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Ralph Rimpell’s Pound For Pound Best Fighters In Boxing By Ralph Rimpell PhilBoxing.com Thu, 10 Aug 2023  Boxing is again on the rise, which means that in addition to hardcore boxing fans watching the fights, mainstream viewers (fans of all sports) are also tuning in to Pay Per View (PPV) for the Big Fights as evidenced by the reported 1.2 million PPV buys for Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta “Tank” Davis last April 2023 and the recent reported PPV buys of 700,000 for Spence vs Crawford fight. The success of these two events is encouraging for the “Powers that be” to continue delivering the “Big Fights” the public (hardcore fans and mainstream fans) want for continued commercial success. Therefore, signing fights with the “Pound for Pound” (P4P) best fighters in the world is the obvious road map. Therefore, it is once again time for me to give my opinion as a boxing writer on who are the top 10 P4P fighters in boxing at this moment. As usual, in the comment section some Reader will say something to the effect of, “Who the f**k is Ralph Rimpell”. My response first thanks for reading my article. To answer the question I’m a grass roots writer on the web who has the pulse of boxing. You can also read my bio below. That is only a little bit of who Ralph Rimpell is! The best fighters P4P are: 1) TERRENCE "BUD" CRAWFORD (40-0, 31KOs) is the best fighter P4P. My last four P4P articles posted on Philboxing.com dating back to March 26, 2019 (4 years ago) I listed “Bud” as the best in the world. This writer is NOT ON THE “BUD” BAND WAGON because of his latest dominant victory over Errol Spence over one week ago. I always believed “Bud” was the best from 4 years ago. “Bud” beat the best available competition willing to face him at lightweight (135lbs). He impressively stopped Yuriorkis Gamboa in 9 rounds, who at the time was a prime undefeated champion. “Bud” eventually moved up to the junior welterweight division (140lbs) and again faced the best available fighters and unified ALL the belts to become the first *undisputed junior welterweight champion to simultaneously hold 4 belts. Last Saturday, “Bud” impressively beat the best welterweight (147lbs) in the division (Spence) who had victories over his stablemates (Danny Garcia, Mikey Garcia, Yordenis Ugas, & Shawn Porter). Bud made history by becoming the first boxer in the 4 belt era to unify ALL welterweight titles (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF) and become a 4 belt title holder in two divisions. Unless Spence beats Bud in a rematch whether at 147lbs or 154lbs, Jermell Charlo beats him defending his 154lbs title, or any other fighter beats Bud, he remains number 1 on this list. 
2) NAOYA "THE MONSTER" INOUE (25-0,22KOs) – Who is this man? He fights out of Japan. He is a 4-division champion. He was also *undisputed champion in the bantamweight division (118lbs). He is the newly crowned unified WBC and WBO super bantamweight (122lbs) champion. American audiences are starting to pay attention because his achievements in the ring are loud and clear. Inoue is called “The Monster” no doubt for his destructive power in the ring by knocking out his opponents. American undefeated former 168lbs champion David Benivedez is also called “The Monster”. It’s debatable, who is the bigger monster in terms of achievements in the ring. There is some talk of Inoue eventually moving up to the star filled lightweight division (135lbs). If Inoue were to move up to lightweight to face and defeat fighters such as Vasiliy Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson, or Tank Davis he would make a compelling case for why he should be listed #1 on this list. 
3) ARTUR BETERBIEV – (19-0, 19KOs) Note his professional boxing record. His knockout percentage is 100%! This is one tough dude! He has three unified championship belts (WBC, WBO, IBF) to make a claim that he is the best in the 175lbs division. The only belt that he has not been able to add to his trophy case belongs to Dmitry Bivol the WBA champion. A unification does not seem likely due to politics. A victory over Bivol would put him in the same company as Crawford (the first 4 belt champion in his division) to make a claim for the number 1 spot on this list. To maintain his position on this list he must continue wining. 
4) OLEKSANDER USYK -20-0, 13KOs – This man has an impressive resume. Like Crawford and Inoue he was a 4 belt champion at the Cruiserweight (200lbs) division (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF) and the first to do so. Usyk makes a claim to being the heavyweight champion of the world because he is the owner of the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles. He surprised the world by defeating Anthony Joshua via unanimous decision to become heavyweight champion back in 2021 and again defeating Anthony Joshua in 2022 via a split decision in rematch. His team has tried to unify the title with WBC champion Tyson Fury for an opportunity to become a 4 belt holder in two divisions like Crawford, but thus far negotiations have failed. Usyk can make a claim for the number 1 spot on this list by defeating Fury and then defeating the powerful Deontay Wilder if he doesn’t get knocked out. 
5) DMITRY BIVOL – (21-0, 11KOs) is the reigning WBA light heavyweight champion. Before he fought Saul “Canelo” Alvarez he was perceived as just a good fighter with a title. The world realized how good he was when he shockingly scored a one sided unanimous decision victory against “Canelo” back in May 2022. There was talks of a rematch with “Canelo” but negotiations fell apart over what weight the two would fight at. Bivol wanted to drop down from 175lbs to 168lbs to challenge for Canelo’s 4 belts. Canelo wanted to fight at 175lbs to avoid criticism if he won that he defeated a weakened Bivol. Boxing history notes there was a precedence back in 1988 for 2 different division championship match when the WBC sanctioned Ray Leonard vs Donny Lalonde for both 168lbs & 175lbs in their bout. Weight problem solved! Fight at 168lb for Canelo’s titles and Bivol’s 175lbs title. In order for Bivol to move up this list he has to beat Beterbiev or Benividez. He already beat former WBO 168lbs champion Gilberto Ramirez impressively in his last outing in a fight many picked him to lose. 
6) JERMELL CHARLO – (35-1-1, 19KOs) Charlo is the current Undisputed Junior middleweight champion (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF) at 154lbs as of the writing of this article. He slips down from #4 on the previous list to #6. He was supposed to defend his titles against the interim WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu. But the fight was postponed due to a hand injury by Jermell. Jermell has since announced that he will be challenging Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for his *Undisputed super middleweight (168lbs) title on September 30, 2023. Charlo says after he defeats “Canelo” he will defend his 154lbs title against P4P #1 Terrence Crawford. If Charlo defeats Alvarez and then defeats an undefeated Crawford that would make him “hands down” P4P #1 on this list. Let’s see what happens. 
7) GERVONTA "TANK" DAVIS – (29-0, 27KOs) He is the WBA “Regular” lightweight champion. He is no doubt a lock for the hall of fame if he retired today. Excellent well-schooled fighter with punching power! In his last fight he defeated Ryan Garcia in an entertaining fight. “Tank” may be the best lightweight in the world at this moment. To ascend this list he has to defeat Shakur Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomenchenko. If it’s up to Tank, those fights will get signed. 
8) TYSON FURY (34-0-1, 24KOS) is the reigning WBC Heavyweight champion. He first won the heavyweight title (WBA, WBO, IBF) by defeating Wladmir Klitschko back in 2015. After one defense he walked away from boxing due to mental health issues. He returned back to the sport in 2018. He fought 3 matches with likely the hardest puncher in boxing and former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. They fought to a draw, but many believed Fury should have been declared the winner in the first bout. Fury and Wilder fought two more times both ending in KOs with Fury the victor. Fury’s next fight is UFC fighter Francis Ngannou who has a professional boxing record of 0-0, 0KOs. If Fury defeats Ngannou as expected, for Fury to ascend this list he must defeat Usyk to unify ALL titles to become undisputed. 
9) DEVIN HANEY (30-0, 15KOs) comes in at #9 on this list. Haney is the undisputed lightweight (135lbs) champion. He recently defeated Vasiliy Lomancheko successfully defending his title. Some scored the fight for Lomancheko, while others scored it for Haney. In order for Haney to ascend this list he has to fight and defeat the top guys in the 135lbs division such as Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis. It appears that will not happen as there is discussion of Haney moving up to 140lbs to challenge WBC champion Regis Prograis. 
10) DAVID "THE MONSTER" BENAVIDEZ – (27-0, 23KOs) He is the interim WBC supermiddle weight champion. He is also the former WBC super middleweight champion. He lost his title twice due to a failed drug test back in 2019 and on the scales for not making weight in 2020. He desperately wants to prove himself by facing Canelo to regain his previous title, but thus far he has not been able to get a match with Canelo. Benavidez moves up this list by defeating either Canelo, Bivol or Beterbiev. Boxing Notes Crawford vs Keith Thurman as Crawford’s next opponent would be entertaining and would likely do well PPV wise. Thurman’s certainly would know how to promote the fight by hyping himself as the one to present a challenge to Crawford. Look for that fight in February 2024… Canelo vs Jermell Charlo will be an interesting fight where either fighter could win… Shakur Stevenson vs Vasiliy Lomachenko for the 135lbs strap is a pick’em fight. Lomachenko is still on top of his game as I had him beating Haney on my scorecard 7-5. Haney looked like a welterweight fighting Lomachenko. Lomachenko did well despite the size difference… Dillian Whyte tested positive for banned substance so has been replaced from fighting 2x former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Whyte’s replacement is Robert Helenious (36-4, 21KOs) which is a tough and dangerous opponent. Helenious is the fighter who knocked out the popular and undefeated Adam Knowacki back in 2020 and then in 2021 in a rematch. Look for Helenious to stop Joshua in 5 rounds. About the Author ***Ralph Rimpell is a writer based out of New York and is a Boxing Correspondent for Philboxing.com. Ralph holds an undergraduate degree from City University of New York. He has been a Boxing Writer for over ten years having written for several top boxing websites on the World Wide Web. Before becoming a writer, Ralph's passion was for professional wrestling until he realized professional wrestling was entertainment and not a real sport. It was at that time the 1984 US Olympic team made up of future stars such as Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor, Pernell Whitaker, etc. entered the professional ranks and signed with promotional outfit Main Events.It was also at that time a young exciting Heavyweight originally hailing from Brooklyn named Mike Tyson also turned professional and became the face of boxing. Young boxing fan Ralph just couldn't get enough of boxing as a large part of it was being broadcast on "free TV". As time went on, Ralph felt boxing writers were not being forthcoming with their boxing coverage, opinion pieces, interviews, etc. So Ralph decided to write an article and submitted it to a Boxing website thinking it would be deleted and ignored by the Editor. To Ralph's surprise his article was posted on their website and the readers embraced it. The rest is history. "I thank God for the Internet because it has created opportunities for writers like myself who likely would not have been given an opportunity to write for print publications. I hope someday soon to expand my role in Boxing on different levels." -- Ralph Rimpell Contact Writer: RLuvsboxing@aol.com Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ralph Rimpell.  |
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