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Boxing has endured a topsy-turvy year, with some unforgettable highs and forgettable lows, but one thing remains consistent — the emergence of talented youngsters entering the professional ranks.
Here are six of the most promising rising stars in boxing.
6 hidden gems in boxing – Lucas Roehrig
The first name on our rising stars in boxing list is Lucas “Lights Out” Roehrig (6-0, 3 KOs). Under the tutelage of George Groves, Roehrig has been active in his first year as a professional.
It won’t be long until he’s a contender in the cruiserweight division. He moves his feet well and controls the distance with a highly effective jab. He will be back in action on the November 21 Wasserman Boxing card against Brice Clavier (13-6-1, 7 KOs).
It might be “Lights Out” for his opponents, but Roehrig’s future looks set to shine bright.
Hebert Conceicao Sousa
The next name on our list is the heavy-handed Brazilian super middleweight Hebert Conceicao Sousa (9-0, 5 KOs). A name that won’t be familiar to many, but he has the attributes to make a splash in the division.
His best wins have come against Yamaguchi Falcao, Rowdy Legend Montgomery, and Esquiva Falcao. He picks his punches impressively and doesn’t waste much, which comes from his amateur days. He has a good chin, and most importantly, he has that fight-ending power.
If Sousa can get the chances, he looks like he has the ability to go places.
Pat McCormack
Pat McCormack (8-0, 6 KOs) will be a big problem for everyone at welterweight. He is an accomplished amateur whose pro career has been stop-start due to injury, but McCormack has all the attributes to reach the top.
He has impressive hand speed and footwork, which he uses to control the distance effectively in his fights. The potential ceiling for the Sunderland native is huge, and he will be back in action on December 6 against Conah Walker (16-3-1, 7 KOs).
Tomoya Tsuboi
The boxing aficionados will already know just how talented Tomoya Tsuboi (2-0, 1 KO) is.
He was a talented amateur and won a gold medal at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships. In just his second fight as a professional, the bantamweight thoroughly outboxed the experienced Van Thao Tran (18-2, 10 KOs). His exceptional footwork helps him move in and out of danger effectively.
Tsuboi is also adept at slipping opponents’ punches and firing back quickly. Tsuboi will be back in action on November 24 against former super flyweight world champion Carlos Cuadras (44-5-1, 28 KOs). Tsuboi is a fighter everyone will soon know about.
Mikito Nakano
30-year-old Japanese southpaw Mikito Nakano (14-0, 13 KOs) is definitely a name that belongs on a rising stars in boxing list. His laser-like left hand helps him boss the distance in his fight, and helps him set up combinations.
His style is fan-friendly, and he’s more than comfortable sitting in the pocket and trading with opponents. His hand speed and body punching make him a nightmare to face for any opponent. Nakano will face his toughest test on November 24 against Ra’eese Aleem (22-1, 12 KOs).
Mikie Tallon
Mikie Tallon (10-0, 1 KO) won’t be a hidden gem for much longer. The 20-year-old Liverpudlian flyweight fighter got his biggest opportunity, fighting on the Canelo vs Terence Crawford open workout card.
Until that fight, the Joe Gallagher-trained fighter had won every fight with relative ease. He ultimately delivered the best performance of his career against Christian Robles, scoring two knockdowns en route to a dominant 59-53 x3 victory.
He puts his combinations together well and punches with accuracy. He proved against Robles that he carries power, despite only having one KO win in his career so far. Tallon will be back in action on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2 undercard against Fezan Shahid (4-2-2, 0 KOs).
These are just six rising stars in boxing, and we could have easily made it a top 50. Who would you have in your top six?
