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The super middleweight division is ruled by Mexican legend Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who currently holds all of the belts apart from the IBF title, which William Scull won, defeating Vladimir Shishkin. Here are five fighters from the division to watch out for in the next 12 months and beyond.
Super Middleweight Boxing: Top Fighters to Watch in 2025
Middleweight Boxing: Diego Pacheco
Diego Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs) looks destined for a huge 2025. The 23-year-old has progressed perfectly since his professional debut in 2018. His most recent win was an impressive performance, which saw him dismantle and stop the durable Maciej Sulecki. Ranked high with three of the four governing bodies, the power puncher is patient with his work. A world title shot should present itself sooner rather than later. He returns to action on Jan. 25 against the unbeaten Steven Nelson.
Osleys Iglesias
Osleys Iglesias (13-0, 12 KOs) is a problem for everyone at super middleweight. “El Tornado” times his punches brilliantly and carries plenty of power. Despite being untested at the highest level, he has a dominant win over Evgeny Shvedenko to win the IBO title. He followed that up with two impressive stoppage wins against Sena Agbeko and Petro Ivanov. 2025 could be a huge year for this talented Cuban.
Ihosvany Garcia
Another unbeaten Cuban makes our list, with Ihosvany Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs) impressing since his 2020 debut. He’s light on his feet and comfortable fighting off the back foot and countering his opponent. He sits down on his punches well and will be a challenge for any of the top super middleweights.
Bek Nurmaganbet
Kazakhstan’s Bek Nurmaganbet (13-0, 11 KOs) is another threat to the super middleweight division. When his opponents throw – he steps back at the right moment to take the sting out of the punch. He mixes his shots impressively, which shows his strong amateur background. Bek does not waste any punches, and every shot seems to carry power.
Luis J Rodriguez Fernandez
Puerto Rican Luis J Rodriguez (14-0, 12 KOs) Fernandez is the final name to make our list. A career-best win over Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez finished 2024 off in style. Another selection from us with slick footwork. He can fight long or exchange in the pocket. He throws with spite and is an effective body puncher. Can Rodriguez mix it up at the super middleweight top table? We should find out in 2025.
At super middleweight, there are plenty of contenders and prospects who seemingly have the talent to reach the upper echelons of the division. 2025 could be a memorable year for the 168lbs division.
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The 'Super Bowl MVPs' quiz
Happy 70th birthday to two-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl XXI MVP, Phil Simms! Simms played in 14 NFL seasons, all with the New York Giants. As a rookie out of Morehead State, Simms started 11 games and finished second in the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Ottis Anderson in 1979. While Simms won two Super Bowl rings, it was Super Bowl XXI he started and threw three touchdowns to zero interceptions to beat the Denver Broncos. Which brings us to today’s quiz. How many of the players to be named Super Bowl MVP can you name in eight minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Latest Matt Rhule news should end Penn State rumors
The Penn State Nittany Lions can likely scratch another candidate off their coaching wish list. On Thursday, ESPN "College GameDay" insider Pete Thamel reported Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule has signed a two-year contract extension with the program, which will run through the 2032 season. It includes a $15M buyout this season, which should prevent another school from poaching him. Why Matt Rhule was considered a strong candidate to replace recently fired Penn State HC James Franklin After Penn State fired Franklin on Oct. 12, Rhule was immediately linked to the job. As a teenager, the New York native moved to State College, where he became a walk-on linebacker for the Nittany Lions from 1994-97. He clearly still loves his alma mater. "I love Penn State, met my wife there, my alma mater," Rhule told the media shortly after Franklin was fired. "Fan since I was born, I think probably had a Penn State shirt when I was born. I really love [athletic director] Pat Kraft, and I'm sad to see coach Franklin go." While the AD for the Temple Owls, Kraft gave Rhule his first head-coaching job in 2013. Now that he has signed the extension, he can't turn to his old friend again and must explore other options. Where does Penn State go from here? The list of candidates in Penn State's head-coaching search is shrinking. The Indiana Hoosiers signed HC Curt Cignetti, another potential target, to an eight-year, $11.6M contract on Oct. 16. The Nittany Lions could attempt to court Ole Miss Rebels HC Lane Kiffin, who has his team in the thick of the national championship hunt after a 7-1 start. However, if he does leave Oxford, expect him to stay in the SEC rather than flocking to the Big Ten. Some believe Kiffin may be the next HC of the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators. And for any optimistic Penn State fans thinking they can lure ESPN analyst Nick Saban out of retirement, dream on. The former Alabama Crimson Tide HC has said there's "no way" he's returning to coaching. Don't bank on Penn State (3-4) promoting interim HC Terry Smith, especially after losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 25-24, in his first game. Instead, it may target HCs Mike Elko (Texas A M Aggies), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt Commodores) and Jeff Brohm (Louisville Cardinals). Penn State alumni may have welcomed a homecoming for Rhule. Now, it no longer looks like a possibility.
Myles Garrett Trade Rumors Swirling With the Eagles in the Crosshairs
With the NFL Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, the Philadelphia Eagles have been actively looking to upgrade their roster. One of the main positions of focus has been improving the pass rush. The Eagles look prepared to take a big swing to address this, in the form of a Myles Garrett trade. Myles Garrett Trade Rumors Swirling With the Eagles in the Crosshairs Eagle Eye Myles Garrett has started to come up in trade rumors over the last few weeks. The Cleveland Browns’ loss against the New England Patriots was a perfect example of why. Garrett had an unbelievable game, recording five sacks. The Browns ultimately lost the game by 19 points. This was the first time in NFL history a player recorded five sacks while losing by more than three points. Garrett has clearly become increasingly frustrated with his team’s struggles despite his own individual performance. Garrett also seems distanced from the team amid his frustration. Amid this uncertainty, rumors have circulated about the Eagles’ willingness to make a trade for the future Hall of Famer. Yahoo Sports reporter Charles Robinson added fuel to the fire with recent comments. Robinson said, “Howie Roseman and the Eagles are super hot after Myles Garrett and would give up like three first-round picks for him.” This would be an unprecedented move from Howie Roseman and the Eagles. On one hand, they would be adding one of the best defensive players in football. Pairing him with Jalen Carter on the defensive line would be a nightmare for opposing offenses. This would be an all-in move for a team recognizing they are in a championship window, trying to maximize it. The Eagles would almost assuredly become the favorites to win the NFC, at the very least. Adding one of, if not the best, pass rushers in the NFL would leave them with almost no weaknesses and a great chance to repeat as champions. Paying a Hefty Price This acquisition would not be cheap for the Eagles. Although Garrett is an all-time great player, giving up three first-round picks would leave the Eagles without a first-round draft pick all the way until 2029. Given all of the massive contracts the Eagles already have (including Garrett in this scenario), it would make it an almost impossible financial situation to navigate. Roseman has shown an ability to navigate tough financial situations, though. He has also shown an ability to maximize his later-round draft picks. In just the last three drafts, the Eagles have drafted all of these players outside of the first round: Cooper DeJean, Jalyx Hunt, Andrew Mukuba, Tyler Steen, Tanner McKee, and Moro Ojomo, among others. It is unlikely the Browns will end up trading Myles Garrett. If they do, though, it is a no-brainer move for the Eagles, regardless of the hefty price they would have to pay. Other Eagles Trade Speculation The Eagles already made a trade this week to reinforce their secondary. Trading with the New York Jets, they acquired cornerback Michael Carter in return for wide receiver John Metchie and a late-round pick swap. Carter has been a solid slot cornerback for the Jets across his five seasons in the NFL. This move gives the Eagles more versatility defensively, allowing them to move DeJean to the outside cornerback position if they choose to. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz also fueled speculation with his latest report on the Philadelphia Eagles. He reported they “are in on everything”. This certainly lines up with Roseman’s aggressive nature and suggests the Eagles could have an unexpected move up their sleeve. Regardless of what that looks like, the clock is ticking ahead of the NFL’s November 4th trade deadline.
Nationals set to hire MLB's youngest manager in over 50 years
The Washington Nationals were one of a handful of teams heading into the offseason needing a new manager. The Nats fired former manager Dave Martinez, who helped lead them to their first World Series title in 2019, ahead of the All-Star break. They then had to decide if they wanted to keep interim manager Miguel Cairo or head in another direction. The Nationals decided to go in a different direction, announcing on Thursday that they are set to hire the youngest MLB manager in over 50 years. Nationals will hire Blake Butera to be their next manager After going 29-43 after taking over for Martinez, the Nationals decided that Cairo wasn't the man to lead them forward. Washington is hiring 33-year-old Blake Butera to be its next manager, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Butera will be a new voice to pair with the new president of baseball operations, Paul Toboni, who took over for former executive Mike Rizzo. According to Passan, Butera will be the youngest manager in more than 50 years. Butera joins Oliver Marmol (39) of the St. Louis Cardinals as the only managers in baseball under 40 years old. In his four-year career as a minor league manager in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Butera accumulated a 258-144 record. That should bode well for him going to Washington, especially after six straight losing seasons. A former 35th-round draft pick of the Rays, Butera is also a former two-time minor league Manager of the Year in the Rays organization and was the bench coach for Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Nationals need to give Blake Butera everything he needs to be successful Being so young and "inexperienced," Toboni and the Nationals organization will need to surround Butera with a veteran coaching staff. In particular, an experienced bench coach to help guide him through being a big league manager. Someone like former Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington would be a good hire to help guide Butera, given his managerial experience and longtime coaching. Coming from the Rays organization, Butera can bring over things he's learned there to help the Nationals improve as an organization. The Rays are consistently at the forefront of analytics and new, innovative ways to build a successful baseball team. Having a young roster and only two players with a decade in the big leagues (Josh Bell and Trevor Williams), Butera should find it easy to connect with some of his younger players, given his age. However, veterans may find it hard to listen to someone as inexperienced as Butera, which he’ll need to work on if the Nationals add any more to help mentor their young core.
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