France’s Next Wave: Three Unbeaten Fighters on the Rise

Boxing continues to thrive worldwide, in both the amateur and professional ranks. Here are three French boxers to watch in 2025 and beyond. France has a proud history with names like Marcel Cerdan, Georges Carpentier, and Jean Marc-Mormeck. These three unbeaten fighters look set to make their own mark.

Three French Boxers to Watch in 2025 and Beyond

French Boxers to Watch: Christian Mbilli

Christian Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) is France’s leading super-middleweight contender. He is ranked among the top three in the division by Ring Magazine and continues to push for a world title shot. Mbilli has stopped fighters such as Rohan Murdock and Demond Nicholson, building a reputation as one of the most dangerous punchers at 168 lbs. His style is aggressive, high-output, and built around walking his opponents down and throwing heavy combinations. Mbilli will be back in action on the September 13 Canelo vs Crawford undercard against Lester Martinez, with the winner in a good position to fight the winner of Canelo vs Crawford.

Leonardo Mosquea

Leonardo Mosquea (17-0, 10 KOs) has established himself as a force in the cruiserweight ranks. The 31-year-old captured the EBU cruiserweight title after a surprise win over Britain’s Cheavon Clarke in Monte Carlo, scoring a knockdown and taking a split decision. Earlier in his career, Mosquea lifted the EBU Silver title with a victory against Viktor Trush before defending it against Dylan Bregeon. He picks his shots well while countering impressively. The Clarke victory showed the ability he possesses, but it feels like there is more to come.

Bakary Samake

At just 22, Bakary Samake (18-0, 10 KOs) is one of the brightest prospects in French boxing. Samake moved up a level with impressive wins over Ahmed El Mousaoui and Julio Alamos. He then won the vacant WBC silver super welterweight title. Samake punches with speed and precision. He doesn’t waste his work, and at 22, it feels like there is so much more to come from the young Frenchman, making him one of the top French boxers to watch. Samake will be back in action on October 25 against an opponent to be confirmed.

France has produced champions before, and we believe these three, led by the Cameroonian-born Mbilli, will be the next crop of fighters to scale the rankings and challenge for world titles. Stay tuned, French boxing is being represented well by these three.