Aleksandar Rakic

Aleksandar Rakic was, for a stretch, one of the brightest contenders at light heavyweight. The big, athletic Austrian paired knockout power with a long, rangy frame and climbed the rankings on wins over names like Anthony Smith and Jimi Manuwa, positioning himself on the doorstep of a title shot.

Then the momentum stalled. A devastating leg injury in his fight with Jan Blachowicz derailed a bout he was competing in, and a string of losses followed as he tried to recover his form. He eventually stepped away from the sport.

Rakic's career is a what-might-have-been story. At his peak he looked like a possible champion, and his power and polish made him one of the more promising light heavyweights of his era.