Every few decades or so, boxing has been blessed with a superstar that seems like has the responsibility to carry the sport’s popularity on his shoulders. Then at the end of that era, there is a void left behind and a large scramble to find the next. Top fighters start actually fighting it out amongst each other. Which is better than just having a target painted on the stars back. So we actually get some good fights, but, no superstar. The superstars tend to come out of nowhere, blasting through all barriers like the Kool-Aide man. This happens with every generation, in different weight classes, from fighters with completely different styles and personalities.
Ali was perhaps the biggest star up to that point in boxing history. Everybody knows his name around the globe. Then came Mike Tyson, who was the opposite of everything Ali was, yet still word renowned. Then came guys like Roy Jones, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
While Manny is a star in his own right, the biggest generator of PPV’s and eyeballs was Floyd “Money” Mayweather. So now that the dust settles on his 50th career win against an Irish Ametuer Boxer in his boxing debut, it leaves us asking, who is the next up?
There isn’t a super long list of guys who can take over but the guys that are on the list are formidable.
Before we get into that, what make a superstar?
Boxing Superstar Traits
To be a superstar you have to have the whole package. Its a combination of different attributes. Some the fighter can control, and some that are completely intangible. Here are some things that are required to be a superstar in the sport of boxing.
Be the Best
The first and most important factor of being the star, is you have to be the best. Not just the best in your weight class, but preferably the best pound for pound fighter on the planet. This makes people wants to see you fight off all coming challengers. Even if critics won’t give you #1, you have to be seen as a monster in your fan’s eyes.
Personality
This doesn’t mean trash talking, but you’ve got to have personality. You can’t just say the same scripted thing most fighters say before and after fights. Things like “it will be a great fight” and “I got nothing but respect” won’t get you far. Stars let their personality shine through, they know how to be themselves in the public eye. Manny for example, didn’t trash talk like Floyd, but he knew when to be goofy. Tyson was menacing and he knew he was so he portrayed it. To be a star, you have to show all your colors, the good, the bad and the ferocious.
A Good Team
When I say good team I’m not talking about family and friends. Each superstar has to have good management and a powerful marketing machine behind them. The truth is there is a science that goes into selling fights. The hype, the tune ups, and everything in between are all well thought strategies to get the public to buy into the next fight. If you don’t have a team around you that will build your career in the spotlight, you won’t become a star no matter how good you are.
An Entertaining Style
If you are not fun to watch, you won’t reach the heights of superstardom. While Floyd got criticized for “running” and being too defensive, his style was still fun to watch. It was a masterpiece being painted through fight and everybody tuned in to see this little guy fight off monsters, which he did successfully, every time. Every single star to ever take over boxing, was extremely fun to watch because they each offered something the world has never seen before.
The Intangibles
This is something you can’t get and no one can teach. Yet, each star past and present has had it. Ali for example, had the biggest heart and best chin boxing has ever seen in that ring. On top of that, one of the greatest boxing strategist we have ever seen. Floyd falls into the same category in terms of mental prowess. We see him dissect people in that ring and take away their biggest weapons in the first 4 to 5 rounds before unleashing a one sided beating. And in my opinion, his biggest asset has been the ability to take clean punches that will KO anyone and walk them off. Then there were guys like Tyson and Pacquiao who’s goal was to come out at opening bell and get you out of there as soon as possible. And sometimes be savage enough to take out your ear if things don’t go as planned.
Heart, Mind, and an Iron will.
Now that we know what it takes, let’s jump into our list of potentials. Remember it can be more than just the one guy on the list. Here are my potential boxing superstars that can be the next up after Floyd, the way he was after Roy Jones and Oscar.
I. Anthony Joshua 20-0 (20 ko’s)
Number one on the list is the titan, Anthony Joshua. So far this guy seems to have it all going for him. It’s hard to say that he isn’t a superstar already because he’s packing arenas with 80,000 people that come to see him fight. He’s big, he’s powerful and he’s destroying everyone in his path. All he has to do now is make it in the United States. This kid is the total package. Of the above mentioned traits it takes to be a star, he checks off everything on the list.
Currently he is one of the best heavyweights(we’ll get to Wilder shortly). He definitely has the style that entertains fans with a KO ratio of 100% to prove it. He’s also already passed the ultimate “young lion beats old lion” test that many of today’s boxers have been failing(we’re looking at you Canelo). In the Klitschko fight, he’s proved not just that he here to take the throne, but he showed heart in battling a very game Klitchko who put it all on the line that night. He got up from the canvas, fought bright light jitters and fatigue to end the fight in spectacular fashion. It was a masterful performance and in my opinion, fight of the year. When’s the last time a heavyweight has been a part of a fight of the year?
He’s definitely got a good team doing his matchmaking, promoting him. Most importantly, he’s got the personality and the look. He’s a guy girls like and guys want to be like. He doesn’t imitate any of the greats before him and instead gives us a humble man, but with a ferocity of a fighter that gets frustrated when other fighters talk down on him. It’ll be exciting to see how reacts to loud and boisterous types.
Heart, good chin, punching power, personality and ability to sell out arenas, Joshua has what it takes, but he needs to make it in the states.
If I had to gamble who will be the one to carry the sport for the next few decades, it would be AJ. However, you can’t mention AJ without mentioning his # 1 rival…
Instagram:@anthony_joshua
II. Deontay Wilder 39-0 (38 ko’s)
Finally an American heavyweight who is in shape, can fight and has a hug personality. He gets a lot of criticism but in my opinion he has the potential to become the next Tyson, the next Ali. The only reason he gets put as number 2 on this list is his marketing team. This guy should already be at the point of selling out arenas. He has the most entertaining style in boxing today. Every time he steps in that ring its to take the other guys head off and it’s exactly what boxing is supposed to be. He is not a fighter who goes in to win the contest, he wants to win the FIGHT. Its between him and the other guy.
On top of a being a fighter at heart, he has a huge personality that is the most entertaining in boxing today. He radiates an aura of ridiculous confidence and when you hear him talk you start thinking that no one can touch this man. And when he fights, he fights like a man possessed.
The only downfall with him is his promotion company isn’t doing a great job getting him to sell out, which comes with good matchmaking. Speaking of which, he hasn’t quite had a test in his career yet, which i know he’ll pass, but it makes for more marketable matchups.
He’s demonstrated heart, a good chin, and a willingness to entertain on all levels. He’s stopped every man to step in the ring with him and is looking to become the undisputed champ. If he can do that, he can carry the sport.
Instagram: @BronzeBomber
III. Vasyl “HI Tech” Lomachenko – 11-1 (8 ko’s)
It’s hard not to mention this guy with the hype train that is behind him. The most obvious choice for most people is Vasyl because of what he’s demonstrated to us so far. Lomachenko has passed his biggest test in Guillermo and most people are saying that he is absolutely unstoppable, despite having a loss on his record. Which most people feel he received because he jumped into a title fight too early in his career (2nd fight).
Loma has a lot of potential to become a star. Despite being a great defensive fighter he has a come forward style with a lot of flash, reminiscent of Roy Jones at times (minus the brutal power). He has a fan friendly personality but needs to learn a little more english so he can let it shine through. I couldn’t exclude Loma in this list but he does have some work cut out for him if he is to carry the sport. That includes good matchmaking and self promotion. He’s only 11 fights in so the sky’s the limit but despite being the P4P #1 he still is far from the #1 most recognized fighter in the world. It takes more than winning fights to be a star, and Loma needs to get to work on it and so does his team.
What will determine that is if he pass the biggest test, which seems to be on the horizon…
Instagram: @lomachenkovasiliy
IV. Gervonta “Tank” Davis – 19-0 (18 ko’s)
This guy is just plain scary, that’s his appeal. He’s a mean man and once he lets that part of him shine through, he will become an extremely popular fighter. For now, he is still young and humble, but once he opens up to the bright lights, I have no doubt we will see a Mike Tyson like personality emerge. Gervonta has made everyone he fights look weak and confused in that ring. He makes pros look like guys who were picked off the street and he puts their lights out.
He has the knockout power to entertain, he looks mean, and he punches mean. He gets in the ring to annihilate but shows incredible boxing prowess so he isn’t just a “puncher.” He brings a lot to the table and there is a reason the Money Team is behind him.
He has a good management team behind him, it’s the same one Floyd had after all. He has the killer mentality, all he needs to do is get some good fights under his belt and start saying what’s on his mind during these press conferences. Which is most likely something along the lines of “I’m going to kill this guy.”
With Loma blatantly calling him out, a victory over the hype train would easily catapult him into a platform of superstardom. A win over Lomachenko will make him seem unstoppable and everyone will tune in to see him dismantle guys.
Instagram: @Gervontaa
V. Ryan Garcia – 13-0 (12 ko’s)
I may get some criticism for mentioning this kid so early but I know a star when I see one. Ryan Garcia has been demolishing the super featherweight division and I’m sure he is on every fighters radar. This kid has an impressive amateur career and looks like a scary force at super featherweight. He has a unique combination of speed, power and technique which is rare in a these weight classes. He’s like a young De La Hoya but with bricks in his hands. I’m willing to gamble this kid goes on to do great things in boxing and will give fans the fights the fights they want to see.
He is aggressive every time he steps through the ropes, has golden boy behind him and already has a following on social media. He definitely has a unique personality that boxing hasn’t seen and with his sense of humour can make for some fun build ups in the future.
2018 should be a breakthrough year for “King” and I’m willing to bet he emerges as one of the sports top fighters soon. Whether or not he can carry the sport will be up to him. To do so he will have to continue to let his personality shine through and keep fighting the way he’s fighting. If you haven’t seen this kid, tune into his next fight.
Instagram: @kingryang
Replacing Greatness Isn’t Easy
Much like those before him, Floyd Mayweather wont be easy to replace, but it is far from impossible. People have been saying boxing is dead for the last 50 years and yet, it continues to break all records. Because every time someone comes around that breaks the mold, does something new, and gets the fans excited about watching them fight. The more the story of the fighter builds, the more exciting it gets. Ali brought something no one ever has to the sport, then came Tyson, then came Oscar, Jones, Pacquiao and Mayweather. Each very different from the other and yet garnering the same attention. Each had a story that was unique to them. The audience loves stories, and there isn’t one more exciting than boxing.
Drop a comment below, tell me who you think the next up is?
Brawl all day!
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