The term “Pound for Pound” was originally created for Sugar Ray Robinson. Robinson is widely considered the greatest boxer ever. It meant that if all fighters were the same size, Robinson would beat them all. A pound for pound list determines who the best fighters are if, hypothetically, all were the same size.

BoxingAfrica.com determines a fighter’s status primarily by the quality of opposition. Fighting style is also given consideration as we look at head to head matchups but we believe your resume defines your greatness. We hope the list below reflects that and welcome all comments.

1. TERENCE CRAWFORD (40-0, 31 KO’s)

WBC, WBA & WBO Welterweight World Champion

Terence Crawford

Terence “Bud” Crawford delivered one of the greatest megafight performances in modern history last July, stopping Errol Spence Jr. to become the undisputed welterweight world champion. With the win, Crawford stamped himself as the best fighter today and a future Hall of Famer. No one can doubt “Bud” now. What will he do for an encore? The three-division champ is now set to campaign at 154 pounds, where looks to put himself in a class by himself by becoming an undisputed world champion in an unprecedented third weight class.

Next: August 3 vs. Israil Madrimov

2. NAOYA INOUE (26-0, 23 KO’s)

 WBC, WBA, IBF & WBO Undisputed Super Bantamweight World Champion

Naoya Inoue

How good is undefeated four-division world champion Naoya Inoue? Inoue is simply one of the finest operators the sport has seen in recent times, as proven when he dominated and stopped an elite Stephen Fulton in July 2023. In the span of about a year, Inoue has captured undisputed world championships in two weight classes. First, he accomplished the feat at 118-pounds in December 2023. He has done it again at 122, stopping Marlon Tapales in December to hold all four belts. Next up is a fun matchup against former champion Luis Nery. We like the Japanese technician to prove again that he is indeed, “The Monster.”

Next: May 6 vs. Luis Nery

3. SAUL ALVAREZ (60-2-2, 39 KO’s)

WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is back. Following an eight-year unbeaten streak that came to an end when he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to WBA World Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol in May 2022, Canelo has since won three straight, including an impressive wide decision win over then-undisputed 154-pound world champion Jermell Charlo. Canelo has plenty of options but the one fight we all want to see, perhaps the biggest fight in boxing today, is a showdown versus undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David Benavidez. Up next, however, is a dangerous showdown versus undefeated former champion Jaime Munguia. We’ll know a lot about where the 33-year-old Canelo is at this stage of his career in that bout.

Next: May 4 vs. Jaime Munguia

4. GERVONTA DAVIS (29-0, 27 KO’s)

WBA Lightweight World Champion 

Gervonta Davis

The future is here. Gervonta “Tank” Davis is not only the biggest U.S. boxing star, he has captured five world titles through three divisions while remaining unbeaten and delivering knockout after knockout. Davis’ performances have been nothing short of breathtaking from his  spectacular stoppage against Jose Pedraza to his epic, one-punch knockout of four-division world champion and future Hall of Fame candidate, Leo Santa Cruz? “Tank” is simply special. His seventh-round TKO of Ryan Garcia in April was the biggest fight of 2023, selling over 1.2 million pay-per-views domestically. He’ll have his hands full against the undefeated Frank “The Ghost” Martin.

Next: June 15 vs. Frank Martin

5. OLEKSANDR USYK (21-0, 14 KO’s) 

WBA, IBF & WBO World Heavyweight Champion

Oleksandr Usyk

After becoming the undisputed champion at cruiserweight, Ukraine’s Oleksandry Usyk seeks to do the same at heavyweight, where he has thus far captured three world titles in two victories over Anthony Joshua. Usyk returned last August with a stoppage win over Daniel Dubois, a fight where he showed vulnerability. Yet he always finds a way to win. Next? A highly anticipated undisputed bout versus Tyson Fury. Usyk is going to need every tool in his arsenal to pull this one off, but we wouldn’t count him out in this one. The tricky left-hander is always at his best when the lights shine brightest.

Next: May 18 vs. Tyson Fury

6. DMITRY BIVOL (22-0, 11 KO’s)

WBA Light Heavyweight Super World Champion

Dmitry Bivol

Bivol earned 2022 Fighter of the Year honors by besting Canelo Alvarez and battering Gilberto Ramirez, proving that his undefeated record and impressive resume are no fluke. A gifted boxer with a high ring IQ, Bivol is a tough out for anyone from 168-175.  His December bout against the limited Lyndon Arthur showed why Bivol remains one of the sport’s finest technicians. Now he takes on his biggest challenge as he battles hard-hitting Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed light heavyweight championship. What a fight this will be.

Next: June 1 vs. Artur Beterbiev

7. ARTUR BETERBIEV (20-0, 20 KO’s)

WBC, IBF, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion 

Artur Beterbiev

One of the most powerful punchers in the sport, Artur Beterbiev has dominated the 175-pound division for years, blending that KO power with sublime counterpunching skills and peak physical condition. He’ll need all those attributes in his next bout as he faces Dmitry Bivol in what should be na epic encounter.

Next: June 1 vs. Dmitry Bivol

8. JESSE RODRIGUEZ (19-0, 12 KO’S)

IBF, WBO Flyweight World Champion

Jesse Rodriguez

The latest star trained by the legendary Robert Garcia, southpaw Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is a classic boxer-puncher who has beaten a list of who’s who in the lower divisions. The two-division world champion holds impressive wins over Sunny Edwards, Srisraket Sor Rungvisai and more. But none compare to his next opponent, future Hall of Famer Juan Francisco Estrada. A win here will prove that the time is now for the burgeoning 24-year-old.

Next: June 29 vs. Juan Francisco Estrada

9. TEOFIMO LOPEZ (19-1, 13 KO’S)

WBO Junior Welterweight World Champion 

Teofimo Lopez

Teofimo Lopez has bounced back from his shocking 2021 loss to George Kambosos Jr., winning four straight, including the finest performance of his career: a dominant, head-turning unanimous decision over Josh Taylor in 2023. With the win, Lopez is now the WBO 140-pound world champion and a two-division titlist. With a record that includes wins over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Richard Commey and now Taylor, the Kambosos loss seems like an anamoly. However, Lopez struggled in his last bout, a close points win over Jamaine Ortiz. He’ll need another fine performance next to right the ship.

Next: vs. TBD

10. DAVID BENAVIDEZ (28-0, 24 KO’s)

David Benavidez

Undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David Benavidez enjoyed an incredible 2023, defeating former champion Caleb Plant in an epic encounter in March and then following it up with a dominant stoppage victory over Demetrius Andrade in November, handing the two-division world champion his first loss. Benavidez has called out Canelo Alvarez for years to no avail, leading many to believe King Canelo is avoiding the man they call “El Munstruo.” Benavidez has now set his sights on the light heavyweight division, beginning with a risky bout versus former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Next: June 15 vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk

The Next 10: Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence Jr., Juan Francisco Estrada, Kazuto Ioka, Ryan Garcia, Jaron Ennis, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, Emanuel Navarrete, Kenshiro Teraji