Oleksandr Usyk conquered Anthony Joshua to take his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles and rocket up the pound-for-pound rankings last year.
However, he did not quite claim top spot in our list, with Canelo Alvarez becoming undisputed champion just a few weeks later.
Usyk’s cruiserweight run was one of the most impressive achievements any fighter has produced in modern boxing.
Within the space of just 15 fights, the Ukrainian became the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO world champion.
What made the entire campaign more impressive was the fact he did it all on away soil.
When Usyk won his first world title against Krzysztof Glowacki in 2016, he did it in Glowacki’s home country of Poland.
He went on to beat Michael Hunter in America, Marco Huck in Germany, Mairis Briedis in Latvia, Murat Gassiev in Russia and Tony Bellew in the UK.
Now, in just 11 months, Canelo has beaten Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant to become the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO world champion at super-middleweight
The pound-for-pound argument is probably one of the most contentious in the sport and every supporter seems to have a unique opinion on it.
Some rank the best fighters in the world based purely on the manner of their performances – how they look.
Some rank them based purely on their résumés and weigh up who has the best recorded wins.
Some take other factors such as activity and official results into account, too, meaning the whole thing becomes one big confusing mess.
Therefore, talkSPORT.com is going to lay out its criteria (based roughly on Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound criteria) for this list right now:
10. Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (50-3, 41 KOs)
‘Chocolatito’ was once boxing’s pound-for-pound king having build a 46-0 record as a four-weight world champion. He was dethroned by Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, but has since battled back to become champion again by beating Kal Yafai. Although he lost the belt in his last fight to Juan Estrada, many feel this decision went the wrong way.
ED MULHOLLAND/MATCHROOM 13 ‘Chocolatito’ was once boxing’s pound-for-pound king having build a 46-0 record as a four-weight world champion. He was dethroned by Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, but has since battled back to become champion again by beating Kal Yafai. Although he lost the belt in his last fight to Juan Estrada, many feel this decision went the wrong way. 9. Juan Estrada (41-3, 28 KOs)
Juan Estrada’s distinguished career has seen him become a two-division world champion at flyweight and super-flyweight. His crowning rematch wins over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Roman Gonzalez (albeit a contentious one) thrust him into the top ten.
ED MULHOLLAND/MATCHROOM 13 Juan Estrada’s distinguished career has seen him become a two-division world champion at flyweight and super-flyweight. His crowning rematch wins over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Roman Gonzalez (albeit a contentious one) thrust him into the top ten. 8. Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs)
After dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, Tyson Fury’s life and career famously spiralled out of control. However, he’s since remarkably turned everything around and returned to knock out Deontay Wilder twice, re-establishing himself as the best heavyweight in the world.
RYAN HAFEY/PBC 13 After dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, Tyson Fury’s life and career famously spiralled out of control. However, he’s since remarkably turned everything around and returned to knock out Deontay Wilder twice, re-establishing himself as the best heavyweight in the world. 7. Errol Spence (27-0, 21 KOs)
WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence has now built an impressive record since defeating Kell Brook to claim the belt in 2017. Spence stopped Lamont Peterson before also dominating Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia and unifying against Shawn Porter.
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY 13 WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence has now built an impressive record since defeating Kell Brook to claim the belt in 2017. Spence stopped Lamont Peterson before also dominating Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia and unifying against Shawn Porter. 6. Vasyl Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs)
After an historic 396-1 amateur career, double Olympic gold medallist Vasyl Lomachenko turned pro and jumped straight into world class match-ups. The Ukrainian has since become a three-weight champion, beating the likes of Gary Russell Jr, Nicholas Walters, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Jorge Linares, but was dethroned by Teofimo Lopez.
MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK 13 After an historic 396-1 amateur career, double Olympic gold medallist Vasyl Lomachenko turned pro and jumped straight into world class match-ups. The Ukrainian has since become a three-weight champion, beating the likes of Gary Russell Jr, Nicholas Walters, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Jorge Linares, but was dethroned by Teofimo Lopez. 5. Josh Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs)
Josh Taylor conquered the WBSS super-lightweight tournament in spectacular fashion, beating Ivan Baranchyk and Regis Prograis unify the WBA and IBF titles. He’s since gone on and beat Jose Ramirez – another unbeaten champion – for the WBC and WBO belts to be crowned undisputed king.
MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK VIA GETTY 13 Josh Taylor conquered the WBSS super-lightweight tournament in spectacular fashion, beating Ivan Baranchyk and Regis Prograis unify the WBA and IBF titles. He’s since gone on and beat Jose Ramirez – another unbeaten champion – for the WBC and WBO belts to be crowned undisputed king. 4. Terence Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs)
America’s Terence Crawford has won world titles in three weight classes, including becoming undisputed super-lightweight king. He is yet to face elite opposition, though recently improved his record by beating Shawn Porter. The WBO welterweight champion ranks highly based on achievements and the manner of his victories, but must unify with Errol Spence if he wants to become pound-for-pound king.
MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK 13 America’s Terence Crawford has won world titles in three weight classes, including becoming undisputed super-lightweight king. He is yet to face elite opposition, though recently improved his record by beating Shawn Porter. The WBO welterweight champion ranks highly based on achievements and the manner of his victories, but must unify with Errol Spence if he wants to become pound-for-pound king. 3. Naoya Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs)
Japanese three-weight world champion Naoya Inoue has already blasted through the light-flyweight and super-flyweight ranks, and is now a unified king at bantamweight. The 26-year-old conquered the World Boxing Super Series tournament in the 2019 ‘Fight of the Year’ with Nonito Donaire.
AFP OR LICENSORS 13 Japanese three-weight world champion Naoya Inoue has already blasted through the light-flyweight and super-flyweight ranks, and is now a unified king at bantamweight. The 26-year-old conquered the World Boxing Super Series tournament in the 2019 ‘Fight of the Year’ with Nonito Donaire. 2. Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs)
Oleksandr Usyk cleaned out his entire division, becoming undisputed cruiserweight champion in 16 fights. The Ukrainian came through all of his biggest tests in his opponents’ hometowns, travelling to beat the likes of Mairis Briedis in Latvia, Murat Gassiev in Russia and Tony Bellew in the UK. He’s now repeating the feat at heavyweight having dethroned Anthony Joshua.
GETTY 13 Oleksandr Usyk cleaned out his entire division, becoming undisputed cruiserweight champion in 16 fights. The Ukrainian came through all of his biggest tests in his opponents’ hometowns, travelling to beat the likes of Mairis Briedis in Latvia, Murat Gassiev in Russia and Tony Bellew in the UK. He’s now repeating the feat at heavyweight having dethroned Anthony Joshua. 1. Canelo Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs)
Canelo has a number of impressive names on his win sheet, including the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, Miguel Cotto, Daniel Jacobs, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Caleb Plant, Erislandy Lara, Shane Mosley, Amir Khan and Austin Trout. While some of those have come with controversy, the Mexican’s undisputed super-middleweight status cements him as our pound-for-pound king.
13 Canelo has a number of impressive names on his win sheet, including the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, Miguel Cotto, Daniel Jacobs, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Caleb Plant, Erislandy Lara, Shane Mosley, Amir Khan and Austin Trout. While some of those have come with controversy, the Mexican’s undisputed super-middleweight status cements him as our pound-for-pound king.
