Middleweight is one of boxing’s classic divisions, with generation-spanning all-time greats such as Marvin Hagler, Jake LaMotta and Harry Greb making 160lbs the primary base of operation during their careers, while others – “Sugar” Ray Robinson and Sam Langford, for instance – moonlit there for a time.
In a recent episode of ProBox TV’s “Top Stories,” analysts Chris Algieri, Teddy Atlas and Paulie Malignaggi turned their focus to the modern middleweight landscape – specifically, a ranking of today’s top five, compiled by BoxingScene.
Virtually the only consensus reached was that today’s middleweight ranks could use Greb and Hagler – or maybe Tony Zale and Billy Conn. “This weight class isn’t that deep,” Algieri said. But boxing being what it is, fortunes can change fast. At least one may be on the cusp of stardom, threatening to turn the spotlight back on the division.
5. Hamzah Sheeraz (20-0, 16 KOs)
A 25-year-old from the United Kingdom, Sheeraz has stopped each of his past nine opponents, including Liam Williams in February and Ammo Williams in June so far in 2024. At 6ft 3ins he is rangy, powerful and, seemingly, just scratching the surface of his potential.
“He’s only gonna get better,” analyst Teddy Atlas said of Sheeraz. “Really, that’s the best thing to say about him, is that I believe he’s only at the beginning of his rise of where he’s going to go – where he can go – as far as his development.”
4. Erislandy Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs)
Although 41 years old and having established himself over a 16-year professional career, Lara isn’t just hanging on. A Cuban southpaw who has been defeated only by split or majority decision – by Paul WIlliams, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Jarrett Hurd – is still discovering new dimensions to his abilities.
“Sometimes he comes out like a bat out of hell and he’s knocking guys out in round one or two at 160,” Algieri said of Lara, who will fight Danny Garcia on September 14 in Las Vegas. “It’s almost like he’s found a punch here at 160lbs, or even at 154. As he’s moved up, it seems like he’s hitting harder.”
3. Chris Eubank Jr (33-3, 24 KOs)
The ProBox TV analysts weren’t as high on Eubank Jr as BoxingScene’s writers are, but the 34-year-old son of the former two-division world titleholder deserves consideration in a shallow division – especially after redeeming himself following the only stoppage loss of his career by returning the favor to Liam Smith in their rematch in September 2023.
“He’s talented, he’s an athletic guy, and he can punch – and up until that Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith fight, he’s actually been very durable,” Algieri said of Eubank Jr.
Although Malignaggi recognises that Eubank Jr is a charismatic figure with a sizable following, he also describes him as a “perfect” candidate to fight Alvarez at some point – which is not the compliment that it might initially sound like.
“Eubank Jr wasn’t even on my list,” Malignaggi said, rating him just outside his personal top five middleweights. “This is one of those guys who’s here just because of the name recognition.”
2. Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs)
A physical 30-year-old from the Dominican Republic, Adames appeared on the radar of most fans and pundits in 2021 with a majority win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He has since stopped Juan Macias Montiel and Julian Williams, and most recently overwhelmed Terrell Gausha via a wide decision in June.
“I’m a big fan of Carlos Adames,” Algieri said. “I like the way he fights; I like how physical he is; I like his skill set. I think he has a lot of momentum and he’s got the right mindset to be a great fighter.”
For his part, Malignaggi said he would even pick Adames to beat the number-one fighter on this list.
1. Janibek Alimkhanukly (15-0, 10 KOs)
Kazakhstan’s Alimkhanukly is a curious case in that he’s a gifted, two-belt unified titleholder while also being virtually untested at the elite level and, lately, leaving plenty to be desired. Most recently he fell out of a July defense against Andrei Mikhailovich after going to hospital when he struggled to make weight.
Yet Malignaggi, who calls Alimkhanukly “very beatable”, still ranks him atop his own list of top five middleweights. And Algieri, despite expressing his own reservations, is effusive in his praise. In any case, the ProBox TV analysts all agree that Alimkhanukly has reached an inflection point in his career.
“I called a bunch of his fights in The Bubble for Top Rank when he was coming up, and I was blown away – he looked fantastic,” Algieri said. “And lately, he’s looked flat. And then, last fight, he doesn’t make weight and gets sick. So something has changed. Something’s flipped.”
“He’s huge!” Atlas said. “I mean, the first time I saw him, a couple things stood out: how big he was, how strong he was, and his length, and he knew how to use the length.”
Whether Alimkhanukly has outgrown the middleweight division or is showing cracks in a once-unshakable foundation of discipline, he may not be long for the number-one spot – or any other position – at 160lbs.
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