Canelo Alvarez might be in decline but no one has been able to beat at super middleweight.
The Mexican star has a record of 8-0 (4 KOs) and became the first undisputed champion at 168 pounds in the four-belt era, making him one of the most accomplished fighters the division has ever produced.
We’ll withhold judgment on where he stands compared to his greatest predecessors until after he defends his titles against 154-pound champ Jermell Charlo on Sept. 30 in Las Vegas and whatever might follow.
The list below provides you with an idea of the super middleweights against whom he’ll be judged when all is said and done.
Here are the five greatest 168-pounders of all time.
(Note: The division came into being when the IBF introduced the weight class in 1984. Also, weights above 160 pounds and no higher than 168 are designated as super middleweight here.)
NO. 5 CARL FROCH
Overall record: 33-2 (24 KOs)
168-pound record: 25-2 (KOs)
168-pound titles: WBC 2008-10; WBC 2010-11; IBF 2012-15; WBA 2013-15
Hall of Fame: Yes
Background: Froch was more than a tough, fan-friendly fighter who delivered one of the great walk-off moments in boxing history. The Englishman deserves to be on this list. He had three reigns as champion over a period of six-plus years, he beat everyone he faced except Hall of Famer Andre Ward (he avenged a loss to rival Mikkel Kessler), and his list of notable victims is long – Robin Reid, Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson, Lucian Bute, Yusaf Mack, George Groves (twice) and more. That’s an impressive run. On top of that, his exit from boxing was legendary: A one-punch knockout of Groves in front 80,000 screaming fans at Wembley Stadium in London. He was neither a boxing wizard nor typically a one-punch knockout artist. He was just a skillful, supremely confident bad-ass who knew how to win fights.
NO. 4 NIGEL BENN
Overall record: 42-5-1 (35 KOs)
168-pound record: 33-3-1 (27 KOs)
168-pound titles: WBC (1992-96)
Hall of Fame: No
Background: Benn is on this list in part because of his 10th-round knockout of Gerald McClellan in 1995. I hate to praise Benn too much because the brave McClellan suffered brain damage in that fight and never fought again. However, you have to understand how good McClellan was at the time. He was destroying everything in his path going into the fight, which made Benn’s ability to beat him a career-defining accomplishment. The well-schooled power puncher from London had a reign of about 3½ years and made nine successful defenses, including a draw with rival Chris Eubank in their rematch that most people thought should’ve gone Benn’s way. That would’ve been a huge win for him. And, finally, Benn was one of the most entertaining fighters of all time. That’s never lost on me.
NO. 3 JOE CALZAGHE
Overall record: 46-0 (32 KOs)
168-pound record: 33-0 (22 KOs)
168-pound titles: WBO (1997-2008), IBF (2006), WBA (2007-08), WBC (2007-08)
Hall of Fame: Yes
Background: Calzaghe was a special fighter. The Welshman reigned as champion for more than a decade and was 21-0 in 168-pound title fights. Those are crazy numbers. I don’t think anyone accomplished more at the weight. In terms of his skills, he was a southpaw who had it all. He was quick, athletic, could move well and had power, although he recorded fewer knockouts as his opposition got better. He also has a long list of notable victims – Chris Eubank, Robin Reid, Omar Sheika, Rickie Woodhall, Charles Brewer, Mikkel Kessler and more. He never ducked anyone. I wish he would’ve taken part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which he might’ve faced Andre Ward. All in all, though, he was great.
NO. 2 ANDRE WARD
Overall record: 32-0 (16 KOs)
168-pound record: 19-0 (8 KOs)
168-pound titles: WBA (2009-15), WBC (2011-12)
Hall of Fame: Yes
Background: The product of Oakland, California, was an all-time great. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2004 but really burst onto the scene when he won the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which he beat Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch in succession to win the championship even though he was unproven at the time. He became a star instantaneously. He had a six-year reign at 168, although that was interrupted by a contract dispute. He also beat Edison Miranda and Chad Dawson, among others. And he went on to have success at 175 pounds. I compared him to an anaconda. He would wrap himself around you in a way that diffused anything you tried to do. He was a brilliant boxer.
NO. 1 ROY JONES JR.
Overall record: 66-10 (47 KOs)
168-pound record: 13-0 (11 KOs)
168-pound titles: IBF (1994-96)
Hall of Fame: Yes
Background: Jones didn’t campaign in the division as long as the others here but he was dazzling at the weight. The physical freak from Florida boxed circles around everyone he faced, was difficult to hit cleanly and had devastating one-punch knockout power. Thus, no one could compete with him when he was at his best. His greatest victories at 168 came against then-unbeaten pound-for-pounder James Toney, Thulani Malinga, Thomas Tate, Antoine Byrd, Vinny Pazienza and Eric Lucas. I like a quote from boxing historian Cliff Rold. He wrote: “It’s not a stretch to say he may never have lost a single round contested in the class.” I don’t believe anyone before or since could’ve touched Jones at super middleweight. And he was just getting started. He was at his best at 175.
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