The current Top 10 world cruiserweights

Left Hook dot com has just posted their list of the Top 10 world cruiser weights:


1. Steve Cunningham (24-2, 12 KO)

Ah, U.S.S. Cunningham, the nicest man in boxing. Since losing that epic war to Adamek in 2008, Cunningham has cut his ties with Don King and gone to Germany to find a new promoter, which was smart because all of his biggest fights are realistically going to happen in Germany or elsewhere in Europe. He still isn't fighting enough, though. He beat Wayne Braithwaite in 2009 in Florida, and since heading to Germany has defeated Troy Ross in what was shaping up to be a very tight bout before a premature cut stoppage, and in February he defeated Enad Licina. I really hope we see Cunningham fight a couple more times this year. There are plenty of opponents out there that would make for a fine fight, and Cunningham being a bit vulnerable all the time always makes him interesting to watch. Also worth noting: Cunningham is 34 years old now.


2. Marco Huck (31-1, 23 KO)

Huck may have been a bit lucky to escape Denis Lebedev in December, but he did so. It was good to see him matched against someone on his level again, though. Nothing against Adam "Swamp Donkey" Richards, Brian Minto and Matt Godfrey, but none of them were close to being able to handle Huck's ultra-aggressive, mean-spirited style. Huck is currently set to face the thought-to-be-retired Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni (27-3-1, 11 KO) on April 2. Fragmoneni is a small cruiser (about 5'9") and looks his age (41 now) in recent fights.


3. Troy Ross (24-2, 16 KO)

The Guyana-born Ross, based in Canada, has had an odd career, and like Cunningham, he's older than you might expect at first (35). Ross was an Olympian for Canada in 1996 and 2000 but suffered an upset loss as a pro in 2005, and after one more fight, announced an early retirement. He came back in 2007, wound up winning the Commonwealth title and never defending it, and in 2009 won "The Contender." Since that he's just sort of existed, as happens with a lot of "Contender" products, but he's got real skills. I'd love to see him rematch Cunningham, but get the feeling that's a pipe dream.


4. Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KO)

31-year-old Russian southpaw Lebedev gave Marco Huck all he could handle in December. That's another rematch I'd like to see but won't hold my breath waiting for, sadly. Lebedev has a tentative date of June 4 in Moscow for his return.


5. Danny Green (31-3, 27 KO)

With his November win over BJ Flores in a fight actually within earshot of the cruiserweight limit, Green finally became a legitimate cruiser instead of a Super Light Heavyweight or whatever the hell he was doing with his 185-pound catchweight fights. Green's ego has become quite stunning, but I think you kind of have to forgive it -- he's a career fighter, a tough guy, and he's 38 years old. Of course he's going to try to take advantage of whatever is left of his career. He seems keenly aware that he's not getting younger, without actually saying anything about it, and he knows he's a real draw in Australia pretty much no matter who he fights. But hopefully his handlers can stick with at least Flores-level opponents and spare us the farces against Manny Siaca and Paul Briggs.


6. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (44-2-1, 32 KO)

Wlodarczyk had more trouble than was expected last September against Jason Robinson, but he was also coming back from injury. An April 2 fight with Francisco Palacios (20-0, 13 KO) should be taken for what it is. Yes, Palacios is undefeated, but he's fought nobody and he's 33 years old.


7. Yoan Pablo Hernandez (24-1, 13 KO)

Hernandez, 26, still has a lot of future left in this division, and has quietly become a strong contender and would make for a good opponent to anyone.


8. Alexander Frenkel (23-0, 18 KO)

Frenkel, the current European champion, hasn't fought since September, when he nearly decapitated Enzo Maccarinelli.


9. Guillermo Jones (37-3-2, 29 KO)

Now 38, Jones is still a good fighter when he actually bothers to fight, which isn't very often. Chances are quite good he'll be out of the rankings in October when it's been a year.


10. Ola Afolabi (16-2-3, 7 KO)

Got a win on the Klitschko-Solis undercard this weekend.



The cruiser weights are often a hot topic at ESB - can't wait to hear the moaning that they've got Green placed at 5.

 

The cruiser-weights are not a particularly inspiring division when you read down through the names.

Was waiting eagerly for the barrage of criticism for them having Green at number 5 - but then again look at the fighters below Green - who would you place above him? There's very little there!


Then again, the heavy-weight division is also uninspiring. It's been in free-fall for years, and is desperately clinging to the hope that Klit v Haye might breathe some life back.

 

Agreed. It's a wide open division just begging for a new, young talent to come along.

 

There's ever chance you're on the money there Bulij - though if Tarver can fight and win at heavyweight he can come in as 200 lb cruiserweight too.

 

Jones no. The other two have a case, but it's a very thin division.