Top Five Pound-for-Pound Boxers: Comparing the Best in Boxing

Every boxing fan has an opinion on who the best boxer is. However, the different weight classes make it impossible to compare boxers like-for-like. For example, we will never see a featherweight step into the ring with a heavyweight. This is where pound-for-pound rankings come into play because they allow fans and analysts to compare fighters as if they were all the same size.

Most combat sports, including wrestling, Muay Thai, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), use pound-for-pound rankings when discussing athletes. Boxing is no different, with several publications, such as Ring Magazine, frequently publishing their rankings. The current top five pound-for-pound boxers, as of August 25, 2024, are:

Top Five Pound-For-Pound Boxers

Oleksandr Usyk – Ukraine

Few boxing experts and fans will argue against having Oleksandr Usyk as the current number one. He is the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world since Lennox Lewis was stripped of the title in April 2000. In addition, Usyk is the first heavyweight in boxing history to hold world titles across all four major sanctioning bodies in the four-belt era. The 6 foot 3 southpaw holds titles from the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Usyk turned professional in 2013, aged 26, winning the vacant WBO interim Intercontinental cruiserweight title in his fifth fight. Since 2018, The Ukrainian has been involved in some of the biggest fights in the heavyweight division. He defeated Derek Chisora before beating Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision in September 2021 to claim the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.

He successfully defended his titles in the rematch with Joshua, knocked out Daniel Dubois, and became the first undisputed four-belt heavyweight champion, when he won the WBC heavyweight title while retaining his other belts with a split-decision victory over Tyson Fury in May. Next for the Ukrainian is a rematch on December 21 against “The Gypsy King” in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Naoya Inoue – Japan

Japan’s Naoya Inoue is nicknamed “Monster” despite his diminutive size. Don’t let Inoue’s size fool you because “Monster” possesses exceptional punching power, evident by 24 of his 27 victories coming by the way of a knockout! His knockout-to-win percentage is 88.88% and 90.90% in world title fights.

Only three fighters have stepped into the ring with Inoue and not found themselves flat on their backs and out for the count. Ryoichi Taguchi took Inoue the distance in August 2013, with David Carmona doing the same in May 2016. Inoue won both fights unanimously. Inoue won by unanimous decision in his clash with Nonito Donaire in November 2019, but everyone else since has been knocked out or had the fight stopped.

In June 2022, Ionue became the first Japanese boxer to be ranked first in the pound-for-pound standings and now has won all four belts at bantamweight and super bantamweight, where he currently resides.

Terence Crawford – United States

Terrence Crawford is often hailed as one of the most complete fighters of his generation. During his long and illustrious career, he has held multiple titles in four weight classes and currently holds the WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring welterweight titles, in addition to the WBA and WBO light middleweight belts.

Crawford was a prolific amateur boxer, racking up 70 official fights. His first professional fight was against Brian Cummings in March 2008; Crawford knocked out Cummings. Since then, Crawford has stepped into the run 41 times, won all 41 fights, and boasts 31 knockouts.

Despite being 36, Crawford won the WBA and vacant interim WBO light middleweight titles in August by unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov in Loa Angeles.

Canelo Álvarez – Mexico

Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez is a legendary figure in boxing and one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, thanks to his ability to draw in huge pay-per-view (PPV) crowds. Across 15 PPV fights, Alvarez has generated over $925 million in revenue! Alvarez signed a $365 million deal with DAZN that should have seen him compete in 11 fights, but the two parties cancelled their contract in 2020 following several disagreements.

Alvarez has held world championships in four weight classes, from light middleweight to light heavyweight. The Mexican is a renowned counterpuncher and a formidable body puncher, two skills that have served him well during his 65-professional fight career.

Alverez has 61 wins from 65 fights, with 39 knockouts. Only two fighters have managed to stop Alvarez in his tracks. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the first in September 2013. Some 2.2 million people bought the fight on PPV, generating $150 million in revenue.

His second defeat came in May 2022, when all three judges scored the fight in Dmitry Bivol’s favour. Nobody has managed to defeat Alvarez by KO or TKO.

Jesse Rodríguez

American Jesse Rodriguez is only 24, yet he is ranked fifth in boxing’s pound-for-pound rankings. Rodriguez turned professional in March 2017 and quickly rose through the ranks. He won ten of his first 15 fights by KO or TKO, setting up a mouth-watering bout against Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC super flyweight title. Of course, Rodriguez won this fight to become world champion.

After two successful title defences, Rodriguez won the vacant WBO flyweight title with a unanimous decision victoryover Cristian Gonzalez. He then forced Sunny Edwards to retire, winning the IBF flyweight belt before knocking out Juan Francisco Estrada in June 2024 to win the WBC and The Ring super flyweight titles. The sky is the limit for the young American.

Conclusion

The current top five in the pound-for-pound rankings showcase the diversity and excellence that defines modern boxing. We have Usyk’s technical brilliance, Inoue’s raw power, and Crawford’s versatility. Then we have Alvarez’s unrivalled resilience and the legitimate rising star Rodriguez.

All five have dominated and continue to dominate their respective weight classes. They are celebrated for their size and strength and because they have mastered the art of boxing.