Boxing’s five best fights of 2016 (so far)

Los Angeles has hosted two of boxing’s top fights this year, with an eye toward at least one more likely entry by the time the calendar turns for good.

Talks are in progress to stage a Vasyl Lomachenko super-featherweight title defense with a rematch against Mexican warrior Orlando Salido in October at StubHub Center.

1. Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido, June 4, StubHub Center: After posting the 2015 fight of the year, Mexico’s Vargas (23-0-2) is the clubhouse leader after his brawl with the rugged veteran Salido, which ended in a majority draw. The pair threw a CompuBox-record 1,593 power punches.

2. Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter, June 25, Barclays Center: Porter’s relentless attack threatened to deal Thurman his first loss, but the champion adjusted in the late rounds to land the most effective punches and retain his WBA welterweight belt.

3. Jesus Soto-Karass vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai, April 15, Belasco Theater: The desperation of the super-welterweights to remain contenders showed in this draw, a 10-round war in which neither yielded, with a deserved Sept. 10 rematch at the Forum on its way.

4. Errol Spence vs. Chris Algieri, April 16, Barclays Center: Texas welterweight Spence showed he belongs in the conversation of boxing’s top rising talents when he scored a fifth-round knockout of the former 140-pound champion whom Manny Pacquiao couldn’t finish.

5. Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan, May 7, T-Mobile Arena: Khan’s speed and boxing skill kept him in contention through five rounds in a bout many projected to be a one-sided affair because of the weight disparity. Alvarez’s sixth-round punch to end it was a knockout-of-the-year candidate.