Wainwright weighs-in on the future of the 175-pound division

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol pose at an April 15 press convention in London to announce their now postponed June 1 showdown. Photograph by Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Had Artur Beterbiev not ruptured his meniscus we might have been heading into combat week for his large assembly with Dmitry Bivol for the vacant Ring Journal belt and undisputed gentle heavyweight championship on the Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

There was a collective groan when information broke that the combat was postponed due to the aforementioned damage.

Hopefully, Beterbiev is match and wholesome sufficient to renew coaching and face Bivol by the autumn.

Personally, I really feel it’s the perfect combat we are able to make in boxing. I like the conflict of types and consider whoever emerges victorious can have cemented their legacy as the best 175 pounder of their era.

Nevertheless, each males are of their 30s and received’t go on perpetually. Beterbiev, who’s 39, has suffered a number of accidents through the years which has performed havoc together with his exercise.

In the meantime Bivol, 33, has struggled to construct on the momentum and discover a appropriate dancer accomplice since disarming Canelo in Could 2022.

With the Beterbiev showdown presently on ice, Bivol, The Ring’s No. 1-rated gentle heavyweight, will keep energetic by making his twelfth WBA title protection towards unbeaten Malik Zinad, The Ring’s No. 10 contender, on Saturday.

Beneath Bivol and Beterbiev, The Ring’s No. 2-rated gentle heavyweight, there may be some jostling for place, together with the potential mouthwatering all-London shootout between Anthony Yarde-Joshua Buatsi that has been teased however not consummated. We might even see former Ring/WBA tremendous middleweight champ Callum Smith return after brutal loss to Beterbiev. The likes of Dan Azeez and Albert Ramirez give the division extra depth and that’s earlier than we see tremendous middleweight standouts David Benavidez and David Morrell step up in weight to enter the division. Benavidez will combat former WBC titlist Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, whereas the damaging Cuban will sq. off towards Radivoje Kalajdzic on August 3.

Past the present high 10 there are a handful of burgeoning future stars. Right here we take a look at the runners and riders in alphabetical order. Some might nicely attain the higher echelons and even turn into champions whereas some might nicely not attain their potential.

Paulo Aokuso (7-0, 4 KOs)

Aokuso had lower than 40 beginner fights however received a number of tournaments in Australia, together with Golden Gloves, South East Queensland, state and nationwide titles. He represented Australia on the 2020 Olympics, shedding within the Spherical of 16. As a professional, he has moved rapidly and in simply his fourth outing he bested robust Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez, and adopted that win by beating Renold Quinlan. Might the 27-year-old be the following huge factor from Down Below?

Khalil Coe (8-0-1, 6 KOs)

Coe was an excellent beginner domestically in America. Nevertheless, it’s his first-round knockout over beginner standout Julio Cesar La Cruz that he’s finest identified for. After turning skilled in 2021 it took time for his profession to ignite. He was held to a attract his second combat, however earlier this 12 months the 27-year-old New Jersey native threw down a marker when he showcased his energy and ability to bludgeon beforehand unbeaten Juan Gerardo Osuna (20-0, 18 KOs) into defeat in simply two rounds. The Matchroom fighter is able to begin making a transfer.

Umar Dzambekov (8-0, 5 KOs)

Dzambekov was born in Russia however whereas nonetheless a boy, he moved to Austria, the place he received 9 nationwide titles and over 150 beginner fights. He earned a detailed win over fellow standout Atif Oberlton (10-0, 8 KOs) the unpaid ranks earlier than switching to the skilled facet of the game the place he was snapped up by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions. He has relocated his coaching camps to Los Angeles and is skilled by Marvin Somodio on the famed Wild Card Boxing Membership. The 26-year-old southpaw could be very poised and has good precision, which have led to comparisons with Dmitry Bivol and Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Umar Dzambekov. Photograph by Lina Baker / 360 Promotions

Willy Hutchinson (17-1, 13 KOs)

The Scotsman was a standout beginner successful European and World Junior Championships earlier than turning skilled in 2017. Hutchinson was extremely regarded and signed up by Shelly Finkel and later by Frank Warren. His early profession was one thing of a gradual burn earlier than he dropped down from 175 kilos and fought Lennox Clarke for the vacant British and Commonwealth tremendous middleweight titles. It proved too quickly and “Braveheart” was caught and dropped while pulling again from a shot and stopped in Spherical 5. It was a harsh lesson, one Hutchinson took time to be taught and didn’t combat for 15 months. When he reemerged it was again at a extra wholesome 175 kilos. He’s received 4 fights towards progressively higher opposition. The now 25-year-old will face former world title challenger Craig Richards in Riyadh on Saturday. That’s his proving floor to see if he might probably belong in elite firm.

Imam Khataev (7-0, 7 KOs)

Khataev was an enormous beginner, successful three Russian nationwide titles – spectacular, given the deep expertise pool in his homeland. Internationally, he claimed bronze on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the place he drew approval for an eye-opening third-round knockout over Gazimagomed Jalidov within the quarterfinals. He additionally took bronze on the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and fought within the pro-am World Sequence of Boxing. He moved to Australia but it surely wasn’t till he signed with Canadian promoter Eye of The Tiger that he was stored energetic and the outcomes are clear to see. The 29-year-old is extraordinarily robust and bodily imposing, plus has an excellent Ring I.Q which has some likening him to unified champ Artur Beterbiev. Most just lately, Khataev impressed by stopping rugged Latvian Richards Bolotniks in six rounds.

Khataev celebrates his second-round stoppage of South Korea’s Gi Sung Gwak on March 12, 2023, in Sydney. (Photograph by Saeed KHAN / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photograph by SAEED KHAN/AFP through Getty Photographs)

Daniel Lapin (10-0, 4 KOs)

Lapin had 290 beginner fights and received a number of nationwide titles in Crimea. The Poland native moved to Crimea when he was younger and started boxing at age 6. He’s Usyk’s buddy and has appeared on the undisputed heavyweight champ’s final 4 undercards. At 6-foot-6 and with a southpaw stance he is a matter for anybody who can’t get inside. The 26-year-old impressed in his fast win just lately in Riyadh.

Atif Oberlton (10-0, 8 KOs)

Oberlton was a embellished beginner domestically the place he received the 2016 and 2018 Nationwide Golden Gloves titles and 2018 Elite Nationwide Championships title. The Philadelphian fell wanting qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, shedding within the trials to Rahim Gonzalez. Since turning skilled in 2021 the 25-year-old has moved at an inexpensive tempo. He has jab and is defensively accountable, however it’s his energy that catches the attention by 10 fights.

Dilshodbek Ruzmetov (3-0, 1 KOs)

The Uzbekistan-born fighter was a standout beginner who received silver on the 2019 World Championships and reached the final 16 on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics earlier than claiming gold at 2021 Asian Championships. He made his professional debut in 2021 but it surely’s been gradual progress since for the 25-year-old southpaw. He’s tabbed to combat in Philadelphia on June 22, so hopefully he’ll turn into extra energetic. Appears to be like to have the potential to make a reputation for himself simply wants the chance.

Mehmet Unal (9-0, 7 KOs)

Ünal was beginner, gathering a number of nationwide titles. He represented his nation on the 2016 Rio Olympics, shedding to the eventual gold medalist. The Turkish fighter caught the eye of Eye of The Tiger, who introduced Ünal to Montreal, the place he now lives. He simply took half in his sixth combat in lower than 9 months and has clearly benefited with the fast turnaround and improved considerably throughout that time-frame. Ünal is bodily robust, likes to combat on the entrance foot, swarming his opponent and beating them down to go and physique. The 31-year-old is sort of a run-away prepare going downhill, for those who can’t cease him you’re in hassle. He’s coming off a profession finest win over the normally sturdy Rodolfo Gomez Jr., who had by no means been stopped regardless of sharing a hoop with Diego Pacheco, Lester Martinez and, most just lately, Ahmed Elbali. Unal scored a beatdown fourth-round stoppage to lift his inventory.

Ben Whittaker (7-0, 5 KOs)

The gifted Englishman claimed bronze on the 2019 World Championships and bronze on the 2020 Olympics. Since turning skilled Whittaker has showcased his undoubted expertise however has gained some criticism for showboating towards inferior opponents. He’ll take an extended awaited step up towards an unbeaten opponent on June 15.