The Super Middle Weight Division 2026-2028

[Taansend]

Get your crystal balls out & tell us who you think will be top dog or even the top three dags.

I've added a poll but not included Canelo as I think he's now in the same stage of his career as Joshua, Fury and maybe even Usyk - if he fights Wilder. I also excluded Charlo. Fight me over that if you want.

You can choose 3 choices & change it if you want.

I am a big fan of Hamzah. I think he's a great ambassador for the UK. I really hope he goes on to have a great career but I'm not sold yet.

Iglesias seems to be the real deal but we've seen that before with Cuban fighters. They look great up until they get to the 12 round level then falter. I don't think that's the case with him though. He looks right hard.

Munguia & Pacheco will be there or about for a few years.

Martinez really impressed me and I would fornicating love Guatemala to have a World Champ. It seems like a boxing desert despite being surrounded by tough boxers. Guatemala is a beautiful place to visit.

Not sure if Mbilli is really good or a flat track bully. We'll find out. Same level as Hamzah to me.

I was going to add Callum Simpson to him but Troy Williamson did the fornicating business tonight & while I respect what he did, I don't think he's going to rule this division. But I would be delighted to be proved wrong. He's a top bloke.

[SeanBrennan]

Sheeraz for me

[rd350lc]

Get your crystal balls out & tell us who you think will be top dog or even the top three dags.

I was going to add Callum Simpson to him but Troy Williamson did the fornicating business tonight & while I respect what he did, I don't think he's going to rule this division. But I would be delighted to be proved wrong. He's a top bloke.

He didn't look himself last night, absolutely no snap on anything he threw.

People saying he's tight at the weight, so a move up is on the cards, he's a big fella to make SM, but there again, so is Sheeraz.

[MPW]

It's Iglesias for me, although I thought the same thing about his fellow Cuban, Tellez at SWW.

On the bright side, there are a number of high caliber boxers in the division who could rise to the top, and I think this weight class has the potential to become one of the hottest in the sport.

[Taansend]

It's Iglesias for me, although I thought the same thing about his fellow Cuban, Tellez at SWW.

I too tend to have a little bias towards Cuban fighters - & I have been proved wrong many a time

But Iglesias seems to be the real deal

[Cent0089]

Canelo still isnt retired and he is still good enough to handle most of those guys. Iglesias is best of them, but he will fight bums and cry how everybody avoid him. Wondering why majority vote vor Sheeraz.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) confirmed it received official notification on Crawford’s behalf formally vacating the WBO super middleweight championship.

The title is now vacant, and the organization’s championship committee is expected to convene in the coming weeks to determine the next eligible contenders, opening the door to new title activity at 168 pounds.

[MPW]

Canelo still isnt retired and he is still good enough to handle most of those guys. Iglesias is best of them, but he will fight bums and cry how everybody avoid him. Wondering why majority vote vor Sheeraz.

Good point about Alvarez. We shouldn't just arbitrarily dismiss him, although many of us - including me - seem to have done just that. He may be on the downward slope, but he is still a good fighter and more than capable of winning bouts.

[Taansend]

Canelo still isnt retired and he is still good enough to handle most of those guys. Iglesias is best of them, but he will fight bums and cry how everybody avoid him. Wondering why majority vote vor Sheeraz.

I agree but I just wanted this conversation to be about the others. The future.

Plus Canelo's return is said to be in the 3rd quarter of next year when he'll be 36.

Also, since Bivol he hasn't been good to watch, just doing a later stage Mayweather eeking out UDs & his opponents have either never fought again or got battered.

Scull - fights Bank at the end of January
Berlanga - battered by Sheeraz
Munguia - kayoed by a light punching Frenchman a weight division lower than him.
Charlo - ........
Ryder - stopped & retired by Munguia.
GGG - was well past it by then & retired.

So as great as Canelo has been, I'd rather the oxygen be used on fighters coming up.

[JamesPhilips]

Canelo still isnt retired and he is still good enough to handle most of those guys. Iglesias is best of them, but he will fight bums and cry how everybody avoid him. Wondering why majority vote vor Sheeraz.

I agree but I just wanted this conversation to be about the others. The future.

Plus Canelo's return is said to be in the 3rd quarter of next year when he'll be 36.

Also, since Bivol he hasn't been good to watch, just doing a later stage Mayweather eeking out UDs & his opponents have either never fought again or got battered.

Scull - fights Bank at the end of January
Berlanga - battered by Sheeraz
Munguia - kayoed by a light punching Frenchman a weight division lower than him.
Charlo - ........
Ryder - stopped & retired by Munguia.
GGG - was well past it by then & retired.

So as great as Canelo has been, I'd rather the oxygen be used on fighters coming up.

I still yearn for the glory days of Murray Sutherland and Chong Pal Park…

Edit - can’t find the thread but wasn’t there one on world champs who lost their first fight? Murray lost his first 2


Also I just discovered Roy Gumbs fought for the world title!???

[mickey1975]

Johnny Nelson lost his first three.

[Taansend]

Canelo still isnt retired and he is still good enough to handle most of those guys. Iglesias is best of them, but he will fight bums and cry how everybody avoid him. Wondering why majority vote vor Sheeraz.

I agree but I just wanted this conversation to be about the others. The future.

Plus Canelo's return is said to be in the 3rd quarter of next year when he'll be 36.

Also, since Bivol he hasn't been good to watch, just doing a later stage Mayweather eeking out UDs & his opponents have either never fought again or got battered.

Scull - fights Bank at the end of January
Berlanga - battered by Sheeraz
Munguia - kayoed by a light punching Frenchman a weight division lower than him.
Charlo - ........
Ryder - stopped & retired by Munguia.
GGG - was well past it by then & retired.

So as great as Canelo has been, I'd rather the oxygen be used on fighters coming up.

I still yearn for the glory days of Murray Sutherland and Chong Pal Park…

Edit - can’t find the thread but wasn’t there one on world champs who lost their first fight? Murray lost his first 2


Also I just discovered Roy Gumbs fought for the world title!???

Murray Sutherland is the greatest ever unknown British fighter, without a doubt.

He fought at least ten really good fighters including the incredible Johnny Townsend

[JamesPhilips]

I agree but I just wanted this conversation to be about the others. The future.

Plus Canelo's return is said to be in the 3rd quarter of next year when he'll be 36.

Also, since Bivol he hasn't been good to watch, just doing a later stage Mayweather eeking out UDs & his opponents have either never fought again or got battered.

Scull - fights Bank at the end of January
Berlanga - battered by Sheeraz
Munguia - kayoed by a light punching Frenchman a weight division lower than him.
Charlo - ........
Ryder - stopped & retired by Munguia.
GGG - was well past it by then & retired.

So as great as Canelo has been, I'd rather the oxygen be used on fighters coming up.

I still yearn for the glory days of Murray Sutherland and Chong Pal Park…

Edit - can’t find the thread but wasn’t there one on world champs who lost their first fight? Murray lost his first 2


Also I just discovered Roy Gumbs fought for the world title!???

Murray Sutherland is the greatest ever unknown British fighter, without a doubt.

He fought at least ten really good fighters including the incredible Johnny Townsend

lol to be fair he beat Tony Mundine Sr, Jean Marie Emebe, Alex Ramos, Wilfred Scypion and went distance with Tommy Hearns, Michael Spinks, JB Williamson, Bobby Czyz and fought loads of other top fighters…. He really is the forgotten Scottish champion

[gilgamesh]

I feel like Sheeraz and Canelo will each pick up a belt, and maybe make a defense or so on the way to meeting each other in 2027 or the back end of 2026, but the way the sport works...I'm gonna say 2027.

[2287897]

I also find the 2027 scenario quite reasonable. Both Sheeraz and Canelo could win the belt and defend a few fights to build their reputation and value. With how boxing usually works, superfights rarely happen early, so I don't expect them to meet before the end of 2026.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez, Osleys Iglesias Will Be Contacted First For Vacant IBF Title Fight

The IBF is ready to crown a new super middleweight champion.

Terence Crawford recently announced that he was officially retiring following his win over Canelo Alvarez on September 13 in Las Vegas. The sanctioning body declared that it received confirmation of Crawford’s decision.

The IBF is on the verge of ordering two highly ranked contenders to fight for its vacant strap.

“The International Boxing Federation (IBF) received official confirmation on December 23, that Terence Crawford has retired from the ring, thus relinquishing the IBF Super Middleweight title,” the IBF sent in a written statement to The Ring.

“Crawford’s achievements in boxing are remarkable, and the IBF is proud that he was our champion. His legacy, marked by his dedication and relentless pursuit for greatness, will inspire many boxers for years to come. We congratulate Terence on an exceptional, extraordinary career and wish him well in his future pursuits. The IBF will proceed to request availability and order the two leading available contenders in the Super Middleweight rankings to negotiate for the vacant title.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[KiwiRider]

I think Sheeraz, as long as he stays a SMW, is probably the top dog.
How he makes weight must be tough.
I fancy him as a LHW as well, maybe more.
Canelo is slowing every fight. It's a tough call predicting him to maintain a championship level of attributes all year.
Once guys slow, they can fall off a cliff in reflexes. And I'd hate for him to finish up as a punching bag relying on his chin to keep him in fights.

[MPW]

I think Sheeraz, as long as he stays a SMW, is probably the top dog.
How he makes weight must be tough.
I fancy him as a LHW as well, maybe more.
Canelo is slowing every fight. It's a tough call predicting him to maintain a championship level of attributes all year.
Once guys slow, they can fall off a cliff in reflexes. And I'd hate for him to finish up as a punching bag relying on his chin to keep him in fights.

Personally, I would like to see Sheeraz and Iglesias square off, but I don't see it happening in the immediate future. I could see it taking place a year or so from now, especially if they both have titles.

While Alvarez has been selective in who he fights and when he fights them, I think that will be even more noticeable when he returns to the ring. I don't see him taking on any legitimate threats, but, then as his reflexes diminish, more and more fighters may be viewed as threats. I also don't want to see him become a punching bag.

[mickey1975]

Troy Williamson is said to be getting the IBF shot.

[Bigdogsnose]

Its a bad list isnt it. SMW was long my favorite division. Shite at the min.

Think Sheeraz has the backing to improve as he needs to.

Hopefully theres some new blood in the divisiom soon.

[MPW]

Troy Williamson is said to be getting the IBF shot.

I think he would be a deserving selection to fight Iglesias for the belt.

Hate to admit I thought Williamson would be fodder against Simpson, but he certainly proved me wrong. If he gets the title shot, it would definitely be an earned opportunity.

[Taansend]

So now we have all the fights lined up (I think).

WBC - Christian Mbilli is the Champion but Lester Martinez is fighting Immanuwel Aleem for the Interim belt. I don't think Mbilli has a a fight lined up.

WBA - Armando 'Toro' Resendiz is the Champion. There's rumours of him fighting Munguia next.

IBF - Vacant with Osleys Iglesias v Pavel Silyagin being lined up for the belt on April 9th. Silyagin drew with Shvendko who was kayoed in 1 by Iglesias. That doesn't mean anything on the night but the Cuban has been my pick for 168 for a couple of years now.

WBO - Vacant with Hamzah Sheeraz v Alem Begic (Germany's Lou Gent ) going up for the belt.

And looming above all of them is the return of Canelo in September on the Mexico versus the World belt in Saudi Arabia.

Who will win the lottery & be Canelo's opponent that night? And will the division get unified again anytime soon?

[JC]

Would love to see Mbilli vs Sheeraz.

[Taansend]

Would love to see Mbilli vs Sheeraz.

I'd be pretty happy with most of them against each other.