Boxing

Europe’s 10 best light-heavyweights – Boxing News

1 Dmitry Bivol

After successful a life-altering struggle towards Saul “Canelo” Alvarez final May, Bivol then impressively adopted this six months later by thrashing Mexico’s Gilberto Ramirez, somebody beforehand undefeated in 44 fights. His brilliance was, after that, exhausting to argue.

2 Artur Beterbiev

With 19 knockouts from 19 wins, there isn’t any denying both Beterbiev’s energy or his ending instincts. His record of victims now consists of Anthony Yarde, Joe Smith, Marcus Browne and Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

3 Callum Smith

Known to most as an excellent-middleweight, Smith moved to mild-heavyweight after shedding towards “Canelo” Alvarez in 2020 and has thus far fared nicely, stopping Gilbert Castillo Rivera inside two rounds after which crushing former European champion Mathieu Bauderlique in 4.

4 Joshua Buatsi

Unbeaten in 16 professional fights, Buatsi’s profession been a gradual-burner thus far. Though clearly gifted, his best wins are a call over Craig Richards, which he secured final yr, and an eleventh spherical stoppage of Ricards Bolotniks.

5 Anthony Yarde

In what could possibly be described as an odd profession so far, Yarde’s best win is a fourth-spherical revenge stoppage of Lyndon Arthur, but maybe his two most spectacular performances each resulted in defeat: the primary towards Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and the second towards Artur Beterbiev final month.

Joshua Buatsi defeats Ryan Ford (Action Images by way of Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

6 Mathieu Bauderlique

Unbeaten earlier than assembly Callum Smith final yr, Bauderlique gained the European mild-heavyweight crown with a seventh-spherical stoppage of Igor Mikhalkin in 2021, which had adopted prior wins towards the likes of Doudou Ngumbu and Hugo Kasperski.

7 Dan Azeez

Now set to struggle for the European title, Azeez has so far gained 18 professional fights in a row. He has additionally developed a knack for beating home opposition, having bested Rocky Fielding, Shakan Pitters, Mason Cartwright and Hosea Burton in consecutive fights.

8 Igor Mikhalkin

Mikhalkin, a Russian dwelling in Germany, might be best identified for falling brief in a title problem towards Sergey Kovalev again in 2018. Before that, although, he reigned as European champion for 2 years, defending the belt thrice.

9 Ali Izmailov

Like Bivol and Beterbiev, Izmailov is a Russian presently primarily based in America who turned professional comparatively late. Now 29, he’s unbeaten in 9 fights and claimed the USBA title final August when outpointing Eric Murguia over 10 rounds.

10 Craig Richards

Respected for strong shedding efforts towards each Dmitri Bivol and Joshua Buatsi, Richards has additionally, at home degree, secured good wins of his personal, beating males like Shakan Pitters, Andre Sterling and Jake Ball.


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