OK, I was going to put Isaac Dogboe (20-1, 14 KO) in one of these slots, but he couldn’t get past the tenacious and durable Emanuel Navarette (26-1, 22 KO), who took the WBO 122-pound title from him on Dec. 8. As of now, it’s Roman (26-2-1, 10 KO) and Rey Vargas (32-0, 22 KO) who are considered two of the best junior featherweights on the planet. In Vargas, 28, fans have one of the toughest outs in all of boxing; he’s as tough as he is tall (listed at 5-foot-8). While it looks like a stiff breeze could knock him over, Vargas is a durable fighter that will simply outwork his foes over 12 rounds.
If there’s anybody who can deal with the freakishly tall Vargas, it’s Roman, the reigning WBA champion, who has consistently chopped down boxers who have more than a couple of inches on him. His latest victim was Gavin McDonnell, who was stopped in 10 rounds in Chicago in early October. 28-year-old Roman has become one of the game’s truest technicians, making up for his lack of strength with a myriad of other skills.