Males’s boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Inoue retains spot, Canelo falls after lackluster efficiency

Many high fighters had been in motion this previous weekend, together with high 10-ranked Naoya Inoue and Canelo Alvarez. Inoue dusted himself off the canvas in Spherical 2 to cease Ramon Cardenas within the eighth to retain his undisputed junior featherweight title in Las Vegas. Canelo went 12 rounds with William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scoring a unanimous resolution victory in a struggle during which Canelo threw solely 152 punches, the second-lowest whole in a 12-round struggle in CompuBox’s 40-year historical past.

Canelo landed solely 56 punches in that struggle, towards 55 for Scull, and whereas Canelo added the IBF belt to grow to be undisputed tremendous middleweight champion for a second time, it wasn’t sufficient to impress our panel. Canelo drops one spot to No. 7. He now strikes on to a struggle towards Terence Crawford on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas.

“[Scull] wasn’t making an attempt to win,” Alvarez stated after the struggle. “He was simply making an attempt to outlive, and I hate these sorts of fighters. He moved much more than I assumed, nevertheless it’s OK. We received.”

ESPN boxing author Andreas Hale dropped Canelo one spot in his listing following his efficiency towards Scull.

“Canelo falls on my listing as a result of subpar high quality of his latest opponents,” Hale stated. “As nice as he’s, we’ve not seen him in a very spectacular struggle since beating Caleb Plant in 2021. Both he is favoring monetary safety over legacy or he’s merely slowing down. He will not have that luxurious towards Crawford, however dips as a result of ‘what have you ever executed for me these days’ component of the P4P listing. And he hasn’t executed a lot for us these days.”

Inoue prolonged his KO streak to 11 in title fights. He has one other file lined up for September, a title protection towards necessary challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Japan.

“By watching tonight’s struggle, everyone seems to be nicely conscious that I prefer to brawl,” Inoue stated. “I used to be very shocked [by the knockdown], however I took issues calmly and put myself collectively.”

With the victory, Inoue retains his No. 2 spot behind Oleksandr Usyk.

Our panel of Hale, Timothy Bradley Jr., Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas, Nick Parkinson, Eric Raskin, Bernardo Osuna, Eric Woodyard, Bernardo Pilatti, Charles Moynihan, Salvador Rodriguez, Jim Zirolli, Michael Mascaro, Aladdin Freeman, Victor Lopez and Damian Delgado Averhoff shares its votes.

Extra ESPN rankings: Divisional rankings and girls’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Word: Outcomes are by Might 8.

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1. OLEKSANDR USYK     Earlier rating: 1

RECORD: 23-0, 14 KOs
DIVISION: Heavyweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Tyson Fury, Dec. 21
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

The undisputed champion in two weight courses has been on a historic tear since shifting as much as heavyweight a bit of over 5 years in the past. He is a two-time conqueror of two heavyweight greats (Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua) and dispatched one on the rise (Daniel Dubois). He’ll get the chance to lap the sector once more when he tangles with IBF champion Dubois for a second time on July 19 in an effort to as soon as once more be known as the undisputed heavyweight champion. He is completed nearly the whole lot there may be to do in boxing as a gold medalist and undisputed champion at each cruiserweight and heavyweight. All he’s doing now could be injecting his title on the brief listing of the best fighters to ever lace up a pair of gloves. — Andreas Hale

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2. NAOYA INOUE     Earlier rating: 2

RECORD: 30-0, 27 KOs
DIVISION: Junior featherweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO8) Ramon Cardenas, Might 4
NEXT FIGHT: TBA vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev

It is uncommon to see a fighter who’s as dominant and thrilling as Inoue. His thrilling battle with Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas additional cemented the Japanese famous person as must-see tv. He is already slotted in for a September showdown with Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Japan and will then make the transfer to featherweight or have interaction in an All-Japan showdown with fellow champion Junto Nakatani in 2026. — Hale

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3. TERENCE CRAWFORD     Earlier rating: 3

RECORD: 40-0, 31 KOs
DIVISION: Junior middleweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Israil Madrimov, Aug. 3
NEXT FIGHT: Sept. 12 vs. Canelo Alvarez

The one true argument towards Crawford being No. 1 is his lack of exercise. However his hiatus will lastly finish after a yr when he jumps as much as tremendous middleweight to problem Canelo Alvarez for the chance to grow to be the one boxer within the four-belt period to be undisputed in three weight courses. It is obscene to assume that Crawford began his profession gathering titles at 135 kilos and can now try to dethrone the game’s largest star at 168 kilos. But when anyone can do it, it is “Bud.” — Hale

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4. DMITRY BIVOL     Earlier rating: 4

RECORD: 24-1, 12 KOs
DIVISION: Mild heavyweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (MD12) Artur Beterbiev, Feb. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA vs. Artur Beterbiev

Bivol avenged his solely loss when he defeated Artur Beterbiev on Feb. 22 in a superb efficiency. He’ll keep away from David Benavidez (for now) as he’ll doubtless have interaction in a rubber match with Beterbiev for his subsequent struggle. Ought to he emerge victorious, a extremely anticipated showdown with “The Mexican Monster” might be on the menu for 2026. — Hale

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5. ARTUR BETERBIEV     Earlier rating: 5

RECORD: 21-1, 20 KOs
DIVISION: Mild heavyweight
LAST FIGHT: L (MD12) Dmitry Bivol, Feb. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA Dmitry Bivol

Beterbiev suffered the one lack of his professional profession in a rematch with Dmitry Bivol on Feb. 22 however nonetheless made an excellent account of himself towards a fellow pound-for-pound fighter. Contemplating the aggressive nature of each fights, it is sensible for the Russian to carry his spot on the P4P listing. He’ll doubtless get an opportunity to avenge the blemish in a return bout later this yr. Though he has crossed into his 40s, Beterbiev nonetheless is acting at an elite degree. — Hale

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6. JESSE RODRIGUEZ     Earlier rating: 7

RECORD: 21-0, 14 KOs
DIVISION: Junior bantamweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO3) Pedro Guevara, Nov. 9
NEXT FIGHT: July 19 vs. Phumelela Cafu

It is onerous to imagine “Bam” has completed all he has by age 25. The 2-division champion has knocked off surefire Corridor of Famers and can proceed his ascent when the WBC junior bantamweight champion makes an attempt to unify the title towards unbeaten WBO titleholder Phumelele Cafu on July 19. Rodriguez, the one boxer on this listing born within the 2000s, has loads of runway in his profession to climb up the listing. — Hale

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7. CANELO ALVAREZ     Earlier rating: 6

RECORD: 63-2-2, 39 KOs
DIVISION: Tremendous middleweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) William Scull, Might 3
NEXT FIGHT: Sept. 12 vs. Terence Crawford

Boxing’s largest star underwhelmed in his most up-to-date outing towards William Scull, regardless of once more turning into the undisputed champion at 168 kilos. Nevertheless, Canelo wanted to get that struggle out of the way in which to arrange arguably the most important struggle of the yr when he accepts the problem of Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sept. 12. Current opposition apart, Canelo has amassed a superb résumé and could have an opportunity so as to add one other future Corridor of Famer to his portfolio. — Hale

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8. DAVID BENAVIDEZ     Earlier rating: 8

RECORD: 30-0, 24 KOs
DIVISION: Mild heavyweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) David Morrell, Feb. 1
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

For no matter purpose, no one needs to struggle Benavidez. He did the whole lot he wanted to at 168 kilos however was unable to land a struggle with Canelo Alvarez. Now he finds himself in an identical place at mild heavyweight as Dmitry Bivol vacated the WBC title so he might face Beterbiev in a rubber match, as a substitute of going through Benavidez. With wins over Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade and David Morrell on his résumé, it is solely a matter of time till “The Mexican Monster” will get to check himself towards the most important names within the sport. The scary factor is that he’s solely 28 and hasn’t hit his bodily prime. — Hale

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9. JUNTO NAKATANI     Earlier rating: 9

RECORD: 30-0, 23 KOs
DIVISION: Bantamweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO3) David Cuellar Contreras, Feb. 24
NEXT FIGHT: June 8 vs. Ryosuke Nishida

Japan’s different pound-for-pound fighter on this listing will try to unify the bantamweight titles on June 8 towards IBF titleholder Ryosuke Nishida. “Large Bang” is thrilling to look at and has received all 4 of his bantamweight fights by knockout since making the transfer from junior bantamweight final February. An eventual blockbuster showdown with countryman Naoya Inoue seems to be on the horizon in what can be the most important struggle within the historical past of Japan. — Hale

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10. SHAKUR STEVENSON     Earlier rating: 10

RECORD: 23-0, 11 KOs
DIVISION: Light-weight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Josh Padley, Feb. 22
NEXT FIGHT: July 12 vs. William Zepeda

Stevenson will get the form of opponent who might take him out of his consolation zone as an elite, but not aesthetically enthralling, tactician when he faces William Zepeda on July 12 in New York. As distinctive as Stevenson has been, the most important grievance is that he nearly makes it look too straightforward contained in the squared circle and coasts to resolution victories. He ought to have his fingers full with a high-volume puncher in Zepeda, giving him each alternative to place these complaints to relaxation. Successful hasn’t been an issue for Stevenson to this point in his profession, however placing on electrifying performances is probably going the one factor holding him again from being one of many largest stars within the sport. — Hale

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The formulation

The rankings are primarily based on a descending factors system, with a first-place vote awarding 10 factors, a second-place vote awarding 9 factors and so forth. A tie goes to the fighter with the best rating, then the one with essentially the most votes at that rating.

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Others receiving votes: Gervonta Davis (16), Teofimo Lopez Jr. (7), Vasiliy Lomachenko (4), Jaron Ennis (1), Janibek Alimkhanuly.

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How our writers voted

Bradley: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3: Inoue, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Alvarez, 7. Nakatani, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Benavidez

Hale: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Alvarez, 8. Benavidez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Nakatani

Atlas: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Davis, 7. Lomachenko, 8. Alvarez, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Benavidez

Tessitore: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Bivol, 6. Nakatani, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Benavidez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Alvarez

Parkinson: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Alvarez, 8. Nakatani, 9. Benavidez, 10. Davis

Raskin: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Benavidez, 8. Alvarez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Nakatani

Osuna: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Nakatani, 8. Benavidez, 9. Alvarez, 10. Stevenson

Rodriguez: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Crawford, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Nakatani, 9. Benavidez, 10. Ennis

Woodyard: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Bivol, 5. Alvarez, 6. Benavidez, 7. Davis, 8. Stevenson, 9. Lopez, 10. Beterbiev

Moynihan: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Bivol, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Benavidez, 8. Stevenson, 9. Davis, 10. Rodriguez

Pilatti: 1. Inoue, 2. Usyk, 3. Bivol, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Crawford, 6. Benavidez, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Nakatani, 9. Stevenson, 10. Alimkhanuly

Zirolli: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Stevenson, 5. Bivol, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Alvarez, 9. Lopez, 10. Nakatani

Mascaro: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Bivol, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Nakatani, 8. Benavidez, 9. Davis, 10. Lopez

Freeman: 1. Inoue, 2. Crawford, 3. Usyk, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Bivol, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Nakatani, 8. Stevenson, 9. Alvarez, 10. Lopez

Lopez: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Alvarez, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Benavidez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Nakatani

Delgado Averhof: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Crawford, 5. Rodriguez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Benavidez, 8. Alvarez, 9. Davis, 10. Lopez

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ESPN specialists’ ballot

First place: Usyk (13), Inoue (2), Crawford (1)

Second place: Inoue (8), Crawford (7), Usyk (1)

Third place: Inoue (6), Crawford (5), Bivol (3), Usyk (2)

Fourth place: Bivol (9), Crawford (2), Beterbiev (2), Rodriguez (2), Stevenson (1)

Fifth place: Beterbiev (7), Bivol (4), Alvarez (3), Crawford (1), Rodriguez (1)

Sixth place: Beterbiev (6), Rodriguez (4), Alvarez (2), Benavidez (2), Nakatani (1), Davis (1)

Seventh place: Rodriguez (5), Nakatani (4), Benavidez (3), Alvarez (2), Davis (1), Lomachenko (1)

Eighth place: Benavidez (5), Alvarez (4), Nakatani (3), Stevenson (3), Rodriguez (1)

Ninth place: Stevenson (6), Davis (3), Alvarez (2), Benavidez (2), Lopez (2), Rodriguez (1)

tenth place: Nakatani (4), Lopez (3), Benavidez (2), Beterbiev (1), Rodriguez (1), Alvarez (1), Stevenson (1), Davis (1), Ennis (1), Akhmadaliev (1)