10 Prospects To Watch In Boxing For 2023

In the world of boxing, a promising wave of up-and-coming fighters is emerging, raising hopes of future world champions. Surprisingly, the pound-for-pound rankings are currently ruled by experienced veterans such as Terence Crawford, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, and Tyson Fury, all of whom are over 35 years old.

Certain prospects launch their professional boxing careers later in life, while others, like Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson, who are under 25 years of age, have already achieved the remarkable feat of capturing multiple world titles. Nevertheless, the sport's brightest prospects are poised to inject excitement into boxing in the years ahead.

10 Keyshawn Davis - 'The Businessman'

With a professional record of 9-0 and six knockouts, Keyshawn Davis has already demonstrated his prowess. Notably, he defeated experienced fighters like IBF light welterweight title challenger Anthony Yigit and veteran Juan Carlos Burgos. Davis was named Prospect of the Year by Ring Magazine in 2022. His impressive amateur career includes 93 fights with 80 victories, and he secured silver medals at the 2019 Pan American Games, 2019 World Championships, and 2020 Summer Olympics. He trains alongside pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and two-weight titleholder Shakur Stevenson.

9 Xander Zayas

Xander Zayas, a 21-year-old Puerto Rican boxer, was named ESPN Ringside's Prospect of the Year in 2021, thanks to his impressive record of 16-0 with 10 knockouts. Under the Top Rank banner, he has shown an aggressive, fan-friendly style reminiscent of Puerto Rican legends Félix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. Zayas possesses natural knockout power and fast hands, and although he hasn't faced elite competition yet, he's just beginning his career and is likely to chase a title in the near future.

8 Jared Anderson - 'Big Baby'

Jared Anderson is one of the top heavyweight prospects poised to become a world champion as elite heavyweights like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua near the end of their careers. Anderson's resilience was on display when he faced former IBF champion Charles Martin. In his amateur career, he claimed the U.S. National Championships twice with just 28 bouts. Currently holding a record of 16-0 with 15 knockouts, at just 23 years old, he has ample time to refine his skills before becoming a title contender.

7 Bruce Carrington - 'Shu Shu'

While not as high-profile as some of his peers, 26-year-old Bruce Carrington from Brownville, New York, possesses impressive skills. In only his second professional fight in 2022, Carrington delivered a Knockout of the Year contender against Steven Brown, showcasing his left hook prowess. His amateur career included 69 fights with a record of 44 wins and 25 losses. Carrington also qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing, secured second place in the 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier, and achieved commendable results in various other competitions.

6 Andy Cruz

At 27 years old, Andy Cruz is just beginning his professional career after a stellar amateur journey. The Cuban boxer, signed with Matchroom Boxing, is being hyped up for a potential clash with his amateur rival Keyshawn Davis, whom he defeated four times. Cruz's amateur accomplishments include two gold medals in the Pan American Games and three gold medals in the AIBA World Championships. He aims to follow in the footsteps of his fellow prospect Davis, and their paths are set to cross inevitably.

5 Curmel Moton

Curmel Moton, at just 17 years old, has garnered the attention and belief of boxing legend Floyd Mayweather who sees him as a future champion. Moton, an 18-time national boxing champion as an amateur with 48 victories and only two defeats, made a highlight-reel debut against the undefeated Ezequiel Flores. Mayweather's protege is on a promising trajectory in the boxing world.

4 Adam Azim

At 21 years old, British boxer Adam Azim boasts six knockout victories and an undefeated record of 9-0. He had a notable second-round knockout of the typically durable Rylan Charlton. Trainer Shane McGuigan has high praise for Azim's incredible talent and envisions him as a future world champion. Azim aims to emulate his childhood hero, Amir Khan and set his sights on a world title by the age of 22.

3 Caroline Dubois

Caroline Dubois, the younger sister of British boxing star Daniel Dubois, has already made a name for herself. Her amateur career includes gold medals at the Youth Olympics, World Youth Championships, and four-time European Youth Championships. At just 22 years old, she holds the IBO lightweight world championship and is poised to challenge for one of the four major boxing titles.

2 Brandun Lee

Brandun Lee, an undefeated junior welterweight prospect, boasts an impressive record of 23 knockouts in 28 fights. He started his boxing journey at the age of six and had a successful amateur career with a record of 181–9. Lee has faced strong competition against fighters like Pedro Campa and Will Madera. In a talent-rich division, he is likely to vie for one of the major belts before his 30th fight.

1 Ryan Garcia

Ryan Garcia, often mistaken for a world champion due to his fame, is still a promising prospect with a bright future. He recently faced the formidable Gervonta Davis, suffering a seventh-round knockout loss.

Known for his lightning-fast hands and impressive amateur background, Garcia remains a strong contender for a future world championship. Under the guidance of trainer Derrick James and alongside elite fighters like Anthony Joshua, Errol Spence, and Jermell Charlo, Garcia has transitioned to a higher weight division, where expectations are high for him to secure his inaugural world title.

In the realm of boxing, 2023 promises to be a year of excitement and anticipation as a fresh crop of talented prospects steps into the spotlight. These emerging stars are not only redefining the sport but also stoking the fervor of fans worldwide. While boxing's pound-for-pound rankings may currently be the domain of seasoned veterans, these young fighters are forging their own paths to greatness.