The middle weight division slowly began to evolve into one of the better weight classes. With no peace. 1 in the top and solid fighters throw, 160 lb. The class is certainly much better looking than it was just two years ago.
Here is the current top 10 in the middleweight division:
1. Sergio Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KOs.).
Before beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Argentina’s Martinez was already considered the top man in the division. Post-Chavez, though, the southern stylist has the tools to come up with top billing. Now, once again the WBC champ, Martinez will heal from the injuries sustained in the Chavez fight and then look to his next challenger.
2. Daniel Geale (28-1, 15 KOs
Australia’s Geale seemingly came out of nowhere to upset Germany’s Sebastian Silvestre for the IBF title and then, three fights later, upset another German in Felix Sturm to capture the WBA belt.
3. Julius Cesar Chavez Jr
Sergio Martinez was knocked out for eleven and a half rounds, the 26-year-old star of the second generation was almost pulled off by the upset of the Argentine in the last half of the twelfth round. But Martinez saw the final bell and took a unanimous decision. Now, in the face of loss and a positive test for marijuana, Jr. He looks to rebuild his career in 2013.
4. Felix Sturmius (37-3-2, 16 KOs).
The 33-year-old three-time middleweight champion from Germany still has plenty in the tank after a split decision loss to Daniel Geale in September. Expect the German pop star to progress from political boxing and quickly get back in position to challenge for another world-title.
5. Dmitry Pirog (20-0, 15 KOs
The talented Russian middleweight was a bit of a throwback when he took on the vacant WBO middleweight title in a 2010 showdown with Daniel Jacobs. With the title victory, he only defended the title three times, against equal opposition, and refused. to raise the level of his opposition. As a result, Pirog was recently stripped of his belt by the WBO, allowing the interim champ, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, to be elevated to full team status.
6. Gennady Golovkin (24-0, 21 KOs
The heavy hitting machine from Kazakhstan now holds the junior version of the WBA middleweight title and has just made American Debut to great acclaim. An entertaining fighter to watch, Golovkin has yet to be proven at an elite level, but he wants to prove himself.
7. Peter Quillinus (28-0, 20 KOs
The kid Chocolate’ just captured his first world title, taking the WBO title from Hassan N’dam N’Jikam last month. And while solid all around, Quillin has shown some weaknesses in higher level opposition.
8. Sam Soliman (42-11, 17 KOs.).
In an unexpected return to the world ranks, the 38-year-old Australian’s former world title challenger earned a degree with wins over Eromosele Albert, Garth Wood, and John Lorenzo. Soliman now finds himself in line for a shot at Daniel Geale’s IBF title.
9. Martin Murray (24-0-1, 10 KOs
The recently blossoming Brit, promoted by Ricky Hatton, spent the entire month of December 2011 working through a widely-discussed bid to land the then WBA champ Felicity Sturm’s title. Since then, Murray has been looking for another chance to shine as a middleweight on the center stage. The schedule is against the announced opponents on November 24th under the title of Hatton to return to the fight in Manchester.
10. Marco Antonio Rubio (55-6-1, 48 KOs
A two-time middleweight world title challenger, the Mexican has had both title shots in spectacular fashion – losing by RTD 9 to Kelly Pavlik in 2009 and by unanimous decision to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2012. Still, Rubio is tough and heavy-handed and more than capable of picking apart opponents – just ask David Lemieux and Jorge Cota.
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Paul Magno was a licensed official in the state of Michoacan, Mexico and a fan of the game for over thirty years. His work can also be found on Fox Sports and Tribune Boxing. In the past, Paul has worked on fights inside, Queen’s Rules and Eastern Boxing.
Sources:
Boxrec, Boxing Records and Stats
