Super middleweight boxing rankings: The past two weeks have been busy ones for the super middleweight division with three of its top fighters stepping in the ring in high stakes bouts: Canelo Alvarez, Anthony Dirrell, and Fedor Chudinov.
The super middleweight division is filled with top-notch fighters that have great achievements in the sport of boxing. Of the 10 fighters on this list, nine have previously held world championships in either the super middleweight division or other weight classes.
With that being said, there is little debate about who is at the top of the division as he is widely considered by boxing fans and pundits to be the pound-for-pound king in the sport. Let’s dive into our super middleweight boxing rankings.
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10. Edgar Berlanga
- Edgar Berlanga record: 16-0, 16 KOs
While Edgar Berlanga is the youngest fighter on this list at 23-years-old and has yet to reach world championship status, he has made a major impact in his brief time in the professional ranks. Not only has Berlanga won all 16 of his fights by knockout, but he has also done it all within the first round. What makes this even more impressive is that each of his last five opponents has a winning record. He will look to keep his first-round knockout streak intact when he returns to the ring on April 24th. If he does, Berlanga should have no problem sustaining a top-10 spot in our super middleweight boxing rankings.
9. Fedor Chudinov
- Fedor Chudinov record: 23-2-1
A native of Russia, Fedor Chudinov turn pro in 2009 fighting his first four professional fights in the United States. Since then, however, all but five of his fights have taken place in Russia. Chudinov first made his mark on the super middleweight division in December 2014 when he beat then-undefeated Ben McCulloch by second-round knockout to win the WBA interim super middleweight championship.
His next fight saw him win the WBA world title beating Felix Sturm to win the belt. After a successful title defense, he lost the belt back to Sturm losing by majority decision. He failed to win the now vacant title back losing to George Groves by 6th round knockout. Since then, he has gone 9-0-1 including winning the WBA Gold Super Middleweight championship after beating Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam. His bout last week against Isaac Chilemba ended in a split decision draw.
8. Rocky Fielding
- Rocky Fielding record: 28-2, 16 KOs
Although Rocky Fielding is a former world champion, he has not been able to set himself from his competition in the super middleweight division. Before his world championship win, Fielding saw his unbeaten run ended by Callum Smith in November 2015 losing by 1st round knockout. He recovered nicely winning his next five fights including a win against John Ryder. In July 2018, Fielding would win the WBA Super Middleweight championship after beating Tyron Zeuge by fifth-round TKO. He would unsuccessfully defend the title to Canelo Alvarez that December losing by third-round knockout.
7. Anthony Dirrell
- Anthony Dirrell record: 33-2-2, 24 KOs
Another former world champion, Anthony Dirrell is the longest-tenured professional fighter on this list, turning pro in January 2005. It would not be until December 2013 that Dirrell got his first world title shot facing off against Sakio Bika for the WBC Super Middleweight championship. Although the fight ended in a draw, Dirrell would seize another opportunity for the title against Bika this time winning by unanimous decision. He would subsequently lose the belt in his next fight to Badou Jack giving him the first loss of his professional career.
Four years later, Dirrell would regain the WBC title beating Avni Yildirim for the vacant title by technical decision. Again, he would unsuccessfully defend the belt losing to David Benavidez after the fight was forced to be stopped after Dirrell suffered a cut by a punch from Benavidez officially being scored as a TKO. With experience on his side, Dirrell has earned this spot in our super middleweight boxing rankings.
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6. Daniel Jacobs
- Daniel Jacobs record: 37-3, 30 KOs
Daniel Jacobs moved to the super middleweight division after a long, prosperous career as a middleweight. In August 2014, Jacobs beat Jarrod Fletcher to win the WBA (regular) Middleweight championship. He held the title from 2014 to 2016 with successful title defenses coming against Caleb Truax, Peter Quillin and Sergio Mora (x2). He lost the title in a close unification bout against Gennadiy Golovkin. He would again be world champion, winning the then-vacant IBF belt against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, but lost it in a unification bout against Canelo Alvarez. At super middleweight, Jacobs has had just two fights so far beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by stoppage and Gabriel Rosado by split decision.
5. Caleb Plant
- Caleb Plant record: 21-0; 12 KOs; IBF Super Middleweight champion
At 28 years of age, Caleb Plant is one of only two fighters on this list younger than 30-years-old. He has reigned as IBF Super Middleweight champion since January 2019 when he beat Jose Uzcategui by unanimous decision to claim the belt. He has successfully defended the title three times with wins coming against Mike Lee, Vincent Feigenbutz and most recently Caleb Truax. The latter was his first win against a former world champion. Plant’s next fight could potentially be the biggest of his career, potentially facing Canelo Alvarez in a unification bout. Given his age and the upcoming bout, it might not be long before Plant is even higher in the super middleweight boxing rankings.
4. David Benavidez
- David Benavidez: 23-0, 20 KOs
David Benavidez may be the youngest fighter on this list at 24-years-old, but he is already a two-time super middleweight world champion with both title reigns ending in unfortunate circumstances. He first won the WBC Super Middleweight championship in September 2017 when he beat Ronald Gavril by split decision to claim the vacant title. After a successful title defense in a rematch against Gavril, he would have the belt stripped from him by the WBC in September 2018 after testing positive for cocaine and was given a four-month suspension.
After returning from suspension and winning in his return bout against J’Leon Love, Benavidez would regain the belt after beating Anthony Dirrell. The belt was once again taken from him after another successful title defense against Roamer Alexis Angulo for failing to make weight.
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3. Callum Smith
- Callum Smith record: 27-1; 19 KOs
Before his loss to Canelo Alvarez, Callum Smith was looked at as the king of the super middleweight division. Smith won his first world championship in the division in September 2018 when he beat George Groves for the WBA Super World Super Middleweight championship. He successfully defended the title twice with wins coming against Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam and John Ryder. He would go on to lose the belt in a unification bout against Canelo Alvarez in which the then-vacant WBC title was also on the line.
2. Billy Joe Saunders
- Billy Joe Saunders record: 30-0, 14 KOs; WBO Super Middleweight champion
Prior to joining the super middleweight division, Billy Joe Saunders ruled over the middleweight division where he notably ended the unbeaten runs of John Ryder, Gary O’Sullivan and Chris Eubank Jr. He also reigned as the WBO champion in the middleweight division for two years. He won the belt in December 2015 when he beat Andy Lee by majority decision. He would successfully defend the title three times including wins against David Lemieux and Willie Monroe Jr.
In his first fight at super middleweight, Saunders won the then-vacant WBO Super Middleweight championship beating Shefat Isufi by unanimous decision. He has successfully defended the belt twice beating then-undefeated Marcelo Esteban Coceres and former world title contender Martin Murray.
1. Canelo Alvarez
- Canelo Alvarez record: 55-1-2, 36 KOs; WBC and WBA Super World Super Middleweight champion
PREVIEW: Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders unification fight announced for May 8
Canelo Alvarez has been nearly unstoppable since suffering his first and only professional loss to Floyd Mayweather. He has won world championships in four weight classes since his loss to Mayweather: super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. His resume of world champions he has defeated includes Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev and Callum Smith.
His win against Callum Smith awarded him the unified WBC and WBA Super Middleweight championships he currently holds. Last night, Canelo successfully defended his titles beating Avni Yildirim after the referee stopped the fight prior to the start of the 4th round. Canelo Alvarez’s is scheduled to face off against Billy Joe Saunders in a unification bout on May 8th. Another victory would further solidify his spot in our super middleweight boxing rankings.