Top American Super Featherweights
While the super featherweight division has not historically been considered one of the elite divisions in boxing, it has seen a rise in popularity and talent within the last few years. Many of the sport's top fighters have earned belts at super featherweight in recent years, including Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales and Robert Guerrero. Even with most of these names aging and moving to higher weight classes, the super featherweight division still boasts some premier talent like Roman Martinez and Malcolm Klassen.
However, this influx of talent hasn't extended to Americans within the division. Guerrero was the last great American super featherweight and the most recent world champion in the division from the United States. However, Guerrero vacated his IBF super featherweight title in February to help care for his wife, who was battling leukaemia. He returned to the ring two months later as a lightweight and appears committed to permanently moving up in weight.
Guerrero was the first American super featherweight titlist in four years. And while there is a definite gap between the top American fighter in the division and everyone else, there are still plenty of prospects who could contend for a world title down the road. Here is a list of the top super featherweights from the United States.
Jason Litzau (27-2, 21 KOs): Despite being one of the top American fighters in the lower weight classes, the 27-year-old Litzau has only received one shot at a world title. That came in February 2008, when he was knocked out in the eighth round while challenging fellow American Guerrero for the IBF featherweight title. He briefly moved up in weight class after losing to Guerrero but has since moved back down to super featherweight for his last two bouts, wins against Johnnie Edwards and Rocky Juarez for the NABF super featherweight title. Litzau is currently upset that Juarez is in line to receive a date on HBO against former world champion Jorge Linares instead of giving him a rematch with Juarez.
Eloy Perez (17-0-2, 4 KOs): The Salinas, California native has won his last nine fights since his draw against Carlos Vinan in August 2007 - a streak that has put him in position for a world title shot in the near future. Along the way, Perez earned the minor WBO NABO super featherweight championship after beating Juan Santiago in December 2009. Perez recently signed a five-year promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions, cementing his reputation as one of the top young fighters in the division. He was a sparring partner for Shane Mosley ahead of Mosley's fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May.
Diego Magdaleno (15-0, 3 KOs): The 2007 United States amateur champion in the lightweight division, Magdaleno has remained perfect since turning professional at the end of 2007. While he lacks power, he is a slick and technically sound fighter who is very difficult to hit. His most impressive win to date came when he beat former WBO Latino super featherweight champion Josenilson Dos Santos in a unanimous decision last November
Tyrone Harris (24-6, 16 KOs): A hard-hitting southpaw, Harris has caused trouble for many top fighters during his six-year career. However, the former amateur champion has stumbled in step-up fights against top level competition where a win might put him in position for a title shot. Among the fighters who have beaten Harris in fights that could have turned around his career are Stevie Johnston, Josesito Lopez and Urbano Antillon. He recently moved up to lightweight - his last fight was at that weight class in February when he lost to rising Korean contender Ji Hoon Kim.
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