By Elliot Worsell

1. Adam Azim (21)

Having stepped up each time he has made an appearance in the ring, Azim fully blossomed in November when beating Franck Petitjean via 10th-round stoppage to secure the European super-lightweight title. That win moved his record to a perfect 10-0 (7) and elevated him beyond prospect level.

2. Xander Zayas (21)

Gifted Puerto Rican Zayas, a standout amateur, is currently 17-0 (11) as a pro and last time out in September stopped Roberto Valenzuela Jr inside five rounds. Based in Florida, Zayas has been matched aggressively since his debut in 2019.

3. Elijah Garcia (20)

Garcia, a hard-hitting southpaw from Arizona, is unbeaten in 16 pro fights, with 13 of those wins coming inside schedule. The middleweight began his career fighting in Mexico but has since 2021 started making waves in the States.

4. Floyd Diaz (20)

Known as “Cash Flow”, Diaz, 10-0 (3), took a significant step up in class in November when fighting and beating Max Ornelas to win a WBC Youth bantamweight belt. The fight, which took place in Las Vegas on a Shakur Stevenson undercard, offered him the platform he craved.

5. Jadier Herrera (21)

Cuban southpaw Herrera has ended 10 of his 12 pro wins to date inside the distance, with 11 of those fights taking place in Dubai (only a fight in Uzbekistan breaks this run). Earlier this year he stopped Britain’s Jeff Ofori inside four rounds.

6. Bakary Samake (20)

Samake, who hails from Saint-Denis, France, has had no problem getting to 13-0 (7) as a pro and last time out outpointed Mariel Agundez Bustamante over 10 rounds to win the IBF Youth super-welterweight belt.

7. Jonathan Lopez (20)

Unbeaten at 13-0 (9), Lopez goes by the nickname “La Roca” and until May of this year, when he appeared for the first time in the United States, had spent the first two years of his career in Mexico. This year he has outscored Eduardo Baez over 10 rounds and stopped Jose Santos Gonzalez inside one.

8. Jose Salas Reyes (21)

Coming from Tijuana, Mexico, the home of more than one great fighter, Reyes, a super-bantamweight, is from good stock. He is also 14-0 (10) as a pro and has this year competed twice in America, including on the undercard of Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence.

9. Moses Itauma (18)

Keen to win a world heavyweight title quicker than his hero, Mike Tyson, the impressive Itauma possesses a poise and maturity that belies his age and, at 6-0 (5), is already showing signs that he will need to be stepped up soon.

10. Curmel Moton (17)

Although only 2-0 (2), such is the esteem in which Moton is held by those who frequent Vegas gyms, it would be remiss not to at least mention him. Called everything from the “Next Gervonta Davis” to the “Next Floyd Mayweather”, Moton, a protégé of Mayweather, already has his own hype train at 17.

Curmel Moton (right) with Floyd Mayweather (Curmel Moton Instagram)