Christian Mbilli is on the biggest card boxing has seen in years. Not only is he the WBC Interim Champion with his eyes on a showdown with the Canelo–Crawford winner in 2026, but the 30-year-old super middleweight (29-0) is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport.
Turki Alalshikh famously said he no longer wanted “Tom and Jerry” fights, and Mbilli–Martinez is being touted by fans as the action-packed fight of the Netflix card.
The matchup sparked a deeper dive into the current must-see fighters, the ones you can confidently tell casual fans to watch because they guarantee fireworks.
Christian Mbilli
24 KOs in 29 fights. Mbilli comes forward from the opening bell, throwing heavy combinations. A few highlight-reel KOs (check his finish of Nadjib Mohammedi), including a 1st-round demolition of Maciej Sulecki in his last fight, make him a no-brainer for this list.
Lester Martinez
16 KOs in 19 wins, including 6 in his last 7 fights. The 29-year-old Guatemalan is heavy-handed and dangerous. Fans of the ProBox series know just how well rounded and dangerous Martinez is.
Photo: Boxing News – Lester Martinez
Osleys Iglesias
The boogeyman of the super-middleweight division… A 93% KO ratio with brutal finishes (like Shvedenko). Iglesias was once a secret but is now gaining momentum fast.
Moses Itauma
Touted as the future of the heavyweight division. Just 20 years old, Itauma has won 9 straight fights inside two rounds. His destruction of Dillian Whyte this past August even has Turki hinting at an Itauma–Usyk clash.
Jai Opetaia
The cruiserweight kingpin. He’s won 5 of his last 6 by KO, with his lone decision being a war with Mairis Briedis on the Usyk–Fury 1 undercard, Briedis’s final fight.
Artur Beterbiev
Even at 40, Beterbiev remains a knockout machine. He carried a 100% KO streak until his two battles with rival Dmitry Bivol. His pressure and power have made him one of the most exciting fighters of the last decade.
Photo: Boxing Scene – Artur Beterbiev
David Benavidez
The man many say Canelo has avoided. A volume-punching monster now campaigning in the light-heavyweight division Benavidez is relentless. A showdown with Beterbiev would be savage.
Imam Khataev
9 KOs in 11 fights. Any doubts about his entertainment value vs better opposition ended with his knockdown against David Morrell this past July. Khataev delivers drama.
Janibek Alimkhanuly
10 KOs in his last 11 fights. One of the most avoided fighters today, and for good reason.
Subriel Matías
22 KOs in 23 wins. The Puerto Rican junior welterweight applies nonstop pressure from the opening bell. A potential clash with Dalton Smith could be a fight-of-the-year candidate.
Photo: Ring Magazine – Subriel Matías
Gervonta “Tank” Davis
His last fight vs Lamont Roach wasn’t vintage Tank, but there’s a reason he’s cashing in big against Jake Paul despite a 70-pound size difference. His star power and KO ability keep him a must-watch.
Naoya Inoue
A pound-for-pound great with a seek-and-destroy style. Even after getting dropped vs Cardenas, Inoue came back and finished him in the 8th. The Monster always delivers.
