This weekend’s action showcased the scintillating talent and skill of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, Keyshawn Davis and Abdullah Mason: four of boxing’s rising stars.
Each one of them, of course, has already cultivated their own reputation and fan-base, looking to become the next pound-for-pound king of their sport.
And yet, with Oleksandr Usyk, Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford occupying the top of the tree, it would appear that they still have a way to go.
Nevertheless, it is worth considering which fighter in their 20s has shown the greatest potential to become the next face of boxing, a status that arguably still belongs to Canelo Alvarez.
10. Adam Azim
Under the tutelage of esteemed trainer Shane McGuigan, Adam Azim continues to demonstrate his remarkable hunger for improvement.
The 22-year-old claimed the European super lightweight title with a comprehensive display against Franck Petitjean last year, utilizing his blistering hand speed to produce an emphatic 10th-round stoppage.
In his last outing against fellow Brit Ohara Davies, though, Azim took a more measured approach before securing another stunning finish.
9. Abdullah Mason
Despite getting floored twice in the first round, Mason kept his unbeaten record intact by dispatching Yohan Vasquez in the second round last Friday.
In addition to his explosive power, the 20-year-old seemingly possesses an elite boxing brain, which he uses to create openings with his educated footwork.
And now, Mason can take plenty of confidence into his next outing after overcoming his first gut check.
8. Hamzah Sheeraz
With an 80 percent knockout ratio, Hamzah Sheeraz has become one of the most formidable middleweights on the planet.
The 25-year-old comes off a destructive first-round finish over Tyler Denny, which followed his calculated 11th-round stoppage against American contender Austin Willams.
Now, Sheeraz is firmly on the cusp of a world title shot and, along with several other fighters on this list, has the potential to take British boxing to a new level.
7. Xander Zayas
Xander Zayas has amassed 20 victories while barely losing a round.
In truth, the 22-year-old is well beyond his years when it comes to boxing maturity, setting the standard for any young fighter climbing up the ranks with his professionalism.
And so, with the super welterweight contender flying the flag for Puerto Rico, Zayas will undoubtedly be looking to follow in the footsteps of legends such as Miguel Cotto and Felix Trinidad.
6. Caroline Dubois
Since winning an Olympic silver medal back in 2021, Caroline Dubois has taken to professional boxing like a duck to water, claiming the WBC interim strap in only her 10th contest.
As another product of the McGuigans’ stable, the 23-year-old has refined a well-rounded style that could see her reach similar heights to her brother, IBF world heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois.
5. Diego Pacheco
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has been banging the drum for a showdown between Diego Pacheco and former world champion Jaime Munguia, highlighting the confidence he has for the super middleweight contender.
After all, the 23-year-old comes off a dominant sixth-round stoppage over seasoned operator Maciej Sulecki, sitting just below the world scene at 168 lbs.
4. Moses Itauma
At the age of 19, Moses Itauma has expressed a desire to break Mike Tyson’s record in becoming the youngest world heavyweight champion of all time.
Before the Brit gets too ahead of himself, though, he must first take care of business against Australian contender Demsey McKean.
Yet still, Itauma has already displayed a ruthless killer instinct that could see him go all the way.
3. Keyshawn Davis
As a decorated amateur, Keyshawn Davis’ dazzling skills were always going to translate to the longer format of professional boxing.
Sure enough, the 25-year-old is already on an upwards trajectory towards becoming a world champion, with last Friday’s destructive second-round stoppage over Gustavo Lemos putting the lightweight scene on notice.
2. Jaron Ennis
While Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has already claimed his first world title, one suspects that his ceiling is by no means close to being reached.
Rather, the American has the ability to become a multi-division king, targeting the likes of Crawford and Vergil Ortiz Jr for when he inevitably steps up to 154 lbs.
1. Jesse Rodriguez
There is no denying that Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, arguably the most complete boxer on this list, is the full package.
After defending his WBC world super flyweight title on Saturday – demolishing Pedro Guevara in the third round – the 24-year-old looks set to enhance his reputation as the legend slayer, having already defeated the likes of Juan Francisco Estrada and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.