Who are the best fighters from Africa operating today?
- MORUTI MTHALANE
Unbeaten in 12 years, Mthalane is the reigning two-time IBF flyweight champion. The vastly seasoned South African has a record of 9-1 in world title fights, including wins over various notable names. - ILUNGA MAKABU
A power-punching Congolese cruiserweight, the portsided Makabu unsuccessfully challenged for the WBC strap in 2016, before winning the belt at the second attempt earlier this year. - ZOLANI TETE
Prior to being surprisingly stopped by John Riel Casimero at the end of last year, skilful South African southpaw Tete had won IBF honours at super-flyweight and the WBO crown at bantamweight. - ISAAC DOGBOE
The all-action Dogboe impressively deposed Jessie Magdaleno from the WBO super-bantamweight throne in 2018. The Ghanaian subsequently lost his title but has since bounced back with a victory. - RICHARD COMMEY
Like his countryman Dogboe, Commey is a former world titlist, having held the IBF lightweight championship for most of 2019. His only defeats have come when mixing in good company. - THABISO MCHUNU
South Africa’s Mchunu is a stocky left-hander who is coming off an away triumph over Denis Lebedev in Russia. With the win, he cemented his status as a leading contender at cruiserweight. - DEEJAY KRIEL
After knocking out Carlos Licona to claim the IBF strawweight strap at the beginning of last year, South African Kriel decided to vacate the belt in order to move up to the light-flyweight division. - KEVIN LERENA
The third cruiserweight on this list, Lerena has worked his way up the rankings with a long sequence of solid victories. The muscular portsider from South Africa is now eyeing a world title shot. - GIDEON BUTHELEZI
Another South African who operates out of the southpaw stance, super-flyweight Buthelezi is currently on a run of eight straight successes. His most recent win was secured in less than two minutes. - NKOSINATHI JOYI
You guessed it, yet another South African lefty. Joyi is a strawweight veteran who finds himself right back in the mix at 105lbs again, having previously ruled as IBF champ from 2010 to 2012.
Read an interview with Mikael Lawal here