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 12 months, nonetheless, inactivity amongst among the nation’s high names made the rankings particularly troublesome, though most of the high canines are set to return to the ring within the second half of 2023.
So, 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/talent, current physique of labor, and total resume. When you disagree, good for you.
1. Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs)
“Bud” Crawford has been at or close to the highest of this record for years already. Though his accomplishments have been there as a former light-weight world champ, unified 4-belt junior welterweight champ, and welterweight belt holder, his elite-level standing has been calibrated by his clear inherent talent stage and by passing the “eye take a look at” of specialists. This July 29, nonetheless, he will get an opportunity to show his greatness past a shadow of a doubt towards 3-belt welterweight champ Errol Spence. A brutal stoppage of David Avanesyan in December was sufficient to get him the highest spot on this record, the place a number of fighters had a reputable case to be no. 1. If Crawford beats Spence, there’ll be zero doubt about his no. 1 standing.
2. Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs)
“Tank” Davis as soon as once more confirmed his star energy during the last 12 months with a smash hit in Washington DC towards Hector Luis Garcia in January after which by way of blockbuster in April with Ryan Garcia Competitively, he stopped each Garcias in superb performances and proved himself to be working at an elite stage. Neither Garcia, nonetheless, was an elite-level fighter and, so, there’s nonetheless some debate as to how nicely Tank will do towards the true high canines of his weight vary.
3. Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs)
Final 12 months’s no. 1 on this record slipped a bit due to his considerably underwhelming stage of opposition. Though he dominated Robson Conceicao in September and stopped Shuichiro Yoshino this previous April, they had been matchups not becoming of somebody with Stevenson’s abilities and talents. It’s reportedly been troublesome to seek out high quality opposition for the previous featherweight, tremendous featherweight world champ and newcomer within the light-weight division. However, nonetheless, we are able to solely decide a fighter by what he does within the ring and never by what occurs in pursuit of bouts. This previous 12 months has been simply alright for the mega-talent.
4. Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KOs)
This previous 12 months has been past strong for the unified 4-belt light-weight champ and has supplied affirmation that he does, certainly, belong among the many elite of the game. In October, he simply beat former champ George Kambosos Jr. in a rematch of their 135 lb. title bout 4 months prior. This previous Could, he decisioned former unified light-weight champ Vasiliy Lomachenko. Though many felt the Lomachenko choice was a controversial one, Haney nonetheless proved his price and his worthiness.
5. Errol Spence (28-0, 22 KOs)
The reigning IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champ hasn’t fought since April of 2022, when he brutalized Yordenis Ugas en path to a tenth-round stoppage. His physique of labor and clear high-end talents, although, have earned him a rating. His July 29 bout with Terence Crawford might be a legacy combat and an opportunity to verify his standing because the king of the welterweights within the post-Mayweather period.
6. David Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs)
A dominant victory over Caleb Plant in March was the largest accomplishment of the 26-year-old’s profession and, arguably, his finest efficiency. Benavidez emerged from that Plant combat because the consensus high contender to unified champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez within the tremendous middleweight division. Considered among the best offensive fighters within the recreation, the two-time 168 lb. champ seems to have simply entered his prime.
7. Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs)
The 25-year-old Lopez got here again in an enormous manner together with his dominant 12-round choice victory over WBO junior welterweight champ Josh Taylor on June 10. In sharp distinction to his tepid break up choice victory over Sandor Martin in December, Lopez was sturdy and assured in beating Taylor, the previous unified 4-belt 140 lb. champ. For the reason that signature win over Taylor, Lopez has publicly retired and has even gone as far as to relinquish the WBO belt he simply claimed. Probably, that retirement received’t stick.
8. Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs)
The unified 4-belt junior middleweight champ made headlines in current days when he was introduced because the September 30 opponent to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Sidelined with damage and inactive since Could of final 12 months, Charlo is trying to make a significant splash in his comeback bout.
9. Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs)
Fulton hasn’t fought since final 12 months’s Fourth of July rankings, however his potential and total physique of labor managed to maintain him on this record. On July twenty fifth, he’ll put his WBC and WBO tremendous bantamweight titles on the road towards former 3-division world champ and unified 4-belt world bantamweight champ Naoya Inoue in Japan. A win would carry Fulton into the pound-for-pound ranks.
10. (TIE) Regis Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) / Brian Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs)
Though Prograis appeared fairly dangerous within the first protection of his WBC junior welterweight title towards Danielito Zorrilla on June 17, he appeared rattling spectacular in successful the vacant title by way of eleventh-round KO of Jose Zepeda final November.
How may Mendoza NOT get a spot on these rankings after a stellar 12 months that noticed him rating upset stoppage victories over former unified junior middleweight champ Jeison Rosario and rising contender Sebastian Fundora?
