WITH eight world champions British boxing is arguably in its healthiest shape ever.
But with a whole array of weight divisions, governing bodies and promoters, it’s not easy to work out who is the best of the best.
Pound-for-pound rankings change depending on which publication you read.
But SunSport is pretty impressed with the list compiled by TalkSport, which has used the respected Ring Magazine’s criteria to assess the UK’s top fighters.
Results, performances, their resume and fight activity have all been taken to account.
Here is the list of Britain’s best.
1 Anthony Joshua
By defeating boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua became the most talked-about boxer on the plant.
After being put on the seat of his pants in the fight, Joshua maintained focus to storm back and stop Klitschko in the 11th round.
It meant he added the WBA and IBO belts to his IBF strap.
Klitschko has a rematch clause in the contract, but is yet to make up his mind if he is to exercise that option.
Joshua, who has knocked out all 19 of his victims since turning professional, seems keen to fight Tyson Fury, which will have British boxing fans salivating at the prospect.
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2 Carl Frampton
The Jackal may have lost his world title in a rematch against the classy Leo Santa Cruz, but he has risen to the top on a world level.
He previously handed Santa Cruz his first professional loss, as well as dealing the same to fellow Brit Scott Quigg.
With 23 wins and just that solitary defeat, people may say Frampton should have been more active during his career.
But under the tutelage of Barry McGuigan, it is a case of being well-managed as oppose to chucked in.
Next up he fights Andres Gutierrez at Belfast’s SSE Arena on July 29.
3 Tony Bellew
Tony Bellew shocked the world when he defeated David Haye in a heavyweight blockbuster in March this year.
With Haye struggling with an Achilles injury, Bellew bombed his Brit rival through the ropes late on, defying huge odds to possibly end the career of the Hayemaker.
Bellew had to relinquish his WBC cruiserweight world title for the fight – but you wouldn’t bet against him winning a heavyweight version in the next 12 months.
Winning the world title at his beloved Everton’s Goodison Park against Ilunga Makubu was arguably his greatest moment in sport.
4 James DeGale
Huge brownie points go to James DeGale for his quest for world domination that has seen him go over to the US and bag the IBF super-middlweight world title.
The 31-year-old defeated Andre Dirrell in Boston to bag the belt, and went on to defend it in Canada against Lucien Bute and then again against Rogelio Medina in Washington.
He then had a creditable draw in challenging for Badou Jack’s WBC belt, only losing out after a 12th round knockdown.
DeGale has come a long way since his 2011 defeat to George Groves – the two could well meet again.
5 Billy Joe Saunders
Since winning the WBO world middleweight title, things have not exactly panned out as Billy Joe Saunders hoped they would.
The Beijing 2008 Olympian shocked many, but not his promoter Frank Warren, when he knocked down Andy Lee twice on his way to the world title.
He had previously defeated unbeaten Brit rival Chris Eubank Jnr.
But his first world title defence against Artur Akavov was a dull affair, Saunders only just winning on points against a relative unknown.
Next up he defends against Willie Monroe Jnr, which should see just where Saunders is at in his career.
6 Amir Khan
Being a former unified light-welterweight world champion means he was always going to make the top ten.
But Amir Khan’s career is at somewhat of a crossroads after his shuddering defeat to monster Canelo Alvarez.
He has had four losses in his career, and without a fight for two years, Khan needs a big end to the 2017 season after recovering from a hand injury.
Whether he can ever be world champion again remains to be seen, and a career-defining fight against fellow Brit Kell Brook could be next up.
7 Lee Selby
Lee Selby really has it all, and many boxing pundits believe he has the most complete set of attributes of all the Brits.
But his career has failed to really take off, especially since he made the switch to sign for promoter Al Hymon.
He is the current IBF featherweight champion, and has 25 wins and just one defeat on his record.
8 George Groves
He realised a dream when he finally captured a world title, the WBA strap, by defeating Fedor Chudinov in May.
It was fourth time lucky for Groves, who had seen previous attempts to bag a world title come short against Carl Froch twice and Badou Jack.
The Hammersmith fighter will be competing in the World Boxing Super Series Tournament, where he could meet another member of this top 20 list.
9 Kell Brook
He may be coming in on the back of two defeats, but Kell Brook is certainly one of Britain's best boxers.
He is a former IBF welterweight world champion, and in defeats to Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr, he certainly has nothing to be ashamed of.
Brook has 36 wins and two defeats from a fine career, and at 31, he has time to come again - providing he recovers from some brutal eye injuries.
10 Terry Flanagan
With a fight record of 33 fights and 33 wins, Flanagan perhaps doesn't get the credit he deserves.
He is the current WBO lightweight world champion.
But the list of fighters on his record is what perhaps lets him down.
And here's the rest that make up the top 20
11 Jamie McDonnell
12 Anthony Crolla
13 Nathan Cleverly
14 Kal Yafai
15 Ryan Burnett
16 Chris Eubank Jnr
17 Scott Quigg
18 David Haye
19 Ricky Burns
20 Callum Smith
Note: Due to his personal and professional problems, SunSport has left out Tyson Fury until he makes his ring return.
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