Boxing has been crying out for a fresh wave of talent to inject some life back into the sport — and it finally feels like we’re getting it. For the first time in years, the next generation isn’t just promising; they’re delivering. Fighters like Abass Baraou, Xander Zayas, and Jaron “Boots” Ennis aren’t just building hype — they’re redefining what the future of boxing looks like.
After a decade dominated by the likes of Canelo, Crawford, and Usyk, the changing of the guard is well underway. And honestly, it’s about time.
Abass Baraou: Germany’s Next Great Hope
When Abass Baraou won the WBA super-welterweight title, a lot of casual fans outside Europe barely noticed — but that says more about boxing’s marketing than his ability. Baraou is the real deal: technical, disciplined, and sharp-minded inside the ring.
Germany has quietly been rebuilding its boxing scene for years. While the Klitschko brothers — both Ukrainian, not German — dominated heavyweight boxing from Hamburg and Düsseldorf, they weren’t products of German boxing in the way Baraou is. The last fighter to come out of Germany with this kind of buzz was Arthur Abraham, the hard-hitting middleweight who became a national star through sheer determination and grit.
Baraou has that same quiet intensity. He doesn’t shout, he doesn’t play to the crowd — he just fights. And when he does, he fights smart. His December title defence in Berlin isn’t just a routine mandatory; it’s a showcase. Germany has been waiting for a homegrown champion to rally behind again, and Baraou might just be the man to bring those electric nights back to life.
If he unifies, or even holds onto that belt while fighting regularly, he could reignite mainstream boxing interest in mainland Europe. And for a sport that’s spent too long trapped between British hype and American glamour, that’s exactly what we need.
Xander Zayas: Puerto Rico’s Next Superstar
Every generation needs a breakout star, and Xander Zayas is carrying that torch for Puerto Rico. Still only in his early twenties, Zayas has the kind of maturity you don’t often see in young fighters. He’s polished, precise, and dangerous when he decides to step up the tempo.
You can already see shades of Miguel Cotto in how he applies pressure — that body-first, systematic breakdown that leaves opponents with nowhere to go. But what makes Zayas stand out is his composure. He’s not trying to blow everyone away in one round; he’s playing the long game.
He’s chasing unifications, calling out top names, and doing it with a quiet confidence that fans love. And in an era where social media often overshadows substance, Zayas feels refreshingly old-school. He doesn’t need gimmicks. He just needs opponents who’ll say yes.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: The New Pound-for-Pound Blueprint
Then there’s Jaron “Boots” Ennis — and make no mistake, he’s not coming; he’s here. The welterweight division has always been boxing’s glamour class, but for the first time in a while, it finally feels alive again.
Ennis is fast, explosive, and ridiculously adaptable. He switches stance mid-fight without losing rhythm, picks apart opponents with surgical accuracy, and looks like he’s having fun while doing it. But what really separates him from the rest of the new wave is his ring IQ — he doesn’t just fight, he solves.
He’s the kind of fighter who makes good boxers look average, and average ones look lost. The talk of him being boxing’s next pound-for-pound king isn’t hype; it’s inevitability.
If Ennis continues on this trajectory, he could dominate the next decade the way Mayweather and Crawford did theirs — only with more explosiveness and fewer politics holding him back.
Why Boxing’s New Generation Feels Different
For too long, boxing’s been stuck on rinse and repeat. Same old names, same promoters blocking fights, same belts clogging up divisions. But this new generation — Baraou, Zayas, Ennis, and others like Moses Itauma, Jalil Major Hackett, and Andy Cruz — are shaking things up.
They’re more global, more fearless, and less reliant on promoter protection. They fight often, talk less, and carry themselves like professionals. And that’s the change boxing has desperately needed.
2026 could genuinely be a golden year — one where every division has a storyline worth following again.
The Future Is Bright — If Boxing Doesn’t Ruin It
Of course, all this excitement only matters if the sport itself doesn’t get in the way. Sanctioning body politics, endless mandatories, and broadcast feuds could still derail things — but for once, the fighters themselves seem determined to push through it.
Fans are ready. The gyms are ready. The future’s already walking out to the ring.
What do you think?
Is this the boxing new generation we’ve been waiting for, or are we destined for more of the same? Let me know what you think below — and if you enjoyed this, share it around and check out more stories like this on CMBoxing.co.uk.