The middleweight division has slowly started developing into one of the sport’s better weight classes. With an undisputed no. 1 at the top and a solid cast of fighters, the 160 lb. class is certainly looking much better than it did just a couple of years ago.
Here’s the current top 10 in middleweight division:
1. Sergio Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KOs)
Before beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Argentina’s Martinez was already considered the top man in the division. Post-Chavez, though, the southpaw stylist has the hardware to go along with the top billing. Now, once again WBC champ, Martinez will heal the injuries sustained in the Chavez fight and then look to the next challenger.
2. Daniel Geale (28-1, 15 KOs)
Australia’s Geale seemingly came out of nowhere to upset Germany’s Sebastian Sylvester for the IBF title and then, three fights later, upset another German in Felix Sturm to take the WBA strap.
3. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs)
Outclassed by Sergio Martinez for eleven and a half rounds, the 26-year-old second generation star nearly pulled off the upset by stopping the Argentine in the last half of the twelfth round. However, Martinez saw the final bell and took a decisive unanimous decision. Now, in the face of a loss and a positive test for marijuana, Jr. looks to rebuild his career in 2013.
4. Felix Sturm (37-3-2, 16 KOs)
The 33-year-old three-time middleweight champ from Germany still has plenty in the tank after his split decision loss to Daniel Geale in September. Expect the popular German star to benefit from boxing politics and to quickly get back in position to challenge for another world title.
5. Dmitry Pirog (20-0, 15 KOs)
The talented Russian middleweight has been a bit of a disappointment since taking the vacant WBO middleweight title in a bout with Daniel Jacobs in 2010. Since his title victory, he has only defended the title three times, against sub-par opposition, and has refused to step up the level of his opposition. As a result, Pirog was recently stripped of his belt by the WBO, allowing for interim champ, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, to be elevated to full champ status.
6. Gennady Golovkin (24-0, 21 KOs)
The highly-regarded offense machine from Kazakhstan currently holds the lesser version of the WBA middleweight title and just made his American debut to great acclaim. An entertaining fighter to watch, Golovkin is still unproven at the elite level, but is willing to prove himself.
7. Peter Quillin (28-0, 20 KOs)
Kid Chocolate” just captured his first world title, taking the WBO title from Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam last month. Heavy-handed and all-around solid, Quillin has shown some defects against upper-level opposition. So far, though, his power and his dogged determination have been able to keep him undefeated.
8. Sam Soliman (42-11, 17 KOs)
Making a surprise return to the world ranks, the 38-year-old Australian former world title challenger earned a ranking with wins over Eromosele Albert, Garth Wood, and Giovanni Lorenzo. Soliman now finds himself in line for a shot at Daniel Geale’s IBF title.
9. Martin Murray (24-0-1, 10 KOs)
The late-blooming Brit, promoted by Ricky Hatton, won worldwide attention in December of 2011 via widely-disputed draw in a bid for then-WBA champ, Felix Sturm’s title. Since then, Murray has been looking for another chance to shine on the middleweight main stage. He’s schedule to face an opponent to be announced November 24, on the undercard of Hatton’s comeback fight in Manchester.
10. Marco Antonio Rubio (55-6-1, 48 KOs)
A two-time middleweight world title challenger, the Mexican has registered disappointing performances in both title shots– Losing via RTD 9 to Kelly Pavlik in 2009 and then via unanimous decision to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2012. Still, Rubio is tough and heavy-handed and more than capable of separating pretenders from contenders– Just ask David Lemieux and Jorge Cota.
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Paul Magno was a licensed official in the state of Michoacan, Mexico and a close follower of the sport for more than thirty years. His work can also be found on Fox Sports and The Boxing Tribune. In the past, Paul has done work for Inside Fights, The Queensberry Rules and Eastside Boxing.
Sources:
Boxrec, Boxing Records and Stats
