizefighter.