With roughly half a year of action to add to the pool, and a New Year all rung in, it’s a good time to look in on the competition level of the upper tier of the sport.

There have been some changes since the last update in July 2021, one of the biggest being George Kambosos’ upset of Teofimo Lopez. It wasn’t enough to break Kambosos into the top ten but it did remove Lopez. Anthony Joshua also departs after his loss to Oleksandr Usyk. 

The biggest departure from the top ten comes higher. After his second consecutive bout against an opponent unranked by TBRB or Ring, Naoya Inoue’s slide from a position in the top two of the previous index to outside the top ten based on the weight given fighter’s last two appearances in this evaluation. This isn’t a pound-for-pound list and doesn’t reflect general standing. Muradjon Akhmadaliev and Kazuto Ioka exit after appearances on the last list after wins over an unranked foe.

Here’s a few notes on the update:

  • A pool of 52 fighters was evaluated for this update.  

  • Among reigning titlists, only Arsen Goulamirian lacks a single fight or win in their last five starts or three years of activity against a top ten opponent in any division as rated by TBRB or Ring. 

Here’s how it shakes out to start 2022.

1) Saul Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KO) 

Overall Points Rank: 1 (44.34 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 1 (5 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 2 (15 pts)

Age: 31

Current Lineal Titles: World Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: WBA Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 3 Defenses); WBC Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 3 Defenses); WBO Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense); IBF Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Additional Lineal Titles: World Middleweight (2015-21, 4 Defenses)

Additional Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2011-13, 6 Defenses); Ring Super Welterweight (2013); WBC Middleweight (2015-17, 2 Defenses; 2018-19, 1 Defense); WBO Super Welterweight (2016-17); IBF middleweight (2019); WBO Light Heavyweight (2019); WBA Middleweight (2018-21, 1 Defense); TBRB/Ring Magazine Middleweight (2015-17, 1 Defense; 2018-21, 1 Defense); Ring Magazine Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 3 Defenses); TBRB Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense)

Record in Title Fights: 17-1-1, 10 KO (18-1-1, 11 KO including WBA secondary title fights)

Last Five: Caleb Plant TKO11 (#2), Billy Joe Saunders RTD8 (Ring #5/TBRB #6), Avni Yildirim RTD3 (Unrated), Callum Smith (Ring Champion/TBRB #1 - 168), Sergey Kovalev KO11 (#2 - 175[++])

Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes - Daniel Jacobs UD12 (#2 - 160)

Next Opponent: TBA 

The Take: Alvarez has the most wins in the last three years against top ten competition (five) in the sport and he’s done it across three weight classes. His win over Gennady Golovkin no longer counts as it’s aged past the three year limit but the healthy activity of Alvarez renders Jacobs a remaining scoring bonus. Since the first Golovkin fight, Alvarez has faced only one fighter unranked by TBRB or Ring.

2) Errol Spence Jr. (26-0, 21 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 2 (24.31 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 2 (4 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 5 (11 pts)

Age: 31

Current Alphabet Titles: IBF Welterweight (2017-Present, 5 Defenses); WBC Welterweight (2019-Present, 1 Defense)

Previous Titles: None

Record in Title Fights: 6-0, 3 KO

Last Five Opponents: Danny Garcia (#6/#7 - 147), Shawn Porter SD12 (#5/#4 - 147), Mikey Garcia UD12 (#1/#2 - 135[--]; Unrated/Champion -140[-]), Carlos Ocampo KO1 (Unrated), Lamont Peterson RTD7 (#6/#8 - 147)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: Date TBA vs. Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KO) 

The Take: Spence rebounded from more than a year off and a horrific auto accident to dominate a game Danny Garcia only to lose another year and change to an eye injury, scuttling a planned showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Spence isn’t returning soft as the world awaits the official announcement of a unification bout with WBA titlist Yordenis Ugas. Win there and total unification at welterweight is a Terence Crawford away.

3) Josh Taylor (18-0, 13 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 3 (24 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 5 (3 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: Tie - 12 (9.5 pts)

Age: 30

Current Lineal Titles: World Jr. Welterweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: IBF Jr. Welterweight (2019-Present, 3 Defenses); WBA Super Lightweight (2019-Present, 2 Defenses); WBC/WBO Jr. Welterweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Additional Titles: Ring Magazine Jr. Welterweight (2019-Present, 2 Defenses); TBRB Jr. Welterweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Record in Title Fights: 4-0, 1 KO

Last Five: Jose Ramirez UD12 (#1/#2), Apinun Khongsong KO1 (Unrated), Regis Prograis MD12 (#1 - 140), Ivan Baranchyk UD12 (#6/#7 - 140), Ryan Martin TKO7 (Unrated)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: The two knockdown performance against Ramirez was the culmination of, in terms of total fights, a rapid ascent. The World Boxing Super Series provided a platform and opponents for Taylor to go from hot rising contender to halfway toward undisputed at Jr. welterweight. Taylor finished his climb and, based on promotional and network alignments, could be staring down the barrel at Terence Crawford sooner than later depending on how Crawford’s relationship with Top Rank unfolds in the rest of 2021. Taylor may take a home victory lap before we get there. 

4) Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 22 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 4 (23 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 32 (1 unique win)

Last Two Starts Rank: 1 (18.5 pts)

Age: 33

Current Lineal Titles: World Heavyweight (2015-Present, 7 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Heavyweight (2020-Present, 1 Defense)

Additional Titles: IBF Heavyweight (2015); WBA/WBO Heavyweight (2015-16); TBRB Heavyweight (2015-16; 20-Present, 1 Defense), Ring (2015-18; 20-Present, 1 Defense) 

Record in Title Fights: 7-0-1, 4 KO including all lineal title fights; 3-0-1, 2 KO including only sanctioning body title fights

Last Five: Deontay Wilder KO11 (#2), Deontay Wilder TKO7 (#2/#1), Otto Wallin UD12 (Unrated), Tom Schwarz (Unrated), Deontay Wilder D12 (#2)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: The heavyweight king finished his rivalry with Deontay Wilder in one of the wildest heavyweight shoot-outs of all time. The rivalry ends decisively in Fury’s favor and fight fans will now see how he handles other big name heavyweights beyond Wilder and the man Fury unseated to first claim the throne, Wladimir Klitschko. The biggest fight out there right now is with unified titlist Oleksandr Usyk to crown an undisputed champion.  

5) Juan Francisco Estrada (42-3, 28 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 5 (20.5 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 6 (3 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: Tie - 12 (9.5 pts)

Age: 31

Current Lineal Titles: World Jr. Bantamweight (2019-Present, 3 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: WBC “Franchise” Super Flyweight (2019-Present, 3 Defenses); WBA “Super” Super Flyweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Additional Titles: WBA/WBO Flyweight (2013-16, 5 Defenses); TBRB/Ring Jr. Bantamweight (2019-Present, 3 Defenses)

Record in Title Fights: 9-2, 5 KO

Last Five: Roman Gonzalez SD12 (#2), Carlos Cuadras TKO11 (#10/Unrated), Dewayne Beamon TKO 9 (Unrated), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai UD12 (World Champion), Victor Mendez RTD7

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: March 5, 2022 vs. Roman Gonzalez (50-3, 41 KO)

The Take: While there can still be ample debate about who the rightful winner was in chapter two, Estrada and Roman Gonzalez will settle things in an anticipated third bout with both likely headed to Canastota. Estrada has held unified straps now in two weight classes. This golden age at Jr. bantamweight still has some gas in the tank.  

6) Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KO) 

Overall Points Rank: 7 (19 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 12 (2 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 8 (10 pts)

Age: 34

Current Alphabet Titles: WBA/IBF/WBO Heavyweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Additional Lineal Titles: World Cruiserweight (2018-19, 1 Defense)

Additional Titles: WBA Cruiserweight (2018, 1 Defense); WBO Cruiserweight (2016-19, 6 Defenses), WBC Cruiserweight (2018-19, 2 Defenses); IBF/TBRB/Ring Cruiserweight (2018-19, 1 Defense)

Record in Title Fights: 8-0, 3 KO

Last Five: Anthony Joshua UD12 (#1), Dereck Chisora UD12 (Unrated), Chazz Witherspoon (Unrated), Tony Bellew (Unrated), Murat Gassiev UD12 (#2)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Usyk returns to the top ten on the strength of his victory over Anthony Joshua to win three heavyweight belts. Usyk previously reigned as the undisputed king at cruiserweight and is one win away from rewriting recent history in the flagship division. A win over Tyson Fury would make Usyk the only man to hold history’s crown at both cruiserweight and heavyweight. Usyk will have to deal with Joshua in an immediate rematch first. 

7) Vasyl Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KO; 22-2, 11 KO incl. World Series of Boxing contests) 

Overall Points Rank: 9 (17 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 4 (4 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 20 (7.5 pts)

Age: 33

Current Alphabet Titles: None

Previous Titles: WBO Featherweight (2014-16, 3 Defenses); WBO Super Featherweight (2016-18, 5 Defenses); WBC Lightweight (2019); WBA Lightweight (2018-20, 3 defenses); WBO Lightweight (2018-20, 2 Defenses); Ring Magazine Lightweight (2018-20, 3 defenses)

Record in Title Fights: 13-2, 9 KO

Last Five Opponents: Richard Commey UD12 (#5/#6), Masayoshi Nakatani TKO9 (#9), Teofimo Lopez L12 (#1/#2), Luke Campbell UD12 (#2/#7), Anthony Crolla KO4 (#4/#7)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA 

The Take: Lomachenko returns to the top ten after a second consecutive top ten win following his lightweight title loss to Teofimo Lopez. Lomachenko is one of several lightweights who will likely be hunting for a shot at George Kambosos in 2022 and would have a serious shot at reclaiming his lost crowns. Lomachenko has faced eight straight opponents ranked champion or top ten in their class by TBRB or Ring, the longest active streak in the sport. 

8) Mairis Briedis (28-1, 20 KO)

Overall Points Rank: Tie - 10 (16 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: Tie - 13 (2 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: Tie - 16 (9 pts)

Age: 36

Lineal Titles: World Cruiserweight (2020-Present, 1 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: IBF Cruiserweight (2020-Present, 1 Defense)

Additional Titles: WBC Cruiserweight (2017-18, 1 Defense); WBO Cruiserweight (2019); TBRB/Ring Cruiserweight (2020-Present, 1 Defenses)

Record in Title Fights: 5-1, 2 KO

Last Five Opponents: Arthur Mann TKO3 (Unrated), Yuniel Dorticos UD12 (#2 - 200), Krzysztof Glowacki TKO3 (#4 - 200), Noel Gevor UD12 (Unrated), Brandon Deslaurier UD10 (Unrated)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: After giving Usyk the toughest fight of his career, Briedis has won five in a row including consecutive wins over a pair of top four men in his division. The Dorticos win was perhaps his most impressive as a professional. Briedis boxed a disciplined, smart fight that never let Dorticos establish a consistent offense. Briedis has fought only once since and, should he continue at cruiserweight, a unification with titlist Lawrence Okolie would be intriguing.

9) Stephen Fulton (20-0, 8 KO) 

Points Rank: Tie - 14 (12.5 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: Tie - 17 (2 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 4 (12.5 pts)

Age: 27

Current Alphabet Titles: WBO Jr. Featherweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense); WBC Super Bantamweight (2021-Present, 0 Defense)

Additional Titles: None Record in Title Fights: 2-0

Last Five Opponents: Brandon Figueroa MD12 (#4/#3), Angelo Leo UD12 (#6), Arnold Khegai UD12 (Unrated), Isaac Avelar KO6 (Unrated), Paulus Ambunda UD12 (Unrated)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No 

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Fulton joined fellow Jr. Featherweight Murodjon Akhmadaliev has a double-belted titlist after a rousing win over Figueroa. It was Fulton’s fourth consecutive win over an undefeated opponent. Fulton has a healthy roster of ranked opponents surrounding him to continue to rise but will we get a showdown for undisputed? Whether we do or not, could the boxing world be pining for Fulton-Naoya Inoue by the end of 2022? 

10) Jermell Charlo (34-1-1, 18 KO)

Overall Points Rank: Tie - 14 (12.5 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: Tie - 17 (2 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 3 (13.75 pts)

Age: 31

Current Lineal Titles: World Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 1 Defense)

Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2019-Present, 2 Defenses); WBA Super Welterweight “Super” (2020-Present, 1 Defense); IBF Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 1 Defense)

Additional Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2016-18, 3 Defenses); Ring Magazine Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 1 Defense)

Record in Title Fights: 6-1-1, 5 KO

Last Five: Brian Castano D12 (#3/#2), Jeison Rosario KO8 (#2/#1 - 154), Tony Harrison KO11 (#6/#3 - 154), Jorge Cota KO3 (Unrated), Tony Harrison L12 (Unrated)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Charlo moves back into the top ten after a spirited draw in a unification bout with Brian Castano. Opinions vary on who deserved the win that night and all signs point to a rematch in 2022. A win would surely send Charlo upwards, replacing the loss to Harrison with whatever comes next. It wasn’t easy the first time with Castano and a rematch will be just an evenly matched.   

Rest of the Top Thirty: George Kambosos (Ranked 18 on Overall Points/34 on Unique Wins/5 on Last Two Starts), Shakur Stevenson (21/21/12), Gennady Golovkin (32/26/5), Murodjon Akhmadaliev (10/13/23), Tie - Petchmanee CP Freshmart/Sunny Edwards/Masamichi Yabuki (21/35/8), Nonito Donaire (15/18/23), Gervonta Davis (16/8/28), Kazuto Ioka (8/3/36), Oscar Valdez (25/38/12), Artur Beterbiev (10/13/32), Roger Gutierrez (25/9/29), Brian Castano (17/33/22), Terence Crawford (27/22/23), Johnriel Casimero (13/16/34), Naoya Inoue (6/7/34), Jonathan Gonzalez (36/28/20), Jermall Charlo (36/28/20), Lawrence Okolie (32/39/18)

Previous Competition Index Updates

November 2020 

January 2021 

March 2021

July 2021

Here’s how it works.

  • Using the most recent ratings available in a print issue of Ring or the most recent archived Transnational Boxing Rankings Board ratings prior to a fight:

  • Every primary WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titlist, some select recent former titlists, and fighters who appeared in either The Ring or TBRB pound for pound top ten in the last year or so were evaluated based on the official results against their last five opponents and/or last three years of activity and what those opponents were rated heading into the fight.

  • Wins over rated opponents started at 11 points for a recognized TBRB or Ring champion down to one point for defeating a number ten contender. Draws got half credit. No points were given for a No Contest or No Decision but the result will be noted.

  • Fighters who have produced a higher activity level were given a kicker score for any wins over rated opposition in the last three years no later than January 1, 2018. Everyone evaluated was scored for their last five opponents even if that was past the three year mark.

  • Losses to rated opponents were given an inverse score, beginning with -1 for a champion down to -11.

  • Losses to unrated opponents received a universal score of -12.

  • Wins over unrated opponents were worth nothing.

  • If there is a difference between a fighter’s Ring and TBRB rankings, the average of the two numbers was used (i.e. a win over a fighter rated second by one body and fifth by the other would be worth 7.5 pts).

  • If a fighter was rated by only Ring or TBRB, half credit was given for a win based on the single rating. A loss total would come from an average of -12 and the point loss that would apply to the rating that was in place. 

  • Moves between weight classes were adjusted for by taking into consideration the body weight shift between weight classes. In other words, if a rated Jr. welterweight jumped up to beat a rated welterweight, the math would work like this: 147/140 multiplied by the divisional rating score. It works in reverse for a win over a fighter rated lower (i.e. 160/168 multiplied by the smaller man’s rating in his class). In an over the weight class fight, the divisions the men were rated in were used.

  • Fighters from a higher class are noted with a [+], from a lower [-], after the weight limit of their respective weight class. 

  • The totals generated result in a rating. 

  • Each fighter evaluated is given a score for how many unique wins they have against rated opponents; beating the same opponent twice counts for only one unique win. They are then rated based on unique wins with tiebreakers decided by whoever holds higher total points. The rating for total points and unique wins is averaged.

  • That average score is then averaged against a rating for the score generated for each man’s last two wins. The top ten remaining after that is then reordered again by total overall score. The remainder of the list is not resorted.   

  • All divisions were treated equally based on the idea fighters can only face the men in their division while they are there and all point totals were applied based on official results.

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com