Best Pound-for-Pound boxers in the world

With Dmitry Bivol defeating Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision in a fight that shocked the world of boxing, we have taken another look at the pound-for-pound world rankings.

Terence Crawford – Record: 38-0-0

“We know who is No.1 now” was the tweet posted by the undefeated Terence Crawford after witnessing Canelo Alvarez’s loss to Dmitry Bivol. Having now held world titles at welterweight, lightweight and light-welterweight, whilst maintaining a perfect 38-0 record featuring 29 knockouts, he climbs to the top spot to knock Alvarez off his throne.

After making his professional debut in 2008, ‘Bud’ honed his craft with early fights against largely unrecognisable fighters before moving onto the bigger tests, becoming the first unified light welterweight champion back in 2004. He now boasts wins against the likes of Amir Khan, Jose Benevidez Jr and Kell Brook.

He has recently been public about his desire to face another fighter on this list in Errol Spence Jr, which could see either fighter become the undisputed welterweight champion.

Canelo Alvarez – Record: 57-2-2

Despite his slip-up against Bivol that saw his 17-fight and nine year unbeaten streak end, Canelo Alvarez undeniably remains one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and of his generation.

Some critics will argue he should drop down further on this list, however despite his recent loss he maintains his status as the undisputed super middleweight champion. An ever-ambitious fighter, Alvarez decided to yet again move up a weight class to challenge Bivol in pursuit of boxing greatness. Although Alvarez is keen to activate the rematch clause, he will need to consider whether it is worth taking the risk of fighting someone he has previously lost to at 175lbs, when he began his career in the low 140s.

Whatever happens with Canelo Alvarez in the future, he has cemented his status as a boxing great. He has consistently fought the best of the best in every weight class he has been in, with the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Billy Joe Saunders to name but a few.

Oleksandr Usyk – Record: 19-0-0

The new WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion has long been amongst the elite in world boxing, having also scaled his way to the top of the cruiserweight division. His victory over Anthony Joshua in September 2021 only rubber stamped his place amongst the best of the best, as he became only the third man in history to unify the cruiserweight division and become heavyweight champion of the world.

After a stellar amateur career in which he won gold in both the Olympics and World Championships, Usyk turned professional in 2013. Incredibly he would become the undisputed cruiserweight champion after just 14 fights and win the heavyweight championship of the world in just his 19th professional bout. At the age of 34, Usyk could yet unify the heavyweight division in a fight against Tyson Fury, if he can first overcome Anthony Joshua in a rematch.

Naoya Inoue – Record: 22-0-0

Japanese Star Naoya Inoue has decimated all-comers since his professional debut in 2012, despite signing a deal with his coach Hideyuki Ohashi to never fight easy opponents. In his 22 professional wins since then, Inoue has finished 19 inside the distance on his way to becoming a three-weight world champion.

He is the current WBA (Super), IBF and Ring Magazine bantamweight champion after beating Emmanuel Rodriguez to win the IBF belt in 2019, defending the belts on four occasions thus far, most recently to Aran Diapen. He has a rematch lined up against Nonito Donaire which he is favourite to win at 1/6.

He is known for his brutal body shots and punching power, and at the age of 29 is primed to take the boxing world by storm over the next few years.

Errol Spence Jr. – 28-0-0

The four welterweight world titles are currently held by two of the most accomplished and exciting fighters in the world of boxing, in Errol Spence Jr and the aforementioned Terence Crawford. The potential for a face-off between these two and the opportunity for an undisputed champion is an exciting prospect for every boxing fan.

After defeating Yordenis Ugas by TKO last month, Spence Jr added the WBA welterweight title to the IBF and WBC belts that he successfully defended. Despite an eye injury that forced him out of his scheduled fight with Manny Pacquiao, he continues to relentlessly dominate the division. A bout with the equally talented Crawford appears to be the only significant match-up for him now in the welterweight class.