It is a sport designed for upsets, where one punch can change the momentum of a fight and that it is exactly what makes it such compulsive viewing. In the next 12 months there is certain to be more shocks but we are sticking our neck on the line by picking the five fighters who will enjoy unparalleled success in 2013.

Some are already world champions who will further cement their legacy, while others will look to reach the summit and claim a first world title. All five can boast an undefeated record and if that remains the same by this time next year then it really will have been a very special 12 months.

Adrian Broner – 23 – lightweight

25 men have already attempted to solve ‘The Problem’ and all have failed. Broner is already a two-weight world champion but he appears on the cusp of greatness. The brash, arrogant and ultimately highly skilled fighter is looking to follow in the footsteps of his good friend Floyd Mayweather. To do that he must move effortlessly through the ranks and overawe opponents with a mix of distain and sheer class.

First up for Broner is a defence of his WBC lightweight title against Gavin Rees which should pose no problem for the Cincinnati native. A potential showdown with British favourite and fellow world champion Ricky Burns appears on the cards for later in the year in what would be a blockbuster unification bout. Should he successfully overcome the Scot then we could see him move up to the 140lb division by the end of the year for blockbuster fights with the likes of Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson.

Gennardy Golovkin – 30 – middleweight

With a knockout percentage just a shade under 90% it is little wonder that few middleweights are prepared to jump in the ring with this vicious puncher. The Kazakhstani-born fighter had an impressive amateur career that saw him KO Lucian Bute – undefeated before facing Carl Froch – in 2003 and comfortably outpoint Andre Dirrell at the 2004 Olympics.

Since turning professional he has amassed 24 wins and made believers out of many with his punch perfect display over Gregorsz Proksa. He faces Gabriel Rosado on January 19 but will soon be hoping to secure a shot at one of the current middleweight champions in Daniel Geale, Peter Quillin or Sergio Martinez. The British trio of Darren Barker, Martin Murray and Matthew Macklin will do well to avoid the dangerous 30-year-old who may well look to take on WBA Super champion Geale later this year.

Kell Brook – 26 – welterweight

Another fighter who is yet to taste defeat and a man on the verge of becoming a world champion, Brook has rarely been tested in his 29 contests to date. Carson Jones pushed the Sheffield resident the hardest as he almost paid the price for under preparing but Brook dug deep and now faces Devon Alexander for the IBF welterweight title.

‘Alexander The Great’ will be a tough opponent and will answer many of the questions that have been raised about Brook’s guile in the ring. The American has mixed it with the very best and has only lost once to the Timothy Bradley – the man that conquered Manny Pacquiao. However, there is a belief that Brook is the best to come out of the famed Wincobank gym since Prince Naseem Hamed. He has an array of shots, blistering hand speed and genuine power that could see him eventually matched with fellow Brit Amir Khan in what would be a truly huge spectacle.

David Price – 29 – heavyweight

The heavyweight division is crying out for one fighter to topple the Klitschko brothers in 2013 and that man could be David Price. The proud Liverpudlian has won 13 of his 15 fights inside the distance and has shown that he has power in both hands to end a fight with a single punch. His demolition of Audley Harrison was even more impressive than David Haye and he will next look to make a statement against two-time Wladimir Klitschko casualty Tony Thompson.

At 6ft 8″ and with a ramrod jab, Price has the weaponry to upset either of the Ukrainian champions and could well be targeting a shot at Wladimir by the end of the year. With a lack of depth in the division there is little doubt that fans want to see this match-up but much will depend on whether Price feels he is ready. His bitter rival Tyson Fury may get the fast crack in the summer, but it could well be the 29-year-old that actually dethrones the all-conquering Klitschkos.

Saul Alvarez – 22 – light-middleweight

El Canelo is the new golden boy. Handpicked by the original Oscar de la Hoya, Alvarez may be just 22 and have a look of innocence but his record of 41 wins and just one draw show why he is so very special. The current WBC champion, Alvarez brutally dismissed Alfonso Gomez, Kermit Cintron and Josesito Lopez, while his one-sided display against a faded Shane Mosley demonstrated that he is ready for bigger tests.

Victor Ortiz was named as an option as had Miguel Cotto before his surprise loss to Austin Trout put that bout in jeopardy, while a potential mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather  has been mooted for September 19. The Mexican is already at the level where he may fight just two of three times in a calendar year so expect all his contests in 2013 to be blockbuster bouts.

We must also advise all boxing fans to keep a close eye on the super-bantamweight division where you have a trio of world class fighters who could all face one another in 2013. Nonito Danaire is the current king but potential match-ups with Abner Mares and Guillermo Rigondeaux make it one of the most intriguing divisions in boxing.