1. Gennadiy Golovkin - In a parallel universe where boxing is judged fairly, Golvkin entered the Canelo Alvarez rivalry with the true wolrd championship on the line, won the first fight and got at least a draw in the rematch, leaving GGG as the true world middleweight champion. He's won three straight since then, including over Sergiy Derevyanchenko, so GGG is at the very least the uncrowned lineal champon (and the actual IBF champion). Please note, the #1 ranking does not mean Boxingtalk would favor GGG over Jermall Charlo should the stars align for a middleweight super fight.

2. Jermall Charlo - The WBC champion is 31-0 and in his prime. Unfortunately, PBC hasn't been able to land him the big fight that he deserves despite his move to middleweight in 2017. He'd probably be favored to beat Golovkin, but Golovkin's claim to the lineal world championship must be respected in these rankings.

3. Demetrius Andrade -The WBO champion is 30-0, but there is a huge accomplishment gap between Andrade and the #2, 'Mall Charlo. Andrade's been inactive for a year, and his last fight was a win vs. the underwhelming Luke Keeler.

4. Ryota Murata - The Japanese star received his WBA title via e-mail. Did not fight at all in 2020, and split two fights with Rob Brant in 2019. No, the middleweight division is not deep right now.

5. Chris Eubank - After dropping down from super middleweight, his only fight in this division was a 2019 win caused by Matvey Korobov's shoulder popping out. No fights in 2020 and none scheduled.

6. Sergey Derevyanchenko - Ukrainian dangerman has lost three of his last four, but they were to Daniel Jacobs, Gennadiy Golovkin and Jermall Charlo, and the Jacobs fight was debatable. Also had a good win in 2019 vs. Jack Culcay, now a rated junior middleweight. 

7. Jaime Munguia - We're not totally sold on the former WBO junior middleweight champ, but he is 36-0 and he tore Tureano Johnson's lip open in October. He gt a gift decision vs. Dennis Hogan in 2019.  

8. Rob Brant - Split two fights with Ryota Murata in 2019 and got a decent win over Vitalii Kopylenko in August 2020. Murata is now recognized as the WBA champion.

9. Kanat Islam - Ethnically, he is a Kazakh Muslim, but he was born in China, which means he must have had a very difficult life. He's now in the USA, anmd at age 36, the time is now for him. He had no fights in 2018 or 2020, and can't afford this inactivity much longer. In 2019, he beat Walter Kautondakwa about as easily as Demtrius Andrade did.

10. Liam Smith - Smith who has losses to Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, is here on the strenghth of two 2017 wins over fellow British Liam, Liam Smith. Won three straight after the Munguia loss but hasn't fought since 2019.

11. Liam Williams  - Can't be put ahead of Liam Smith due to a pair of 2017 losses to him, but he has fought better competition in the past three years. He seems in line for a WBO title shot at some point in 2021. 

12. Vincent Feigenbutz -German is already 32-3 at age 25. Was not very competitive in a stoppage loss to Caleb Plant, but bounced back in August over 17-2 Jama Saidi.

13. Maciej Sulecki - Polish boxer has wins over Gabe Rosado and Jack Culcay, a competitive loss to Daniel Jacobs and a wide loss to Demtrius Andrade. Last activity was an August win over Sasha Yengoyan.

14. Andrey Sirotkin - American-based Russian dropped down from super middleweight and had a productive 2020 with three wins.

17. Juan Macias Montiel - Since getting stopped by Jaime Munguia in 2017, Montiel is 3-0-1 including a draw with Hugo Centeno and a first-round stoppage of faded James Kirkland. Montiel is 22-4-2 overall.

18. Brandon Adams  - Lost to Jermall Charlo in 2019 then beat Sanny Duversonne in 2020. Next up is Serheii Bohachuk. We'll see whether Adams' proper weight class is 154 or 160.

19. Meiirim Nurusultanov - Kazakh boxer is listed as 14-0 but was an additional 12-1 in the World Series of Boxing including wins over Hurshidbek Normatov and Troy Williamson, both successful pros.

20. Denis Radovan - German boxer has a credible amateur career and some decent wins as a pro, but his appearance in the top twenty shows there are not too many credentialed middleweights at the moment.

21. Denzel Bentley - British champion is 14-0-1 and avenged the draw vs. big punching Mark Heffron in November

22. Amilcar Vidal - Argentine boxer is 12-0 but has four wins over previously undefeated boxers.

23. Sergio Martinez - We are reluctant to rate the former world champion, but he won two carefully selected fights in 2020, which is more than the guys below him.

24. Matteo Signani - 41 year-old European champ has two straight quality wins.

25. Patrice Volny - Undefeated Canadian has put together a run of solid wins from his Ontario base. Has not fought since late 2019.

INELIGIBLE LIST: Willie Monroe, Jr. (18 months' inactivity); Christopher Pearson (18 months' inactivity).

Immanuwel Aleem