Ok, I was wrong… I omitted someone from our pound-for-pound list because he hadn’t fought in over a year and the many delays of his title defense and trilogy against ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Deontay Wilder. How could I leave out ‘The Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury?? My bad champ! I take full responsibility for that one and with the way you ended the trilogy, I couldn’t deny you a spot on our list. So, with that out the way, here is the Tunnel Vision Sports Boxing Top Ten pound-for-pound list:
1. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez: Super Middleweight (57-1-2, 39 KOs)
Much like one of Jay-Z’s hit records off The Black Album: “What More Can I Say”!
Canelo is the biggest superstar and rockstar of boxing. He did something no other boxer of Mexican descent was ever able to do, hold all four of the major belts at a weight class. His eleventh-round TKO of Caleb Plant was also historical for another reason, because he unified all the titles at the super middleweight division. Not Andre Ward. Not Roy Jones Jr. Not James Toney. Not Joe Calzaghe. Canelo is the only man to do so. Not to sound too hyperbolic, he keeps this up, he’ll be revered among his countrymen as the greatest Mexican boxer ever. Truth be told, he’s already an all-time great and one of the best of his era.
2. Oleksandr Usyk: Heavyweight (19-0, 13 KOs)
Oleksandr Usyk is currently awaiting a date for his rematch with Anthony Joshua. Usyk now holds all the belts that Joshua once owned (IBO, IBF, WBA, and WBO). As Joshua appears to be looking for a new trainer, Usyk is determined and focused to make sure that his victory last month was not a fluke. If he successfully defends his titles against Joshua, perhaps we can get a mega-fight for the undisputed heavyweight crown with lineal and WBC champ, Tyson Fury.
3. Naoya Inoue: Bantamweight (21-0, 18 KOs)
‘Monster’ Inoue is currently preparing for a voluntary homecoming title defense against Thailand’s Aran Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs) on December 14th in Japan. Hopefully after this fight, Inoue will fight the winner of Nonito Donaire (WBC champion) and Reymart Gaballo (WBC interim champion) or WBO champion John Riel Casimero. And if you need a reminder of why his nickname is ‘Monster’, enjoy this video.
4. Terence Crawford: Welterweight (37-0, 28 KOs)
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)
Honestly, depending on how things shake out with his WBO title defense against Shawn Porter looming in a matter of days (November 20th). Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford could easily move up this list, especially if he ends it early. Porter has never been stopped and Crawford is one of, if not THE best finisher in the sport. A victory over Porter would only enhance Bud’s legacy even more and maybe get the ball rolling on facing the champions (Errol Spence Jr. or Yordenis Ugas) or any other top welterweight.
5. Errol Spence Jr.: Welterweight (27-0, 21 KOs)
‘The Truth’ is still on the mend and recovering from having eye surgery. He has been seen recently in the gym. As of now, there is no exact timetable on when the unified WBC and IBF champion will return to the ring. Hopefully when he returns, the welterweight division may see a unification with either Terence Crawford (WBO) or Yordenis Ugas (WBA).
6. Tyson Fury: Heavyweight (31-0-1, 22 KOs)
‘The Gypsy King’ has officially set himself up one step closer to fighting for the undisputed championship at heavyweight. Fury, 33 put an exclamation point ending to his trilogy with Deontay Wilder by knocking him out in the eleventh round. Fury will now await the WBC’s decision on a possible title defense against number one contender, Dillian Whyte. Should Fury have his hand raised victoriously, he would be able to challenge the winner of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.
7. Josh Taylor: Super Lightweight (18-0, 13 KOs)
‘The Tartan Tornado’ will put his undisputed super lightweight title on the line on February 26 against the undefeated Englishman, Jack Catterall. The fight was originally supposed to take place on December 18, but had to be postponed due to the 30-year-old Taylor suffering a knee injury in October.
8. Teofimo Lopez: Lightweight (16-0, 12 KOs)
‘The Takeover’ will now be able to resume after Matchroom was awarded his title defense against Australian George Kambosos after Triller was found in default of the fight. The fight with be televised on DAZN next weekend on November 27th. If he gets past this mandatory defense, he has plenty of options. He could take on the winner of the WBC title fight between Devin Haney-Jojo Diaz, rising superstar: Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Ryan Garcia, or move up to the 140-pound division and challenge undisputed champion, Josh Taylor.
9. Juan Francisco Estrada: Super Flyweight (42-3, 28 KOs)
In March, Estrada was awarded a very debatable split decision win over future Hall of Famer, Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez. The newly unified champion, ‘El Gallo’ has one of the better resumes in the sport and have avenged every loss in his illustrious career. On the horizon lies a potential rubber match against Gonzalez that is rumored to take place on January 22nd or early February.
10a. Artur Beterbiev: Light Heavyweight (16-0, 16 KOs)
Unified light heavyweight champion Beterbiev showed a bit of ring rust his last time out in March against Adam Deines. The seventeen-month layoff did him no favors. He looked a little sluggish but was still able to inflict damage and get Deines out of there in the tenth round. Up next for Beterbiev is former WBA interim champion, Marcus Browne on December 17th. If Beterbiev comes out victorious, he could unify with the winner of the WBO title fight between Joe Smith Jr.-Umar Salamov or perhaps Canelo Alvarez could move up and challenge him.
10b. Jermell Charlo: Super Welterweight (34-1-1, 18 KOs)
Charlo came up a little short of becoming the undisputed champion in the 154-pound division. In July, the WBO champion Brian Castano fought Charlo to a highly contested split draw. Until then, Charlo has fought a who’s who of contenders and former champions in his division. The boxing world awaits to see if he’ll get another crack at Castano next or will the IBF enforce Charlo to face his mandatory contender in Russia’s Bakhram Murtazaliev.
