The welterweight division has historically been a marquee division in boxing. However, in 2025, it is going through something of a rebuild.
With Jaron “Boots” Ennis leaving and the future of fighters like Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman, and Errol Spence Jnr either uncertain or based in higher ground, long gone are the days when the likes of Floyd Mayweather ruled the pay-per-view world in the welterweight division.
However, all is not lost. The winner of Saturday’s bout between WBO belt holder Brian Norman Jnr, 28-0 (22 KOs) and former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney, 32-0 (15 KOs) will be able to make a strong claim to being the new king at 147lbs. Though some others in the list will be eager to challenge that.
Haney, who is yet to fight at welterweight, is not included.
10. Eimantas Stanionis
Record: 16-1 (9 KOs)
Last Fight: W UD 10 PJabulani Makhense, September 27, 2025
Stanionis might be the second best fighter in the division, if only he had a chance to prove it. A 2016 Lithuanian Olympian, who throws at high volume, Stanonis is a handful for anyone. Yet, inactivity has plagued him in recent years. He was supposed to fight Vergil Ortiz Jnr, but the bout was rescheduled three times, only to never happen. He’d return in 2024 against Gabriel Maestre, winning a unanimous decision. This year, he returned in April, getting stopped by Jaron “Boots” Ennis. He has since defeated Jabulani Makhense via a 10-round unanimous decision to bounce back from his first career defeat. Stanionis has all the traits of one of the top fighters, but it is hard not to overlook that a lot of the momentum has stalled in his career, which can limit success moving forward. Stanionis has all the skills to be a top guy, but the question is can he forge a path back to the top against fighters with a lot of confidence?
9. Paddy Donovan
Record: 14-2 (11 KOs)
Last Fight: L SD 12 Lewis Crocker, September 13, 2025
Donovan might be a cursed fighter or at least for now he is. Donovan was on his way to stopping Lewis Crocker before being disqualified, punching him after the bell. The rematch was widely predicted to be a moment in which he would be crowned as one of the titlists. Instead, Crocker fought a completely different fight, and Donovan hit the canvas twice. Donovan looked shocked that the fight was going a different way, and despite possibly winning, the major adjustment came from Crocker not Donovan. Donovan has a blend of craft and natural athleticism that makes him pass the eye test, but meaningful wins are lacking. He faces Liam Paro, a former junior welterweight titleholder, and that fight will tell us a lot about Donovan’s future in the division. The way he looked against Crocker in the first fight merits some consideration.
8. Delante “Tiger” Johnson
Record: 17-0 (8 KOs)
Last Fight: W TKO 4 Nicklaus Flaz, November 7, 2025
Johnson is a 2020 U.S. Olympian who had not stood out on Top Rank undercards for the past few years. In fact, Johnson at times looked at home fighting on the undercards. That was until he fought Nicklaus Flaz on ProBox TV this month. A perceived 50-50 fight was anything but, as Johnson dominated from start to finish and even took a bow after landing the knockout blow to Flaz. Johnson showed off his boxing ability and his punching prowess in a division to which he is relatively new. Stories of his great work in the Las Vegas gyms have at last manifested into a quality performance.
7. Manny Pacquiao
Record: 62-8-3 (39 KOs)
Last Fight: D PTS 12 Mario Barrios, July 19, 2025
After fighting Barrios to a draw, which some thought was a fight he won, 46-year-old Pacquiao is a fringe top-10 welterweight and well past his prime. Pacquiao no longer has the high volume, but he still has bursts and can likely cause problems for a lot of fighters. Presuming, of course, that showing against Barrios can be replicated at his advanced age.
6. Mario Barrios
Record: 29-2-2 (18 KOs)
Last Fight: D PTS 12 Manny Pacquiao, July 19, 2025
Before that draw with Pacquiao, Barrios had an underwhelming draw with Abel Ramos. Barrios might be the WBC titleholder, but he has made two title defenses without scoring a victory. Barrios can punch and has a good use of range, but his identity as a fighter seems unestablished as of late. It is too bad as his performance against Yordenis Ugas was one of his best of his career. It shows how you are only as good as your last performance in boxing. Yet, being a titleholder still means something.
5. Rolando Romero
Record: 17-2 (13 KOs)
Last Fight: W UD 12 Ryan Garcia, May 2, 2025
Romero has had one fight in the welterweight division and is now the WBA welterweight titleholder after defeating Ryan Garcia. Romero is an awkward, fearless, tricky puncher who is very underrated. Only elite punchers like Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis have beaten him. Romero is also an underrated fighter who has used trolling on social media to build his presence, which some fans can’t separate from his in-ring ability. Romero showed mental toughness to not just deal with Garcia’s power, but also thrive while being an underdog. Even though his victory was far from exciting, it put him on the map.
4. Rohan Polanco
Record: 17-0 (10 KOs)
Last Fight: W UD 10 Quinton Randall, July 26, 2025.
Polanco is a 2020 Dominican Olympian and a tough pressure fighter who was getting stoppages in his developmental fights. He has since proven that he is a world-class fighter, and now awaits a big chance; his recent wins over Quinton Randall and Fabian Maidana should elevate him to a top contender..
3. Lewis Crocker
Record: 22-0 (11 KOs)
Last Fight: W-SD12 Paddy Donovan, September 13, 2025
Wins matter, and Crocker pulled off a big upset and dropped Paddy Donovan twice to nab a split decision. A win is a win and a title is a title, making Crocker one of the top players at 147. A trilogy with Donovan is needed, however.
2. Jack Catterall
Record: 31-2 (13 KOs)
Last Fight: W TKO 11 Ekow Essuman, November 15, 2025.
Catterall could be the top guy. He emerged with a virtuoso performance against Josh Taylor in 2022. It was a fight most watching felt he won. Catterall is now working with “Bozy” Ennis and he showed improvements while defeating Ekow Essuman. Catterall is a great counterpuncher but showed in the Arnold Barboza Jnr fight he can be outworked. One not to be overlooked.
1. Brian Norman Jnr
Record: 28-0 (22 KOs)
Last Fight: W KO 5 Jin Sasaki, June 19, 2025.
Norman Jnr is a huge puncher who has the best wins in the weight class. Norman’s knockout of Jin Sasaki was nothing short of scary. He also knocked out Giovani Santillan in Santillan’s hometown of San Diego, California. After a few average undercard performances, he has shown up when it has mattered and performed. Norman heads into his fight with Devin Haney this week as the best fighter in the division in a clash that will surely present the division with a much-needed leader.
Honorable Mention: Raul Curiel, Shakhram Giyasov, Ryan Garcia, Souleymane Cissokho, Karen Chukhadzhian, Liam Paro, Alexis Rocha, and Julian Rodriguez
