1. Carl Froch
After avenging his loss to old rival Mikkel Kessler in front of a jam-packed 02 Arena in London last month, the Nottingham warrior proved to everyone why he is the best Britain has to offer.
In addition to defending his IBF super middleweight title, the 35-year-old also won the WBA title and is now talks have begun over the possibility of a rematch with American slickster Andre Ward. A rematch with Kessler and an all British affair with George Groves have also been mentioned so “The Cobra” has plenty of options for the future.
2. Ricky Burns
Ricky Burns is without question one of world boxing’s most improved fighters let alone Britain’s and is and has not lost a bout since 2007.
The 30-year-old WBO lightweight champion came through a torrid test against unbeaten mandatory challenger Jose Gonzalez at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, his first fight under new promoter Eddie Hearn. However, the Puerto Rican quit before the tenth round after being pushed to the limit by the Coatbridge man who showed tremendous heart and resolve to come through the challenger’s onslaught.
3. Amir Khan
Despite the endless amount of criticism he receives, the Bolton man still deserves a place among the top five boxers in Britain. After being knocked out by Danny Garcia last summer, Khan has fought in two comeback bouts since, a stoppage win over the unfancied Carlos Molina in December and a difficult points win against Julio Diaz in Sheffield, who knocked Khan down during the fight.
However, Khan is still very much mixing it with the best in the world and is set to move up to welterweight to challenge IBF champion Devon Alexander in December, with the possibility of facing pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather next May. Khan’s chin is consistently doubted and his vulnerabilities are there for all to see but that makes him all the more watchable.
4. Nathan Cleverly
It’s been an awkward time for the Cefn Forest man. After being plagued by injury and an illness last year, he made only two defences of his WBO light heavyweight title against relative unknowns Tommy Karpency and Shawn Hawk. However, the 26-year-old bounced back at Wembley Arena in London with a decent test against Robin Krasniqi which is sure to set up big time fights with the legendary Bernard Hopkins and tough German Jurgen Braehmer.
5. David Haye
The Hayemaker may have only fought twice in two years but after a short spell in “retirement”, the 32-year-old has his eyes set on becoming a mandatory challenger for a world heavyweight title. After stopping Dereck Chisora at Upton Park, home of West Ham United, last summer, the door remained open for Haye to work his way back into title contention and a possible showdown with WBC king Vitali Klitschko.
Haye was supposed to fight Manuel Charr in a comeback fight at Manchester Arena but the bout had to be postponed after Haye suffered a hand injury. However, rumours have been rife over a big time clash with British rival Tyson Fury, a fight which would certainly captivate the public’s imagination.
6. Jamie McDonnell
27-year-old McDonnell became the latest Brit to win a world title after he outworked and out-muscled the previously unbeaten Julio Ceja to win the IBF bantamweight title in front of his hometown fans at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster. McDonnell has had the perfect ascension to elite level boxing after winning the British, Commonwealth and European titles in succession. Here’s hoping that McDonnell can keep active and have a big unification fight somewhere down the line.
7. Matthew Macklin
Mack The Knife doesn’t do easy fights. After losing to Felix Sturm in Germany in 2011 and a gallant effort against middleweight king Sergio Martinez last year, the 30-year-old Macklin is ready to step up and challenge for a world title yet again. That challenge comes in the form of the ferocious and unbeaten Gennady Golovkin who he will face later this month (June) in New York for the WBA title.
8. Martin Murray
The St Helens warrior has been a surprise package on the world stage. The 30-year-old middleweight was plucked from domestic obscurity to force a draw with Felix Sturm in Germany for the world title in 2011.
Murray has not fought much since but back in April, he came so close to defeating WBC champion Sergio Martinez in his home country of Argentina, flooring the champion in the process and losing via a narrow points decision. A big domestic fight with Matthew Macklin or Darren Barker hopefully awaits Murray but the fight would be bigger if a world title was at stake.
9. Kell Brook
2013 was supposed to be Kell Brook’s year but it has turned into a nightmare. After several postponements of his world title fight in America against Devon Alexander due to injuries picked up by both men, the 26-year-old welterweight was forced to pull out and instead stablemate Lee Purdy got the shot in Atlantic City.
Brook is set for a rematch with American Carson Jones in Hull on 6 July but Brook’s future world title plans are unclear at this moment in time.
10. Carl Frampton
Northern Irish sensation Frampton had a blistering start to the year with a stoppage win over Kiko Martinez in front of a packed Odyssey Arena in Belfast back in February to win the European super bantamweight title.
The much-hyped domestic showdown with WBA interim champion Scott Quigg still hangs in the balance and continues to look increasingly unlikely. Quigg has not fought since September and Frampton is set to return to the ring in July after splitting from promoter Eddie Hearn and signing a deal with Frank Warren and BoxNation. However, Frampton is making tremendous progress under young trainer Shane McGuigan and it is only a matter of time before the 26-year-old lands a world title shot.
Ciaran Shanks 