Photo: PBC Boxing – Tim Tszyu, the next great super welterweight king?
I discovered my love for boxing around the same time I started shaving my beard in 1992, when I was about 10 years old if my math is right. Quickly, I found the 154-pound category and it became my favorite. I watched the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Zab Judah, and especially Ronald “Winky” Wright.
Fun Fact: The IBF calls it light-middleweight while the other three associations prefer the term super-welterweight: in French, super-mi-moyens.
This division has lost some of its luster lately. Jermell Charlo unified all the titles only to dodge his most legitimate and mandatory challenger, Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs). After being outclassed by Saul Alvarez, the WBC/WBA concocted a role for him as Unified Champion in Recess. Don’t ask me what that means—I’m as confused as a horse in a card game with all these active or inactive champions.
Since boxing and politics abhor a vacuum, some boxers have claimed vacant titles and others might play a significant role in revitalizing the division. It’s my duty to introduce those who will restore the 154-pound weight class to its former glory.
Israil Madrimov – 10-0, 8 KOs
“He’s the new Golovkin” – Eddie Hearn
Rightly nicknamed The Dream, the Uzbek is a threat to anyone stepping into the ring. He recently grabbed the WBA title by knocking out Magomed Kurbanov, who had an impressive 25-0 record, but he’s far from alone in this division.
Tim Tszyu – 24-0, 17 KOs
The son of an Australian legend delivers the goods. His last five victories are impressive: Takeshi Inoue, Terrell Gausha, Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo, and Brian Mendoza. I’ve seen boxers sit back once they become the number one contender, but Tim has doubled down. Today, he mocked Eddie Hearn for praising Madrimov as the greatest invention since the clothesline. Tszyu will face Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman on March 30th. Thurman has been so inactive that the WBO refuses to sanction it as a world championship fight.
Vergil Ortiz – 20-0, 20 KOs
The 25-year-old American dominated the competition before taking a short break in 2023. He’s good, very good, and his record is not padded—he has beaten and knocked out very legitimate opponents. I’d give anything to see him fight the top 5 in the division. His next bout is against Jose Ramirez in April. One last stop before a world championship fight.
Charles Conwell – 18-0, 13 KOs
An American from Detroit signed with Golden Boy and the number one contender for the WBC. He’s hungry and has announced his intention to fight for a championship in 2024. Be warned, he doesn’t mess around, throwing bombs with every punch. He’s also a great talker, having warned Tszyu and Charlo that they’re no longer safe with him in the mix.
To round out my list, the division is filled with promising young boxers like Erickson Lubin (26-2), Sebastian Fundora (20-1-1), and Xander Zayas (18-0).
Imagine if Terence Crawford and Errol Spence each decide to move up in weight. Terence has nothing left to prove at 147 pounds, and Errol, recovering from his cataracts, can no longer make the weight without weakening himself in the division where he held three titles.
I have an eye for this kind of prediction and I’m calling it now: the 154-pound division will be back at the top of the boxing world by the end of 2024.
