World Boxing News explains why certain fighters rank in the current WBN Pound for Pound Top Ten.
Since 2010, WBN has provided fight fans with the only Top 50 list in the sport. No other outlet rates fighters in that kind of extensive way.
Therefore, to continue transparency, reasons why are a must to keep fans in the loop.
The fact Terence Crawford ranks lower than most expect is an easy one to explain, for instance. And Canelo Alvarez dropping to three despite his protests didn’t come as a tough decision.
Canelo
After losing to Dmitry Bivol, Canelo told DAZN: “Tell me another fighter who is going up and down in weight, wanting to achieve different things.
“I risk everything to keep making history when I don’t need to. So I still feel I’m the best in the world.”
The fact is, Canelo lost convincingly. It wasn’t a close fight. Bivol won eight to four rounds, possibly nine to three on the night in Las Vegas.
Bivol’s win pushed Oleksandr Usyk to number one. Usyk is the first fighter to clean out the cruiserweight division before claiming three versions of the heavyweight crown since Evander Holyfield in the 1990s. In 1993, Holyfield was the number one fighter on the planet.
Usyk deserves the same honor for his outstanding accomplishments. The same goes for Naoya Inoue.
People forget that Inoue came through from 105 pounds and is now being talked about in the same breath as Stephen Fulton Jr., who began his tenure in the same division he currently rules at 122.
Errol Spence comes next as a new three-belt welterweight titleholder. Tyson Fury, who some believe shouldn’t rank as a heavyweight competing in only one division, has to be rewarded for his considerable achievements against Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, and contenders like Dillian Whyte.
No fighter since Lennox Lewis has dominated the heavyweight division like Fury. Granted, some of his opponents were under par, but he’s dealt with what’s in front of him with consummate ease.
Controversy
Here’s where the controversy comes in as Terence Crawford is ranked six. Many times before, WBN has pointed to Crawford’s resume as the reason for his low rating. Winning belts is all good, but it’s also about who you claim them against inside those ropes.
Crawford has only two or three top-notch victories on his record and has to land and defeat Errol Spence to get anywhere near the summit.
Bivol comes in seventh for his win over Canelo. Devin Haney and Jermell Charlo are straightforward choices as undisputed champions in eighth and ninth. Bivol only ranks about both as he defeated to top dog in Canelo.
Rounding off the top ten is a former number one Roman Gonzalez. “Chocolatito” has clawed his way back from a loss against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Juan Estrada, both highly ranked Pound for Pound, to reclaim world titles again.
WBN POUND FOR POUND BOXING RANKINGS
1 OLEKSANDR USYK
2 NAOYA INOUE
3 CANELO ALVAREZ
4 ERROL SPENCE
5 TYSON FURY
6 TERENCE CRAWFORD
7 DMITRY BIVOL
8 DEVIN HANEY
9 JERMELL CHARLO
10 ROMAN GONZALEZ
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