British Pound-for-Pound Rankings After the 1st Half of 2016
The start of July means only one thing—an update in Bleacher Report's British pound-for-pound rankings!
I know, you probably couldn't wait for the latest edition of the top 20.
As we reach the halfway point of 2016, British boxing continues to be in a rude state of health.
With so much talent to choose from, it was tough to settle on a suitable order. However, after many, many painstaking selection meetings, all held down at the local pub, this is the final list.
A quick reminder: The rankings are based on a mixture of recent performances and previous achievements. There is no set formula as to who goes where.
It's all just a matter of opinion—feel free to share yours via the comments section.
Honourable Mentions
1 of 21
Considering Britain has 13 world champions right now (plus Carl Frampton vacated his two super bantamweight titles to move up in weight), spaces in the top 20 are at a premium.
Stephen Smith was in the first edition of the rankings for 2016, but his defeat to IBF featherweight champion Jose Pedraza sees him slip out—for now at least.
There are plenty of other names on the periphery who could make the cut next time.
Others considered include: Paul Butler, Gavin McDonnell, Tyrone Nurse, Bradley Skeete and Khalid Yafai.
Luke Campbell has enough talent to make the list in the future, while Stuart Hall, Derry Mathews and Brian Rose are veterans who remain in the mix.
David Haye has perhaps the strongest case for inclusion, based on talent and previous achievements. However, he needs to do more than knock out unknown heavyweights to crack the list.
Right, time to get on with the countdown.
20. Callum Smith
2 of 21
Previous position: 19
Record: 20-0 (15 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
As mandatory challenger to the WBC strap, super middleweight Callum Smith is still waiting to find out when he will get his opportunity to challenge for a world title.
Mundo decked Hadillah Mohoumadi inside a round to become European champion in April, then stayed busy the following month with a sixth-round stoppage win over Cesar Hernan Reynoso.
Nigel Benn is a big fan of the youngest of the four fighting Smith brothers.
The Dark Destroyer told George Gigney of Boxing News: "He’s got my tick, he’s good. I think he’s going all the way, I think he can dominate the super-middleweight division and he can dominate the light-heavyweight division."
Smith now just needs the opportunity to prove he belongs at world level.
19. Josh Warrington
3 of 21
Previous position: 17
Record: 23-0 (4 KOs)
Next opponent: Patrick Hyland (July 30)
Josh Warrington has two big commitments on the horizon—fighting Patrick Hyland for the WBC International featherweight title and getting married (not at the same time, though).
A fight with Lee Selby isn't any closer to being made, so the featherweight from Leeds, England, faces former world-title challenger Hyland instead.
He told Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com: "We thought the Selby fight would happen this year but after talks between Matchroom and Leeds United revealed it couldn't happen this year, we thought it would happen next year. We want to make ourselves mandatory to fight for the IBF title now."
Warrington will be back fighting in his home city at the First Direct Arena, the scene of his points victory over Hisashi Amagasa in April.
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18. Chris Eubank Jr.
4 of 21
Previous position: 14
Record: 23-1 (18 KOs)
Next opponent: TBA
Canelo Alvarez may not appear to be keen on facing Gennady Golovkin, but Chris Eubank Jr. is ready and willing to step up to the plate.
After successfully defending his British middleweight title against Tom Doran on June 25, Eubank Jr. made clear his desire to face the biggest names in the division.
And, according to Eddie Hearn, a deal is close to face the biggest of all—GGG.
The promoter told Riath Al-Samarrai of the Daily Mail on June 29: "It is very close to being made. We had a positive meeting with Sky, and the major details are nearly all agreed. We still have stuff to discuss, but I expect both sides to sign by the end of this weekend."
Well, as we move into Sunday, we can only wait and hope for official confirmation.
17. George Groves
5 of 21
Previous position: 20
Record: 24-3 (18 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
Are we seeing the second coming of George Groves?
The super middleweight has looked rejuvenated under the guidance of new trainer Shane McGuigan, suggesting he's ready for another crack at a major belt.
Saint George outpointed fellow Englishman Martin Murray in June in a crucial fight in the careers of both men.
That victory, one that wasn't without the odd moment of concern for Groves, shifts Groves the right way up the rankings, both with the WBC and, perhaps slightly less importantly, Bleacher Report.
16. Scott Quigg
6 of 21
Previous position: 11
Record: 31-1-2 (23 KOs)
Next opponent: TBA
Scott Quigg has suffered a setback since the last time the rankings were updated.
After needing to have plates fitted to correct the broken jaw he suffered against Carl Frampton in February, it turned out the solution wasn't working quite as planned.
As Quigg told BBC Radio 5 Live (h/t BBC Sport): "I've had a bit of a bad reaction to the plates being in, that's why I've got to have them out."
It all means the super bantamweight—who is committed to his craft—is still left waiting for the chance to make a comeback.
For that reason, he slides in the list. Sorry, Scott—get well soon.
15. Amir Khan
7 of 21
Previous position: 6
Record: 31-4 (19 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
It turns out moving up two divisions to take on Saul Alvarez was a case of Amir Khan's ego writing a check his body couldn't cash (a classic Top Gun reference there for all of you aged 35 and over).
He started well enough against Canelo, only to leave himself open to a huge right hand that left him horizontal on the canvas.
So what next in the Khan story?
There was the possibility of returning to the Olympics, but he scrapped a plan to represent Pakistan at the Rio Games last month.
It is coming up on 12 years since the boy from Bolton won the silver medal in Greece. Khan has achieved plenty as a pro, yet you cannot help but wonder if he has not failed to live up to his obvious talent.
14. Billy Joe Saunders
8 of 21
Previous position: 10
Record: 23-0 (12 KOs)
Next opponent: TBA
Despite it being over six months since Billy Joe Saunders won the WBO belt, we are still waiting for the middleweight to make his first defence.
He was due to face Max Bursak on April 30, only to suffer a hand injury in training.
According to Phil D Jay of World Boxing News, Saunders could be set for a spot on the undercard to Liam Smith's WBO super welterweight title defence against Canelo on September 17.
The 26-year-old southpaw needs to get the ball rolling again after a frustrating period of inactivity that sees him slip outside Bleacher Report's British top 10.
13. Lee Haskins
9 of 21
Previous position: 13
Record: 33-3 (14 KOs)
Next opponent: Stuart Hall (Date TBC)
Per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, IBF bantamweight champion Lee Haskins will next face old rival Stuart Hall.
It will be a rematch of their 2012 fight. Haskins came out on top on that occasion, claiming the vacant European belt in the process.
Now the pair are set to meet again, only this time a world title will be on the line.
Such fights seemed out of reach for Haskins at one stage in his career, as he tweeted himself: "In 2006-07 I lost two out of three fights my career was on the floor. Nine years on I'm World Champ #NeverGiveIn."
12. Ricky Burns
10 of 21
Previous position: Unranked
Record: 40-5-1 (14 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
Ricky Burns makes a welcome return to the top 20.
The Rickster made history in May by becoming the first Scotsman to win world titles at three different weights.
Burns—who had previously won straps at super feather and lightweight—stopped Italian Michele Di Rocco to claim the vacant WBA super lightweight belt.
Next up could be the WBA's Intercontinental champion, Kiryl Relikh, according to Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com.
At 33, the experienced Burns has shown there is still life in the old dog yet.
11. Liam Smith
11 of 21
Previous position: 12
Record: 23-0-1 (13 KOs)
Next opponent: Saul Alvarez (September 17)
That is not a typo above. Liam Smith's next opponent really is Saul Alvarez.
Beefy puts his WBO super welterweight title on the line when he takes on Canelo in September. Having pushed for a big fight, Smith has got his wish.
If he were to win against the odds, the Liverpudlian would vault his way into the upper echelons of these rankings.
Smith successfully defended his belt against Predrag Radosevic in June, knocking out his opponent inside two rounds.
10. Tony Bellew
12 of 21
Previous position: 15
Record: 27-2-1 (17 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
At the third attempt, Tony Bellew won a world title.
The cruiserweight claimed the vacant WBC title by knocking out Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park, the home of Bellew's beloved Everton Football Club in Liverpool, England, on May 29.
For a man who played the role of Ricky Conlan in the film Creed, he ended up writing his own Hollwyood script in real life.
How do you follow that moment up? Potentially, by fighting David Haye. Bellew told Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Dev Trehan of SkySports.com): "We are in talks. The two of us are speaking at the moment and we'll see where it goes but I want to fight the 'Haye-faker.'"
Whatever the future holds, The Bomber's recent success vaults him up into the top 10.
9. Anthony Joshua
13 of 21
Previous position: 16
Record: 17-0 (17 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
Since the first-quarter rankings were released, Anthony Joshua has not only won a world title but also successfully defended it.
The English heavyweight, so popular with boxing fans that they'd quite possibly happily vote him in to be the new Prime Minister right now, dethroned Charles Martin to become the new IBF champion.
Dominic Breazeale made Joshua work harder in his last outing, but eventually the 2012 Olympic gold medalist caught up with the previously unbeaten American.
Joshua now plans to take a break before returning to the ring in the closing months of 2016.
8. Terry Flanagan
14 of 21
Previous position: 7
Record: 30-0 (12 KOs)
Next opponent: Mzonke Fana (July 16)
There's no way of dressing it up—Terry Flanagan's next defence of his WBO lightweight title is a bit of a dud.
His opponent, Mzonke Fana, was a world champion at super featherweight...nearly five years ago. He is now 42 and has lost five of his last 12 bouts.
Flanagan would like to have been preparing to face fellow Englishman Anthony Crolla, but sadly a potential battle of Manchester failed to materialise.
However, there is some good news for Flanagan from across the other side of the Atlantic.
Per Lem Setterfield of Premier Boxing Champions, American Mikey Garcia is keen to face Turbo Terry: "I do want to fight for the title at 135, maybe against [England’s] Terry Flanagan, then fight for a title at 140."
7. Lee Selby
15 of 21
Previous position: 8
Record: 23-1 (8 KOs)
Next opponent: TBA
Lee Selby is still the IBF featherweight world champion—but the Welshman had to work hard to beat Eric Hunter on April 9.
The 29-year-old was dropped to the canvas for the first time in his career at the O2 Arena in London on April 9, although he managed to overcome the shock to win on points.
That seemed to pave the way for a fight with Warrington in the summer.
However, it's not happening. Promoter Jamie Sanigar told Matt Horan of World Boxing News: "Unfortunately, the fight has gone now, and the ship has sailed. We have our plan for Lee, and this was the perfect time for the Warrington fight."
Shame. But Selby still has plenty of options in a division that also now contains Frampton.
6. Kell Brook
16 of 21
Previous position: 2
Record: 36-0 (25 KOs)
Next opponent: TBA
It seemed welterweight Kell Brook's next fight was going to be against Jessie Vargas.
According to Bob Westerdale of the Sheffield Star, there has been some confusion over when the bout would actually take place as well as the location.
However, Vargas used his personal Instagram account to reveal that while he has penned a contract for the bout, Brook was "having trouble" (via Westerdale) signing his end of the deal.
IBF champion Brook needs to be busy. In the last year his only outing was against Kevin Bizier, a mandatory challenger who offered little in the way of a challenge.
While there is a case to be made for him being higher in the rankings, his inactivity means he slips back from his previous position of No 2.
5. Carl Frampton
17 of 21
Previous position: 5
Record: 22-0 (14 KOs)
Next opponent: Leo Santa Cruz (July 30)
While four pounds may not sound like much to those who don't have to watch what they eat, for a boxer it can be a seriously big deal.
Frampton's decision to move up from super bantam to featherweight will make life easier on the scales.
However, The Jackal has not taken things easy in agreeing to face WBA champion Leo Santa Cruz in his first fight at the 126-pound limit.
The Northern Irishman will travel to Brooklyn, New York, for the chance to become a two-weight world champion. If he returns home with the belt, there's a serious case to be made for him topping this list.
4. Jamie McDonnell
18 of 21
Previous position: 3
Record: 28-2-1 (13 KOs)
Next opponent: TBA
Jamie McDonnell slips back one place, although that's through no fault of his own.
The bantamweight retained his WBA crown in April with a TKO win over Fernando Vargas (no, not that Fernando Vargas).
According to Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com, Rau'shee Warren—the WBA's Super champion—could be next.
Warren defeated Juan Carlos Payano in June, but David Coldwell—McDonnell's trainer—was not impressed. He told World Boxing News: "It was a solid win for Warren but one that doesn't really worry myself or Jamie."
3. James DeGale
19 of 21
Previous position: 4
Record: 23-1 (14 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
James DeGale did enough to beat Rogelio Medina on April 30.
The IBF super middleweight champion retained his title in Washington, D.C., but he made heavy weather of dealing with the Mexican.
Chunky would seemingly relish the chance to face middleweight king Golovkin.
The Londoner told George Gigney of Boxing News: "He’s a very, very good fighter. I remember as an amateur he was very good then as well [Golovkin won silver at the 2004 Olympic Games], but he hasn’t boxed anyone yet. I swear to God, I’m willing to fight him."
However, the more likely option seems to be a unification clash with WBC champion Badou Jack. That bout could take place in November, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.
2. Anthony Crolla
20 of 21
Previous position: 9
Record: 31-4-3 (13 KOs)
Next opponent: Jorge Linares (September 24)
Anthony Crolla's stock continues to rise—and so too does his position in our rankings.
Having taken the WBA lightweight title from Darleys Perez at the second attempt last year, the fighter from Manchester, England, came through a dangerous first defence against Ismael Barroso.
Standing in the eye of the storm, Crolla waited until Barroso had punched himself out before knocking his opponent in Round 7.
Next, the 29-year-old takes on Jorge Linares. Fair play to Crolla, he doesn't shirk a challenge.
1. Tyson Fury
21 of 21
Previous position: 1
Record: 25-0 (18 KOs)
Next opponent: TBC
A bum ankle has denied the boxing world the chance to see the rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko on July 9.
WBA and WBO champion Fury suffered an injury in training that put paid to the show in Manchester, England.
According to Paul Wheeler of Boxing News, October 8 or 29 are potential new dates for the fight.
Per Chris Slater of the Manchester Evening News, the 27-year-old tried to cheer himself up by travelling to France to watch England at Euro 2016. Iceland knocked them out in Nice.
At least, according to Slater, Fury did pick up the bar tab...after buying more than 200 Jagerbombs to reward his fans.
He just about retains top billing in the rankings, but his rehabilitation period could see him demoted by the time the next update comes out at the end of September.
Should Fury still be sitting at the summit? Has Crolla merited such a lofty move up the order? Have your say via the comments section.
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