Middleweight is one of boxing’s most established glamor divisions, a division rich in history and bog money memories reaching back into the 19th century.

2023 isn’t the most glamorous of times.

41-year old Gennadiy Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KO), the division’s longest stalwart, quietly vacated both the WBA and IBF belts in the class since his super middleweight loss to Saul Alvarez last year and may be retired. 33-year old Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KO), still the WBC titlist, hasn’t had a fight in over two years. When he does return, it may be at super middleweight. Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KO), now aged 40, is inactive since May 2022 yet managed to benefit from Golovkin’s exit with elevation to primary WBA titlist. 30-year old WBO titlist Zhanibek Alimkahnuly (14-0, 9 KO) shows promise but is still fighting at fringe contender opposition at best while calling for more. 

It’s a title picture full of age and absence. In the last year, the division has also seen Demetrius Andrade and Jaime Munguia exit to super middleweight, further thinning an already frayed field. 

Middleweight lacking depth isn’t a new issue. It’s been the status quo for most of the last thirty years, but in those thirty years fans have at least had the reigns of Hopkins, Golovkin, and a brief burst of color in the form of Kelly Pavlik, Sergio Martinez, and Jermain Taylor among others. 

Hyperbole is common in describing boxing’s highs and lows. It’s not hyperbole to say this might be the one of the lowest moments in the history of the division. Not only is there no dominant force in place, but there isn’t any particular big fight over the horizon right now to suggest a change in the near future.

The thing about low points though is there is nowhere to go but up. This is a division in need of the sort of rebuilding effort akin to one of those shows on HGTV. From the outside, it’s still middleweight so it matters in name. Inside, the foundation needs some fresh concrete.

That concrete will come in the form of good fights that get people talking. Could we have one on tap this weekend?

29-year old Carlos Adames (22-1, 17 KO) is the WBC’s ‘interim’ titlist in the division after a knockout of Juan Macias Montiel last year. Adames is on the best roll of his career, with four wins in a row since a loss to Patrick Teixeira in 2019, including a decision over hard-luck perennial bridesmaid Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He also stands out as the only piece of the alphabet title picture under 30 right now. His interim status should, though it might never, secure him as the mandatory in waiting if and when Charlo returns to defend his title.

It may just as likely that Adames is fighting to be the man named full titlist later. The opponent he’ll fight to stay in that position on Saturday (Showtime, 9 PM EST) is a former unified Jr. middleweight titlist who absolutely must win this weekend.

33-year old Julian Williams rebounded from a knockout loss to Jermall Charlo in 2016 with five wins in a row, culminating with an upset of Jarrett Hurd in a fantastic performance in 2019. Williams looked like he’d arrived.

The thrill was short-lived.

In his first title defense, Williams was battered by Jeison Rosario and stopped in five. A win might have secured a big unification showdown with Jermell Charlo but that opportunity went to Rosario instead. 

Williams has fought only twice in the three years since, losing a stunner to Vladimir Hernandez and shaking off some rust last November in an eight-rounder. A loss to Adames this weekend would leave Williams short on options with the clock working against him a little more every day.

Adames-Williams isn’t the fight that will reignite middleweight, but it’s just enough of an interesting crossroads clash to lay a piece of the new foundation the division needs. An Adames win would further the Dominican’s winning streak and deepen his position as a new face to watch. A Williams win would add some name value for fans and reframe a career story. 

Adames has had issues with stamina in the past; Williams with punch resistance early in fights. The makings are there for a good fight and it’s a start.

Being in the winner’s circle is a step forward in an arena where so few are moving at all. 

Cliff’s Notes…

In contrast to middleweight, Jr. bantamweight has been one of boxing’s most consistent and exciting elite weight classes for most of the last 7-8 years but it’s largely been quiet in 2023. That changes this weekend with two intriguing fights. The Showtime undercard will see Fernando Martinez defend the IBF belt against Jade Bornea in a battle of undefeated battlers. Earlier in the day, Kazuto Ioka-Joshua Franco II will resolve the status of the WBA belt. Their first fight was excellent and the winner might be the right guy to lure Roman Gonzalez or lineal king Juan Francisco Estrada back into the action later this year. The best fighter in the division might be Junto Nakatani right now and he’d be welcome against all of the above as well.   

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com