2024 looks to be a thrilling year of boxing action, headlined by stars like Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez, who will defend their titles. However, with boxing divisions structured as they are, pound-for-pound rankings determine which boxers are at the top. These rankings allow fans to compare boxers from all divisions and see how each fighter competes relative to their peers. Let’s take a look at the top pound-for-pound boxers in 2024.
Terence Crawford | Welterweight
While there is debate around many of the boxers on this list and how high they should be ranked, there is no debate surrounding Crawford. The 36-year-old out of Omaha, Nebraska, took the top spot in all five of boxing’s major pound-for-pound rankings, the only fighter to sweep his ranking. Crawford is among the most accomplished boxers in history, at 40–0, with 31 of his wins coming via knockout. He has fought in three divisions, named Fighter of the Year thrice in 2014 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and ESPN, and once in 2017 by ESPN.
Crawford fought once in 2023, defeating Errol Spence Jr. by technical knockout to retain the welterweight title. It marked his fourth consecutive year without taking on multiple fights, and he currently doesn’t have another fight on the books. However, if he does take on a fight, he will almost certainly be the boxing betting odds favorite to win.
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Naoya Inoue | Super Bantamweight
While Crawford was the only unanimous fighter on the board, Inoue was near unanimous, ranking #2 in four major publications. The 30-year-old, nicknamed “The Monster,” is undefeated in 26 fights, 21 of which ended in a knockout. ESPN, Boxing Writers Association of America, and The Ring all named him their 2023 Fighter of the Year after winning the super bantamweight title in July with a TKO of Stephen Fulton. He successfully defended that title with a KO against Marlon Tapales. He is also the first and only Japanese boxer to be #1 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings.
In January, sources reported that Inoue would take on Luis Nery to defend his undisputed junior featherweight title. While this fight doesn’t yet have a date, it will reportedly happen in May 2024.
Oleksandr Usyk | Heavyweight
It may be surprising to see 37-year-old Usyk in this spot rather than his 35-year-old future opponent Tyson Fury, the current WBC heavyweight champion, but we could see why soon enough. Usyk doesn’t have Fury’s resume, but at 21–0, Usyk comes in at #3 in most rankings following a stellar 2023 campaign that included a knockout of Daniel Dubois. However, his two wins over Anthony Joshua shot Usyk into the international spotlight, now holding the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles.
He’ll get the opportunity to become the undisputed heavyweight champion in May of 2024, taking on Fury. The fight was originally scheduled for February, but the British champion suffered a facial injury that forced his camp to postpone.
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Canelo Alvarez | Super Middleweight
Arguably the most well-known fighter on this list, no boxer has more wins than Alvarez. While many of his peers have elected to take on fewer fights, Canelo has been highly active, even as he has aged. Since 2021, the 33-year-old has fought seven times, including a loss to Dmitry Bivol, who we’ll hear from later. Most famous for his 2013 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr, Alvarez is one of the world’s most famous and highest-paid athletes.
Alvarez hasn’t confirmed a fight for 2024, but heavy rumors suggest David Benavidez will be his next test sometime in early May.
Dmitry Bivol | Light Heavyweight
Arguably the least-known fighter of the bunch, 33-year-old Russia native Dmitry Bivol had a strong 2022 and 2023, catapulting him past Canelo Alvarez in most rankings. He took Canelo by unanimous decision in May of 2022 and won his only fight of 2023, retaining his WBA light heavyweight title in a win against Lyndon Arthur. Bivol is yet to lose despite not having a knockout in over six years.
He will get a chance to be the undisputed light heavyweight champion this year in Riyadh, with his fight against Artur Beterbiev set for June 1. This is a unique fight because it is the first time in the four-belt era that there will be an undisputed light heavyweight champion.
Who Else Could Have Made the List?
Many other great names could have been included in the top five pound-for-pound rankings. Errol Spence Jr made the Boxing Writers Association of America’s top five, while Juan Francisco Estrada made the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board’s top five. Fury also ranked #6 with ESPN, BWAA, and TBRB. The sport has no shortage of great boxers, making for an exciting year of fighting.