Ranking the top boxers in the world after Terence Crawford retirement

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We've entered a new year which means it's time to take an updated look at the boxing landscape.

The Tennessean is ranking the best boxers in the world, regardless of weight class to determine who is the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

Call it our boxing power rankings.

While subjective, pound-for-pound rankings take into account a number of factors in trying to determine the 10 best boxers across all weight classes.

The simplest, but perhaps the most important, criteria is performances in the ring; how has a boxer looked and performed in recent fights? Another is quality of opponent; to be ranked a fighter must defeat credentialed opponents within his division.

Also taken into account are titles won and historical success. Pound-for-pound rankings hinge on recent performances, but long-held championship pedigree also factors into determining the rankings.

A fighter is no longer eligible for The Tennessean's pound-for-pound rankings after 18 months of inactivity, barring injury.

Here are The Tennessean's pound-for-pound boxing rankings for January 2026.

1. Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs)

Why chosen: With Terence Crawford announcing his retirement in December, Usyk, a fellow two-division undisputed champion, moves up into the No. 1 slot to begin the new year. Usyk last fought in July, scoring the most destructive stoppage of his heavyweight reign as he knocked out former IBF champion Daniel Dubois with a thundering left hook. Having twice defeated Dubois, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the division possesses few, if any, challengers capable of testing Usyk. Next in line may be former world champion Deontay Wilder, with both he and Usyk publicly expressing interest in the matchup in recent months.

Titles held: WBC, WBA, IBF heavyweight titles

Last fight: Win − 5th round knockout vs. Daniel Dubois, July 19, 2025

Next fight: TBD

More: Shakur Stevenson next fight to come against Teofimo Lopez in January

2. Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs)

Why chosen: Inoue picked up his fourth victory of 2025 just days before the start of 2026, cruising to a unanimous decision win over Alan David Picasso on Dec. 27. With the win Inoue improved to 27-0 in world title fights while defending his undisputed junior featherweight titles for a sixth time. He's defeated each of the division's top champions and challengers, many with ease, and it seems next up may be a blockbuster showdown against fellow countryman Junto Nakatani, who made his 122-pound debut on the same December card. With a win over Nakatani in 2026, Inoue may just leap over Usyk into the top spot.

Titles held: WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF junior featherweight titles

Last fight: Win − Unanimous decision vs. Alan David Picasso, Dec. 27, 2025

Next fight: TBD

Boxing - Naoya Inoue v David Picasso - Undisputed Super Bantamweight Title - Mohammed Abdo Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Naoya Inoue celebrates with the belts after winning his fight against David Picasso REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

3. Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs)

Why chosen: Bivol has been out of the ring since February due to a back injury, but remains toward the top of the pound-for-pound rankings having most recently avenged his lone career defeat against Artur Beterbiev, claiming the undisputed light heavyweight titles. He's since vacated the WBC belt and looks no closer to a purported rubber match against Beterbiev, but his manager did reveal to The Ring in December that Bivol is targeting a spring tune-up before likely setting his sights on Beterbiev once again.

Titles held: WBO, WBA, IBF light heavyweight titles

Last fight: Win − Majority decision vs. Artur Beterbiev, Feb. 22, 2025

Next fight: TBD

More: Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul; fight card results, highlights

4. Jesse Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs)

Why chosen: Rodriguez added yet another title to his trophy cabinet in November, putting on a virtuoso performance as he stopped formerly unbeaten champion Fernando Martinez in the eighth round to unify the WBA title with his WBC and WBO belts. It seems there are few divisional foes capable of providing a test for Rodriguez, but he could still set his sights on an undisputed title fight against IBF champion Willibaldo Garcia, who was set for a defense against Kenshiro Teraji on Dec. 27 before falling ill.

Titles held: WBC, WBO, WBA junior bantamweight titles

Last fight: Win − 8th round knockout vs. Fernando Martinez, Nov. 22, 2025

Next fight: TBD

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez lands a punch on Fernando Martinez during his 10th round TKO victory in a junior bantamweight title unification on Nov. 22, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

5. Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs)

Why chosen: While Beterbiev has remained without a fight since his February defeat to Bivol, that does little to diminish his dominance in recent years. A year ago it was Beterbiev who held the title of undisputed at 175 pounds after a decision win over Bivol, which followed a run of nine straight knockout victories in title fights. He can hardly be knocked for the closely contested defeat to Bivol in the rematch, but Beterbiev will need to schedule his next fight sooner rather than later to avoid slipping down the rankings.

Titles held: None

Last fight: Loss − Majority decision vs. Dmitry Bivol, Feb. 22, 2025

Next fight: TBD

Artur Beterbiev punches Dmitry Bivol during their undisputed light heavyweight title fight rematch on Feb. 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

More: Why Nashville slowly emerged as destination for MMA, while boxing stays away

6. David Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs)

Why chosen: Benavidez continued an impressive run of victories this past November, as he secured his first stoppage at light heavyweight, defeating top contender Anthony Yarde by seventh-round TKO. An undisputed showdown against Dmitry Bivol is no doubt the fight fans are hoping for, but with Bivol seemingly focused on a third fight with Beterbiev, Benavidez announced he'll move up in weight to face unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez in May. A win over Ramirez would secure Benavidez's status as a three-division world champion, but that'll be no easy task in his divisional debut.

Titles held: WBC light heavyweight title

Last fight: Win − 7th round technical knockout vs. Anthony Yarde, Nov. 22, 2025

Next fight: TBD

7. Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs)

Why chosen: In July, Stevenson scored arguably a career-best win over formerly unbeaten top contender William Zepeda and he could vault even higher up the rankings with a blockbuster showdown set for the first quarter of 2026. Stevenson will move up a division on Jan. 31 to challenge lineal and WBO welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez, the most credentialed opponent of his career thus far. The bout is expected to be an intriguing clash of styles between two of the sport's most talented champions, the winner of which will have a strong case for top five pound-for-pound.

Titles held: WBC lightweight title

Last fight: Win − Unanimous decision vs. William Zepeda, July 12, 2025

Next fight: Jan. 31 vs. Teofimo Lopez

The Last Crescendo at Kingdom Arena on February 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

8. Junto Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs)

Why chosen: Nakatani was taken to his limits in his junior featherweight debut on Dec. 27, defeating Sebastian Hernandez by unanimous decision in a bout far more competitive than the final result may indicate. Nakatani had looked near unbeatable in his run as bantamweight champion, but now questions have arisen over whether or not his power has translated to 122 pounds. It doesn't look like Nakatani will waste time growing into the division though, with a superfight against Naoya Inoue expected to come this year.

Titles held: None

Last fight: Win − Unanimous decision vs. Sebastian Hernandez, Dec. 27, 2025

Next fight: TBD

Andrew Moloney of Australia exchanges punches with Junto Nakatani of Japan during their junior bantamweight bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

More: Ryan Garcia set to challenge Mario Barrios for world title on Feb. 21

9. Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs)

Why chosen: Haney entered into the pound-for-pound rankings in December after cruising to a unanimous decision victory over formerly undefeated world champion Brian Norman Jr. in his welterweight debut. The bout was viewed as a 50-50 affair entering fight night, but Haney quickly proved to be a level above Norman Jr., sending him to the canvas in the second round before boxing his way to a clear victory on the cards. Haney claimed the WBO welterweight title with the victory and could now turn to a unification bout against the winner of Ryan Garcia vs. WBC champion Mario Barrios, a fight expected to take place in the first quarter of 2026.

Titles held: WBO welterweight title

Last fight: Win − Unanimous decision vs. Brian Norman Jr., Nov. 22, 2025

Next fight: TBD

Devin Haney taunts Brian Norman Jr. after scoring a knockdown during his unanimous decision win to claim the WBO lightweight title on Nov. 22, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

10. Canelo Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs)

Why chosen: With the departure of Terence Crawford, Alvarez returns to the pound-for-pound rankings as he eyes a comeback following a September defeat at the hands of Crawford. Alvarez had previously reigned as undisputed super middleweight champion for the better part of four years, before Crawford made history jumping up two weight classes to defeat him. While Alvarez is no doubt on the back nine of his career, a closely contested defeat to Crawford doesn't erase his previous dominance in the division, defeating the likes of Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia as recently as 2024.

Titles held: None

Last fight: Loss − Unanimous decision vs. Terence Crawford, Sept. 13, 2025

Next fight: TBD

Harrison Campbell covers combat sports for The Tennessean and high school sports for The Daily Herald. Email him at hcampbell@usatodayco.com and follow him on Twitter @hccamp.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Unpacking best boxing rankings after Terence Crawford retirement

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