Boxing has a pound-for-pound problem, and it’s a good one to have: There are three or four strong claimants to the mythical title of best male boxer in the world per unit of body weight. (I say “three or four” deliberately, because most lists have Dmitry Bivol as No. 4 and virtually none higher than that; but, for reasons expanded on below, his talents and accomplishments merit his inclusion here.) While Ukraine's idiosyncratic heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is probably the consensus top dog after his pair of wins over Tyson Fury, there is no small segment of fandom and media who make the case strongly for Terence Crawford. The Nebraskan himself was the consensus pick in the immediate aftermath of demolishing Errol Spence Jnr, but his throne has been usurped due to his inactivity and a relatively mediocre showing at 154lbs, during which time Usyk has beaten Fury twice and stopped Daniel Dubois.

The fourth contender for pound-for-pound primacy, Naoya Inoue, most recently recovered from a second-round knockdown to dispatch Ramon Cardenas in the eighth of a Sin City slugfest this past Sunday, and with world titles in four weight divisions and counting, has perhaps the best classic pound-for-pound resume of all.

So how do they all line up, and with all four having confirmed or all-but-confirmed bouts set for the coming months, who will end 2025 on top? 

Naoya Inoue

Accomplishments: WBC light flyweight titlist, WBO junior bantamweight titlist, undisputed bantamweight and junior featherweight champion.

Most recent/next outing: Defeated Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas on Sunday night; will face one of his mandatories, former titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev, on September 14.

Notable victories: TKO6 Luis Nery, TKO8 Stephen Fulton, KO2 Nonito Donaire

The case for: One of only three men to be undisputed champion in two weight classes (although the other two are also in this list). Has been utterly dominant in every one of four weight classes in which he has won a title; on the rare occasions he has encountered any difficulties – in the first fight against future Hall of Famer Donaire or following knockdowns against Nery or Cardenas – he has responded to win impressively; after a tough battle the first time, he obliterated Donaire in a rematch. Is willingly taking on his most dangerous challengers.

The case against: Not his fault at all, but he has been dominant at a time when many of the lighter weights have not been stuffed with world-beating talent. As a result, he has relatively few signature wins. And the flip side of getting off the canvas to win is that you find yourself on the canvas.

The path to No. 1: Inoue is probably approaching the limit of how far in weight he can climb, so he doesn’t have too many options there, but if he were able to pick up a featherweight title, that would be a huge statement given that 126lbs is a talented division at the top. A clear win over the skilled Akhmadaliev would be impressive in itself, but following that up with a featherweight title victory against Nick Ball would be immense.

Dmitry Bivol

Accomplishments: Undisputed light-heavyweight champion (although he has relinquished the WBC belt); previously held the WBA belt for five years.

Most recent/next outing: Defeated Artur Beterbiev on February 22 to avenge his only defeat and become undisputed champion. Likely to face Beterbiev in a rubber match later this year.

Notable victories: W12 Artur Beterbiev, W12 Saul Alvarez, W12 Gilberto Ramirez.

The case for: A supremely skilled boxer, Bivol racked up a series of title wins against the likes of Jean Pascal, Joe Smith Jnr, Sullivan Barrera, and Isaac Chilemba before scoring a big breakthrough with his win over Alvarez. His only defeat was to rival pound-for-pounder Beterbiev, which he promptly avenged. Beterbiev and Alvarez are fifth and sixth or thereabouts on most pound-for-pound lists, making the Russian the only contender for top spot to have beaten two men who are themselves top ten candidates.

The case against: His 2024 knockout of overmatched Malik Zinad aside, he hasn’t scored a stoppage win since 2018. He can sometimes appear slightly diffident and content to coast to a decision.

The path to No. 1: Defeating Beterbiev in their third outing, particularly a comprehensive one, would be significant. Following that up with a win over David Benavidez would stake a major claim to the top spot.

Terence Crawford

Accomplishments: Formerly WBO lightweight titlist, undisputed junior welterweight champion, and undisputed welterweight champion. Presently WBA junior middleweight titlist. 

Most recent/next outing: Defeated Israil Madrimov to add a 154lbs belt to his collection last time out last August; slated to jump up to super middleweight for a September 12 showdown with Alvarez.

Notable victories: TKO9 Errol Spence, TKO10 Shawn Porter, TKO4 Kell Brook.

The case for: The savviest ring technician this side of Floyd Mayweather Jnr, Crawford is a switch-hitting boxer with a nasty streak, willing to look for the knockout even with a points victory already in the bag. Has been undisputed in two weight divisions. Has rarely if ever looked in danger of losing a pro fight.

The case against: Even by modern standards, Crawford is infuriatingly inactive. Has fought just once a year since 2019, during which time Inoue has competed 11 times. Frustratingly found himself on the opposite side of the street from some of his biggest potential welterweight rivals for several years.

The path to No. 1: Crawford is probably already the major claimant to the top spot, alongside Usyk; jumping up to 168lbs and defeating Alvarez could leave him all but unassailable.

Oleksandr Usyk

Accomplishments: Undisputed heavyweight champion. Previously undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Most recent/next outing: Secured a second win over Fury in December; will face  Daniel Dubois in a rematch in July.

Notable victories: W12 Anthony Joshua (twice), W12 Tyson Fury (twice), KO9 Daniel Dubois.

The case for: Usyk is a supremely gifted athlete, whose relaxation in the ring grants him a stamina with which he consistently outlasts and wears down his opponents. Has unified the heavyweight belts despite being outweighed by an average of 37lbs in his outings in boxing’s flagship division. The only person to upend Fury as a professional.

The case against: Never a big puncher at cruiserweight, he has sometimes eked past his larger opponents. He may be susceptible to body punches and Dubois supporters claim their man already scored a KO win over him.

The path to No. 1: Beat Dubois again, this time without any controversy, and Usyk will have no questions at all left to answer. If he isn’t ranked No. 1 after that, there is likely nothing else he can do to change the situation. Either way, he’ll be able to ride off into retirement and await the call from Canastota.

So how are things going to unfold? Expect Usyk to defeat Dubois again in July, underlining his claim to No. 1 status; but that status won’t last for long. Having dispatched all foes, he doesn’t wait around for Joseph Parker or Agit Kabayel and announces his retirement.

Crawford establishes himself definitively as number one with a surprisingly emphatic win over a declining Alvarez. But guess what? Crawford also decides he doesn’t have anything left to prove; he, too, pockets Turki’s millions and heads off into the sunset. 

Inoue then defeats Nakatani in a thrilling contest to close 2025 before stepping up to featherweight and taking on Ball in the new year. He just about succeeds in that task, but featherweight will ultimately prove his undoing, as he then suffers a shock defeat to Rafael Espinoza.

That leaves the crown to be claimed by the quietest of the quartet – who, having taken a second win over Beterbiev in October, outpoints David Benavidez in a terrific contest next spring. Arise, 2026’s pound-for-pound No. 1, Dmitry Bivol.

Kieran Mulvaney has written, broadcast and podcast about boxing for HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Reuters, among other outlets. He presently co-hosts the “Fighter Health Podcast” with Dr. Margaret Goodman. He also writes regularly for National Geographic, has written several books on the Arctic and Antarctic, and is at his happiest hanging out with wild polar bears. His website is www.kieranmulvaney.com