The best division in boxing right now is lightweight, right?

Not so fast.

While recent action cast shine on the depth and quality of the division, lightweight is far from the only division with a case for being the most competitive in boxing. We’re living through a time when several divisions are vibrant and flush with fresh matches. Perhaps the best argument against lightweight will again get the spotlight this weekend.

Over the last five years and change, Jr. middleweight has seen a steady stream of high quality action. Unlike lightweight, we’re not still wondering about a whole bunch of fights that haven’t happened yet. Boxing fans have seen multiple unification clashes, surprising upsets, memorable clashes between unbelted contenders, and a rematch is coming for all the major belts in the division between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano.

Charlo-Castano I ended in a draw over the summer and was yet another excellent clash in the division. 

It’s a division where advancement requires risk. Two title hopefuls are risking big this week.

34-year old French Jr. middleweight Michael Soro (35-2-1, 24 KO) has been inactive for two years. It’s been an unfortunate absence. Soro was 18-1-1 after a 2012 loss to Zaurbek Baysangurov, his only other defeat coming in a competitive split decision with Castano in 2017. Soro won five straight before the pandemic hit and returns Friday (DAZN, 10 AM) in a fascinating WBA eliminator. 

It’s a perfect chance to jump right back into the mix. It won’t be an easy chance.

Soro will face 26-year old Israil Madrimov (7-0, 5 KO) of Uzbekistan. Don’t let the limited fight total fool. Madrimov comes with a deep amatuer resume and already has some chops in the paid game. Madrimov defeated Vladimir Hernandez in his pro debut. Hernandez is currently rated in the top ten by TBRB based on his upset of Julian Williams in October. The combined record of Madrimov’s first seven foes is a solid 148-32. 

Madrimov is being fast tracked. Soro is a hell of a speed bump, even with what will surely be some rust on him. It says a lot about Jr. middleweight that it’s deep enough to produce a match this good outside the consensus top ten of the class.

There’s no guarantee of course that the winner of this bout will see the winner of Charlo-Castano II. Four-belted titlists, assuming we get a winner in the rematch being reported as likely for February, can sometimes shed belts for better business opportunities. The winner could also elect to move to middleweight having conquered their field.

Let’s assume for now the winner will get a crack at an undisputed champion. It gives this match real stakes in just the sort of way fans clamor for. Less champions and more guys genuinely earning a title shot is never a bad thing. A win for Madrimov would enhance his bona fides and render his limited fight total even less relevant. 

A win for Soro could set up a career exploding crack at Charlo or a rematch with Castano. Either would be a fight fans could look forward to and gives the division as a whole a road map for 2022. Throw in other quality contenders like Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu, and Erickson Lubin and it means the run at Jr. middleweight might be far from over.  

Instead, it appears to be perpetually reloading.

Soro-Madrimov has a chance to add to a sliver of time that already includes Charlo-Castano, Soro-Castano, Charlo’s two fights with Tony Harrison, Jarret Hurd’s battles with Harrison, Erislandy Lara, and Williams and several other notable clashes.

Fans following Jr. middleweight have eaten well for a while now. The next hearty meal is on tap.       

Cliff’s Notes…

Artur Beterbiev-Marcus Browne is interesting this weekend. Browne can be vulnerable but he can crack and boxes well. Beterbiev is getting older and has been largely inactive since a career best win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Beterbiev should be the favorite but this fight has sleeper potential…Interested readers can find the first quarter of a study this author conducted of the Ring Magazine rankings in the 100th anniversary issue. It was a lot of fun to put together. Hope it’s as much fun for readers…Welcome back to the Marvel universe Vincent D’Onofrio…Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte looks like it’s coming…Srisaket Sor Rungvisai-Carlos Cuadras II isn’t just part two of their personal rivalry. It’s chapter 11 of the most compelling four-way rivalry of this generation. Expect this one to get to at least twelve, if not fourteen, scraps before it’s over for good.    

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.