By Oliver Fennell

Two of the boxing fan's bugbears are competitors fighting below their perceived level, and veterans who stay in the sport too long. Oliver Fennell takes a look at both, and selects five British boxers who are due a step up in competition in 2016, and five who should consider a safer line of work.

STEP UP

Anthony Joshua

Joshua is still very much a prospect, yet is one of the biggest names in British boxing and many people’s pick as a future world champion. Going seven tough rounds with Dillian Whyte last month answered some key questions – namely if he could still fight well after three sessions, and if he could take it back as well as dish it out. Still, the fact remains that Joshua hasn’t beaten anyone near the top 10, yet he is placed highly by the alphabets – as high as number 2 by the WBC and WBO. If he is to justify such rankings, and any talk of a world title shot, he will need to fight some genuine world level opposition in 2016.

Liam Smith

When you’re a world champ, you have to fight a level of opposition that justifies the tag. In neither winning the WBO light-middleweight belt nor defending it the first time did Smith beat a genuine world class opponent. Of course, a boxer must take the opportunities presented to him, and when Smith was offered the vacant title shot against late replacement John Thompson, it’s natural he chose that route. It was also fair enough that he enjoyed a comfortable first defence – it’s something of a tradition, after all. But he won both fights comfortably, suggesting bigger and better things await. Let’s see him go for them this year.

Andrew Selby

It might seem harsh to call for a prospect with just three pro fights under his belt to step up, but consider these two things: first, Selby looks a precocious talent, and one that is more than capable of rising through the ranks sooner rather than later. My call for him to do so is a compliment more than a criticism. Second, Selby himself has said he wants to fight for a world title within 10 contests. To keep to that schedule, he will need to beat several ranked contenders this year. Fortunately for the Welsh flyweight, it’s easier to do so in the lowest weight classes.

Hughie Fury

The deadline has passed on what always looked an overly ambitious target, for Fury to beat Mike Tyson’s record as youngest world heavyweight champion. On the one hand, that frees Hughie – Tyson Fury’s cousin – from unrealistic pressure, allowing him to continue his fistic education at a normal pace. But on the other hand, he’s benefitted from precious terrestrial TV coverage and that famous family name, and as a result has one of the higher profiles of Britain’s prospect-level boxers. Also, while Fury is just 21, he is also 18-0 as a pro and has been 10 rounds several times. Some of his recent contests – whether a soporific whitewash of George Arias or the farcical blowout of Larry Olubamiwo – have been dismal affairs. Fury needs to test himself at a higher level to maintain his momentum, and our interest.

Anthony Ogogo

I know Ogogo’s career has been hampered by injuries, so it is neither his nor his handers’ faults that he has not moved as quickly as he should have. Nevertheless, compare his progress to that of fellow 2012 Olympians Joshua and Luke Campbell. Yes, they won gold while Ogogo won bronze, but even so he was seen as such a hot prospect as a pro that Golden Boy  signed him. Assuming he can regain full health, Ogogo will have some work to do this year if he is to catch up with his former team mates.

STEP DOWN

Danny Williams

Williams had been on this list for years. Since 2010, in fact, after he was drubbed by a then-green Dereck Chisora. He hasn’t fought in Britain since, but has toured Europe and the Middle East, almost invariably losing. His record in the past four years is 4-15, with the wins against obscure journeyman and some very bad stoppage defeats in the loss column. It’s already a grim end for a man who once fought for the world heavyweight title and beat Mike Tyson, and it will only get worse if he continues.

Larry Olubamiwo

In my opinion, Olubamiwo should never have been allowed to fight again after losing his licence in 2012 for multiple performance-enhancing drug violations. But this is boxing, and he was back less than 18 months later. His record before the drugs bust: 10-3. His record since then: 1-16. That speaks for itself. Putting aside the moral aspect, Olubamiwo’s last performance was a truly awful one, and unfortunately played out on terrestrial television as he was hammered abruptly by Hughie Fury. Even his own cornerman has admitted “I never expect him to win any of his fights”. When he was on PEDs, Olubamiwo was a danger to others. Now, he might be a danger to himself.

Jason Booth

Booth has been a fine servant of the game, a multi-time champion and testament to the transformative powers of the sport, overcoming a mid-career bout of alcoholism to return to the British title picture. He has lost more than he has won in recent years, but his last two fights saw him score an upset over prospect Jason Cunningham, and then challenge for the British bantamweight belt. In that, he was well beaten by young prodigy Ryan Burnett, but enjoyed the moral victory of lasting the distance against a man widely expected to blast him out. It would be a credible way to end a fine career at 38. Carrying on would risk being relegated to journeyman status.

Junior Witter

Witter similarly has limited options other than becoming a high-quality trialhorse at this stage. A former WBC world light-welterweight champion, Witter dazzled in his prime and is still highly capable, but his results have had diminishing returns as he has aged.  Witter hasn’t claimed a meaningful scalp since 2011’s upset of Colin Lynes, and while he has come close in decision losses on the road (some would say robbed), close is not good enough to stay relevant at nearly 42 years of age. He might still spring an occasional upset and would definitely remain a big-name test for many on the European circuit, but a major title run looks beyond him at this stage.

Kevin Mitchell

Mitchell is by far the highest ranked and most relevant name on this list, and nowhere near journeyman status. But 2015 was a hard, hard year for him. He came agonisingly close to dethroning WBC world lightweight champion Jorge Linares in May, in what was one of the year’s best fights. The see-saw action and Mitchell’s immense bravery earned him enormous plaudits, but the intensity of the fight may have enacted an irrecoverable toll. Next time out, Mitchell was bowled over with worrying ease by the unproven Ismael Barroso. Mitchell might have to bow out as one of Britain’s best boxers to never win a world title – a double-edge honour if ever there was one – but it is better that way than risking his health and a proud legacy.