The Best 10 Boxers in the World
By Bobby Burack
In the post-Floyd Mayweather era of boxing, the stars are devoid of polarizing personalities. But there is an abundance of talent throughout the fight game.
Here are the 10 best pound-for-pound boxers in the world:
1. Vasyl Lomachenko, Junior Lightweight (11-1, 9 KOs). Without question, pound-for-pound Vasyl Lomachenko is the best boxer in the world. Since his one loss to Orlando Salido, Lomachenko has displayed one of the greatest arsenals of all-time, forcing opponents to literally quit. It is hard to envision anyone alive going up against Lomachenko or giving him even somewhat of a challenge.
10. Anthony Joshua, Heavyweight(21-0, 20 KOs): After Anthony Joshua finished off Wladimir Klitschko in a thriller, it was not hard to see the painting on the wall — he was the heir apparent of the heavyweight division. All eyes are now on the money match between Joshua and Deontay Wilder to reinvent the magic of the heavyweight division. If/when that happens, it will be clear that Wilder is nowhere near AJ’s level.
2. Terence Crawford, Welterweight (33-0, 24 KOs): This past Saturday, Terence Crawford’s victory over Jeff Horn represented everything you needed to know about his career — non-competitive. Crawford is so good, so skilled that if one boxer (besides Lomachenko who has a weight disparity) believes they even have a chance against Bud, they must be lacking major boxing intelligence. Right now, if Floyd Mayweather came out of retirement, and faced Crawford, he would experience his first career loss.
3. Errol Spence Jr, Welterweight (23-0, 20 KOs). As of late, Errol Spence Jr. is the most electric, sensational fighter in the sport. His decisive victory over Kell Brook in 2017 showed how surreal Spence truly is. A dream match against Crawford is the hope down the line (just not for Spence).
4. Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, Middleweight (38-0-1, 34 KOs): The better the competition GGG faces, the less mythological he looks. However, there are still few fighters alive that can withstand 12 rounds with the Kazakhstani boxer. Not to mention, everyone except for the inept judges knows Gennady Golovkin defeatedCanelo Alvarez last September.
5. Mikey Garcia, Lightweight (38-0, 30 KOs): Garcia is the best fighter that nobody is talking about. Thirty of his 38 victories have come via knockout and his difficult style to counter makes 50-0 not that far of a reach.
6. Keith Thurman, Welterweight (28-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC): “One Time” is a hard-hitting energetic boxer who is must-see TV. As the competition gets harder, Thurman grows as a fighter. With that said, potential bouts with Spence or Crawford should quickly expose the hardest puncher in the division.
7. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Junior Bantamweight (45-4-1, 40 KOs): There is just no way anyone is lining up to go toe-to-toe with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. The first time he took down the beast Román González, it was brutal and the finish could be argued. The second time, no doubt existed.
8. Sergey Kovalev, Light Heavyweight (32-2-1, 28 KOs): “Krusher” was robbed by the judges the first time he faced the all-time great Andre Ward and was done no favors by the premature stop in the second fight. Outside of the two controversial losses, no other fighter has been able to defeat the devastating Kovalev.
*Canelo Alvarez is being counted on this list even while suspended.
9. Canelo Alvarez, Middleweight (49-1-2, 34 KOs): The suspended Canelo Alvarez has never proven he is ultra-talented. But the biggest draw in the sport has made it clear he is a warrior and not an easy outing for anyone. Could he beat GGG in a rematch? Probably not. Can he beat everyone else in the weight class? Yes.