The Magno’s USA Prime 10 has been a Fourth of July custom for years, courting again to even earlier than I began writing for FightHype.com. This yr (just a few days late), we have now some readability in direction of the highest of the checklist, however an absolute logjam on the backside, the place inactivity, controversy, and lack of general resume depth make it onerous to clarify rankings at no. 9 and no. 10.
Anyway, right here I’m with my yearly stab at who’s who and who’s the place amongst American fighters. And, per regular disclaimer, that is all very subjective and 100% my standpoint, primarily based on my tackle a fighter’s inherent expertise/ability, current physique of labor, and general resume. In the event you disagree, good for you.
1. Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs)
Crawford’s dominant win over Errol Spence final July 29 was big and greater than sufficient to as soon as once more earn him the highest spot on this checklist. His inactivity since that career-defining victory has been a serious disappointment, as has his unwillingness to even entertain a bout with next-in-line welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis. “Bud” is scheduled to maneuver up in weight to tackle WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov August 3 in Los Angeles, in what many see as a child step in direction of a potential big-money conflict with tremendous middleweight champ Saul Alvarez.
2. Gervonta Davis (30-0, 28 KOs)
This previous month, “Tank” walked down and finally blew away a really succesful and legit Prime 5 light-weight challenger in Frank Martin. It was his first battle since doing the identical to Ryan Garcia in April of 2023. As is the case with Terence Crawford, inactivity and an obvious unwillingness to satisfy the elite in his weight vary has dissatisfied, even within the face of explosive and elite-level virtuoso performances.
3. Jesse Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs)
Over the course of the final two years, “Bam’s” resume stands out amongst US expertise. His most up-to-date dominant efficiency in stopping Juan Francisco Estrada provides heft to a physique of labor that already options names reminiscent of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Carlos Cuadras, and Sunny Edwards. At simply 24 years of age, he’s already a high 3 presence on the American scene and arguments could possibly be made that he belongs even increased.
4. David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs)
Benavidez confirmed his standing because the indeniable and undeniably deserving high contender to tremendous middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez with a one-sided beating and stoppage of Demetrius Andrade final November. An lack of ability to land that massive Canelo battle, nevertheless, led him to a transfer as much as gentle heavyweight, the place he just lately beat former world champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk through decisive unanimous choice.
5. Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs)
An impressively dominant beating of Josh Taylor final yr was adopted up by a frustratingly uneven efficiency versus Jamaine Ortiz and, most just lately, a one-sided choice over the restricted Steve Claggett. Thus has gone the irritating profession circulation of Lopez, who completely has the expertise to be an elite participant, however is affected by inconsistent ring performances.
6. Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs)
The 27-year-old Stevenson has been his personal worst enemy at instances by favoring a safety-first method within the ring, regardless of having the ability and expertise to placed on electrifying performances. Now on the precipice of promotional free company, his uninspiring factors win over Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday did little to spice up his profile. Expertise-wise, nevertheless, he’s the actual deal.
7. Jaron Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs)
Lately signed to Matchroom Boxing, the Philadelphia fighter is coming again residence to face the pedestrian David Avanesyan in what’s speculated to be the kickoff to a run at reaching true star standing. Ennis’ expertise is simple and his resume is stuffed with stable “greatest out there” opposition, however he must land a giant battle in opposition to en elite-level opponent to cement his standing as an elite, himself.
8. O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs)
After capturing the vacant WBC tremendous featherweight title versus Rey Vargas in early 2023, Foster had defended twice versus high-end expertise earlier than dropping the belt to Brazil’s Robson Conceicao through obscenely controversial cut up choice on the Shakur Stevenson-Artem Harutyunyan undercard.
9. Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) / Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) / Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs)
Spence has been inactive since his stunning blowout loss to Terence Crawford final July and whereas there’s a official debate available about his capacity to as soon as once more develop into an elite-level participant, his physique of labor is deep and spectacular. That deserves a level of deference and a share of the no. 9 spot on this checklist.
Ortiz is a dynamic ring presence with a formidable physique of labor for a fighter at his degree. Inactivity between 2022 and 2024 stored him a step behind his contemporaries, however a transfer as much as 154 and an obvious dedication to combating extra ceaselessly has introduced him again into prominence.
As soon as a very deserving high canine amongst his friends because the absolutely unified junior middleweight champ, Charlo’s inventory has fallen enormously after a tepid/timid loss to Saul Alvarez final September. Inactive since then, and with nothing on the horizon, he offers off the vibe of somebody who has cashed out on his profession.
10. Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) / Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs)
Haney presents a puzzling conundrum in relation to score him on an inventory like this. His win over Regis Prograis, added to wins over Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos, make the case for a excessive score. His ugly drubbing by the hands of Ryan Garcia this previous April, nevertheless, is tough to miss, regardless of Garcia popping soiled for a banned substance and coming in over the load restrict. There’s something to be stated for the road of thought that a lot of Haney’s success has come from dealing with opposition a lot smaller than him on battle night time. That’s an enormous qualifier in relation to judging a physique of labor. Within the meantime, he stays on the fringes of this checklist.
Fundora’s rating could very effectively be a one-and-done occasion. Fundora was in a position to choice Tim Tszyu this previous March (as a late substitute for Keith Thurman) in a bout the place the Australian star was clearly handicapped by a grotesque gash on his head that gushed blood into his face all night time. Nonetheless, Fundora gained, legitimately, and obtained that “W” in opposition to one of many sport’s high rising stars. However, given his technical/tactical weaknesses and the truth that he was coming off a KO loss to Brian Mendoza within the bout earlier than Tszyu, his time close to the highest could also be short-lived.
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