POUND FOR POUND RANKINGS

After a string of five straight wins over consensus top ten bantamweights, the effect of the pandemic on Inoue’s career became clear with a disappointing 2021 that saw Inoue all but lose a year of his prime in inconsequential affairs. 2022 is off to a different start. Inoue was breathtaking against Nonito Donaire in their rematch. It was only the second stoppage loss of Donaire’s career and no one had ever gone through him like that. Inoue might be boxing’s best combination of speed, skill, and power and may next test those attributes in his fourth weight class, the red hot Jr. featherweight.

Questions about Usyk’s viability at heavyweight were answered emphatically against Anthony Joshua. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion is now one win away from accomplishing the same feat in boxing’s flagship class. Usyk will have to repeat his victory over Joshua again before he can try. Bonus points go to Ukraine’s Usyk for winning ten in a row on the road, including all eight of his title fights.

Spence lost a year after an auto accident and then another to an eye injury. He also lost a chance to end the career of Manny Pacquiao. Spence settled for defeating the man who got that assignment when Spence was injured, battering and stopping Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas. There is only one belt at welterweight Spence doesn’t have. Are we finally ready for Spence versus Terence Crawford?

Crawford had an opponent to get excited about arguably for the first time at welterweight and Crawford did what he’s always done: win. Shawn Porter was stopped for the first time in his career and now it’s wait and see for Crawford’s next move. The best fight in the division on paper hasn’t changed in several years. It’s Crawford facing Spence. Neither man has anything scheduled. Boxing can’t ask for more.

Alvarez slipped from his perch atop the rankings but voters disagreed about how far he should fall. In much the same way college football powerhouses can lose and stay ahead of the foe who bested them, Alvarez stays slightly ahead of Bivol. Alvarez was riding a lengthy unbeaten streak that included unifying the super middleweight class and moves on to a third fight with middleweight rival Gennadiy Golovkin in the fall.

Bivol was building an impressive resume but his career quieted after a lopsided win over future titlist Joe Smith Jr. It’s roaring now. Bivol was masterful in outboxing super middleweight king Saul Alvarez. The division has serious challengers like Gilberto Ramirez and a three-belted champion coming in the winner of Smith-Beterbiev. Can Bivol move from Alvarez to a chance at undisputed?

There were doubts about who deserved the decision the first time Charlo faced Brian Castano. There were none after the rematch. Charlo once again showed he’s one of those fighters who get better when they see an opponent a second time. Charlo has now been a centerpiece of the Jr. middleweight division title picture for six years, crowing his time there with an undisputed title. We can begin to ask where Charlo ranks with the greats of his weight of his division.

Tyson Fury outside the ring, and between fights, may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he’s hard to criticize once the bell rings. He proved it again against veteran contender Dillian Whyte, dominating and stopping him in front of a massive Wembley crowd. Fury says he’s retired but he hasn’t vacated the WBC belt to prove it. The tune could change once the dust settles on Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II.

In consecutive fights, the 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist dominated arguably the two best Jr. lightweights in the world, barely losing a round. Sound defensively, quick, and patient, Stevenson shows excellent maturity belying his youth. His best days lie ahead and it’s only a matter of time until he’s knocking on the door for gold in his third weight class.

Fulton has impressed in his first three title contests, unifying half of the red hot Jr. featherweight class. Could fellow unified titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev or bantamweight king Naoya Inoue be in Fulton’s future?