UNBEATEN prospect Daniel Lapin has entered the WBA’s top 10 light heavyweight rankings after shining on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s rematch.
The 27-year-old went ten rounds with previously undefeated Frenchman Dylan Colin, securing a wide unanimous decision victory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month.
His near flawless performance proved to be the ideal appetizer for a compelling night of action, with Lapin utilising his range control and accuracy to put the 175 lb division on notice.
Not only that, but the Ukrainian has become a mainstay in the Usyk camp, appearing on the heavyweight king’s last five undercards.
And so, with perhaps no better mentor to share the gym with, Lapin has swiftly established himself as one of the sport’s most promising talents.
Standing at 6ft 6in, the skillful technician has proven to be a lethal operator behind the jab, always creating space to land his formidable left hand.
And while it is still early days in his professional development – with just 11 bouts under his belt – Lapin has already climbed up to 10th place with the WBA.
British contenders Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur are among those who sit ahead of him, with undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev occupying the top of the tree.
The light heavyweight landscape, however, could experience a seismic shift on February 22, when Dmitry Bivol and Beterbiev share the ring for their eagerly anticipated rematch.
In any case, Lapin’s new ranking with the WBA is seemingly just the beginning, with the rangy southpaw representing a potential nightmare for future opponents at world level.
