Moses Itauma Tops the List of Young Boxing Prospects
Following the departure of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, ESPN’s boxer under 25 in 2024, new faces vied for first place. The honor in 2025 falls to heavyweight Moses Itauma. Itauma, at just 20 years old, has starred in a dizzying 2025, accumulating six fights and nine rounds. In August, he proved his worth by defeating veteran Dillian White by technical knockout in the first round.Last year, Diego Pacheco, ranked number 2, dropped two positions despite two unanimous decision victories. The reason? The exceptional performance of Brian Norman Jr. and Gabriela Fundora. Xander Zayas, WBO super welterweight champion at 23 years old, remains among the young stars. The list of talents under 25 years old is extensive and promising. The Alofoke Deportes expert panel, made up of Andreas Hale, Timothy Bradley Jr., Nick Parkinson and Andres Ferrari, voted and these are the results.“Moses Itauma will destroy all those old guys in the division,” Tyson Fury declared in an Instagram story after Itauma’s victory over White.
Tyson Fury
- 1. Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs)
20 years old
2024 Ranking: 10The Boxer: Itauma, ESPN’s prospect of the year in 2024, has climbed the ranks rapidly after a 2025 filled with resounding victories. This 6-foot-4-inch southpaw, although not the largest in his category, represents the future of boxing with his unique combination of size, speed, and power.
Most important moment or achievement: Before his fight against White, the doubt was whether his finishing ability would be maintained when raising the level of competition. The answer was a resounding yes, by defeating Mike Balogun and former interim heavyweight champion White in 2025.
Future prospects: Going from prospect to contender in just two years is impressive. Itauma will start his 2026 against Jermaine Franklin on January 24, seeking to achieve what Anthony Joshua couldn’t: stop Franklin. Afterwards, the expectation will be to see which heavyweight dares to face him. The most striking thing is that Itauma still has four years of eligibility on this list.
- 2. Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs)
24 years old
2024 Ranking: 12
The Boxer: A brilliant year for this puncher could be even better if he defends his WBO title against Devin Haney on Saturday, November 22nd. Norman already produced a strong contender for best KO of 2025, with a left hook that left Jin Sasaki lying on the canvas in the fifth round in June. He has stopped his last three opponents and was promoted from interim WBO champion to full world champion.
Most important moment or achievement: Sasaki’s KO in the fifth round was spectacular. This victory gave Norman more recognition.Future prospects: Norman is in the big fights now. He has earned a reputation this year for stopping his opponents and is gaining popularity. A rematch against Haney is possible in 2026. Unification fights against the other champions could also be on the table.- 3. Gabriela Fundora (17-0, 9 KOs)
23 years old
2024 Ranking: 5
The boxer: Fundora possesses an unusual height for a flyweight with his 5’9″ and comfortably maintains himself at 112 pounds. His size would mean nothing if he didn’t have the skills to back it up. Fundora has proven to be as technically sound as he is violent, with a propensity to finish fights early.
Most important moment or achievement: After being named ESPN’s fighter of the year in 2024, “Sweet Poison” had an impressive 2025, defending the undisputed flyweight championship she won in 2024 twice. She did it in style, with two stoppages in the seventh round.
Future prospects: Fundora is ranked number 5 in ESPN’s women’s pound-for-pound rankings, but she is the only fighter on the list under 25 and shows no signs of slowing down. With the flyweight already conquered, could she become a multi-division champion in 2026?
- 4. Diego Pacheco (24-0, 18 KOs)
24 years old
2023 Ranking: No. 2
The Boxer: This 6’4″ super middleweight is hailed as the future of the 168-pound division. Terence Crawford currently holds all four world titles, but if the belts fragment, Pacheco could get a title shot soon. In his last two fights, he went the distance, but he is ranked number 3 in the division by ESPN. He recently split with trainer Jose Benavidez Sr.
Most important moment or achievement: Pacheco showed his ruthless side in his most recent stop in August 2024, when he knocked out Maciej Sulecki in the sixth round.Future prospects: Pacheco faces Kevin Lele Sadjo on December 13, and a victory over the top 10 opponent would bring him closer to a world title opportunity in 2026. After going the distance in his last two outings this year, Pacheco will want to achieve a stoppage and send a message to his rivals.- 5. Xander Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs)
23 years old
2023 Ranking: 4The Boxer: Since he was the youngest boxer to sign with Top Rank at 16, Zayas has been honing his skills under the promotional banner and became a world champion in 2025. He has been carefully guided, which has raised questions about his place in the talented super welterweight division. But he has shown improvements in each outing and has the potential to be a force in the coming years.Most important moment or achievement: Zayas became the youngest world champion in boxing when he defeated Jorge García to obtain the vacant WBO super welterweight title in July. Zayas’ image is on the rise in a division full of talent that includes Vergil Ortiz and champions Jaron “Boots” Ennis, Abass Baraou and Sebastian Fundora.Future prospects: Zayas has the opportunity to unify titles when he faces WBA champion Baraou on January 31st and plans to compete three times in 2026. With his recent signing with Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny’s Rimas Sports, Zayas intends for his marketing to match his talent in the ring.
- 6. Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs)
21 years old
2024 Ranking: 3
The boxer: This agile southpaw has achieved three knockout victories this year to get a first chance at the world title this Saturday against Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO lightweight belt. Along with the advantages of height and reach, Mason has impeccable timing, speed, and a variety of punches. The last time he went the distance was in August 2023 and he looks like a good bet to top this list in the coming years. Potentially, Mason can become one of the biggest stars in boxing in the next five years, he’s that good. A year ago, he recovered from two knockdowns in the first round to stop Yohan Vasquez in the second round, an important learning experience.
Most important moment or achievement: Mason showed what he is capable of in a fourth-round victory over Manuel Jaimes at Madison Square Garden in New York in February. He established his jab and knocked Jaimes down in rounds 2 and 3 with his speed and variety of punches. In the fourth round, he scored a knockdown with a sweeping left hook while on the back foot, before forcing the stoppage with a short right hook later in the round. In Jaimes’ previous fight, he had taken current WBA welterweight champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero to a decision.
Future prospects: Mason fights for the vacant WBO world title against Noakes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. While Mason is technically more complete, Noakes has experience on his side and physical attributes that can make him win the fight. A victory for Mason, on his biggest stage and against his best opponent so far, would launch him big time.
- 7. Jesus Ramos Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs)
24 years old
2024 Ranking: 13The boxer: Ramos stumbled on his way to becoming a world champion when he lost a controversial decision to Erickson Lubin in 2023. However, he has recovered with three consecutive finishes. This southpaw could be a problem for the rest of the super welterweight division with his sturdy chin and punching power.
Most important moment or achievement: After being briefly linked to a fight with Jermell Charlo, Ramos moved on and defeated former unified super welterweight champion Jeison Rosario in February. Although Rosario was past his prime, Ramos took care of business with a dominant stoppage in the eighth round.
Future Prospects: Ramos was scheduled to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on the undercard of Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman, but the October event was canceled due to an injury to Fundora. The fight was rescheduled for December 6 and will give Ramos the opportunity to go 3-0 in 2025. Ramos, ranked only by the WBO, may have difficulty securing a fight with the winner of the Zayas-Baraou title unification fight in January. However, he will want to closely watch the outcome of Fundora-Thurman for the WBC title. A fight with the loser could be of interest.
- 8. Kyosuke Takami (10-0, 8 KOs)
23 years old
2024 Ranking: NRThe boxer: Takami won the WBA junior flyweight title when he stopped Erick Rosa in the tenth round in July. He has heavy hands for a boxer competing at 108 pounds, dominating almost all of his opponents. He can become a unified world champion if he defeats Rene Santiago, the WBO champion, on December 17.Most important moment or achievement: Takami was fierce throughout the fight with Rosa, who struggled with the pace. Takami sent Rosa flying into a ring post with a right hand in the tenth round, after unleashing a barrage of punches that ended the fight.Future prospects: Santiago will give Takami a tough fight next month, even in Japan. Santiago won the WBO belt there, defeating Shokichi Iwata by unanimous decision in March. Santiago contained Iwata with a disciplined performance, and Takami will have to box intelligently if he wants to remain champion.
- 9. Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs)
23 years old
2024 Ranking: 20The Boxer: Schofield has had a strange 2025 with only one fight despite having three scheduled. A fight with Shakur Stevenson in February fell apart during fight week when Schofield was hospitalized for an unspecified illness. Schofield returned on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. and quickly knocked out former champion Tevin Farmer. Unfortunately, his momentum slowed again when a wrist injury forced him to withdraw from a scheduled fight with former champion Joseph “Jojo” Díaz in October. However, what we were able to see from “Kid Austin” was impressive enough to propel him up the list.
Most important moment or achievement: Although Farmer entered the fight with Schofield with a three-fight losing streak, the previous two fights with William Zepeda were close victories, a split decision and a majority decision, and Farmer was never in trouble in any of those three losses. Then Schofield needed only 78 seconds to knock Farmer down twice and finish him.
Future prospects: If Schofield can stay healthy, the sky’s the limit. Currently ranked number 3 by the IBF, Schofield could be in line for a fight with the winner of Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz, scheduled for January 24th. He will likely try to return to the ring in early 2026 and stay active, hoping not to waste his momentum and excellent potential.- 10. Adam Azim (14-0, 11 KOs)
23 years old
2024 Ranking: 9
The Boxer: The super lightweight contender has a fan-friendly style, with fast hands, a dangerous left hook, and quick reflexes. He’s only had two performances this year, but he performed well in both. He stopped veteran Sergey Lipinets, who briefly held the IBF world title in 2017 and 2018, in nine rounds in February, then patiently broke down the stubborn resistance of Kurt Scoby in the 12th round on November 15.
Most important moment or achievement: On the biggest stage of Azim’s career, on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 15th, Azim was too clever and ring-savvy for Scoby. Azim dominated the early rounds behind his jab and let his hands go from round 8 onwards. He put Scoby under serious pressure in round 11 and finished the fight in the next round by connecting a flurry of accurate punches to the head and body. Dealing with Scoby’s provocations during fight week was also a good learning experience for Azim as he moves up to bigger fights.
Future prospects: Azim has progressed steadily and will face better opponents in 2026. He is ranked in the 9th and 10th positions by two governing bodies, so he will probably need more victories to secure a title opportunity. A fight that would be popular: against English rival Dalton Smith, who challenges Subriel Matías for the IBF title on January 10th.
- 11. Ernesto Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs)
24 years old
2024 Ranking: 17The Boxer: Mercado has shown an exceptional ability to finish off his opponents, with 16 knockouts in 17 fights. As part of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable, Mercado continued his rapid rise in 2025 with a one-sided demolition of José Pedraza in January, and is scheduled to face Antonio Moran on December 13th.
Most important moment or achievement: The Mercado stoppage in the fourth round of Pedraza sent shockwaves through the 140-pound division. But his challenge to Shakur Stevenson afterwards showed that the undefeated boxer with heavy hands is serious.
Future prospects: He will have many opportunities to prove his worth in 2026, if he takes care of the matter against Moran. Matchroom has a healthy group of 140-pound boxers, and Mercado will have every opportunity to showcase his talent.- 12. Caroline Dubois (11-0-1, 5 KOs)
WBC Women’s Lightweight Champion
24 years old
2024 Ranking: 16
The boxer: Dubois has made two defenses of the WBC lightweight title this year. She was promoted from interim champion to full world champion in December 2024 after Katie Taylor vacated the belt. Dubois previously complained that Taylor had been holding back her career by refusing to fight her. She had a frustrating technical draw in January when Jessica Camara was declared unfit to continue due to a cut. Then, Dubois outpointed Bo Mi Re Shin by majority decision in March, but has not boxed since.
Most important moment or achievement: Dubois has heavy hands, but he hasn’t stopped any of his last six opponents. His unanimous decision victory over Maira Moneo, whom he knocked down with a left hook in the sixth round to win the WBC interim title in August 2024, remains his best performance.
Future prospects: Dubois has been inactive since March while her promoter Boxxer secures a new television deal in the UK, with no confirmation of her next fight. The fight Dubois wants is a title unification clash against WBO lightweight champion Terri Harper, which would be one of the biggest in women’s boxing in 2026 if it materializes.- 13. Emiliano Vargas (16-0, 13 KOs)
21 years old
2024 Ranking: 15The Boxer: Vargas has all the tools to be near the top of this list, but his lack of quality opposition is the reason why he couldn’t make a bigger jump. The son of retired star Fernando Vargas is an exciting boxer that Top Rank can rely on for its future.
Most important moment or achievement: Vargas defeated everyone he faced in 2025, but it was his destruction in the first round by Alexander Espinoza in July with a precise right hand that took the prize. A single blow shook Espinoza to the core in the first minute and left a lasting mark.
Future prospects: Vargas has the potential to be at the top of this list for the next few years. All he needs is a step up in competition. The super lightweight should stay active in 2026 and hopefully get closer to facing a former champion to make the change from prospect to contender.- 14. David Cuellar Contreras (29-1, 18 KOs)
24 years old
2024 Ranking: 11The Boxer: Cuellar lost his undefeated record when WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani knocked him out in the third round in February. Cuellar painfully discovered that he was not at the same level as Nakatani, the number 1 bantamweight, but winning a world title is within his capabilities. “El General”, who has victories over fighters like Luis Concepcion and Moises Fuentes, recovered with a unanimous decision victory over Juan Carlos Mancilla Otero in September, but there is more work to be done before challenging for a world title again.Most important moment or achievement: Cuellar’s victory by
