Some notable names emerged from the 2020 Olympics (which took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Now, top fighters such as Ben Whittaker, Andy Cruz, Keyshawn Davis and Skye Nicolson are names to watch at the top levels of professional boxing.

This week, Whittaker will return against Benjamin Gavazi in a 10-round light heavyweight bout. It will also be Whittaker’s first fight since he signed with Matchroom Boxing, as well as his first since his April stoppage win over Liam Cameron.

10. Skye Nicolson

Record: 8-0 (6 KOs)

Nicolson didn’t medal at the 2020 Olympics, losing to Karriss Artingstall in the quarterfinals, but she has become a solid professional. She stayed active in her first year as a pro, fighting five times. She found her way into becoming a titleholder and then lost her WBC belt to Tiara Brown in February. Now fighting at junior featherweight, she has recorded back-to-back stoppage wins and has shown a new anger in her fighting style since the loss. Nicolson has always had the ability to control distance and range, but now she appears to enjoy dishing out punishment. She faces Yuliahn Luna Avila on December 13. Nicolson has made an impact on the sport with her personality and following, but she also has shown she has the skills to go along with it. 

9. Yankiel Rivera

Record: 7-0–1 (3 KOs)

Rivera lost in the opening round of the 2020 Games and has yet to win a title. He drew against the awkward Angelino Cordova in August, but it should be noted that he has faced flyweight opposition with a combined record of 99-6-2 in his past six fights. Rivera will return against Jonathan Gonzalez on the undercard of Amanda Serrano-Erika Cruz II, and he is shaping up as a standout lower-weight fighter of his era. Rivera, not unlike a gold medalist from this Olympic class, Galal Yafai, has a habit of being too offensive-minded. But given the quality of opposition he has already beaten, his future looks promising. 

8. Rohan Polanco

Record: 17-0 (10 KOs)

Polanco suffered an early exit from the Olympics, losing in the first round. But as a pro, he has done everything needed to advance his career. He has recorded knockouts in developmental fights to generate interest and beaten veterans such as Quinton Randall and Fabian Maidana. Now, Polanco is firmly established as one of the best welterweights in the sport as he waits for his chance to prove just how good he is. He is a success story as a decorated amateur who made the most of signing with a major promoter (Top Rank) with consistently solid performances.

7. Caroline Dubois

Record: 11-0-1 (5 KOs)

Dubois is a master of distance and straight punches. In the Olympics, she lost in the quarterfinals to Sudaporn Seesondee in a very close bout. Before that, she defeated US standout Shakilya Ellis. Dubois appears to be one of the next faces of women’s boxing entering the second half of the decade, having already built an impressive career. She holds the WBC lightweight title and has passed the eye test each time she has stepped up another level in competition.

6. Beatriz Ferreira

Record: 8-0 (2 KOs)

The two-time Brazilian Olympian, Ferreira, who won a silver medal in 2020 and a bronze medal in 2024, currently holds the IBF lightweight title. She also has a great fight coming up against unbeaten darkhorse and Turkish puncher Elif Nur Turhan on December 6. That fight should grab people’s attention. Ferreira is a volume puncher who throws with malice and is one of the rare amateurs who has had a style that translates to the pros. Ferreira is one of the best women’s boxers nearing her prime, and if it hadn’t been for the presence of legendary Irish amateur Kellie Harrington in her division, she realistically could have two gold medals.

5. Richard Torrez Jnr 

Record: 14-0 (12 KOs)

Nice guys shouldn’t finish last. Torrez is one of the kindest souls in boxing, but he also dominated USA Boxing in the super heavyweight division. He won silver at the 2020 Olympic Games, losing to Bakhodir Jalolov, a fighter who just continues to be stuck in the same fringe contender spot year after year. Torrez has made a leap up by defeating Guido Vianello, with that win aging even better after Vianello pulled off an upset knockout victory over Alexis Barriere in October. Torrez is a fast, violent puncher who will always hear doubts about his size, especially after his knockout loss to Jalolov in 2019 in the amateurs. Torrez has established his name as a pro, and it is hard to believe he won’t have some level of success when Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua retire.

4. Ben Whittaker

Record: 9-0-1 (6 KOs)

A combination of talent and flash, Whittaker is the great “What will happen?” in British boxing. He could be the next face of British boxing – or another cautionary tale. Whittaker’s win over Imam Khataev felt like a gold medal-level match at the 2020 Olympics, but his loss to one of the best Olympians in recent memory, Arlen Lopez, cast doubts. Still, Whittaker walked away with a silver medal, and he has moved the needle with every fight. His first fight against Liam Cameron wasn’t promising, as Whittaker was unable to continue after being injured from falling from the ring. He would stop Cameron in his next bout, but doubt still persists about the hunger he has to fight through adversity. Whittaker will be an interesting figure to watch moving forward.

3. Lauren Price

Record: 9-0 (2 KOs)

Price, who won a gold medal at women’s welterweight, has a hybrid style in which she bounces a lot in her southpaw stance, but she has a good application of distance and can get great extension on her punches. The only thing stopping her ascension is activity. Price defeated former titleholder Jessica McCaskill, and after a career-best unanimous decision win over Natasha Jonas in March, she hasn’t fought again this year. She should be a top name in the sport, based on talent, but Price has to fight more to get to that place.

2. Keyshawn Davis

Record: 13-0 (9 KOs)

Davis never had Andy Cruz’s number in the amateurs, but he was otherwise head-and-shoulders better than his international peers. Davis left the 2020 Olympics with a silver medal in the men’s lightweight division after losing to Cruz in the finals. Davis has gone on to win a lightweight world title, which he lost on the scales in his next scheduled bout, with Edwin De Los Santos. That fight was canceled, and Davis has yet to return. That said, he should develop into a top name. In just 13 pro fights, Davis won a world title at lightweight – a division that doesn’t lack for depth.

1. Andy Cruz

Record: 6-0 (3 KOs)

Cruz, the 2020 Games men’s lightweight gold medalist, was viewed as one of the best entering the tournament – if not the best. Rarely do great amateurs have early success in the pros, and rarer still do you see it from a Cuban boxer. Cruz is steeped in an amateur style in an era when amateur and professional boxing are as different as they have ever been. But Cruz is already a title contender and has shown an improving ability to sit down on his punches. Credit also goes to “Bozy” Ennis, the father and trainer of Jaron “Boots” Ennis, who works with him. When the dust settles, he could be the best lightweight in the world – and possibly viewed as the best pro from this Olympic class. Cruz will face lightweight titleholder Raymond Muratalla on January 24. 

Honorable Mentions: Galal Yafai, Pat McCormack, Albert Batyrgaziev, Dzmitry Asanau, Tiger Johnson, Imam Khataev, Duke Ragan, Tamm Thibeault, Oshae Jones, Hovhannes Bachkov, Oshae Jones and Arlen Lopez

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.