The Ring Magazine Top 10 fighters of the 21st Century

[Wayneta]

I totally agree with most of these placements, especially Mayweather at #1, his unbeaten record, defensive mastery, and adaptability across eras are just chef’s kiss. Pacquiao and Crawford sliding in right after also makes sense to me, both are generational talents with high fight IQ and big wins. Usyk and Inoue deserve their spots too. I might personally swap a couple of positions (Ward any day over Hopkins for me), but that’s the beauty of lists, opinions vary. I read a bunch of different fan takes, even some newsmax reviews online, and it’s clear classic names like Lomachenko and Canelo always spark lively debate. Fantastic list!

[IronDanHamza]

Looking at the list, it seems they clearly value guys who spent time as #1 rated guy P4P. Like I’m a massive Roman Gonzalez fan, one of my top 5 favourite fighters all time, but can we really say he had a better career than Marquez?

I think the fact Gonzalez, Loma etc spent several weeks topping the list has earned them credit in regard to where they’ve been placed on the list.

I think Mosley would possibly be borderline. Donaire was the other guy I thought of. But again I think they are more prevalent as honourable mentions.

No Golovkin on there, he was #1 P4P for a short time.

Donaire's a shout for sure actually for Top 10, one of the best Bantam's of all time for me. Mosley hmmm no I don't think so, I don't think I'd include him despite two massive single wins over Oscar 1 and Margarito. Honourble mention yes I agree but couldn't see a place in the Top 10.

What about Wlad Klitshcko?

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

No Golovkin on there, he was #1 P4P for a short time.

Donaire's a shout for sure actually for Top 10, one of the best Bantam's of all time for me. Mosley hmmm no I don't think so, I don't think I'd include him despite two massive single wins over Oscar 1 and Margarito. Honourble mention yes I agree but couldn't see a place in the Top 10.

What about Wlad Klitshcko?

GGG and Wlad both lack that stand out win, definitely in the mix in terms of defences and long term dominance though. Especially Wlad who reigned for what? 10 years?

Yeah Mosley didn’t do much following the Winky losses aside from the Margarito upset 5-6 years afterwards. If his Lightweight run was post 2000 he’d have a much stronger case.

Barrera and Morales maybe too? But again probably that 11-20 range with Mosley, Cotto, Wlad, GGG etc

[famicommander]

Lomachenko vs world title winners:
L vs Orlando Salido SD 12
W vs Gary Russell Jr MD 12
W vs Rocky Martinez KO 5
W vs Nicolas Walters RTD 7
W vs Guillermo Rigondeaux RTD 6
W vs Jorge Linares TKO 10
W vs Jose Pedraza UD 12
W vs Anthony Crolla KO 4
L vs Teofimo Lopez UD 12
W vs Richard Commey UD 12
L vs Devin Haney UD 12
W vs George Kambosos Jr TKO 11

Overall record: 9-3
Titles won:
WBO 126
WBO 130
WBA, WBC, WBO, Ring 135
IBF 135

Kenshiro Teraji vs world title winners:
W vs Ganigan Lopez MD 12
W vs Pedro Guevara MD 12
W vs Ganigan Lopez TKO 2
W vs Milan Melindo TKO 7
L vs Masamichi Yabuki TKO 10
W vs Masamichi Yabuki KO 3
W vs Hiroto Kyoguchi TKO 7
W vs Anthony Olascuaga TKO 9
W vs Hekkie Budler TKO 9
W vs Carlos Canizales MD 12
W vs Cristofer Rosales TKO 11
W vs Seigo Yuri Akui TKO 12
L vs Ricardo Sandoval SD 12

Overall record: 11-2

Titles won:
WBC 108
WBA, WBC, Ring, TBRB, lineal 108
WBA, WBC 112

Lomachenko never held a lineal championship. And no, Linares' Ring belt that was gifted to him by Oscar doesn't count.

[Spray_resistant]

This is fine for the last 25 years, could have swapped some for others but they wanted to get representation across weightclasses.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Lomachenko vs world title winners:
L vs Orlando Salido SD 12
W vs Gary Russell Jr MD 12
W vs Rocky Martinez KO 5
W vs Nicolas Walters RTD 7
W vs Guillermo Rigondeaux RTD 6
W vs Jorge Linares TKO 10
W vs Jose Pedraza UD 12
W vs Anthony Crolla KO 4
L vs Teofimo Lopez UD 12
W vs Richard Commey UD 12
L vs Devin Haney UD 12
W vs George Kambosos Jr TKO 11

Overall record: 9-3
Titles won:
WBO 126
WBO 130
WBA, WBC, WBO, Ring 135
IBF 135

Kenshiro Teraji vs world title winners:
W vs Ganigan Lopez MD 12
W vs Pedro Guevara MD 12
W vs Ganigan Lopez TKO 2
W vs Milan Melindo TKO 7
L vs Masamichi Yabuki TKO 10
W vs Masamichi Yabuki KO 3
W vs Hiroto Kyoguchi TKO 7
W vs Anthony Olascuaga TKO 9
W vs Hekkie Budler TKO 9
W vs Carlos Canizales MD 12
W vs Cristofer Rosales TKO 11
W vs Seigo Yuri Akui TKO 12
L vs Ricardo Sandoval SD 12

Overall record: 11-2

Titles won:
WBC 112
WBA, WBC, Ring, TBRB, lineal 112
WBA, WBC 115

Lomachenko never held a lineal championship. And no, Linares' Ring belt that was gifted to him by Oscar doesn't count.

I know you like to be edgy but just stop dude.

Kenshiro isn’t even top 10 now and was barely top 10 during his prime, never mind top 10 the last 25 years.

Loma equalled the record for the fastest ever World Champion in just 3 fights. Broke the record as the fastest 2 and 3 weight World Champion. Was ranked the #1 P4P fighter in the world for over a year. Plus is arguably the greatest amateur of all time including 2 Olympic Gold Medals.

Kenshiro being top 10 this century is utter f***ing madness.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Trying to think who else would be borderline.

How did we forget Kenshiro?!

[famicommander]

I know you like to be edgy but just stop dude.

Kenshiro isn’t even top 10 now and was barely top 10 during his prime, never mind top 10 the last 25 years.

Loma equalled the record for the fastest ever World Champion in just 3 fights. Broke the record as the fastest 2 and 3 weight World Champion. Was ranked the #1 P4P fighter in the world for over a year. Plus is arguably the greatest amateur of all time including 2 Olympic Gold Medals.

Kenshiro being top 10 this century is utter f***ing madness.

Since when did amateur boxing have anything at all to do with Ring's P4P list?

Hint: never

Teraji had a better pro career and he's still fighting.

[IronDanHamza]

GGG and Wlad both lack that stand out win, definitely in the mix in terms of defences and long term dominance though. Especially Wlad who reigned for what? 10 years?

Yeah Mosley didn’t do much following the Winky losses aside from the Margarito upset 5-6 years afterwards. If his Lightweight run was post 2000 he’d have a much stronger case.

Barrera and Morales maybe too? But again probably that 11-20 range with Mosley, Cotto, Wlad, GGG etc

Morales and Barrera both ATG's but both were finished by around 06, despite having some decent past prime performances, especially (fat) Morales.

I'd agree both Top 20 range.

[famicommander]

How did we forget Kenshiro?!

Because you don't watch the fights in Japan would be the only reason. He's built an easy Hall of Fame resume and is challenging for another title in a third division in two weeks.