Boxing Pound-for-Pound Rankings: Canelo Alvarez continues backward slide; Naoya Inoue maintains with wild win

At 34, Canelo Alvarez stays one of many pound-for-pound finest fighters in boxing after reacquiring undisputed champion standing final weekend at 168 kilos. However to say the Mexican celebrity is trending in the proper route of late, because it pertains to the court docket of public opinion, could be a completely completely different dialog. 

Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) has already been underneath a substantial amount of fireplace for his outright refusal to face two-time champion and unbeaten slugger David Benavidez after a collection of excuses from Alvarez (and outright enabling from the game’s sanctioning our bodies) led to Benavidez shifting up in weight after refusing to take a seat round. It was Alvarez’s return on Could 3, nonetheless, that introduced an much more immense quantity of scrutiny in his route.

After swerving YouTube influencer Jake Paul within the eleventh hour to signal a four-fight take care of highly effective adviser Turki Alalshikh earlier this yr, Alvarez made his preventing debut on Saudi Arabia on Could 3 in a Cinco de Mayo matchup towards IBF titleholder William Scull that solely got here to be as a result of Alvarez had refused to face the obscure obligatory challenger in late 2024 and was stripped of considered one of his 4 168-pound world titles. 

Not solely did the matchup fail to create any buzz after Alvarez was put in as excessive as a 40-to-1 betting favourite, the struggle itself ended up within the historical past books for all the mistaken causes after Scull (23-1, 9 KOs) refused to do something however circle away and the annoyed Alvarez ultimately gave up making an attempt to chase him down. 

The struggle, which was contested at 6 a.m. native in Riyadh in entrance of simply 4,000 followers so it could possibly be broadcast in prime time again in Mexico and america, broke a CompuBox report for the fewest mixed punches over 12 rounds. Even worse, Alvarez set a person report for futility in the identical struggle by trying the least quantity of punches in any 12-found bout ever tracked by the punch-tracking system that debuted in 1985.

This wasn’t the primary time Alvarez confronted a defensive-first boxer all through his legendary profession. However not like earlier performances in title fights towards the likes of Austin Trout or Erislandy Lara, this model of Alvarez could not be bothered to do way more than complain after unsuccessfully trying to chop off the ring and damage Scull for almost all of the rounds.

After the struggle, Alvarez continued his marketing campaign towards the hand-picked Scull by saying he hates preventing boxers with that fashion who do not interact. It was a remark that was met with nothing however irony by Alvarez’s rising legion of critics who identified simply how prepared Benavidez is to struggle within the Mexican fashion that Alvarez prefers.

Alvarez turned skilled on the age of 15, all the way in which again in 2005, and has delivered a first-ballot HOF resumé by means of an unbelievable 67 fights. Nevertheless it’s laborious to listen to anybody in 2025 speak about him with out referencing both his slowly fading talent set or — even worse — how little he seems to wish to match himself powerful shifting ahead. 

Ever since a 2022 loss to gentle heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol, Alvarez has paired himself towards a mix of undersized, past-their-prime or restricted opponents after spending the earlier decade establishing his legacy as that of an formidable boxer who was prepared to tackle troublesome challenges for even larger purses. 

Certain, it may be defined that the collection of Scull as his Could opponent was solely so Alvarez may as soon as once more unify the 4 tremendous middleweight world titles, thus making his September showdown towards Terence Crawford even larger because it provides Crawford, who will likely be shifting up a number of weight divisions, the possibility to grow to be the primary undisputed champion in three completely different weight courses through the four-belt period. However that does not imply Alvarez did himself any favors by the uninspired manner through which he navigated a struggle that was already so void of pleasure. 

The Crawford struggle will undoubtedly be a giant one, not simply because it’ll happen at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (doubtless on Netflix) however as a result of it additionally signifies UFC president Dana White’s transfer into boxing by means of TKO, which Alalshikh has agreed to financially again within the hopes of launching a brand new and unique league. Nevertheless it’s additionally a steady step away from Alvarez preventing the very best remaining opponents his personal dimension and must be factored in when giving an sincere grade as to the place he nonetheless ranks amongst his friends from a P4P standpoint atop the game. 

Not solely has Alvarez seen higher days as a boxer, so has his repute. And that is probably the most disturbing a part of this situation. 

Utilizing a standards that takes into consideration every little thing from accomplishments to present type, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the highest fighters contained in the ring. Under is the most recent Pound for Pound rankings replace after Alvarez’s win in Could.

Pound-for-Pound Rankings

1. Oleksandr Usyk

Undisputed heavyweight champion (23-0, 14 KOs) | Earlier rating: No. 1

Usyk’s skilled run has been as adorned because it has been good. The previous undisputed cruiserweight champ, who reached comparable standing as a four-belt champion at heavyweight in his split-decision win over Tyson Fury in Could, was even higher of their December rematch. Usyk solidified himself as top-of-the-line boxers in division historical past by effectively outworking Fury. A rematch with IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois is on faucet for July 19.

2. Naoya Inoue

Undisputed junior featherweight champion (27-0, 25 KOs) | Earlier rating: No. 2

The four-division champion, who has reached undisputed standing in two completely different weight courses, continued his legendary takeover of the game in January when he completed late alternative Ye Joon Kim in 4 rounds in Tokyo. “The Monster” returned to the U.S. in Could, when he obtained up off the deck to end a courageous Ramon Cardenas. Inoue is predicted to shut 2025 with two extra fights, together with his debut in Saudi Arabia.

3. Dmitry Bivol

Undisputed gentle heavyweight champion (24-1, 12 KOs) | Earlier rating: No. 3

Regardless of developing simply brief towards Artur Beterbiev by way of majority determination of their undisputed conflict in October, Bivol turned the tables 4 months later of their February rematch. Saying he wanted to easily “do extra,” Bivol did simply that by rallying within the second half and holding off Beterbiev in Spherical 12. A trilogy struggle seems to be subsequent.

4. Terence Crawford

WBA junior middleweight champion (40-0, 29 KOs) | Earlier rating: No. 4

In his long-awaited return from his dismantling of Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023, Crawford moved as much as 154 kilos to narrowly maintain off WBA champion Israel Madrimov final summer time. Up subsequent, Crawford is about to tackle the hardest take a look at of his professional profession when he strikes up two weight courses to problem undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez this September in Las Vegas.

5. Artur Beterbiev

Gentle heavyweight (21-1, 20 KOs) | Earlier rating: 5

4 months after narrowly defeating Dmitry Bivol to grow to be the primary four-belt undisputed champion in 175-pound historical past, Beterbiev got here up simply brief of their February rematch by way of majority determination. At 40, Beterbiev nonetheless confirmed sufficient of a motor to surge in Spherical 12 to chop Bivol, however he might want to look ahead to redemption in a trilogy bout anticipated for later this yr. 

6. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez

Flyweight, junior bantamweight titleholder (20-0, 13 KOs) | Earlier rating: 8

The 24-year-old phenom from San Antonio landed simply shy of fifty% of his energy pictures to dismantle 115-pound titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada final July. Rodriguez returned in November to defend his junior bantamweight title by stopping Pedro Guevara in Philadelphia. A unification bout towards South Africa’s Phumelela Cafu is subsequent on July 19. 

7. Canelo Alvarez

Unified tremendous middleweight champion (62-2-2, 38 KOs) | Earlier rating: No. 6

Alvarez stays a lightning rod for criticism in ways in which now go above his shameless avoidance of David Benavidez. The Mexican icon, who signed a four-fight take care of Turki Alalshikh earlier this yr, made his Saudi Arabia debut in Could towards unheralded IBF titleholder William Scull as the 2 turned in a woeful efficiency that was worse than a sparring match. The win set Alvarez up for a September showdown towards Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

8. David Benavidez

Interim gentle heavyweight titleholder (29-0, 24 KOs) | Earlier rating: No. 8

Annoyed with ready round for his shot at undisputed 168-pound king Canelo Alvarez, “El Monstro” moved up in weight to outclass former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk final yr and unbeaten David Morrell Jr. in January. Benavidez was upgraded to full WBC titleholder at 175 kilos after unified champion Dmitry Bivol selected to pursue a trilogy bout towards Artur Beterbiev. 

9. Junto Nakatani

WBC bantamweight champion (30-0, 23 KOs) | Earlier rating: 9

A two-division titleholder, the native of Japan has grow to be a breakout star after shifting as much as 118 kilos and scoring 4 title wins with 4 knockouts. Nakatani made the third protection of his WBC title in February when he wanted simply three rounds to complete 28-0 David Cuellar. Superfights towards Naoya Inoue or Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez could possibly be within the thrilling southpaw’s future. 

10. Gervonta Davis

WBA light-weight champion (30-0-1, 28 KOs) | Earlier rating: 10

A noticeably flat efficiency towards former novice rival and 130-pound titleholder Lamont Roach Jr. in March noticed Davis fortunate to accept a disputed draw because of a blown knockdown name. Davis owns a direct rematch clause and is predicted to face Roach a second time this summer time. Till then, “Tank” wants to return to phrases with current retirement discuss to reactivate the aggressive fireplace inside him.

Dropped out: None
Honorable point out: Shakur Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez Jr., Tyson Fury, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Keyshawn Davis