The super middleweight division is facing an identity crisis following Terence Crawford’s victory over Canelo Alvarez. While new champions hold titles, critics argue the weight class has a significant star power deficit compared to generations defined by household names.
Former British titleholder Paul Smith believes the current group of top fighters is largely anonymous to the general public. He points to the lack of experience and name recognition among ranked contenders as clear evidence of a decline in top-tier depth. Smith said: “I’d completely agree with you there, Simon, said Smith to talkSport Boxing. I’ve said that for the past couple of years on a lot of interviews I’ve done. If you go on BoxRec and look at the top 10, some of the top 10 super middleweights in there have not even had 10 fights yet. If I were to name seven of them to an average boxing fan, they won’t have a clue who they are.”
This assessment directly contrasts with the division’s status in previous eras, which featured stars like Joe Calzaghe, Andre Ward, and Mikkel Kessler. Smith used the British scene during his own career as a benchmark for the quality that is now missing. He recalled a time when he was the British champion but ranked behind fellow countrymen Carl Froch, George Groves, and James DeGale—all of whom were world champions or top contenders, illustrating the depth the division once had.
That level of proven, high-profile talent is not currently visible. Today’s titleholders include Christian Mbilli, Hamzah Sheeraz, and Osleys Iglesias, with contenders like Jaime Munguia and Diego Pacheco also in the mix. They are skilled fighters, but they have yet to capture the public’s imagination in the same way as their predecessors.
With the major belts now split, the division is at a crossroads. The absence of a dominant, undisputed champion like Canelo removes the division’s central attraction. But it also creates opportunity. These new champions and rising contenders now have a clear path to unification fights and a chance to build their own legacies without being overshadowed. The question is whether any of them can step up to fill the void.
