The proliferation of titles makes it tough for all however essentially the most astute followers to find out the cream of the boxing crop.
That’s why Boxing Junkie got here up with its “Nice Eight” characteristic, which names the most effective fighter in every of the unique eight weight lessons –heavyweight, mild heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, light-weight, featherweight, bantamweight and flyweight.
Heavyweight consists of cruiserweight (and the WBA and WBC’s bridgerweight), mild heavyweight consists of tremendous middleweight, middleweight consists of junior middleweight and so forth all the way down to flyweight, which incorporates junior flyweight and strawweight.
On this installment of “Nice Eight,” we discover the potential of an intriguing growth: Two of our champions — Juan Francisco Estrada (bantamweight) and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (flyweight) — are in talks to struggle each other.
Promoter Eddie Hearn stated he’s making an attempt to shut a deal for the fighters to fulfill for Estrada’s 115-pound title on June 29 in Phoenix.
The principals are at completely different phases of their careers.
Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) is a two-division champion who has proven no indicators of decline — he’s coming off a second victory in his third struggle towards future Corridor of Famer Roman Gonzalez — however he’s 33 and has been preventing professionally for 15-plus years.
The Mexican additionally hasn’t been lively. The second victory over Gonzalez occurred in December 2022 and he hasn’t fought since. He had been in talks to face fellow titleholder Kazuto Ioka final December however negotiations broke down.
Estrada has received eight consecutive fights since he misplaced a majority resolution to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2018, a setback he later avenged.
Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) is a rising star. The 24-year-old Texan has reeled off one spectacular victory after one other to affix Estrada on many credible pound-for-pound lists, together with Boxing Junkie’s.
He made a robust impression by outpointing veteran Carlos Cuadras to win a vacant 115-pound title in February 2022 after which knocked out the equally revered Sor Rungvisai in eight rounds in his first protection 4 months later.
And he was simply getting began. He delivered what is perhaps his finest efficiency final December, when, after dropping all the way down to 112 and successful a serious belt, he stopped beforehand unbeaten Sunny Edwards to unify two titles.
“This can be a struggle we’ve been engaged on for a very long time,” Hearn informed DAZN. “I believe Estrada towards Bam Rodriguez is only a stunner. You retain seeing these small guys give us unbelievable nights.
“Estrada towards “Chocolatito” (Roman Gonzalez) so many occasions, Bam towards Sunny [Edwards] final December was unbelievable, and Estrada towards Bam is only a Combat of the Yr contender written throughout it.”
It will be tough to argue with Hearn on that time. It doesn’t get a lot better than probably the greatest fighters of the era vs. one of the thrilling younger phenoms within the sport
And, in fact, it will have main implications when it comes to Nice Eight.
If the struggle occurs and Estrada wins, he would add to his personal Corridor of Fame credentials and stay as bantamweight champion right here. Rodriguez would change into champion in a second Nice Eight division if he has his hand raised.
Rodriguez hasn’t stated definitively that he’s completed at 112 however that seems to be the case.
Listed here are the highest fighters within the unique eight divisions:
HEAVYWEIGHT
Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) – Fury can have an opportunity to show his subpar efficiency towards Francis Ngannou was an aberration when he faces Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed championship on pay-per-view Could 18 in Saudi Arabia. In fact, the winner might be our Nice Eight champ.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) – The winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev showdown on June 1 will decide not solely the Nice Eight champion but additionally the most effective 175-pounder of the period. Few attainable matchups in boxing are higher or extra vital than this one.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) – The 154-pounder got here up quick towards 168-pound champ Canelo Alvarez however he stays the most effective at 160 and 154. He had expressed curiosity in going through welterweight king Terence Crawford however that doesn’t look like within the works, leaving his future unsure..
WELTERWEIGHT
Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) – Crawford hasn’t fought since his epic beat down of Errol Spence Jr. final July and has nothing stable within the works. One potential opponent can be Israil Madrimov, who stopped Magomed Kurbanov to win a 154-pound title on Could 8.
LIGHTWEIGHT
Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) – “Tank” stays the most-complete fighter at 135 and 130 however boxing wizards Shakur Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomachenko may need one thing to say about who reigns in Nice Eight earlier than all is alleged and accomplished. Now we have to see these pivotal matchups.
FEATHERWEIGHT
Naoya Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) – Inoue gave one other dominating efficiency towards Marlon Tapales on Dec. 26, stopping the Filipino within the tenth spherical to change into undisputed champion in a second weight class. Can anybody compete with him? Luis Nery would be the subsequent one to attempt. They meet on Could 6.
BANTAMWEIGHT
Juan Francisco Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) – Boxing Junkie’s No. 5 fighter pound-for-pound had hinted that he would possibly transfer up from junior bantamweight to bantamweight however an explosive potential matchup with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez at 115 would possibly maintain him in his present division.
FLYWEIGHT
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) – Rodriguez supplanted Edwards as champion right here after leaving little question about who’s the most effective 112-pounder on this planet. He’ll nearly definitely get replaced if he indicators a contract to problem Estrada at 115 kilos.
