Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Naoya Inoue somehow steps up his game in fourth weight class

It appears that despite already being one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, four-division champion Naoya Inoue hasn’t stopped constantly evolving his game.

Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs), a 32-year-old Japanese superstar who has achieved undisputed status in two weight classes, successfully defended his four-pack junior featherweight titles in Tokyo on Tuesday morning when he defeated former champion TJ Doheny. On his way to a TKO in the seventh round,

But accusations from some less-informed critics on social media that Inoue was too defensive or had trouble against the crafty, 37-year-old right-winger couldn’t be more absurd. Given that Inoue was a little more aggressive in his last fight in May, when he was punched hard by Luis Nery and stopped in the sixth round, the changes he made against Doheny show just how seriously he takes any criticism against his excellent game.

Inoue took the early offensive approach against Doheny, but did so at mid-range to respect the power of his experienced opponent, who was coming off three consecutive knockouts on Japanese soil last year. But overwhelming Doheny with output wasn’t enough for Inoue, as he knew he had to wear Doheny’s punches out to open up opportunities to finish.

To do this, Inoue worked the counterpunchers in the middle rounds and risked eating some errant, looping right hooks to open up Doheny’s guard. A precise body attack resulted in Inoue literally beating Doheny into submission, as a combo to the stomach forced Doheny to grab his leg and lower back, forcing a retirement due to injury.

Inoue landed 46% of his total punches in the bout, including 52% power shots, while landing nearly double his opponent’s total number of punches.

Inoue is not just great, he keeps getting better, which is an issue for anyone in the lower weight classes. Top Rank co-promoter Bob Arum announced after the fight that Inoue would return to Japan at the end of the year and retire ahead of a major fight in Las Vegas in 2025, likely pitting him against compatriot and undefeated bantamweight star Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs).

Using criteria that takes into account everything from accomplishments to current form, let’s take a closer look at the top fighters inside the ring. Below is the latest update to the pound for pound rankings following Inoue’s win in September.

Pound-for-pound rankings

1. Oleksandr Usyk

Undisputed heavyweight champion (22-0, 14 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 1

Usyk’s professional journey has been as eventful as it has been. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion scored two impressive wins over Anthony Joshua to capture three heavyweight titles and finally set up his undisputed bout against WBC champion Tyson Fury in May. The thrilling, split decision win made Usyk the third male boxer to become undisputed champion in two divisions during the four-belt era. The rematch with Fury is scheduled for December.

2. Naoya Inoue

Undisputed junior featherweight champion (25-0, 23 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 2

The four-division champion, who has reached undisputed status in two different weight classes, continued his stunning grip on the sport by defeating Luis Nery in their title bout at the Tokyo Dome in May. “The Monster” appeared much more defensive-minded in September when he picked apart and stopped former champion TJ Doheny. A return to action is expected in Japan in December ahead of a major event planned by co-promoter Bob Arum in Las Vegas in 2025.

3. Terence Crawford

WBA Junior Middleweight Champion (40-0, 29 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 3

In a long-awaited comeback after defeating Errol Spence Jr. last summer, Crawford moved up to 154 pounds and narrowly defeated WBA champion Israel Madrimov. Despite being one of the toughest fights of Crawford’s career, “Bud” is adamant that there is only one fight left that interests him and that is a bout with super middleweight king Canelo Alvarez.

4. Arthur Beterbiev

Unified Light Heavyweight Champion (20-0, 20 KOs) | Previous ranking: 4

Beterbiev quelled rumors that he was getting old by defeating former 168-pound champion Callum Smith in January. After being relieved of his mandatory duties, an undisputed bout against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol was set for June 1. But the 39-year-old Beterbiev withdrew in May due to a torn meniscus, pushing the bout to October.

5. Dmitry Bivol

WBA light heavyweight champion (23-0, 12 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 5

After a stellar 2022 that included a win over Canelo Alvarez and near-universal praise as the best fighter of the year, Bivol sat out most of 2023 in hopes of facing unified champion Artur Beterbiev. Their undisputed title fight was scheduled for June 1, but Beterbiev suffered a serious injury, leaving Bivol to face replacement Malik Zinaid. The new date for Beterbiev will be October 12.

6. Canelo Alvarez

Unified Super Middleweight Champion (61-2-2, 38 KOs) | Previous Ranking: No. 6

The former P4P King is still the unified champion at 168 pounds and he proved it by defeating his compatriot Jaime Munguia in spectacular fashion in May. Despite pressure from fans and the media to fight former two-time champion David Benavidez, Alvarez will return to Las Vegas in September to face the undefeated – yet unproven – Edgar Berlanga.

7. Gervonta Davis

WBA Lightweight Champion (30-0, 28 KOs) | Last Ranking: 7

Davis scored a body-shot knockout of Ryan Garcia in a superfight last April, which now looks even better as “King Ryan” became the first boxer to defeat former undisputed lightweight king Devin Haney. After a 2023 prison sentence, “Tank” returned in June and defeated undefeated Frank Martin. Davis wants to be champion from here on out, which means a unification fight against either Shakur Stevenson or Vasiliy Lomachenko.

8. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez

Flyweight, junior bantamweight titleholder (20-0, 13 KOs) | Previous ranking: 8

The 24-year-old from San Antonio landed only about 50% of his power shots. Demolishing 115-pound titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada In July. Estrada, a future Hall of Famer, decided to activate a rematch clause that would delay Rodriguez from accepting his dream fight against former pound-for-pound king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.

9. Shakur Stevenson

WBC lightweight champion (22-0, 10 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 9

Although he was nearly thrown out of the field – and that too in his hometown – Defending his title against Artem Harutyunyan In July, Stevenson limited his opponent to just 17% of his total punches and held him to single digits in all but one round. The three-division champion is facing criticism from boxing’s court public, who are demanding more excitement in the ring as he enters promotional free agency. Still, Stevenson remains one of the sport’s purest practitioners.

10. David Benavidez

Interim light heavyweight titleholder (29-0, 24 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 10

Frustrated with waiting for his fight with undisputed 168-pound king Canelo Alvarez, “El Monstro” moved up in weight to beat former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June. Benavidez, who later spoke of injuries to both hands during training camp (which prevented him from scoring a stoppage), said he would focus on light heavyweight going forward and wants the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol in October.

dropped out: nobody
honorable mention: Teofimo Lopez Jr., Vasily Lomachenko, Tyson Fury, Devin Haney, Junto Nakatani