For years sports fans have argued about different lists. Top five this, top ten that. The most prestigious spot in all of sports for a long time was being recognized as the best boxer pound for pound in the sport. The previous holders of that spot include legends like: Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr, and Floyd Mayweather. Who holds the top spot today?
10. George Kambosos Jr
Photo via ABC
George Kambosos Jr is the Unified Lightweight Champion of the world after he defeated the previously undefeated Teofimo Lopez on November 27th of last year. Kambosos is the top guy in a loaded division that includes his next opponent Devin Haney. Haney is the WBC Lightweight Champion. On June 5th, we will learn if Kambosos will move up this on this list or be moved out of this list.
9. Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin
Photo courtesy of Sporting News
Gennadiy Golovkin is the oldest boxer on this list at 40 years old. Its a real testament to his skill and discipline that he is still a top ten guy at this stage of his career. GGG is now the WBA and IBF Middleweight champion after his technical knockout victory over Ryota Murata on April 9th. Golovkin was in line to have a third fight against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez but Canelo was defeated by Dmitry Bivol leaving GGG in a stage of unknown when it comes to his next opponent.
8. Shakur Stevenson
Photo provided by Yahoo Sports
We go from the oldest boxer on this list GGG to the youngest, Shakur Stevenson, who is only 24 years old. Stevenson has been able to show the boxing world a lot in a such a short time due to his advanced ability. In his last bout, Stevenson became a unified champion in the Super Featherweight division by defeating Oscar Valdez in a dominant performance. At 18-0, Stevenson doesn't have the deep resume of the others on this list but its undeniable that Stevenson is a top ten pound for pound fighter when you watch him, do his thing, in the ring.
7. Dmitry Bivol
Photo via Marca
Dmitry Bivol is a new entrant into my pound for pound rankings and maybe he should have already been in the top ten. Bivol is now 21-0 with wins over Joe Smith Jr and Canelo Alvarez. When you beat the long time consensus pound for pound king in the way that Bivol did this past weekend, you automatically get a spot in the top ten. Everything is pointing towards a rematch between Bivol and Canelo. If Bivol is victorious over Canelo again, he may grab the top spot.
6. Tyson Fury
Photo via Sporting News
The WBC Heavyweight Champion, Tyson Fury, is 32-0-1, with wins over Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko on his resume to go along with his last win over Dillian Whyte. It was an easy knockout victory that left us wanting more. Fury says we will have to just deal with that feeling as he announced his retirement. Boxers are famous for un-retiring, so I will keep Fury on this list for a few months. Selfishly, I want him to come back and fight for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship.
5. Oleksandr Usyk
Photo courtesy of Sky Sports
Oleksandr Usyk is the current Unified Heavyweight Champion after his win over Anthony Joshua. Usyk is 19-0 with no wins that were up for interpretation. He has been dominant throughout his career and will be defending his titles against Joshua later this year. If he gets back to back wins over Joshua, I think more fans will recognize him as a top five pound for pound guy.
4. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez
Photo via DAZN
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez seemed to have a strangle hold on the top pound for pound spot but nothing is for certain in boxing, which we were reminded of on May 7th as Canelo suffered the second defeat of his career, losing to Dmitry Bivol. Now, Canelo has done so much in the sport of boxing that he still keeps a spot in the top five due to his incredible resume. With a record of 57-2-2 that includes a CVS receipt of future Hall of Famers and former champions. Now if Canelo takes back to back L's to Bivol, his top five spot will be up for grabs.
3. Naoya Inoue
Photo provided by Bad Left Hook
Naoya Inoue is an absolute monster in that ring and deserves this spot as a top three pound for pound guy. The Unified Bantamweight champion is 22-0 with 19 wins by way of knockout. When you watch him fight, its hard to imagine that anyone is better. Inoue is so explosive to go along with his great boxing IQ.
2. Terence "Bud" Crawford
Photo courtesy of DAZN
Terence "Bud" Crawford has a perfect record of 38-0 and is the current WBO Welterweight Champion and the former Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion. Some fans have been critical of his competition or lack there of since he moved up to 147 pounds. Even with some lapses in great opposition, there is no denying the skill that Bud has. Wins over Shawn Porter, Kell Brook, and Victor Postol along with the "eye-test" has earned Bud this spot on my list.
1. Errol Spence Jr
Photo provided by WFAA
The new pound for pound king is Errol Spence Jr. The Unified Welterweight Champion has been through so much in his career and life but still has been able to stay at the top of his game. Spence is now 28-0 with wins over Yordenis Ugas, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, and Mikey Garcia, amongst others. Spence defeated Yordenis Ugas on April 16th is a great performance becoming to first boxer to score a stoppage victory of the extremely tough Ugas. Hopefully we get a one vs two match-up of Terence Crawford versus Errol Spence Jr for the Undisputed Welterweight crown, later this year.
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