Photo: Punching Grace – Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) will face Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs), on August 17, in a showdown between 2 of the best boxers that have – yet – to lift a world title.
A few weeks ago, my old friend Laurent Poulin made an interesting statement saying that Sergiy Derevyanchenko was currently the best boxer to never – or not yet – wins a world title.
I agreed, but even more so, I liked the idea so much that I decided to push the exercise further.
Mixing those waiting for their chance and those hoping to be luckier on the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th try, here is my pound-for-pound ranking of ‘uncrowned’ boxing’s best.
1. Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs)
We repeat ourselves; Derevyanchenko has five defeats, but each of them was against a former, present or future world champion. All of these losses were competitive, and some of them even seemed to go in his favour. Even BoxRec’s public scorecards gave him the decision against Carlos Adames… who won the WBC 160 lb title one fight later.
Before that, it was against Golovkin, Jacobs and Charlo and even then, in his debut at 168 lb, he delivered the fight of the year to Jaime Munguia. It is a choice that should be unanimous.
Proof: he will almost surely get a 4th chance if he manages to upset Mbilli.
2. Robson Conceicao (18-2-1, 9 KOs)
Brazilian Olympic gold medallist Conceicao is of the same mould as the Ukrainian, although his story is even more frustrating. A majority of boxing fans had won against Oscar Valdez (2021)… but not the judges.
Context: Valdez had failed a drug test just before the fight.
Then he gets his chance against Shakur Stevenson (2022) and, much like Derevyanchenko against Charlo, loses a little more decisively.
Context: Stevenson had missed weight 24 hours earlier…
Afterwards, he got a third chance against Emanuel Navarrete (2023). The amateurs still had him winning, but the judges saw it as… a draw!
However, don’t be discouraged, ‘Nino’ Conceicao will soon have a 4th chance, on July 6, against O’Shaquie Foster for the WBC 130 lb title.
3. Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs)
A choice that will undoubtedly provoke reactions, but I’m going there anyway. Unlike the majority of the roster, ‘KingRy’ has only himself to blame for missing weight against Haney.
One fact remains: this is the greatest victory anyone in this text has.
Due to his positive doping test for Ostarine, it may become a ‘no-contest,’ but pending a verdict, remembering the Lucian Bute case, the Californian is innocent until proven guilty in my book.
4. William Zepeda (30-0, 26 KOs)
If this were a ranking of the best boxers that has never get a title shot, he would be first by a wide margin. The dangerous Mexican crushed Hughes, Gesta, Tanajara, he dominated Joseph Diaz and Rene Alvarado.
Therefore, no one is ranked higher than him in the entire sport.
Hear me out: he is an IBF and WBA mandatory challenger as well as a WBC and WBO #1 contender. Even more, he is one of 6 boxers currently perfect in 30 fights and more.
5. Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs)
The German giant made himself known against Derek Chisora, revealed himself to everyone against Arslanbek Makhmudov and recently became a mandatory challenger against Frank Sanchez. If there was no congestion at the top, he would have already, at least, gotten his chance…
6. Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs)
Same story as Kabayel, in a world where ‘Canelo’ Alvarez does not exist, the Montrealer could have gotten his chance after his victory over Góngora. Same thing after spectacularly dominating Murdock on ESPN.
On a mission: facing Derevyanchenko on August 17, he will try to become essential and inevitable among the 168 lb…
7. Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs)
Another unique folder. After winning his first 26 fights, the Englishman gets his shot at Josh Taylor’s quadruple crown. He lost by a split decision, but the public saw her as the winner…
Catterall won his comeback fight, then sent Jorge Linares to retirement and, on May 25, won his rematch against Taylor.
Ironically: the Scot had meanwhile lost his gold to Teofimo Lopez, so Catterall got the rematch, but not the belt yet.
8. Richardson Hitchins (18-0, 7 KOs)
Haiti’s very own at the Rio Olympics is nearing the top, at 140 lbs. Already tested repeatedly, he rose to the challenge each time against Argenis Mendez, Malik Hawkins, John Bauza, Jose Zepeda and Gustavo Lemos. These victories now place him as an IBF mandatory challenger to Subriel Matias.
The only downside: his lack of power and his defensive skills sometimes seem to slow him down offensively, making him prone to fights that are sometimes closer than expected…
9. Sandor Martin (42-3, 15 KOs)
We were talking about Garcia’s big victory over Haney above and in this regard, the Spaniard undoubtedly comes in 2nd place. In 2021, although no title was at stake, Martin caused a huge surprise by obtaining a majority decision against Mikey Garcia (40-2, 30 KOs).
Afterwards, however, he found himself on the wrong end of a close decision in 2022, when he lost to Teofimo Lopez, despite falling to the mat in ‘Takeover.’
If he is a little lower, it is because he lost more decisively against Antony Yigit in 2017. Currently, however, Martin is a mandatory challenger to Devin Haney, so he could finally realize the big dream soon.
10. Vergil Ortiz Jr (21-0, 21 KOs)
Maybe not the most tested of the lot, but he makes up for it by being the most dominant. His knockout ratio is perfect and it has led him to be currently mandatory challenger of Ismail Madrimov.
Along the way, he cleaned up some old Golden Boy contracts, like Mauricio Herrera and Antonio Orozco. He also beat out a few other resonant names, such as Brad Salomon, Samuel Vargas, Maurice Hooker, Egidijus Kavaliauskas…
The only flaw we can see is that all those fights were at 147 lb and now that some health issues have brought him down to 154 lb, he hasn’t proven much yet.
Still… when his time will come, I have no doubt that he will prove that he belongs at elite level, like many on that list.
Honourable mentions
-Conor Benn (23-0, 14 KOs)
-Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs)
-Arnold Barboza Jr (30-0, 11 KOs)
-Gary Antuanne Russell (17-0, 17 KOs)
-Jesse Hart (31-3, 25 KOs)
*Note that regular and interim champions are excluded from this list.
