A lot can happen in a few months. 

A lot did since the last index update in April. Devin Haney, Terence Crawford, Teofimo Lopez, and Naoya Inoue all picked up massive victories against premiere opponents available to them in their divisions and came through with their hands raised. Haney had the toughest go of it, narrowly defeating Vasyl Lomachenko in an outstanding lightweight title clash. Crawford, Inoue, and Lopez put on masterful performances to claim the lead at welterweight, junior featherweight, and junior welterweight, respectively.

That much movement meant an ample shakeup here. Artur Beterbiev was pushed out of the top spot while Lopez and Crawford returned to the top ten along with four-division titlist Kazuto Ioka. Inoue moves up from tenth in the last update.    

Here’s a few notes on the update:

  • This update focused almost exclusively on reigning primary titlists. Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson, undefeated fighters who appear on several notable pound-for-pound lists, are exceptions. Former titlists Josh Taylor, Stephen Fulton, and Errol Spence were all in the last top ten but were removed for consideration here along with Lomachenko and Roman Gonzalez. This avoided skewing results and kept the focus on the winner’s circle.  
  • While those names are removed, there are some stats worth noting. Despite defeats, Gonzalez and Spence both lost to the best fighters in their class and have maintained superlative competition levels. Jermell Charlo had the best average opponent ranking of anyone considered for this index at an average of 4.2 in his last five fights. Gonzalez (3.11) and Spence (3.53) both top that and should be applauded for the consistent challenges they seek out well into their 30s. Spence’s overall point total and unique wins are also still among the best in the sport. Fulton’s overall point total would still have ranked just outside the top ten in that category. A second sub-index for fighters who have previously been on the list is being maintained now for future re-insertion. 
  • A total pool of 49 fighters were considered for this update. 

Let’s see how it shakes out with more than half of a phenomenal year in the books.

1) Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 2 (36.5 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 2 (5 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 1 (20 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 3 (4.92) 
Age: 24
Current Lineal Titles: World Lightweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Lightweight (2019-Present, 7 Defenses*); IBF/WBA/WBO Lightweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses)
Additional Titles: None
Record in Title Fights: 3-0 (7-0, 1 KO including WBC interim/non-franchise title fights)
Last Five: Vasyl Lomachenko UD12 (#1 Ring/#2 TBRB - 135), #George Kambosos UD12 (#1 - 135), George Kambosos UD12 (Champion - 135), Joseph Diaz UD12 (#6/#9 - 135), Jorge Linares UD12 (#7/Unrated)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No
*Haney’s initial WBC lightweight title was a result of franchise rules so whether it was the primary or secondary WBC title can be debated. 

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Haney’s fifth consecutive victory over a lightweight ranked top ten by Ring and/or TBRB was his toughest of the bunch. Haney’s battle with Lomachenko came down to the wire with arguments to be made for both men. Haney edged it and it appears he will continue to test touch competition. Speculation points at a fall fight with junior welterweight titlist Regis Prograis. Would it set up a unification showdown with newly minted lineal junior welterweight king Teofiomo Lopez? Or could Haney return to lightweight for a major money showdown with Tank Davis? The ambitious 24-year old is maximizing minutes. Haney’s win over unranked Yurorkis Gamboa still fits in the window of his last three years. Remove Gamboa and Haney’s average opponent ranking for his last five fights would be an index leading 3.7.   

2) Saul Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KO) 
Overall Points Rank: 1 (38.62 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 1 (5 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 5 (15.52 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 2 (4.33)
Age: 33
Current Lineal Titles: World Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 2 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBA Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 5 Defenses); WBC Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 5 Defenses); WBO Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 3 Defense); IBF Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 2 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, 4 Defenses); TBRB Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense)
Record in Title Fights: 19-2-1, 10 KO (20-2-1, 11 KO including WBA secondary title fights)
Last Five: John Ryder UD12 (Ring/TBRB #5 - 168, Gennadiy Golovkin UD12 (#1 - (160[-]), Dmitrii Bivol L12 (#2/#1 - 175[+]), Caleb Plant TKO11 (#2 - 168), Billy Joe Saunders RTD8 (Ring #5/TBRB #6 - 168)
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes - Callum Smith UD12 (Ring Champion/#1 - 168)

Next Opponent: September 30, 2023 vs. World Junior Middleweight Champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KO)

The Take: Coming off a defeat for the first time since a loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2013, Alvarez built a huge lead against Gennadiy Golovkin and held his own in a few spirited exchanges down the stretch to end their rivalry for good. Next, he handled top five super middleweight John Ryder to retain his undisputed super middleweight crown. Ryder was Alvarez’s fifth straight foe ranked in their class by Ring or TBRB and Alvarez’s eleventh in his last twelve starts. Alvarez now turns to a clash of champions as Jermell Charlo will jump two divisions to challenge the biggest star in boxing.

3) Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 6 (28.25 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 3 (5 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 4 (16.67 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 9 (6.24) 
Age: 28
Current Alphabet Titles: None
Additional Titles: IBF Super Featherweight (2017, 1 Defense); WBA Super Featherweight (2018-19, 2 Defenses; 2020-21)
Record in Title Fights: 6-0, 6 KO (12-0, 11 KO including interim or sanctioning body sub-title title fights)
Last Five: Ryan Garcia KO7 (#3 - 135), Hector Garcia TKO9 (#2 - 130[-]), Rolly Romero (Unrated), Isaac Cruz (#9/#6 - 135), Mario Barrios (#7/#9 - 140[++])
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes - Leo Santa Cruz KO 6 (Ring Unranked/TBRB #1[-] - 126) 

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Davis is off to a big start in 2023. Ranked at the fringes of the top 30 in the competition index at the end of 2022, Davis entered the top ten strong. Davis has started the year with a pair of highly rated wins and ranks as one of only four fighters (along with Alvarez, Haney, and Junto Nakatani) to have five rated wins in the last three calendar years. Davis is the undisputed star of the lightweight division, coming off his rich showdown with Ryan Garcia. Can he take his place as the in-ring king of the division? We might not get to find out until 2024. In the meantime, Davis has plenty of time to make a third appearance in 2023. 

4) Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KO) 
Overall Points Rank: 3 (29.75 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 11 (3 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 8 (13.75 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking Rank: 1 (4.2)
Age: 33 
Lineal Titles: World Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2019-Present, 3 Defenses); WBA “super” Super Welterweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses); IBF Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses); WBO Jr. Middleweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses) 
Additional Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2016-18, 3 Defenses); Ring Magazine Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses); TBRB Jr. Middleweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 7-1-1, 6 KO
Last Five Opponents: Brian Castano KO10 (#1/#2 - 154), Brian Castano D12 (#3/#2 - 154), Jeison Rosario KO8 (#2/#1 - 154), Tony Harrison KO11 (#6/#3 - 154), Jorge Cota KO3 (Unrated)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: September 30, 2023 vs. World Super Middleweight Champion Saul Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KO)

The Take: Six years after winning his first belt in the division, Jermell Charlo stopped Brian Castano to plant his flag as the defining Jr. middleweight of his era. He reigns over one of boxing’s most competitive divisions over the last several years. After a first fight plenty felt Castano had won, Charlo replied in emphatic fashion. Charlo is the first to unify all four major sanctioning body titles in the class. Tim Tszyu was set to get the first crack in January and would have been Charlo’s fifth straight top ten foe. A hand injury sidelined Charlo and now Tszyu will have to wait as Charlo jumps two divisions for the biggest opportunity of his career. Can Charlo add a second undisputed crown against Saul Alvarez?

5) Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 4 (29.34 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 5 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 6 (14.34 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 8 (6.16)
Age: 30
Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Super Bantamweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses); WBO Jr. Featherweight  (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Additional Lineal Titles: World Bantamweight (2022-23, 1 Defense)
Additional Titles: WBC Light Flyweight (2014, 1 Defense); WBO Jr. Bantamweight (2014-18, 7 defenses); Ring Magazine Bantamweight (2019-23, 6 Defenses); IBF Bantamweight (2019-23, 6 Defenses); TBRB Bantamweight (2022-23, 1 Defense) WBA Bantamweight (2019-23, 5 Defenses); WBC Bantamweight (2022-23, 1 Defense); WBO Bantamweight (2022-23)
Record in Title Fights: 18-0, 16 KO (20-0, 18 KO including sub-title fights) 
Last Five: Stephen Fulton TKO8 (#1 - 122[+]); Paul Butler KO11 (#6/#8 - 118); Nonito Donaire TKO2 (#1/#2 - 118); Aran Dipaen TKO8 (Unranked - 118); Michael Dasmarinas KO3 (Unranked - 118)
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes - Jason Moloney KO7 (#6/#5 - 118)

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Inoue won a pair of titles in his fourth division with one of the best wins of his career, a shutout masterpiece of undefeated Stephen Fulton punctuated with a knockout finish. It was Inoue’s eighth top ten win in his last ten fights and third in a row. Of those eight wins, seven were ranked in the top five at bantamweight or junior featherweight by TBRB, Ring, or both. The drag on Inoue for the moment is consecutive wins over unranked foes but his next outing should put that farther behind him, assuming things go as expected. Inoue versus unified titlist Marlon Tapales will give fans a 1-2 clash in the division and the first undisputed junior featherweight champion since the modern version of the division launched in the 1970s.      

6) Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 5 (29 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 6 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 9 (13 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 4 (5.2)
Age: 38
Current Lineal Titles: World Light Heavyweight (2019-Present, 4 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: IBF Light Heavyweight (2017-Present, 7 Defenses); WBC Light Heavyweight (2019-Present, 4 Defenses); WBO Light Heavyweight (2022-Present, 1 Defenses) 
Additional Titles: TBRB Light Heavyweight (2019-Present, 4 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 8-0, 8 KO
Last Five: Anthony Yarde TKO8 (Ring Magazine #7/TBRB #6 - 175), Joe Smith Jr. TKO2 (#3/#2 - 175), Marcus Browne KO9 (#6/#5 - 175), Adam Deines (Unrated), Oleksandr Gvozdyk TKO10 (#1/TBRB Champion - 175)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No
Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Beterbiev got more than he bargained for with a spirited challenge from Anthony Yarde. As spirited as it was, Yarde ended up being the latest victim of a perfect statistical run. Beterviev has yet to need the judges. It was Beterbiev’s third consecutive top ten win at light heavyweight and fourth in his last five starts. The most fearsome light heavyweight in the world has only the most cerebral, Dmitrii Bivol, in the way of joining a recent trend toward undisputed champions in the sport. Beterbiev’s mandatory with former super middleweight titlist has been postponed as the latest health issue plagues Beterbiev in a career full of them.

7) Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 15 (15.5 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 12 (3 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 7 (14 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 5 (5.6)
Age: 26
Current Lineal Titles: World Jr. Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBO Jr. Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Additional Lineal Titles: World Lightweight (2020-21)
Additional Titles: TBRB/Ring Jr. Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses); TBRB/Ring/IBF/WBA/WBO Lightweight (2020-21) 
Record in Title Fights: 3-1, 1 KO
Last Five: Josh Taylor UD12 (Champion - 140); Sandor Martin SD12 (Ring Unranked/#6 - 140); Pedro Campa TKO7 (Unranked - 140); George Kambosos L12 (#8 - 135); Vasyl Lomachenko UD12 (Champion/#1 - 135)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: A two-division lineal champion at age 26 with victories over Lomachenko and the then-undefeated Taylor is about as good as any fighter could ask for right now. The stunning loss to Kambosos between those two wins is the drag on Lopez’s place. Combine it with a lackluster win over Martin and we may have one of the most mercurial talents in boxing since James Toney. We can’t know for sure what version of Lopez we’ll see from fight to fight, but in his two most significant fights fans saw a savvy, quick, sharp battler capable of beating anyone. The talent pool at 135 and 140 pounds gives Lopez plenty of tantalizing options in the coming years.  

8) Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 9 (24.24 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 8 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 16 (9 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 10 (6.42)
Age: 34
Current Alphabet Titles: WBA Super Flyweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Previous Titles: WBC Minimumweight (2011-12, 3 Defenses); WBA Minimumweight (2012); WBA Light Flyweight (2014*); WBA Flyweight (2016-17, 2 Defenses); WBO Jr. Bantamweight (2019-23, 6 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 13-2-1, 5 KO (21-2-1, 11 KO including WBA sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: Joshua Franco UD12 (#3/#4 - 115); Joshua Franco D12 (#5/TBRB Unranked - 115); Donnie Nietes UD12 (#9/#10 - 115); Ryoji Fukunaga UD12 (Unranked - 115); Francisco Rodriguez Jr. UD12 (#7 - 115) 
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes - Kosei Tanaka TKO8 (#1 - 112 [-])

*Ioka won sub-versions of the WBA belts at Jr. flyweight and flyweight only to be elevated when primary titlists Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada vacated those belts, respectively. Title reign dates reflect those moves.

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: It’s been more than a dozen years since Ioka won his first of what would be titles in four weight classes and Ioka remains among the best in the world. After a debated draw in their first contest, and despite Joshua Franco grossly missing weight, Ioka left no doubt about the better man in their rematch. Ioka has built a Hall of Fame case but has yet to secure a career-defining showdown having missed the biggest names so far in this golden era at junior bantamweight. A fight with lineal and WBC titlist Juan Francisco Estrada is the best the division can offer right now.

9) Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KO) 
Points Rank: 9 (21.5 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 8 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 16 (12.5 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 10 (6.7)
Age: 35
Current Lineal Titles: World Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBO Welterweight (2018-Present, 7 Defenses)
Additional Lineal Titles: World Lightweight (2014-15); World Jr. Welterweight (2016-17, 3 Defenses)
Additional Titles: WBO Lightweight (2014-15, 2 Defenses); TBRB/Ring Lightweight (2014-15); WBO Light Welterweight (2015-17, 6 Defenses); WBC/TBRB/Ring Super Lightweight (2016-17, 3 Defenses); WBA Super Lightweight (2017); IBF Jr. Welterweight (2017); TBRB/Ring Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 18-0, 15 KO
Last Five: Errol Spence TKO9 (#1 - 147); David Avanesyan KO6 (#8/#9 - 147); Shawn Porter TKO10 (#4 - 147); Kell Brook TKO4 (Unranked - 147); Egidijus Kavaliauskas TKO9 (#8/#10 - 147)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No 

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: “Bud” left no doubt about his place in the welterweight division. This index reflects only what did happen without consideration of why. Terence Crawford for years didn’t get some of the fights he needed to cement his place in the sport. He easily beat the guys who beat men like Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov and credit wasn’t always fulsome. Manny Pacquiao didn’t happen when Pacquiao was Top Rank or PBC, and the latter umbrella hosted most of the best of the welterweight division. They could compete against each other without him. After the Spence beating, Crawford is undeniable. The first man to capture lineal thrones from lightweight to welterweight since Barney Ross; the first man to unify four major titles in two divisions since the birth of the WBO; and, in terms of this index, the winner of three straight and four of his last five against the top ten at welterweight. The world awaits the Spence encore.   

10) Dmitrii Bivol (21-0, 11 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 12 (19.06 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 16 (2 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 2 (19.06 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 14 (7.1)
Age: 32
Current Alphabet Titles: WBA Light Heavyweight (2017-Present, 10 Defenses)
Additional Titles: None
Record in Title Fights: 10-0, 3 KO (13-0, 4 KO including interim title fights)
Last Five: Gilberto Ramirez UD12 (#3 - 175), Saul Alvarez UD12 (Champion - 168[-]), Umar Salamov UD12 (Unranked - 175), Craig Richards UD12 (Unranked - 175), Lenin Castillo UD12 (Unranked - 175)  
Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Bivol went from building a solid resume at light heavyweight to what felt like limbo between his wins over Joe Smith and Saul Alvarez. The latter of those two was a hell of a way to get things going again. Bivol was the first man to officially defeat Alvarez since Floyd Mayweather and Bivol trounced the unbeaten Ramirez as an encore. A showdown with Beterbiev would determine the best light heavyweight in the world. Public pressure to see this fight, between men who have reigned together for going on six years, needs to amplify. If the WBC won’t sanction the clash, the winner of Beterbiev-Callum Smith should forge ahead without them. It’s a terrible excuse to avoid this fight.

Rest of the Top Thirty: Tyson Fury (Ranked 7 on Overall Points/14 on Unique Wins/25 on Last Two Starts/6 on Average Opponent Ranking), Tie - Juan Francisco Estrada (11/15/13/14)/Kenshiro Teraji (20/13/13/7), Oleksandr Usyk (13/27/3/16), Shakur Stevenson (8/7/29/17), Junto Nakatani (16/4/19/24), Joe Cordina (19/18/9/22), Leigh Wood (23/20/28/11), Sunny Edwards (17/10/36/20), Hector Garcia (22/19/32/11), Jai Opetaia (21/29/12/26), O’Shaquie Foster (25/21/18/29), Jesse Rodriguez (18/17/40/21), Petchmanee CP Freshmart (14/28/40/21), Oscar Collazo (26/22/20/33), Chris Billam-Smith (26/31/15/36), Regis Prograis (28/32/20/30), Jason Moloney (33/36/27/18), Fernando Martinez (24/30/34/28), Jonathan Gonzalez (28/23/38/30)

Previous Competition Index Updates

Here’s how it works (with updated criterion in bold).

Using the most recent ratings available in a print issue of Ring (or now monthly sample of online ratings) or the most recent archived Transnational Boxing Rankings Board ratings prior to a fight:

  • Every primary WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titlist was 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. Select notable non-titlists are also included. 
  • 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, 2020. 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 fighters 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 for overall total score. 
  • 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. 
  • A rating is generated for the point total for each fighter’s last two wins. 
  • The Ring/TBRB rankings for each fighter’s qualified opponents is generated on a scale of 0-11 (0 for champion/11 for unranked). Adjustments are made for weight classes. As an example, super middleweight champion Saul Alvarez’s 2022 loss at light heavyweight to Dmitrii Bivol came with Bivol ranked #2 by Ring and #1 by TBRB at light heavyweight. That’s an average ranking of 1.5. Adjusting for the move up in weight, 168 is divided by 175 and multiplied by 1.5 for a 1.44. Conversely, Alvarez’s defense at super middleweight against #1 ranked middleweight Gennadiy Golovkin would result in a 1.5 for Golovkin. The opponent rankings are combined and divided by total qualified fights for an average opponent ranking. Those averages were ordered lowest to highest and assigned a rating. 
  • The rating in each scoring category (Total/Unique Wins/Last Two Bouts/Average Opponent Ranking) were averaged against each other for a final score. Tiebreakers go to the fighter with the highest overall points.   
  • 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