Lucas Jones
Considering how difficult it is to crack the top 10 of boxing’s pound-for-pound list as a heavyweight, that makes everything Oleksandr Usyk has accomplished all the more incredible.
Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), the 2012 Olympic gold medalist for Ukraine and the first four-belt undisputed cruiserweight champion in history, has completed his incredible march to the top of the heavyweight division last weekend, gathering to drop and edge linear and WBC champion Tyson Fury in their instant classic of an undisputed showdown in Saudi Arabia.
Not only has Usyk, who joins Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford as the only male boxers to become undisputed champions in two divisions during the four-belt era, carved out his own unique place in the sport’s rich history, given the perfection of his journey. in boxing. to this point, the crafty southpaw deserves considerable recognition.
By overcoming a 40-pound deficit, including huge disadvantages in reach (three inches) and height (six inches) against the 6-foot-5 Fury, 37-year-old Usyk now rightfully stakes his claim as the best P4P fighter in all sport.
If Usyk’s victory had simply been a triumph of his sublime skill, that would be one thing. But the mid-fight adjustments he made while being repeatedly rocked by Fury’s best punches, including a right hook from range that he simply couldn’t miss, were also an important part of what he showed the world.
Not known as a big puncher as a heavyweight, Usyk continued to exert pressure as he took down his larger opponent before landing a series of powerful blows that led to an almost unthinkable knockdown in round 9, in which referee Mark Nelson appeared to get very close until stopping the fight when Usyk knocked the typically durable Fury from pillar to post.
Like Inoue, who was forced to rise from the deck against Luis Nery in the first round of their recent undisputed 122-pound showdown, only to bounce back for the dominant finish, Usyk was forced to produce nearly every trait that will be considered. the best of the world.
Usyk is skilled and thoughtful, but he’s also a warrior who, by giving up so much height and weight to his opponents in this super heavyweight era, is becoming the living embodiment of what the term P4P should mean.
If Usyk overcomes Fury in their contractually obligated rematch in October and then emerges undefeated, we will be talking about one of the most decorated and impressive careers professional boxing has ever seen.
Using criteria that takes into account everything from achievements to current form, let’s take a closer look at the best fighters in the ring. Below is the latest Pound for Pound rankings update following Usyk’s victory in May.
Pound for Pound Ratings
1. Oleksandr Usyk
Undisputed Heavyweight Champion (22-0, 14 KOs) | Previous ranking: #4
Usyk’s professional career was as decorated as it was perfect. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion scored two resounding victories over Anthony Joshua to unify a trio of heavyweight titles before finally landing his undisputed showdown against WBC champion Tyson Fury in May. A thrilling split decision victory made Usyk just the third male boxer to become undisputed two-division champion during the four-belt era.
2. Naoya Inoue
Undisputed junior featherweight champion (24-0, 22 KOs) | Previous Ranking: #1
The four-division champion, who achieved undisputed status in two different weight classes, only continued his legendary conquest of the sport by rising from the screen to finish Luis Nery in the title fight in May at the Tokyo Dome. “The Monster” may have suffered a brief error, but he made up for it by scoring three thrilling knockdowns en route to a sixth-round knockout. Undefeated mandatory challenger Sam Goodman appears to be next.
3. Terence Crawford
Undisputed welterweight champion (39-0, 29 KOs) | Previous ranking: #2
If you wondered how great Crawford really was, his dismantling of Spence in their undisputed title fight provided those answers. Crawford, who has proven he would be a tough match for any welterweight in history, will move up to 154 pounds in August when he challenges WBA champion Israil Madrimov.
4. Canelo Álvarez
Undisputed super middleweight champion (61-2-2, 38 KOs) | Previous ranking: #3
The former P4P king is still the undisputed champion of one of the sport’s hottest divisions and proved this by brilliantly defeating the undefeated Jaime Munguia in May. That doesn’t mean the Mexican icon is alone without criticism, as the boxing world continues to push for a superfight against two-time champion David Benavidez.
5. Artur Beterbiev
Unified light heavyweight champion (20-0, 20 KOs) | Previous rating: 5
Beterbiev dispelled any rumors that he was getting older by dismantling former 168-pound champion Callum Smith in January. With his principals out of the way, an undisputed showdown against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol was scheduled for June 1. But Beterbiev, 39, withdrew in May with a torn meniscus.
6. Dmitry Bivol
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion (21-0, 11 KOs) | Previous ranking: #6
After an incredible 2022 that included a victory over Canelo Alvarez and near-universal acclaim as fighter of the year, Bivol sat out most of 2023 in hopes of facing unified champion Artur Beterbiev. The undisputed title fight was scheduled for June 1, until Beterbiev suffered a serious injury, forcing Bivol to face replacement Malik Zinad.
7. Gervonta Davis
WBA lightweight title holder (29-0, 27 KOs) | Previous rating: 7
Davis’ knockout of Ryan Garcia in their superfight last April looks even better now that “King Ryan” has become the first boxer to knock down and defeat former undisputed lightweight king Devin Haney. With a 2023 prison sentence, “Tank” returns June 15 against undefeated Frank Martin in Las Vegas.
8. Shakur Stevenson
WBC Lightweight Champion (21-0, 10 KOs) | Previous ranking: #9
Although Stevenson limited strongman Edwin De Los Santos to a CompuBox record 12-rounder of just 40 punches, he was widely criticized for how boring his November victory in the fight for the vacant 135-pound title was. Stevenson, who turns 27 in June, won the third weight class title and will defend it in July at home in Newark, New Jersey, against Artem Harutyunyan.
9. David Benavidez
Super middleweight (28-0, 24 KOs) | Previous ranking: #10
Frustrated by waiting for his chance against the undisputed king Canelo Alvarez, “The Monster” will move up to light heavyweight when he challenges former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the interim title on June 15. Be as skillful as you are dangerous.
10. Tyson’s Fury
Heavyweight (34-1-1, 25 KOs) | Previous ranking: #8
Although he looked set to overtake Oleksandr Usyk in their historic and undisputed heavyweight title clash in May, Fury was dropped and nearly stopped in round 9. The “Gypsy King” lost a split decision in an instant classic and has now bounced back ahead of an expected rematch in October.
Give up: None
Honorable mention: Vasiliy Lomachenko, Teofimo Lopez Jr., Juan Francisco Estrada, Devin Haney, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
