CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2025
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DEPARTMENTS 2 OPENING SHOTS 6 COME OUT WRITING
BOXING’S BIG NIGHT THE RING’S YEAR-END AWARDS CEREMONY IN LONDON 26 FACES FROM THE GALA 30 FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: OLEKSANDR USYK 34 FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: GABRIELA FUNDORA 36 DOWN IN HISTORY USYK-FURY II PUT THE FINISHING TOUCH ON AN ERA-DEFINING SAGA By Gareth A Davies 42 SLAYING GIANTS MODERN HEAVYWEIGHTS MIGHT BE BIG, BUT THAT’S NOT ALWAYS A GOOD THING IN BOXING By Anthony Cocks 48 WHO NEEDS HIM? MARTIN BAKOLE HAS ALL THE INGREDIENTS TO BE A WORLD TITLEHOLDER ... EXCEPT A FIGHT By Tom Gray
54 TRUE GRIT TERENCE CRAWFORD’S TWO- DIVISION LEAP TO FACE CANELO ALVAREZ FOLLOWS BOLD EXAMPLES FROM THE PAST By Keith Idec 60 ARTUR BETERBIEV VS. ARCHIE MOORE A FANTASY FIGHT FOR THE UNDISPUTED LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP By Ron Lipton 70 MY FIRST TIME JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS ISN’T AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS By Mikey Garcia 76 TYSON FURY RETIRES ... AGAIN TIME WILL TELL IF THE FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION MEANS IT THIS TIME By Tom Gray
7 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 10 STEVE’S SOAP BOX By Steve Kim 12 BERNSTEIN ON BOXING By Al Bernstein 16 BY THE NUMBERS By Don Stradley 18 RING RATINGS PACKAGE 74 THE FACE OF BOXING By Thomas Hauser and Wojtek Urbanek 78 BEHIND ENEMY LINES
By Anson Wainwright 80 WORLD BEAT 94 FROM THE ARCHIVE 96 FIGHTLINE
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY VLADISLAV LAKSHE
OPENING SHOTS
Ye Joon Kim saved the date when he boldly stepped in to face undisputed junior featherweight champ Naoya Inoue after Sam Goodman pulled out of his mandatory challenge just 11 days prior to the January 24 Tokyo event, but the unheralded South Korean couldn’t save himself from a fourth-round KO after bravely (some would say foolishly) daring Japan’s premier fighter to hit him in the face.
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OPENING SHOTS
Hardscrabble Japanese strawweight champ Yuni Takada (left) landed enough power shots like this one against Goki Kobayashi to narrowly edge his domestic rival by 12-round split decision on the Inoue-Kim undercard.
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RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer We’re Just Getting Started
COME OUT WRITING
On Our Cover: The artist who created this month’s cover image of 2024 Fighter of the Year Oleksandr Usyk is Vladislav Lakshe: “I am an artist from Europe who has dreamed of uniting sports and art since childhood. Combining my passion for basketball and painting, I created the concept of ‘Basketball Art,’ described by Nike as ‘inspiring the world.’ “After graduating from the Art Academy, I began designing visuals for tournaments, motivational T-shirts, and major sports events. One of the highlights of my career was collaborating with the NBA to create artwork for the Toronto Raptors during their championship season. I also co- founded a street sports tournament that has run for 17 years and has become an iconic event celebrating basketball, football and other games. I’m a boxing fan as well, drawing inspiration from legends like Muhammad Ali. “I aspire to organize a grand exhibition to showcase my achievements and create a masterpiece I can truly be proud of. For me, sports and art are humanity’s greatest gifts: One heals the body, the other the soul, and together, they inspire greatness.” You can contact Vladislav via vladlakshe@gmail.com or Instagram @lakshepassion. Glad You Like It! Is this going to be the new Ring Magazine? If so, sign me up for a lifetime subscription – as long as the $$$$$$$ are not too much! LOL! Everything about it is great. Much praise to his Excellency Turki Alalshikh for bringing the Bible Of Boxing back where it belongs: in the hands of devoted boxing fans. Kenneth Domonkos Fountain Inn, South Carolina I was so excited to receive the December 2024 issue. I have been a Ring reader since the early 1980s. I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings!
claim at the next IBHOF induction weekend that Fury would beat Ali. But seriously, one sticking point is that your mythical matchup assumes that Ali would bust out the rope-a- dope for a fight against Fury. But it’s unlikely that he would, given
February 2025
Founder Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972)
Owner His Excellency Turki Alalshikh
Editor-in-Chief Douglass Fischer
Managing Editor Tom Gray
Fury Vs. The Greatest Thank you so much for publishing the New Ring Magazine. Cover to cover, it was great. I just read a few articles a day so I could savor the magazine. I really liked Anson Wainwright’s article, “Usyk vs. The Greats.” For the most part, it was right on the money. Now, what I am about to write will be very unpopular with many boxing fans. From Floyd Patterson to Oleksandr Usyk, I have watched all these heavyweight champions box (title and non-title bouts). There is no doubt in my mind that the pre-1974 Muhammad Ali (with the exception of Joe Frazier) would defeat those champions. However, I think the post-1974 Ali would be beaten by Tyson Fury. I am not writing that Fury is a better boxer than Ali and most certainly would have been defeated by the pre-1974 Ali, hands down. Ali used the rope-a-dope to tire out and defeat Foreman, but in a fight with Fury, the rope-a-dope would not work. When Ali would lay on the ropes, Fury would not punch; he would just lean on Ali and force the referee to break, which would then get Ali tired. I believe that Fury would win on points. And do not forget that the post-1974 Ali lost to Leon Spinks. Walter Zabicki Holly Ridge, NC Editor’s response: It’s a brave position to take, Walter – and by brave we mean that you’re on your own if you decide to
that Fury and Foreman are so different in style and temperament. And even if he decided to try it and didn’t get the desired effect, one has to assume he’d try something else. And many thought that Usyk’s undoing would be Fury leaning on him, but the Ukrainian master nullified that threat with brains and skills. The post-1974 Ali was still pretty smart and skillful. So while we cannot concur with your pick, what’s certain is that the press conferences preceding an Ali-Fury fight would be among the most entertaining events in boxing history. Something For The Collectors As a lifelong collector and subscriber I have a suggestion: Now that you’re back on the print editions, maybe The Ring should produce a poster containing all the covers that weren’t put into print between 2023-2024. It would be a bit of a collector’s item for those loyal souls. I think it might be a good seller via your shop, or good initiative as an insert in a future print issue. I know similar things have been done in the past. One really good outcome is it would further honor Dmitry Bivol and Naoya Inoue as your Fighters of the Year for 2022 and 2023, respectively. Keep up the good work and keep healthy. Robert Harding Kent, U.K. Write To The Ring! Email comeoutwriting@gmail.com or use this address: P.O. Box 90254, Brooklyn, NY 11209
Senior Editor Brian Harty
Creative Director Lamar Clark
Controller Deborah L. Harrison
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T he Ring ended 2024 with influential new ownership, a triumphant return to print, a star-studded relaunch gala in Saudi Arabia and bold promises of bigger and better things to come. Less than a month after the celebration in Riyadh, one of the new owner’s ideas came to lavish fruition with the inaugural Ring Magazine awards ceremony in London on January 11. The event – held at the Old Royal Naval College, a 300-year-old historical landmark in Greenwich – brought a level of opulence and elegance on par with the Academy Awards to the boxing world. The best fighters, highlights and events of 2024 were honored with grand sophistication, and it came as no surprise that the cover star of this issue took home more awards than any other individual boxer. Reigning Ring Magazine heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk was the clear choice for Fighter of the Year (his second time winning the most prestigious of the annual awards), for his back-to-back victories over Tyson Fury. The veteran southpaw, who
Attendees of the awards ceremony in London included a full spectrum of boxing luminaries.
recently celebrated his 38th birthday, also collected awards for Round of the Year (for his thrilling ninth-round drubbing of Fury in their first tussle) and Event of the Year (headlined by bout No. 1, which briefly crowned Usyk the first undisputed heavyweight king in 25 years). Other notable winners include Gabriela Fundora (the Female Fighter of the Year, who became the first undisputed women’s flyweight champion at age 22), Raymond Ford (who won the Fight of the Year with his dramatic 12th-round stoppage of Otabek Kholmatov), Daniel Dubois (who scored the Knockout of the Year with his brutal fifth-round demolition of Anthony Joshua), Billy Dib (whose final professional bout – staged after his victory over cancer – was deemed the Comeback of the Year), Bruno Surace (who won the Upset of the Year with
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THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410), Special Issue (February 2025), is published 12 times per year by Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11209 and additional post offices. Postmasters: Send change of address notices to: The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept., PO Box 16027, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6027, Phone: 818-286-3101; rngcs@magserv.com. Single copy price $8.95 in U.S.A. and Canada (£5.99 in the U.K.). Subscription price U.S. and possession $39.99 for 12 issues including Canada. Mexico add $5. All remaining countries add $10 for 12 issues per year. Not responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope bearing the proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2025 Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of advertisements appearing in this magazine, nor the delivery or quality of merchandise or services offered. No endorsement of any such advertisement is intended or implied. Advertisers and agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their advertisements. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES AND RATES: advertising@sepublications.com. U.S. / Canadian and International distribution by Comag Marketing Group LLC, 155 Village Blvd #200, Princeton, NJ 08540. UK distribution by Seymour Distribution Ltd., 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, England, EC1A 9PT. Printed In USA.
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RINGSIDE
• Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn , a done deal for April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. I know this grudge match may not move the needle that much in the U.S., but imagine if one of Oscar De La Hoya’s sons boxed professionally and took on one of Fernando Vargas’ three fighting sons (preferably Emiliano). Now amp that buzz to 11 and you’ll have an idea of the crossover interest Eubank-Benn will have in the U.K. (There’s a reason it landed in a freakin’ stadium!) The rivalry between their fathers – Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn – invigorated British boxing during the early 1990s. And the sons genuinely hate each other as much as their dads did. This middleweight showdown will be the first of many events presented by The Ring in collaboration with SNK Games’ “Fatal Fury: City of Wolves” (an anime-stylized fighting game). • Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney co- headlining an outdoor event at New York City’s Times Square in May. Haney will take on former unified
Melikuziev – Pacheco, who’s about as well-rounded as one can expect a 23-year-old to be, continues to climb the 168-pound rankings (currently top five in The Ring, WBO, WBC and IBF ratings). Melikuziev, who’s 8-0 since getting KTFO by Gabriel Rosado in 2021, has not been able to rekindle the buzz he had prior to his lone loss, when he was known as “Bek the Bully.” However, the 28-year-old Uzbek remains a dangerous fringe contender and has the kind of reckless offensive style that could bring the best out of the sometimes lackadaisical Pacheco.
Matchroom Boxing and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions . If you recall, last year’s inaugural “5 vs. 5” event resulted in Sir Eddie’s quintet losing 0-5 to domestic rival Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions team, but Matchroom’s deep roster is thought to have a decided edge against Golden Boy’s stable of fighters. I’m not so sure about that, but this latest tournament – tentatively scheduled for June – has the wannabe-matchmaker portion of my brain churning. Here’s the lineup that I want to see (main event up top, Matchroom fighters to the left):
his shocking sixth-round KO of Jaime Munguia), and Moses Itauma (the just-turned 20-year-old heavyweight sensation who took home the Prospect of the Year award). Congratulations to all of the 2024 award winners and to the other nominees. As I stated in my brief speech before the awards were announced, these fighters and events are the boxing legends and lore of the future. However, the boxers and industry luminaries that converged upon London for the exclusive ceremony weren’t just there to hobnob and conduct interviews on the red carpet. Many of the sport’s top talents and attractions that were present – including Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, Teofimo Lopez, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia – weren’t even award nominees. They were there to do business and cut deals with the owner of this fine publication, all of which led to exciting news during the first month of 2025. As we went to press, the following
junior welterweight beltholder Jose Ramirez in a non-title bout, while Garcia is slated to face Rolando “Rolly” Romero. This will be the second Ring Magazine/SNK Games-branded event and the first on U.S. soil. Both bouts will likely be contested a few pounds above the junior welterweight limit, and if Haney and Garcia are victorious, they have reportedly agreed to an October rematch of their controversial 12-round “no-contest.”
land at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo is expected to fight on May 3 (the Saturday of Cinco De Mayo weekend) possibly against William Scull, holder of the IBF belt that was stripped from Alvarez last year. It’s not known if Crawford, who currently holds the WBA 154-pound title, will take an interim bout as well. • Teofimo Lopez vs. Richardson Hitchins (and then Jaron Ennis , and then maybe the winner of Garcia-Haney II). OK, this potential three-bout deal with the Ring Magazine/WBO 140-pound champ is still being worked out and, clearly, a lot of things have to happen to see it play out. However, both Lopez and his promoter, Bob Arum, have stated on record that they like this ambitious plan set forth by His Excellency. The first leg, expected to take place this summer, is risky. Hitchins, The Ring’s No. 4-rated junior welterweight and undefeated holder of the IBF strap, is the kind of stick-and-move stylist that has troubled Lopez in the past. But if Lopez were to defeat Hitchins, a showdown with Ennis – slated for October (and contingent upon The Ring’s No. 1-rated welterweight besting No. 2-rated Eimantas Stanionis for the vacant Ring Magazine championship on April 12) – would be one of the most anticipated all-American matchups of the year. If Lopez were to get by Ennis (and that’s a very big “if”) he would face the winner of the other anticipated all-American matchup, Garcia-Haney II, in February 2026. But of all of the news that followed the awards gala, what piqued my interest the most is a proposed title unification bout between unbeaten Ring Magazine/IBF cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia and The Ring’s No. 1-rated 200-pounder, WBA/WBO beltholder Gilberto Ramirez . The matchup was mentioned as part of a “5 vs. 5” showdown between Eddie Hearn’s
• Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford for Alvarez’s Ring Magazine super middleweight
5. Ishmael Davis vs. Charles
championship and unified alphabet titles in September. This matchup of two future first-ballot hall of famers is undoubtedly the biggest potential event of 2025 (at least in North America). It will most likely happen on the 13th (the Saturday before Mexican Independence Day) and
Conwell – It says here that Davis is the best junior middleweight currently on a two-bout losing streak. Last year, the 29-year- old stylist from Leeds dropped a 12-round majority decision to Josh Kelly and was stopped after going six rounds with Serhii Bohachuk, but he took both bouts on very short notice (less than two weeks) and was still competitive. I’d like to see what Davis can do with a full camp. I’d also like to see Conwell – my choice as the darkhorse of the very deep 154-pound division – remain active (The Ring’s No. 8 contender is 3-0 with 3 KOs since signing with Golden Boy last year), showcasing his considerable talent and skill while waiting for his deserved title shot. Just my opinion, but I don’t think either promotional company will sweep this tournament. It will be close enough – and more importantly, entertaining enough – for fans to demand a 5 vs. 5 rematch. The main event for that one should be Vergil Ortiz Jr. (should he get by the skilled and dangerous Israil Madrimov on February 22) vs. Ennis (again, if “Boots” is successful against Stanionis). But I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I? What’s currently on the schedule is more than enough to start 2025 off with a bang.
1. Jai Opetaia vs. Gilberto
Ramirez – This all-southpaw clash pits Opetaia’s explosive athleticism vs. Zurdo’s experience, technique and workrate. Both have granite chins, so we can expect a world-class battle of attrition that rages into the championship rounds. 2. Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda – Like most fans and media, I expect Stevenson to successfully defend his WBC 135-pound title against Floyd Schofield on February 22. “Kid Austin” is a brash but still-developing prospect. Zepeda is a grown-ass man and a legit top- five lightweight contender (No. 4 according to The Ring). This is a classic boxer/technician vs. pressure fighter/volume puncher matchup. The Mexico-vs.-USA rivalry conjures images of Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Frankie Randall, Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Kennedy McKinney and Jose Luis Castillo vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. in my mind. 3. Jack Catterall vs. Oscar Duarte – This 140-pound matchup is contingent upon Catterall defeating Arnold Barboza and Duarte beating Regis Prograis (both bouts take place on February 15). If victorious (and both are the odds favorites), I’d love to be treated to another boxer (Catterall)-vs.-scrapper (Duarte) matchup. 4. Diego Pacheco vs. Bektemir
matchups were either rumored to be near finalization or had been announced:
A history-making event in Times Square could be followed by a second Garcia-Haney clash.
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STEVE’S SOAPBOX
classic round-robin were highlighted in the highly acclaimed Legendary Nights series on HBO during the 2000s. More recently, Showtime featured the four fighters’ intertwined careers in a four- part 2021 documentary simply titled The Kings . Several books, including Four Kings , penned by the late, great George Kimball, have been written about their storied battles with one another. Which brings us to this generation. What do we make of Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez? It was around 2020
Last year, these four engaged in a grand total of five fights. The reality is that it’s too much to ask these guys to be what the “Kings” were, or what even Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera were to their generation. Forget about the likes of Roman Gonzalez, Juan Francisco Estrada, Carlos Cuadras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, too. The business and game of boxing has changed, and unfortunately, so have the
fighters who amuse us at times but fail to truly leave an indelible mark on our souls. Maybe I’m being a bit too harsh on this current crop. Admittedly, I am getting more cynical in my old age. There is a chance that these still-young men are not perpetrators of the current marketplace, but merely products of it. But there seems to be some hope as we head into 2025. While the year began with a lawsuit between Haney and Garcia, stemming from their bout
last year, it looks like they’re headed to a rematch in the second half of the year. It was formally announced on January 20 that those two will co-headline a May card in Times Square in New York City as a prelude to their second meeting, which could land in October. Garcia will take on Rolando Romero, while Haney will face former unified junior welterweight champion Jose Ramirez. While some may prefer for this second chapter to take place immediately, the reality is that neither have been
when you started seeing homemade graphics and memes floating around social media depicting them – all basically lightweights at the time – as the modern- day version of the above- mentioned foursome. They were young, talented, marketable and had their own sect of dedicated fan bases to rely upon. This would be the quartet that would be the foundation of the 2020s for the boxing industry. So, as we cross into the halfway mark of the decade, are they holding up their end of the bargain?
in the ring since last April. As for the perennially disgruntled Lopez, who has a love-hate relationship with his promoter, Top Rank, the word is that he has signed a multi- fight agreement with Turki Alalshikh and his organization. This path could see him face Richardson Hitchins in a junior welterweight unification battle in the spring. Then a bout with The Ring’s No. 1-rated welterweight, IBF beltholder Jaron “Boots” Ennis, culminating with Lopez eventually facing the winner of Garcia-Haney II. As for Tank, he is scheduled to face Lamont Roach on March 1. He seems content in playing by himself in the PBC sandbox for the time being. But overall, there seems to be some activity and action taking place amongst this group. Maybe in a few years, they will define this decade, and not be the problem with it.
The Four Kings’ rivalry was cover- worthy throughout the 1980s.
Well, as this is being written, there have only been two fights involving any of these guys – both involving Garcia. “KingRy” was run over by “Tank” Davis in seven rounds in 2023, and last year his points victory over Haney (where he scored three knockdowns) was overturned after he tested positive for the banned substance ostarine. He was suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission for one year from the date of that contest (April 20). Keep this in mind: When Leonard and Hearns engaged in their initial battle in 1981, Leonard was 25 years old and Hearns was just over a month shy of his 23rd birthday. This current group ranges from 26 (Garcia and Haney) to 30 (Davis). They are entering their physical primes. But what do they say about youth being wasted on the young?
IS THERE HOPE? By Steve Kim
F ighters define eras. Eras define fighters. And it’s the fights that should frame how we look at any particular era of boxing. Case in point: My formative years – growing up in Valencia and then Montebello, California – were during the 1980s. So when I think of boxing – while many conjure up images of “Iron” Mike Tyson – for me, this decade was ruled by “the Four Kings.” Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran were the signature boxers in my view. From 1980 to 1989, they engaged in a series of bouts that not only generated millions of dollars for themselves, but wrote a vital piece of boxing history as
So far, Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez have only combined for two bouts.
fighters. They aren’t as active and are therefore not as seasoned – and they are not nearly as recognizable to the general public as their predecessors. They don’t even seem as relatable as boxers of the past. Leonard, Hagler, Duran and Hearns would regularly leave us in awe. The modern day “star” is more likely to make the public cringe with their antics. It’s not really a knock on them but the reality of the current culture we live in. Social media can only do so much in the guise of building up personal brands. Many moments go viral, but how many are truly unforgettable? For decades, boxing created legends. Now it creates a generation of forgettable
well. Perhaps even more importantly, they created a generation of fans that help sustain the business to this day. The word “iconic” comes to mind when you think of these four hall of famers and some of the battles they had. From 1980 (beginning with Duran handing Leonard his first professional defeat) to their admittedly forgettable third clash in 1989, there were nine fights involving these titans of the ring. It’s why a couple of bouts from their
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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING YES, IT’S SPECIAL By Al Bernstein
with drama of all kinds. You notice my choice of words; I did not say it was filled with the greatest heavyweights of all time. As a fan, then chronicler of a number of heavyweight eras, I am reticent about going that far, though I won’t scoff at others who want to take that leap. I can say for sure, however, that we have seen plenty of excellence from boxers in this era. So what does it take for an era to qualify as special? Here are some essential elements.
from grace due to substance abuse and mental health issues, and a remarkable comeback from those circumstances. Add into the mix controversial statements that sometimes come under the category of showmanship and other times are simply tasteless and even cruel. And factor in that he is capable of a kind of roguish charm that includes singing full songs (in tune, no less) in the ring right after getting hit in the head for 12 rounds by a big heavyweight. The whole package is head-spinning when you look back on it. So check off “larger-than-life figure” for this era.
opposition has been world class, and as a heavyweight he’s faced bigger opposition. He has won with guile and boxing skills and combination punching. That said, let’s not forget that in his first fight with Fury, it was he, the former cruiserweight, who almost stopped the big heavyweight – not the other way around. You can look at his career eight ways from Sunday and it always adds up to being an astonishing run. His win in the Fury rematch put an exclamation mark on it. Generational fighter? This era has one.
1. A LARGER-THAN- LIFE FIGURE
3. AN ENIGMA
2. A GENERATIONAL FIGHTER
It was not a popular stance 15 years ago to suggest Tyson Fury would be a force in the heavyweight division. I am no sage, and I’m sure I have been wrong just as much as I have been right, but on THIS one, I am on the right side of history. I was on the Fury bandwagon as early as 2010. I announced a ShoBox show in which Fury won by decision vs. Richie Power. It was not an impressive win, but I felt strongly that his physical advantages, potentially good jab and fearless approach to the sport would lead him to success. I chronicled much of his march to contention while announcing his fights on Channel 5, the over-the-air network in the U.K. I saw him get better and win some important matches, like his first big win over Derek Chisora in 2011. It was pretty lonely on the Fury bandwagon back in those days, but, like him, I stayed the course. “Larger than life” describes Fury inside and outside the ring. He has provided us with wildly exciting moments inside the ring with Wilder, Usyk and others, a spectacular fall
The definition of enigma is: “A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, difficult to understand.” Every important heavyweight era has had a meaningful fighter who was an enigmatic figure. For this era, Anthony Joshua, please raise your hand. Joshua and his epic ups and downs have been a dramatic part of this fascinating era – a part that has added plenty of intrigue. Since Joshua won his first title in 2016, he has drawn historic crowds, made consistently huge paydays, won and lost world titles and constantly surprised us at every turn. It isn’t just his wins and losses. Yes, we were shocked when he lost to Andy Ruiz and perhaps somewhat too surprised when he lost to Usyk the first time. He further surprised us, in a positive way, by knocking out Francis Ngannou after Fury had failed to hurt the debutant boxer and nearly lost to him. So the results of his fights are often puzzling, but beyond that is the manner in which he wins or loses that frequently befuddles us. He came back to defeat Ruiz in their rematch with
In 1988, Evander Holyfield had completely conquered the cruiserweight division and moved to heavyweight. He would win the undisputed crown in his new division by beating Buster Douglas in 1990. He went on to become a great champion and provided us with thrilling moments in that era of heavyweights. That had not been done before and remained a singular feat until Usyk traveled the Holyfield highway to do it again in THIS era of heavyweights. It is almost impossible to overstate what Usyk has accomplished. First he ran the gauntlet in a VERY talented cruiserweight division by fighting top contenders and other beltholders in THEIR home territories to unify titles. Then he became a heavyweight and within five years became the undisputed champion. His opponents in eight of his last 10 bouts, covering two weight divisions, have been former, current or future world titleholders. Since winning his first cruiserweight title, most of his
B efore I was on television, I wrote for Boxing Illustrated in the late 1970s. I wrote about the period of transition from the heavyweight division dominated by Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman to the one that Larry Holmes would lead in the 1980s. In that period, I was able to chronicle great fights involving Holmes, Kenny Norton, Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young and others. It was a remarkable time for the heavyweights. Before that, I was simply a fan of the division dating back to the late 1950s, when I was a 9-year-old listening to the Floyd Patterson-Ingemar Johansson fights on my transistor radio. So I go back a little with the heavyweight division. Now here we are, so many years later in the aftermath of the historically important and well-fought rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. Usyk’s win cemented his place in
Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch victory over Tyson Fury is among the high points of this heavyweight era.
boxing folklore as a ring great while doing no real harm to Fury’s legacy as a major heavyweight in this era and beyond. The fight also demonstrated that the big names of this era are still capable of producing exciting and important fights, though they are clearly in the twilight of their boxing careers. This seems like the appropriate moment in time to assess this exciting period in heavyweight history. I’ll define this as the post-Klitschko era, even though Wladimir Klitschko did participate in two of the fights that spawned two of the superstars of this era. Klitschko’s 2015 loss to Tyson Fury ended his long title reign and announced Fury’s arrival at the championship level. Then his thrilling loss to Anthony Joshua in 2017 seemed to validate Joshua as a heavyweight champion. So the torch was truly passed in those two fights. Unlike the period before that,
when the Klitschko name (including brother Vitali) seemed to control heavyweight boxing, this ushered in an era where multiple men held titles and shared the limelight. In this current era, to this point, we have not seen two of the biggest matches fans yearned for – Fury vs. Joshua or Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder. Since boxing fans are often by nature a “glass half-empty” group, one could imagine many seeing this era as a disappointment. That assessment would be true if you based it only on this small set of facts. By any other standard, however, I think this era of heavyweight boxing has been fun, exciting and filled
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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING
pure boxing that bordered on timidity. Against Usyk, when most would have expected him to use his power and size against an undersized opponent, he continued to be a technician and not an attacker. Then, against Daniel Dubois, he took TOO MANY chances when he had Dubois hurt, and that led to his downfall. He has provided this era with some of the most exciting rounds in recent heavyweight history, and yet also some of the most frustratingly subdued performances we’ve seen from a major heavyweight figure. It has all been fascinating to watch as he draws huge live crowds and some very large pay- per-view audiences. We all have tried to solve the puzzle that is Anthony Joshua. His excellence and frailty have given this era a genuine enigma. Check that one off, too.
a champion, a star in the sport, and he participated in one of the exciting heavyweight trilogies of all time. I announced the first Fury-Wilder fight in 2018. While the action was not nonstop, the atmosphere was tense and electric as we all wondered when Wilder’s power would show up and hurt Fury. We got our answer in Round 9 when Fury was sent to the canvas. But he survived, and Wilder was a bit fatigued and not able to follow up in that round or the next two. In the 12th (another round controlled by Fury, as almost all were in the fight), Wilder landed the perfect right hand, the kind that had always stopped his opponents. That’s when I witnessed the single most surprising thing I have seen in over 40 years of announcing fights. I saw Fury lay motionless on the canvas for about five seconds and then rise like Lazarus, with his 6-foot-9 frame seemingly getting up in sections, to the astonishment of every single person in that arena. He even finished the round stronger than Wilder. It ended as a controversial draw, and Fury’s survival of that knockdown became boxing folklore. For fight number two in 2020, Fury raised eyebrows by weighing in at 273 pounds, one of his highest weights to that point. He proclaimed before the fight that the extra weight was so he could bully Wilder – he said he would face the power head-on with his own strength. Most folks didn’t believe Fury would try to execute that plan. Not only did he do it – it worked perfectly. He was able to stop Wilder in Round 7 of the most one-sided fight of their trilogy. Fight three in 2021 produced one of the two most thrilling heavyweight fights I’ve viewed in person. The other was the 1978 match between Larry Holmes and Kenny Norton. They provided 15 scintillating rounds highlighted by a 15th round that remains one of the best in heavyweight history. With the fight on the line, they battled to the end, and Holmes gained a razor-thin victory. I sat there that June afternoon at Caesars Palace and thought
that I may never again be present for a heavyweight fight this exciting. Well, 43 years later, I was. Fury-Wilder 3 was destined to be a brawl. Both men wanted a conclusive ending to the fight. Fury sent Wilder down in the third round and it looked like it might be a replay of the second fight, with Fury just having his way. In the very next round, however, Wilder hit Fury with a right hand that would have knocked out anyone and should have created a knockout on that night. But, hey, this was Tyson Fury, and he just won’t allow himself to be knocked out. He beat the count, did so again after another knockdown just before the bell, and for several more rounds they exchanged big punches, with Fury doing most of the damage. Then Fury created a violent and destructive ending for Wilder in the 11th. The arena that night was alive with excitement. The courage and grit displayed in the ring that night by both men was something that would be hard to ever forget. So, yes, this era had a great trilogy. There have been many more exciting fights in this division involving the likes of Daniel Dubois, Joe Joyce, Dillian Whyte, Zhilei Zhang, Joseph Parker, Luis Ortiz and Derek Chisora, who never met a brawl he didn’t like. A division that some believed to be moribund 12 years ago came alive with three, then four big stars and a supporting cast of good fighters. They all collectively ended up creating a lot of fun for the fans. It is possible that they have milked the last huge fight out of this era with the two Usyk- Fury extravaganzas, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Still, we know the landscape is close to changing, and we will be left to simply reminisce about this group of heavyweight stars that gave us so many excellent memories in a decade’s time. I, for one, will enjoy the reminiscing. Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein has been the voice of boxing on ESPN, then Showtime. He now announces the Big Time Boxing USA series on DAZN and hosts his own YouTube show.
4. A GREAT TRILOGY
The Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier and Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe trilogies were centerpieces of those respective heavyweight eras and added immeasurably to them being special. The Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder trilogy does the same for this era. Wilder, the fourth main spoke in the wheel of this heavyweight era, is an imperfect power-puncher. With a late start in boxing, he could never quite figure out how to have his technique catch up with his power. Still, he became
Muhammad Ali (here in his third fight against Joe Frazier) satisfied all four categories on his own.
BY THE NUMBERS: Jack Britton by Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt Few fighters were as smooth as Jack Britton (1885-1962). Born William J. Breslin in Clinton, New York, his quick hands and deft footwork led reporters to call him “The Boxing Marvel.” Here’s his story by the numbers.
his opponent would lay off it. This always resulted in his rival spending an inordinate amount of time focusing on the ear, trying to hit it. Britton, slicker than ice, would easily shift away and counter. Besides, the joke was on the opponent, because the ear was dead. Britton called it his “tin ear,” or his “cushion,” and claimed he could take punches on it all day and not feel them. • “A big bruiser smashed that ear for me at a gym when I was just a kid learning the ropes,” Britton said in 1941, “and when I got home and saw that puffed mass, I nearly died of fright.” Upset by the swollen ear, he vowed that no opponent would ever hit him flush again. “Learning to protect that ear made me clever, and pretty soon no one was hitting me anywhere.”
notorious manager » Dumb Dan Morgan, one of boxing’s most remarkable characters, managed Britton for most of his career. Though Morgan managed other fighters, he was especially fond of Britton. The two remained close even after Britton retired. Unfortunately, Morgan’s sneaky work behind the scenes – and his nonstop mouth – sometimes overshadowed Britton’s talents. Britton didn’t care. He and Morgan were tremendous together, as successful a pairing as has ever been seen in the business. Dumb Dan claimed to know a bit about everything, including the best way to develop a fighter’s chin. It involved chewing on tough chuck steak instead of much softer sirloin cuts. There must have been a lot of chuck steaks on Britton’s table, since he was KO’d only once in more than 340 bouts. If money was too scarce to buy chuck steak, Morgan proposed a cheap alternative to hardening a fighter’s jaw: dog biscuits. years old at the time he retired » After 25 years in the business, Britton retired in 1930 at 44. Some states in those days had a mandatory retirement age of 38, so Britton was considered one of the ring’s truly ancient performers. He credited his style for helping him last so long. Just before his final bout, he said, “I always depend on speed and cleverness, and seldom tried for a KO. Maybe that’s why I have fought all the best boys in the country.” In retirement, Britton mentored his son Bobby, an acclaimed amateur boxer who compiled a pro record of 48-56-10, with 19 knockouts.
Cauliflower ear » Britton’s left ear was so misshapen that he used it to distract opponents. He did this by leading with his head slightly cocked. The ghastly appendage would lull his rival into something like hypnosis. When Britton saw that his opponent’s eyes were preoccupied with his ear, he’d pop the guy. Britton knew it was hard to not stare at his damaged ear. Referee Billy Roche described it as “one of the most elaborate cauliflower ears I ever saw.” • Another way Britton used the ear was to spread rumors before a bout that it pained him, and that he hoped
fights* » This is believed to be the most professional fights of any champion, accomplished by way of 1,473 rounds. Not counting his no-decision bouts, Britton’s record is now given on BoxRec. com as 104-30-20, with 30 knockouts and five no-contests.
bouts with Ted “Kid” Lewis » There are rivalries, and then there are rivalries. And then there was the rivalry between Britton and Lewis. As one sportswriter put it, these two met “as often as corned beef and cabbage.” When they fought for the second time in 1915, Lewis won on points and was declared the official welterweight titleholder. Britton took the title from Lewis in 1916, only to lose it back to him in 1917. Britton reclaimed the laurels on St. Patrick’s Day 1919, this time by a knockout in the ninth. This may have been Britton’s finest hour. “Lewis did not land five clean blows,” reported The New York Times as a testament to Britton’s defensive skill. • Legend has it that Lewis and Britton disliked each other and never shook hands before or after their many contests. In their final bout in 1921, Britton even took a swing at one of Lewis’ cornermen, objecting to Lewis wearing a new invention: a rubber mouthguard. Still, some journalists felt the animosity was a ruse, and that the extended series was little more than a traveling roadshow.
no-decision bouts » For those not born during the Benjamin Harrison presidency, some explanation of no-decision bouts might be due. In Britton’s time, professional boxing was outlawed in many states. Laws were passed in certain areas permitting athletic clubs to host boxing, but unless there was a knockout, there’d be no decision rendered. The law was designed to curb gambling, but it was silly; it allowed talented fighters such as Britton to simply dance around an opponent for six or 10 rounds. He risked nothing but collected a payday. Worse, writers on press row sometimes accepted bribes to say a certain fighter won. (A ruthless manager might also race to the nearest telegraph wire, informing news desks that their fighter had dominated, whether he had or not.) Though many of these no-decision or “newspaper” contests were competitive, just as many were glorified exhibitions. Still, customers were happy to buy a ticket to see fighters they’d only read about. To witness the Boxing Marvel in person, even in a no-decision event, was something special.
turns as welterweight champion »
in his 1961 autobiography. The old ring master was down four times but managed to hang on until the final bell. “I felt sorry for him,” Walker added. “He was standing there, with tears in his eyes, as I left the ring with his title.” Ring announcer Joe Humphries roused the Madison Square Garden crowd to stand up and pay tribute to Britton, which resulted in what the New York Daily News called “probably the greatest ovation that ever was accorded a fallen champion.”
Britton was the first three-time champion at welterweight. His third reign was probably the most impressive, as he was getting older but still fending off such opponents as Pinky Mitchell, Dave Shade, Jock Malone and Frankie Maguire. Britton was 37 when he lost the title to 21-year-old Mickey Walker on points in November 1922. “He was one of the shrewdest ring generals the game ever saw,” Walker wrote
sketchy bout with Benny Leonard » In a 1922 money grab, welterweight boss Britton defended his title against longtime lightweight champion Leonard. Britton had the bout won when Leonard dropped him with a body shot in the 13th round. Inexplicably, Leonard then rushed forward and
struck Britton while he was down. This drew Leonard an immediate disqualification and left the crowd at New York’s Velodrome puzzled. Though both fighters were greatly admired, many suspected the bout was a fraud. For what it is worth, one of Leonard’s trainers claimed years later that the fix was in from the start. Who knows?
*The number varies a bit depending on the source.
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Ring Ratings Analysis Through fights of January 25, 2025 • By Brian Harty
POUND FOR POUND: This was an exceptionally slow month for Ring-rated fighters, but P4P No. 2 Naoya Inoue made a welcome appearance on January 24 against Ye Joon Kim in Tokyo. A victory for Kim, who stepped in on short notice to replace a re- injured Sam Goodman, would’ve been an easy contender for upset of the decade, but we’d be happy to watch The Monster tune up a ukulele if it gives us a chance to see him in action. The 15,000 fans at Ariake Arena seemed to agree, and Inoue extended their viewing experience by letting Kim land some shots in what he later said was a strategy to gauge the South Korean’s power. Possibly encouraged by that or maybe even annoyed that Inoue didn’t seem to be trying hard enough, Kim doubled down on his brave assignment and gave the universal “come on, hit me” signal with his gloves in the fourth round. Inoue did the universal “OK, pal” thing and knocked Kim flat with a straight right, which is how the fight ended. Next up for The Monster is a highly anticipated return to Las Vegas, where he will almost certainly face undefeated WBC mandatory Alan Picasso, The Ring’s No. 5-rated junior featherweight. For many people outside of Mexico the name won’t trigger anything beyond a flash of “Guernica,” and Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has accused Inoue of ducking fellow slugger Murodjon Akhmadaliev, but the fight will nonetheless give U.S. fans a rare chance to see the Japanese phenom in person against a top-five fighter. And after that, “MJ” could be on the menu for a fall reservation in Saudi Arabia. CRUISERWEIGHT: Australia’s Jai Opetaia got chin-checked in Round 2 of his homecoming dance with Kiwi challenger David Nyika, but the division champ showed once again that his boxing skills don’t go out the window when he activates his meaner self. Opetaia seems to revel in his mixture of malice and finesse, equally savoring the opportunity to throw quick, bouncy combos from the outside, spike his opponent’s head with a pinpoint uppercut at close range or just swing really hard and try to break something. Nyika received it all, and his second-round momentum gave way
At just 23, Diego Pacheco seems to have a massive reservoir of potential.
to a beatdown that ended in unconsciousness with about 45 seconds to go in the fourth round. With that settled, Opetaia, the Ring/ IBF titleholder, is in place for a tantalizing unification fight with WBA/WBO incumbent Gilberto Ramirez, who might have to get through mandatory challenger Yuniel Dorticos first. A path to the final palisade of the undisputed crown is uncertain, as the WBC’s phobia of a division without a titleholder has somehow led to 41-year-old Badou Jack wearing the green belt despite a layoff of two years and counting. SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT: Young Diego Pacheco continued his rapid ascent in the ratings, moving from No. 3 to No. 2 and improving his record to 23-0 after a wide decision over unrated but undefeated Steven
Nelson. The 6-foot-4 Pacheco expertly used his height/reach advantages to keep Nelson at the end of his power, made good use of a wicked right uppercut at mid-range and showcased his speed in timing his opponent’s come-forward style. In the final round, he also showed resilience in shrugging off a solid left hook from Nelson, who gave a gutsy performance as stablemate and fellow Nebraskan Terence Crawford cheered him on from ringside. WELTERWEIGHT: Fighting on the Inoue-Kim undercard, Jin Sasaki (No. 9 last month) won a close-quarters battle with Shoki Sakai, notably
Naoya Inoue (left) KO’d Ye Joon Kim to kick off what could be a very busy year.
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RING RATINGS ANALYSIS THROUGH FIGHTS OF JANUARY 25, 2025
JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 154 POUNDS
WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 147 POUNDS
JR. WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 140 POUNDS
MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 160 POUNDS
making use of repeated left hooks to the body in carving out a wide unanimous decision. The win was good enough to earn him a lift to No. 8. LIGHTWEIGHT: At some point mentioning his record will become tiresome, but it still needs to be said that Andy Cruz has only had five professional fights and is already being mentioned as a future pound-for-pound star. In his latest win, the Olympic gold medalist dominated Omar Salcido, who’d impressively upset Chris Colbert by ninth-round stoppage in his previous fight, and was awarded a wide unanimous decision. Cruz rose from No. 9 to No. 8 as a result. FLYWEIGHT: Felix Alvarado got a bump from No. 7 to No. 6 after scoring a majority decision over previously undefeated Argentine Tobias Reyes. Reyes, who remained ranked at No. 10, was on the back foot for much of the fight and even played keep-away at times, but accurate punching under pressure and infighting when necessary kept him in the game against the volume attack from Alvarado, who was fighting in his hometown of Managua, Nicaragua. Scores were two 115-112 cards in favor of “El Gamelo” (“The Twin,” so named because of brother Rene Alvarado, who sports the same moniker) and the
third at 114-114. Artem Dalakian hasn’t fought since his January 2024 loss to Seigo Yuri Akui and had nothing scheduled at time of publication, so he was removed from his No. 5 position. Everyone below him moved up, and undefeated Puerto Rican Yankiel Rivera took the resulting vacancy at No. 10. JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT: Carlos Canizales (No. 5 last month) lost a majority decision to Panya Pradabsri (aka Petchmanee CP Freshmart) with the vacant WBC title on the line, but the decision was highly unpopular (see the “World Beat: Thailand” section in this issue), and Canizales was given a one-spot promotion despite the “L.” Freshmart, who was rising from 105 pounds, didn’t get a rating. STRAWWEIGHT: With the departure of Freshmart (rated No. 6), everyone moved up a rank and Joey Canoy of the Philippines moved in at No. 10. Canoy was later replaced by Yuni Takada, who, despite the lackluster win/loss numbers that had established him as the underdog, notched a very confident split decision victory over countryman Goki Kobayashi on the Inoue- Kim undercard.
POUND FOR POUND LIST 1 OLEKSANDR USYK Ukraine • 23-0-0 (14 KOs) 2 NAOYA INOUE Japan • 29-0-0 (26 KOs) 3 TERENCE CRAWFORD U.S. • 41-0-0 (31 KOs) 4 ARTUR BETERBIEV Russia • 21-0-0 (20 KOs) 5 DMITRY BIVOL Russia • 23-1-0 (12 KOs) 6 JESSE RODRIGUEZ U.S. • 21-0-0 (14 KOs) 7 CANELO ALVAREZ Mexico • 62-2-2 (39 KOs) 8 GERVONTA DAVIS U.S. • 30-0-0 (28 KOs) 9 JUNTO NAKATANI Japan • 29-0-0 (22 KOs) 10 DEVIN HANEY U.S. • 31-0-0 (15 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 ZHANIBEK ALIMKHANULY IBF, WBO Kazakhstan • 16-0-0 (11 KOs) 2 HAMZAH SHEERAZ U.K. • 21-0-0 (17 KOs) 3 CARLOS ADAMES WBC Dom. Rep. • 24-1-0 (18 KOs) 4 ERISLANDY LARA WBA Cuba • 31-3-3 (19 KOs) 5 CHRIS EUBANK JR. U.K. • 34-3-0 (25 KOs) 6 ETINOSA OLIHA Italy • 21-0-0 (9 KOs) 7 KYRONE DAVIS U.S. • 19-3-1 (6 KOs) 8 TROY ISLEY U.S. • 14-0-0 (5 KOs) 9 SHANE MOSLEY JR . U.S. • 22-4-0 (12 KOs) 10 DENZEL BENTLEY U.K. • 21-3-1 (17 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 TERENCE CRAWFORD WBA U.S. • 41-0-0 (31 KOs) 2 ISRAIL MADRIMOV Uzbekistan • 10-1-1 (7 KOs) 3 BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV IBF Russia • 23-0-0 (17 KOs) 4 SEBASTIAN FUNDORA WBC, WBO U.S. • 21-1-1 (13 KOs) 5 VERGIL ORTIZ U.S. • 22-0-0 (21 KOs) 6 SERHII BOHACHUK Ukraine • 25-2-0 (24 KOs) 7 TIM TSZYU Australia • 24-2-0 (17 KOs) 8 CHARLES CONWELL U.S. • 21-0-0 (16 KOs) 9 JESUS RAMOS U.S. • 21-1-0 (17 KOs) 10 BRIAN MENDOZA U.S. • 22-4-0 (16 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 JARON ENNIS IBF
C TEOFIMO LOPEZ RING, WBO U.S. • 21-1-0 (13 KOs) 1 DEVIN HANEY U.S. • 31-0-0 (15 KOs) 2 JACK CATTERALL U.K. • 30-1-0 (13 KOs) 3 ALBERTO PUELLO WBC Dom. Rep. • 23-0-0 (10 KOs) 4 RICHARDSON HITCHINS IBF U.S. • 19-0-0 (7 KOs) 5 LIAM PARO Australia • 25-1-0 (15 KOs) 6 SUBRIEL MATIAS Puerto Rico • 21-2-0 (21 KOs) 7 JOSH TAYLOR U.K. • 19-2-0 (13 KOs) 8 ANDY HIRAOKA Japan • 24-0-0 (19 KOs) 9 ARNOLD BARBOZA U.S. • 31-0-0 (11 KOs) 10 JOSE VALENZUELA WBA U.S. • 14-2-0 (9 KOs)
U.S. • 33-0-0 (29 KOs) 2 EIMANTAS STANIONIS WBA Lithuania • 15-0-0 (9 KOs) 3 MARIO BARRIOS WBC U.S. • 29-2-1 (18 KOs) 4 DAVID AVANESYAN Russia • 31-5-1 (19 KOs) 5 BRIAN NORMAN JR. WBO U.S. • 26-0-0 (20 KOs) 6 GIOVANI SANTILLAN U.S. • 33-1-0 (18 KOs) 7 SHAKHRAM GIYASOV Uzbekistan • 16-0-0 (9 KOs) 8 JIN SASAKI Japan • 19-1-1 (17 KOs) 9 ALEXIS ROCHA U.S. • 25-2-1 (16 KOs) 10 RAUL CURIEL Mexico • 15-0-1 (13 KOs)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 175 POUNDS
LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 135 POUNDS
JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 130 POUNDS
FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 126 POUNDS
JR. FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 122 POUNDS
HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT UNLIMITED
CRUISERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 200 POUNDS
C CANELO ALVAREZ RING, WBA, WBC,WBO Mexico • 62-2-2 (39 KOs) 1 CHRISTIAN MBILLI France • 28-0-0 (23 KOs) 2 DIEGO PACHECO U.S. • 23-0-0 (18 KOs) 3 OSLEYS IGLESIAS Cuba • 13-0-0 (12 KOs) 4 CALEB PLANT U.S. • 23-2-0 (14 KOs) 5 WILLIAM SCULL IBF Cuba • 23-0-0 (9 KOs) 6 VLADIMIR SHISHKIN Russia • 16-1-0 (10 KOs) 7 BRUNO SURACE France • 26-0-2 (5 KOs) 8 JAIME MUNGUIA Mexico • 44-2-0 (35 KOs) 9 EDGAR BERLANGA U.S. • 22-1-0 (17 KOs) 10 ERIK BAZINYAN Canada • 32-1-1 (23 KOs) SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 168 POUNDS
C OLEKSANDR USYK RING, WBA, WBC, WBO Ukraine • 23-0-0 (14 KOs) 1 TYSON FURY U.K. • 34-2-1 (24 KOs) 2 DANIEL DUBOIS IBF U.K. • 22-2-0 (21 KOs) 3 JOSEPH PARKER New Zealand • 35-3-0 (23 KOs) 4 ZHILEI ZHANG China • 27-2-1 (22 KOs) 5 AGIT KABAYEL Germany • 25-0-0 (17 KOs) 6 MARTIN BAKOLE Congo • 21-1-0 (16 KOs) 7 ANTHONY JOSHUA U.K. • 28-4-0 (25 KOs) 8 FILIP HRGOVIC Croatia • 17-1-0 (14 KOs) 9 FABIO WARDLEY U.K. • 18-0-1 (17 KOs) 10 EFE AJAGBA Nigeria • 20-1-0 (14 KOs)
C JAI OPETAIA RING, IBF
C ARTUR BETERBIEV RING, IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO Russia • 21-0-0 (20 KOs) 1 DMITRY BIVOL Russia • 23-1-0 (12 KOs) 2 DAVID BENAVIDEZ U.S. • 29-0-0 (24 KOs) 3 JOSHUA BUATSI U.K. • 19-0-0 (13 KOs) 4 ANTHONY YARDE U.K. • 26-3-0 (24 KOs) 5 ALBERT RAMIREZ Venezuela • 19-0-0 (16 KOs) 6 CALLUM SMITH U.K. • 30-2-0 (22 KOs) 7 OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK Ukraine • 20-2-0 (16 KOs) 8 DAVID MORRELL Cuba • 11-0-0 (9 KOs) 9 WILLY HUTCHINSON U.K. • 18-2-0 (13 KOs) 10 IMAM KHATAEV Russia • 9-0-0 (9 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 GERVONTA DAVIS WBA U.S. • 30-0-0 (28 KOs) 2 VASILIY LOMACHENKO IBF Ukraine • 18-3-0 (12 KOs) 3 SHAKUR STEVENSON WBC U.S. • 22-0-0 (10 KOs) 4 WILLIAM ZEPEDA Mexico • 32-0-0 (27 KOs) 5 KEYSHAWN DAVIS U.S. • 12-0-0 (8 KOs) 6 DENYS BERINCHYK WBO Ukraine • 19-0-0 (9 KOs) 7 RAYMOND MURATALLA U.S. • 22-0-0 (17 KOs) 8 ANDY CRUZ Cuba • 5-0-0 (2 KOs) 9 FRANK MARTIN U.S. • 18-1-0 (12 KOs) 10 TEVIN FARMER U.S. • 33-7-1 (8 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 EMANUEL NAVARRETE WBO Mexico • 39-2-1 (32 KOs) 2 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER WBC U.S. • 23-3-0 (12 KOs) 3 ANTHONY CACACE IBF Ireland • 23-1-0 (8 KOs) 4 LAMONT ROACH WBA U.S. • 25-1-1 (10 KOs) 5 JOE CORDINA U.K. • 17-1-0 (9 KOs) 6 ROBSON CONCEICAO Brazil • 19-3-1 (9 KOs) 7 EDUARDO NUNEZ Mexico • 27-1-0 (27 KOs) 8 ALBERT BATYRGAZIEV Russia • 11-0-0 (8 KOs) 9 EDUARDO HERNANDEZ Mexico • 36-2-0 (32 KOs) 10 ALBERT BELL U.S. • 26-0-0 (9 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 ANGELO LEO IBF
C NAOYA INOUE RING, IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO Japan • 29-0-0 (26 KOs) 1 MARLON TAPALES Philippines • 39-4-0 (20 KOs) 2 MURODJON AKHMADALIEV Uzbekistan • 13-1-0 (10 KOs) 3 SAM GOODMAN Australia • 19-0-0 (8 KOs) 4 LUIS NERY Mexico • 35-2-0 (27 KOs) 5 ALAN PICASSO Mexico • 31-0-1 (17 KOs) 6 SHABAZ MASOUD U.K. • 14-0-0 (4 KOs) 7 TJ DOHENY Ireland • 26-5-0 (20 KOs) 8 ELIJAH PIERCE U.S. • 20-2-0 (16 KOs) 9 RAMON CARDENAS U.S. • 25-1-0 (14 KOs) 10 SEBASTIAN HERNANDEZ Mexico • 18-0-0 (17 KOs)
Australia • 27-0-0 (21 KOs) 1 GILBERTO RAMIREZ WBA, WBO Mexico • 47-1-0 (30 KOs) 2 CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH U.K. • 20-2-0 (13 KOs) 3 ALEKSEI PAPIN Russia • 19-1-0 (18 KOs) 4 RICHARD RIAKPORHE U.K. • 17-1-0 (13 KOs) 5 ARSEN GOULAMIRIAN France • 27-1-0 (19 KOs) 6 MICHAL CIESLAK Poland • 27-2-0 (21 KOs) 7 RYAN ROZICKI Canada • 20-1-1 (19 KOs) 8 YAMIL PERALTA Argentina • 17-1-1 (9 KOs) 9 BRANDON GLANTON U.S. • 20-2-0 (17 KOs) 10 LEONARDO MOSQUEA France • 16-0-0 (9 KOs)
U.S. • 25-1-0 (12 KOs) 2 RAFAEL ESPINOZA WBO Mexico • 26-0-0 (22 KOs) 3 NICK BALL WBA U.K. • 21-0-1 (12 KOs) 4 REY VARGAS Mexico • 36-1-1 (22 KOs) 5 LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ Mexico • 30-3-0 (17 KOs) 6 BRANDON FIGUEROA WBC U.S. • 25-1-1 (19 KOs) 7 MIRCO CUELLO Argentina • 14-0-0 (11 KOs) 8 BRUCE CARRINGTON U.S. • 14-0-0 (8 KOs) 9 ROBEISY RAMIREZ Cuba • 14-3-0 (9 KOs) 10 OMAR TRINIDAD U.S. • 18-0-1 (13 KOs)
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