They say that boxing is a young mans game. I have even heard some say that in this sport, 30 years is considered old, considered a fighter on the decline. Thing is that sometimes what they say is not always correct.
Take most pound for pound lists, if you look at the top ten best fighters in the world, at least 7 or 8 fighters on that list are 30 years old or older.
I feel that at age 26-28 is when a fighter begins to peak. Most fighters don’t hit their very best until around 28-34 years of age. Very few are able to stay sharp and consistent until the later years, those are called incredible physical speciments such as Vitali Klitschko, Bernard Hopkins, and Shane Mosley.
Below, I name the top 25 fighters that are 25 years or younger that will look to lead the pack and distinguish themselves as the future stars of the sport. Only time will tell who the stars really are, until then, here is my list of the young lions ready to peak now and starving to shine a few years from now.
#25- Juan Carlos Burgos- 23-0, the 22 year old featherweight from Tijuana is looking thus far to be the goods.
#24- David Lemieux- 20-0, this 21 year old sure can hit. A friend of mine tells me that this kid has Pavlik like power.
#23- Demetrius Andrade- 8-0, scary that this kid is just 21 years old. Has the potential to one day have it all.
#22- Shawn Porter-12-0, Porter fights at 154 but should be fighting at 147. If the 22 year old Porter can make 147 like I think he can, it could be lights out for anyone he faces him.
#21- Victor Cayo- 24-0, Cayo is ready to shine and he want s to shine right now. The 25 year old wants Marcos Maidana desperatly.
#20- Joe Greene- 21-0, Mean Joe is straight up nasty. The 23 year old southpaw can be a terror for years to come. I’m hearing that Greene is a free agent these days so DiBella, Golden Boy, Top Rank, and others, if I was you, I would mail this kid a pen first day air.
#19- Denis Boytsov- 26-0, a young 23 year old heavyweight that loves to demolish? You don’t say..
#18- Marcus Johnson- 18-0(Johnson pictured above recording a 7th round KO over Julio Cesar Da la Cruz) , this 24 year old super middle used to be too unknown under King, now that Johnson is with DiBella, Johnson will be too much. As in too much trouble for anyone that wants a piece of this guy.
#17- Vanes Martirosyan- 26-0, I would love to see this 23 year old banger in against a Andy Lee or David Lemieux. Vanes is a very dangerous puncher.
#16- Deandre Latimore- 20-2, this 24 year old super welter is a tough banger that can also box and comes at you like a bull.
#15- Daniel Jacobs- 18-0, The Golden Child (pictured above connecting with a left to the head of Ishe Smith) from the BK is looking to one day dominate the sport. With Golden Boy as the promoter, Al Haymon as the manager, the future looks Golden.
#14- Marco Huck- 27-1, only loss to this 25 year old cruiser was to Steve Cunningham. Nothin to hang your head low about, Steve is a beast.
#13- Abner Mares- 19-0, the 24 year old Mexican has the potential to be the next Erik Morales with more speed.
#12- Roman Gonzalez- 24-0, this 22 year old from Nicaragua just may be the hardest puncher that I have seen at the lower weights since Micheal Carbajal.
#11- Kell Brook- 20-0, With the right trainer this 23 year old welterweight can be very special.
#10- Lamont Peterson- 27-1, the 25 year olds only loss was to 140 pound stud, Timothy Bradley.
#9- Anselmo Moreno- 28-1-1, this 24 year old 118 pounder is the closest thing to Sweet Pea Whitaker.
#8- Anthony Peterson- 29-0, this kid is a problem for anyone between 135-140 pounds. His shine shall be here soon.
#7- Fernando Guerrero- 17-0, Guerrero is a 23 year old is a 160 pound killer. If you haven’t seen him, be sure to see him.
#6- Victor Ortiz- 25-2-1, Ortiz if taught to box a little as Oscar before him could do, will be the face of the sport! At just 22 years old, time is on your side.
#5- Jorge Linares- 27-1, I feel that Salgado’s shot was just a well placed bomb. Linares will recover and will find his way to the Golden land. I feel that this 24 year old fighter is one of the most complete young fighters in the sport.
#4- Antwone Smith- 17-1-1, I just love the way Smith fights, he can do alot of things very well, above all the kid has heart. Just 22 years young. Welterweight.
#3- Devon Alexander- 19-0, this 22 year old jr. welter is the closest thing to being the next Floyd. A cousin of mine calls Devon, Floyd Jr. only with balls. I had to quickly remind him that a young Floyd also once had balls, then he ran into Jose Luis Castillo and suddenly something took them balls away. Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen here.
#2- Amir Khan- 22-1, I once was asked on who I thought is the closest thing to being the next De La Hoya. 3 names came to mind, Khan, Ortiz, and Linares. Khan right now, may be the closest thing to Oscar. He can hit, has speed, is tall for a 140 pounder, around same height as Oscar, can box when he wants to, is considered good looking, all he needs now is Ricky Hatton’s following. 23 years old.
#1- Andre Ward- 21-0 (photo above Ward beats Kessler in Super Six Match), the 25 year old from the bay, has not only the skill to kill at super middle, but also the skill and will to be the future face of the sport.
Honorable Mention- Chris Avalos, Antonio Escalante, Marvin Sonsona, Rico Ramos, Miguel Angel Garcia, Juan Carlos Salgado, Marvin Quintero, Argenis Mendez, Kevin Mitchell, Sharif Bogere, Luis Ramos, Danny Garcia, Vernon Paris, Omar Chavez [ I like you better than your brother], Saul Alvarez[ my red headed cousin], James De La Rosa, Mark Davis Jr., Keith Thurman, Austin Trout, Andy Lee, Edwin Rodriguez, Deontay Wilder, Travis Kaufman, Nathan Cleverly, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.[ only because I’m feeling nice today]. To any others that I may have missed, I’m sorry, I’m sure that it was just an oversight on my part.
