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THE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION

By Paul Magno | July 21, 2017
THE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION

In boxing, the biggest division is not always the best. Sometimes parity and an absence of boxing politics is enough to make for real fun and intrigue. This is the case with the current super middleweight scene. 

The 168 lb. division has no real top dog, although James DeGale probably has first dibs on that claim. Instead, there’s just a lot of parity up and down the division and a lot of possible rulers of the roost. The winner of the upcoming World Boxing Super Series tournament will also have a solid claim at the top spot.

Here’s a look at the major players in the super middleweight division:

The Elites

James DeGale: Although the current IBF super middleweight champ has a 2011 loss to George Groves on his ledger, the talented Brit has the best claim to the top spot in the division with recent victories over Andre Dirrell and Lucian Bute, as well as a draw against Badou Jack. The Jack rivalry, however, may never be resolved as Jack has moved up to light heavyweight. 

George Groves: the UK’s Groves finally became world champ in a bout with Fedor Chudinov after three previous failed attempts. Recent wins over Martin Murray and Eduard Gutknecht make the case that the new WBA champ belongs right near the very top of the division. Groves will be facing countryman Jamie Cox in the opening round of the World Boxing Super Series.

Gilberto Ramirez: The undefeated Mexican has the raw power and ever-improving skill set to be ranked among the very best. His one-sided decision victory over Arthur Abraham for the WBO belt in April of 2016 earns him inclusion among the elites, but inactivity (due to injury) may bump him down a notch. 

Badou Jack: Jack could come back and take the top spot on this list if he would decide to return to the 168 lb. class. Just on merit alone, Jack’s resume, which features wins over Groves, Bute, Anthony Dirrell, and a draw with DeGale, is better than anyone’s on this list. However, it seems that he’s headed for a full-time run at light heavyweight, so his placement on this list is merely honorary.

The Solid Core

Chris Eubank Jr.: The second generation star showed flashes of real class recently in besting Arthur Abraham and could develop into an elite-level super middleweight in the not-too-distant future. Eubank will be facing Turkey’s Avni Yildirim in the opening round of the World Boxing Super Series.

Andre Dirrell: The boxing world is still waiting on Dirrell to live up to his full potential as a fighter, but at 33 years of age and with so many starts and stops to his career, it seems pretty safe to say that he probably won’t reach his full potential.

Jose Uzcategui: The tough Venezuelan appeared to be well on his way to defeating Andre Dirrell this past May, ahead on two of the judges’ scorecards in the eighth round before a knockout punch after the bell earned him a DQ loss.

Anthony Dirrell: Maybe not in possession of the raw talent of his brother, Andre, Anthony is a much more tenacious fighter. Still, injuries and other issues have kept him from a consistent output, professionally. A September bout with the fast-rising and well-regarded David Benavidez for the vacant WBC title will either push him back up this list, or pull him further down.

David Benavidez: The 20-year-old top prospect has been in the ring with relatively light competition, but his stellar performance against the tough Rogelio Medina this past May turned a few heads. A bout for the vacant WBC super middleweight title this September against Anthony Dirrell will be the first true test of his young career.

Daniel Jacobs: Jacobs’ placement on this list if based on pure speculation at the moment, but the tough and athletic former middleweight titlist could certainly make waves if/when he decides to officially move up in weight.

The Second Tier

Callum Smith: Tough and undefeated, but utterly unproven beyond the regional UK level. Smith will be taking on Sweden’s Erik Skoglund in the opening round of the World Boxing Super Series.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.: Don’t laugh. The second generation fighter’s star is irrevocably tarnished at this point, but he can still punch and he still has the raw potential to maybe, possibly make some waves at the more comfortable (for him) 168 lb. weight.

Jesse Hart: The talented and undefeated Hart takes a big step forward in level of opposition this September when he faces Gilberto Ramirez for the WBO title. The Ramirez fight will tell the tale if Hart can be a real player in the division.

Rob Brant: Undefeated, but with a paper-thin resume up to this point, Brant hopes that a solid showing in the World Boxing Super Series tournament will secure his spot among the top dogs of the division. He’s set to face Juergen Braehmer in the opening round of the tourney.

Juergen Braehmer: The former light heavyweight titlist is moving down to super middleweight to take part in the World Boxing Super Series tournament and, hopefully for him, jumpstart a career temporarily stalled with a defeat at the hands of Nathan Cleverly last October. Braehmer will be facing American Rob Brant in the opening round of the World Boxing Super Series.

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