Saldaña’s Top Five Prospects Who May Make a Splash in 2016 in the World of Boxing

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña (Who else would it be by?)

As I think about the future of boxing a few names come to mind. This article will showcase my top 5 rising stars. Stars who I feel are ready to shine in 2016. These 5 in my opinion can rise to the top of their respective divisions by the end of next year.

#5. Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez, 32-0, 24 KO’s. He is a 24 year old 6’2” Southpaw, Super Middleweight, from Sinaloa Mexico who is ranked #2 by the WBO, #2 by the WBA, #3 by the WBC, and #3 by the IBF at 168 pounds. Zurdo is the current NABF super middleweight champion, with three successful defenses. The WBO International super middleweight champion, with two successful defenses and the Former NABO super middleweight champion and former WBC Youth
middleweight champion, with seven successful defenses.

Ramirez’s next fight will be November 20th against Colombian Juan Camilo Novoa 25-6-1, 23 KO’s. Ramirez is the mandatory challenger for titleholder Arthur Abraham, but that fight doesn’t look like it will take place until early 2016. Zurdo I believe is ready for names such as Badou Jack, Anthony and Andre Dirrell and James DeGale. With his size and strength, I see Ramirez making noise for years to come in super middleweight division.

#4. Amir “Young Master” Imam, 18-0, 15 KO’s. He is another 24 year old who is an undefeated 140-pound contender who took on veteran former world title challenger Fernando “”La Fiera” Angulo, 29-10, 6 KO’s in a 10-round WBC super lightweight title eliminator in July at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

Imam is now the WBC’s No. 1 mandatory challenger to the winner of the Lucas Matthysse vs. Viktor Postol bout for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Title. One of boxing’s fastest-rising prospects, the 24-year-old Imam has knocked out 15 of his 18 professional opponents since turning pro in 2011. The Albany, N.Y., native is now in line for a big payday come 2016.

#3. Anthony Joshua, 14-0, 14 KO’s. Joshua is a 25 year old 6’6” undefeated heavyweight from Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom with a 100% KO rate. Joshua made quick work of the former undefeated Gary Cornish, 21-1,12 KO’s this past Saturday night at the 02 arena in London, knocking Cronish down twice and easily winning the fight with a first round knockout. Joshua is now scheduled to fight Dillian Whyte, 16-0, 13 KO’s on December 12th in London for the vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title the vacant BBBofC British heavyweight title and the WBC International heavyweight title.

Current IBO, IBF, WBO and WBA Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko,63-3, 53 KO’s has endorsed young Joshua. Klitschko had a close-up look at Joshua when the two had 20 rounds of sparring together last summer. The Ukrainian, unbeaten as the world champion for nine years, with 18 successive title defenses, was impressed with his skills and attitude. Klitschko said “I haven’t seen an athlete as athletic, as big, as fast, as talented as Anthony and if he’s going to continue the way he is, developing himself, the future belongs to him.”

#2. Felix “El Diamante” Verdejo, 18-0,13 KO’s. This 22 year old lightweight native son of San Juan Puerto Rico is on his way to boxing stardom. Felix made his HBO debut earlier this year taking on Ivan “Bam Bam” Najera, 16-1, 8 KO’s of San Antonio which at that time it was a battle of unbeaten lightweights. Felix easily defeated Najera by unanimous decision, knocking down Najera twice in the fight once in the 5th and once in the 8th to retain his WBO lightweight latino title. Top Rank used Verdejo’s heritage to their advantage that fight weekend ensuring Felix was part of New York City’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. Felix’s popularity has made him the new #1 pound for pound Puerto Rican fighter in the world. Although Felix had surgery to repair some issues with his left hand he is looking to return to the ring in late October early November in a fight in Puerto Rico. With a win, look for Top Rank to step up competition for Verdejo in 2016. Felix was ESPN’s 2014 Prospect of the Year

#1. Errol “The Truth” Spence, JR., 18-0,15 KO’s. Errol is from DeSoto Texas who is a 25 year old undefeated welterweight and my choice as top boxing prospect, one who I expect to make the biggest impact of all the boxing prospects in 2016. Spence, JR. may be the best natural talent of all. A U.S. Olympian and the number one rated amateur boxer at welterweight during the 2012 London Olympics, Errol is one of many prized fighters signed by Al Haymon and the fact that he is fighting in a loaded welterweight division only makes his future that much more tantalizing. Spence, JR. may already be the best young American at 147 pounds.

I still think Spence, JR. has plenty to prove, but he is truly one gifted fighter. At this point of his career, I think Spence, JR. can go toe to toe with the likes of a Keith Thurman or Shawn Porter. I also believe Errol would give both a highly competitive fight or even come out victorious against either fighter. For now, let me just tell it like it is. I think Spence, JR. fights a couple big names in the top 10 in the welterweight division to start off 2016 and ends the year fighting for a championship. Only time and boxing politics will tell….

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