Where is the UK Super Middleweight Talent?
For decades there has been a disproportionate amount of UK super middleweight talent, but in recent times the pipeline has dried up.
When you cast an eye over the history of the division you’ll see names such as Calzaghe, Eubank, Benn, Froch, Woodhall and Reid. In more recent times we’ve had DeGale, Groves and Saunders. From the 80’s through to the 2020’s the UK had representation at the very top end of the super middleweight division. The GB squad was a talent factory, supplementing the grass roots of the sport.
But now, nothing.
Outside of Canelo Alvarez and perhaps Christian Mbilli, there’s no real world class talent in the super middleweight division. You could make a case for Munguia, but Alvarez’s domination of his Mexican rival showed the true gap between the champion and challenger in the super middleweights.
The only reason we can’t be sure about Mbilli yet is we haven’t seen him in there with Alvarez or Munguia, so we’re unsure about how good he really is.
The days of the division being stacked with talent from the UK and abroad are long gone. Some of the biggest names in boxing were the super middleweights, but that has totally changed. Internationally, the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Andre Ward, Roy Jones Jr, Mikkel Kessler and Steve Collins all graced the stage at 168lbs. Hopefully we’ll see some change soon, because the combination of size, power and athleticism makes for one of the most exciting divisions in boxing when the fight is right.
Domestic Super Middleweight Talent
But back to the point… Where is the British super middleweight talent?
Billy Joe Saunders was the last great hope for us. He was (perhaps remains – we’re not sure what’s going on with BJS) the most naturally talented British boxer in the super middleweight division. He handled Eubank easily when they were both younger, and whilst Eubank Jr has stayed in the game, he’s never reached the levels Saunders did.
John Ryder flirted with the top, but he was always a nearly man. Losses to domestic rivals Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith knocked him down the domestic list, and title losses to Alvarez and Munguia showed him to be just about world level. He retired with his head held high in February, having given everything to the sport and achieving more than most probably expected.
Callum Smith showed the talent, but his 6’3 frame was a clue that he wouldn’t be hanging around the division for long. He’s moved up to light heavy and made a decent fist of things, so time will tell how that goes. There’s little to no chance of him coming back down, so we can assume he’s gone for good from the super middles.
Eubank Jr isn’t getting any younger (or better), and Liam Smith is a game fighter, but age isn’t on his side and he lacks the true world class talent of some of his rivals and British super middleweight predecessors.
The Future UK Super Middleweight Talent
Unfortunately there’s nothing on the near-term horizon to fill the void left by Smith and Saunders when they vacated the division.
When you scan the BoxRec list, you’re just not seeing any names that get you excited. There’s nobody to continue the legacy of the greats from the 80s, 90s and 00s, and that’s a huge shame. We produce a lot of great boxers, but it seems like there’s a gap in the market for a Brit at 168.
Let’s hope I’m made to eat my words and someone comes out of the shadows to dominate at world level. All of the greats in the division are getting on in boxing terms, so we’ve got to hope that the guys at GB boxing are working hard to produce the next Joe Calzaghe or Carl Froch.
In case you need a reminder of how good Joe Calzaghe was, take a look at this…
