Males’s boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Haney in, Canelo out, Benavidez strikes up

Devin Haney returns to the highest 10 of the ESPN males’s pound-for-pound rankings for the primary time in 20 months following a unanimous resolution victory over Brian Norman Jr. on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to win the WBO welterweight title. After Haney’s majority resolution loss to Ryan Garcia in April 2024, a end result that was later modified to a no resolution following Garcia’s constructive check for a banned substance, Haney fell out of the highest 10. Haney was knocked down thrice on that battle, and whereas the end result was modified, he by no means returned to the checklist till now.

“In 2024 I misplaced the whole lot, the whole lot got here crashing on me,” Haney stated after Saturday’s battle. “In 2025, I got here to get it again. In 2026, I am coming for the whole lot.”

He takes over the No. 10 spot, pushing tremendous middleweight Canelo Alvarez out.

In the principle occasion of Saturday’s card, David Benavidez defended his WBC and WBA “common” gentle heavyweight titles with a dominant efficiency in opposition to Anthony Yarde. Benavidez scored a seventh-round KO to remain unbeaten. The victory additionally helped Benavidez transfer up one spot to No. 7.

“I grade [my performance] B+,” Banavidez stated throughout his post-fight interview on DAZN. “I am not going to lie. I believe I may have accomplished a bit bit stuff higher, however there’s all the time room for enchancment. Individuals wished to see the knockout. They stated, I could not cease this man [that] I had no energy at 175 and you realize, I made it look [easy].”

Additionally on that card, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez stopped Fernando Martinez within the tenth spherical to unify three junior bantamweight titles. Rodriguez retains his No. 5 spot on the checklist.

Our panel of Andreas 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.

Notice: Outcomes are via Nov. 26.

1. TERENCE CRAWFORD     Earlier rating: 1

RECORD: 42-0, 31 KOs
DIVISION: Tremendous middleweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Canelo Alvarez, Sept. 13
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Do not let the shut scorecards (116-112, 115-113 and 115-113) idiot you; Crawford was completely good in outclassing Canelo to turn out to be the undisputed tremendous middleweight champion. The epitome of what it means to be a pound-for-pound fighter, Crawford moved up two weight lessons and dominated a fellow pound-for-pound fighter — one extensively thought-about the face of boxing — leaving him flustered and pissed off by the top of the battle. Together with his third undisputed standing, Crawford settles in as the highest pound-for-pound fighter right this moment and, fairly probably, of this era. — Andreas Hale

2. OLEKSANDR USYK     Earlier rating: 2

RECORD: 24-0, 15 KOs
DIVISION: Heavyweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO5) Daniel Dubois, July 19
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Usyk is starting to stake his declare as the most effective heavyweight of this century, his definitive end of Dubois making him the undisputed champion as soon as once more. There can be no controversy on this rematch, as Usyk wiped Dubois out within the fifth spherical and took little harm. Joseph Parker is probably going the subsequent in line to get his shot, however with two wins apiece over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Dubois, there actually is not a lot left for Usyk to do other than lap the competitors. — Hale

3. NAOYA INOUE     Earlier rating: 3

RECORD: 31-0, 27 KOs
DIVISION: Junior featherweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Sept. 14
NEXT FIGHT: Dec. 27 vs. David Picasso

It is not that Inoue did something mistaken to drop one spot to No. 2, as he was distinctive in dissecting Akhmadaliev. It is simply that it is actually tough to carry Crawford again after what he did to Canelo. Nonetheless, Inoue continues to showcase his excellence contained in the squared circle. This time he opted to make use of his wits and talent to outsmart and totally dominate Akhmadaliev for a large unanimous resolution. He’ll compete for a fourth time in 2025 when he faces Picasso on Dec. 27, however the battle everyone seems to be ready for is the All-Japan conflict with present bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani in 2026. — Hale

4. DMITRY BIVOL     Earlier rating: 4

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

Bivol avenged his solely loss when he defeated Beterbiev on Feb. 22 in a superb efficiency. He’ll keep away from David Benavidez (for now) as he’ll doubtless interact in a rubber match with Beterbiev in his subsequent battle. Ought to he emerge victorious, a extremely anticipated showdown with Benavidez could possibly be on the menu for 2026. — Hale

5. JESSE RODRIGUEZ     Earlier rating: 5

RECORD: 23-0, 16 KOs
DIVISION: Junior bantamweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO10) Fernando Martinez, Nov. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

“Bam” took care of enterprise in dominant style in opposition to Martinez so as to add the WBA title to his assortment at junior bantamweight. It wasn’t simply that he received, it was how straightforward he made it look. Martinez was undefeated heading into the battle but was made to seem like a novice as Rodriguez had his method earlier than securing the end within the tenth spherical. At 25, Rodriguez is the youngest fighter on the pound-for-pound checklist and could have loads of time to crack the highest 4. Rodriguez is likely one of the finest fighters on the planet in addition to one of the vital entertaining to look at. — Hale

6. ARTUR BETERBIEV     Earlier rating: 6

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

Beterbiev suffered the one lack of his professional profession in a rematch with Bivol on Feb. 22 however he nonetheless made a fantastic account of himself in opposition to a fellow pound-for-pound fighter. Sadly, the rubber match must wait as Bivol elected to have again surgical procedure which might sideline him till subsequent 12 months. Quite than wait, Beterbiev will keep energetic and face Nicholson on the Nov. 22 Riyadh Season card headlined by David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde. — Hale

7. DAVID BENAVIDEZ     Earlier rating: 8

RECORD: 31-0, 25 KOs
DIVISION: Gentle heavyweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Anthony Yarde, Nov. 22
NEXT FIGHT: Might 2 vs. Gilberto Ramirez

Benavidez is a robust fighter with an amazing chin, spectacular dimension and the hand velocity of a fighter 50 kilos lighter than him. He put these instruments on show with a ferocious beating of Yarde earlier than stopping him within the seventh spherical. Benavidez is a cruel mixture puncher with an unbelievable gasoline tank. “The Mexican Monster” has acknowledged that he’ll transfer as much as cruiserweight for his subsequent battle, difficult “Zurdo” Ramirez on Might 2 in an effort to turn out to be a three-division champion. — Hale

8. SHAKUR STEVENSON     Earlier rating: 7

RECORD: 24-0, 11 KOs
DIVISION: Light-weight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) William Zepeda, July 12
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Stevenson lastly bought the sort of opponent followers have been asking for, and as soon as once more he got here out on high, including a bit extra aggression to his flawless tactical type. Stevenson dominated Zepeda on July 12 in New York in an thrilling efficiency. As distinctive as Stevenson has been, the most important grievance he faces is that he nearly makes it look too straightforward and coasts to resolution victories. He was purported to have his arms full with a high-volume puncher in Zepeda, however he was capable of deal with the whole lot Zepeda threw his method. Stevenson used a jab to the physique, uppercuts and efficient mixtures to gradual Zepeda down and put any complaints about lack of offense to relaxation. — Hale

9. JUNTO NAKATANI     Earlier rating: 9

RECORD: 31-0, 24 KOs
DIVISION: Bantamweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO6) Ryosuke Nishida, June 8
NEXT FIGHT: Dec. 27 vs. Sebastian Hernandez Reyes

Japan’s different pound-for-pound fighter on this checklist unified the bantamweight titles on June 8 in opposition to IBF titleholder Nishida. “Huge Bang” is thrilling to look at and has received all 5 of his bantamweight fights by knockout since making the transfer from junior bantamweight final February. An eventual blockbuster showdown with countryman Inoue seems to be on the horizon in what can be the most important battle within the historical past of Japan. Nakatani will make his debut at junior featherweight on Dec. 27, in opposition to Sebastian Hernandez Reyes within the co-main occasion of Naoya Inoue’s battle in opposition to David Picasso. A win will arrange the battle with Inoue in 2026. — Hale

10. DEVIN HANEY     Earlier rating: NR

RECORD: 33-0 1NC, 15 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Brian Norman Jr., Nov. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Haney defeated the most important puncher at welterweight with relative ease as he dominated Norman to turn out to be WBO champion. Questions on Haney’s demise after the Ryan Garcia battle have been grotesquely exaggerated, and he silenced the naysayers by brilliantly outboxing a fighter with even greater punching energy than Garcia. A 3-division champion who simply turned 27, Haney cracks the checklist together with his spectacular talent set and instincts. — Hale

The method

The rankings are based mostly 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 probably the most votes at that rating.

Others receiving votes: Teofimo Lopez Jr. (76), Canelo Alvarez (6), Gervonta Davis (1).

How our writers voted

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ESPN consultants’ ballot

First place: Crawford (13), Usyk (3)

Second place: Usyk (12), Crawford (2), Inoue (2)

Third place: Inoue (14), Crawford (1), Usyk (1)

Fourth place: Bivol (9), Rodriguez (6), Stevenson (1)

Fifth place: Rodriguez (7), Bivol (5), Beterbiev (2), Benavidez (2)

Sixth place: Beterbiev (7), Bivol (2), Stevenson (2), Nakatani (2), Rodriguez (1), Benavidez (1), Haney (1)

Seventh place: Benavidez (8), Stevenson (4), Rodriguez (1), Beterbiev (1), Nakatani (1), Haney (1)

Eighth place: Beterbiev (5), Stevenson (5), Nakatani (3), Rodriguez (1), Benavidez (1), Lopez (1)

Ninth place: Nakatani (6), Benavidez (3), Stevenson (3), Alvarez (2), Haney (1), Lopez (1)

tenth place: Haney (6), Nakatani (3), Alvarez (2), Beterbiev (1), Benavidez (1), Stevenson (1), Lopez (1), Davis (1)