The next 12 months could be among the brightest in the super welterweight division.
Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron Ennis could meet in a divisional super fight, while Britain’s Josh Kelly will have the chance to finally realise his potential against IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev — or risk becoming the latest casualty in the Russian’s relentless pursuit of greatness.
WBC super welterweight titlist Sebastian Fundora is no longer just a gangly 6ft 6ins anomaly but a genuine threat to unify. Puerto Rico’s WBO belt-holder Xander Zayas continues to improve with every fight, and Germany’s WBA champion Abass Baraou remains a handful for anyone.
Add in the possible arrival of Conor Benn at 154lbs, the comeback of Tim Tszyu, and potential moves up in weight from Brian Norman Jr, Devin Haney, Mario Barrios and Rolando Romero, and it’s clear the super welterweight division could soon deliver something special.
For now, though, today’s contenders still have work to do before they can join the very best ever to have fought at 154lbs. Here are the five finest super welterweights of all time.
5. Wilfred Benitez
Benitez was only 22 when he beat Maurice Hope to win the WBC title. This was two years on from being stopped in the 15th round against Sugar Ray Leonard at 147lbs. His defensive brilliance and ring IQ were on another level. It was a short reign, but his performances at 154 — particularly the display against Hope — earned him his place among the best. A year later he would go and beat Roberto Duran, who still had plenty up his sleeve.
4. Winky Wright
A defensive master with a unique style and phenomenal jab who, like so many of the best at super welterweight, maybe isn’t celebrated enough. One of the more well-travelled American fighters, Wright will be remembered for his back-to-back wins against Shane Mosley in 2004 — part of a four-year run where he was one of the best fighters in the world. Not many wanted to take on Winky.
3. Terry Norris
There will be many who argue ‘Terrible’ Terry should be at the top. Quick, ferocious and powerful but so was Julian Jackson in 1989 and Norris paid the price. A year later Norris would destroy John Mugabi and did the same to Donald Curry, Meldrick Taylor and Maurice Blocker and outclassed a past-his-best Sugar Ray Leonard in 1991. At his peak he was almost untouchable, but his chin often left him vulnerable.
2. Thomas Hearns
We all remember ‘The Hitman’ from his highlight reel days as a welterweight and middleweight great. However, there was a reign at 154lbs that may have been short, but was explosive in typical Hearns’ fashion. Either side of his 160lbs war with Marvin Hagler, there were three impressive super welterweight world title wins against Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran and Mark Medal. His power was just as frightening and there is an argument that he was never better than at 154.
1. Mike McCallum
The surgical and precise ‘Body Snatcher’ is a lock for the top two spots and will be most people’s number one at 154lbs. His reign as WBA champion from 1984 to 1988 featured headline wins against Julian Jackson, Milton McCrory and Donald Curry. Two years earlier, he had beaten Ayub Kalule in a non-title bout. A vicious body-puncher who owned the division for a period but the appreciation wasn’t always there.
