Five boxers ready to replace Mayweather as world’s best

Floyd Mayweather cemented his place as boxing’s pound-for-pound king with a second successive title defence over Marcos Maidana last week.

PBF’s record now stands at 47-0-0 with 26 wins by way of knockout and while the American may ultimately deny Amir Khan a chance to take his crown at 36 he has earned the right to sidestep that risk and retire with his flawless record intact.

Money is contracted with Showtime to fight on but his glittering career is winding down and soon the pound-for-pound throne will be vacant.

Here Ladbrokes News looks at five unbeaten fighters who could step up to fill that void in years to come.

Deontay Wilder

The brash American has his doubters, especially after being shown up in this sparring clip with David Haye, but the 28-year-old’s amateur pedigree proves he can box.

The Bronze Bomber is so called after finishing third in the Heavyweight event at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and he has gone from strength-to-strength in the professional ranks.

He has won all 32 of his fights so far by knockout, with 18 of those KOs coming in the first round.

Any perceived lack of talent is more than made up for in raw power and a lack of genuine quality in the Heavyweight ranks – once Dr Steelhammer bows out – means titles and an unblemished career could materialise.

Anthony Joshua

Britain’s great Heavyweight hope – sorry Tyson and Dereck – has started with bang in the pro ranks – literally.

Eight wins and eight KOs from eight fights have displayed the 2012 Olympic Super Heavyweight champion’s power even if he has yet to be given a credible opponent.

At 24 AJ is unlikely to cross paths with Waldimir Klitschko so the pathway to the world title looks relatively clear – though a match with Wilder would be interesting.

Terence Crawford

The 26-year-old American is the current WBO Lightweight title holder and boasts a record of 24-0-0 with 17 knockouts.

The Nebraska native devastated Scots when beating Ricky Burns and will put his belt on the line against the dangerous Raymundo Beltran next time out.

He may lack the punch power of others on this list but has all the skills to avoid defeat throughout his career.

Kell Brook

Before his recent stabbing in Tenerife Brook was floating on cloud nine after beating Shawn Porter to realise his life’s dream and lift the IBF Welterweight belt above his head.

The 28-year-old is on the road to recovery and due to extend his 33-0-0 record next year when looking for career KO number 24.

A domestic clash with Khan looks to be his destiny and a win there could cement his status as one of the best.

Andre Ward

Famous on these shores for being one of just two men to have beaten Carl Froch the fact the Cobra is not clamouring to right that wrong speaks volumes of how highly the American is rated.

Still the WBA and The Ring Super Middleweight champion, Ward’s record now reads 27-0-0 with 14 KOs.

Having already beaten Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Chad Dawson he is running out of career-defining opponents – a second Froch fight could therefore be on his radar – but even if he retired now the 2004 Lightweight Olympic champion would feel his career stacks up against Mayweather’s.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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