Boxing
The 10 best boxers of all time: Manny Pacquiao rose in a historic way
In a long-awaited update to its all-time rankings, World Boxing News has elevated Manny Pacquiao to fifth place following his remarkable majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19, 2025.
At the age of 46, Pacquiao has defied age and expectations, showing his enduring skill and determination. This fight, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, was a testament to Pacquiao’s legendary status in the sport.
The fight ended with a score of 114–114, with one judge awarding Barrios the victory 115–113, allowing the champion to retain his title.
Despite the draw, Pacquiao’s performance was widely praised, with many observers feeling he did enough to win. The result underlined his place in the sport’s elite.
Criteria for the top 10 rankings of all time
The World Boxing News Top 10 list is determined by a comprehensive assessment of a boxer’s professional achievements and impact on the sport.
Key factors include:
World champion title: The number of world championships won by a boxer in different weight classes.
Multi-weight titles: Achievements in multiple weight classes, demonstrating versatility and dominance in various divisions.
Enemy Caliber: The quality and reputation of the opponents you face and victories over top-rated players deserve extra attention.
Way to win: Definitely and style of victories, including knockouts and dominant performances.
Ability and longevity: The skill level of the boxer and the time of his perfect competition.
Activity: Frequency of fights and consistency of results over the years.
The 10 best boxers of all time
1 | Sugar Ray Robinson [174–19–6, 109 KOs]
Robinson’s combination of speed, power and versatility remains unmatched. A four-time middleweight champion and welterweight extraordinaire, he influenced generations of fighters and inspired Hollywood’s Raging Bull. His six legendary fights with Jake LaMotta and lasting legacy make him the undisputed pinnacle of boxing.
2 | Jo Louis [66–3, 52 KOs]
“The Brown Bomber” dominated the heavyweight division for 12 years, making 25 title defenses against a squad of Hall of Famers. Louis combined power, precision and consistency at a time when global competition intensified, making him one of the most powerful champions in history.
3 | Floyd Mayweather [50–0, 27 KOs]
Mayweather redefined defensive mastery in up-to-date boxing. A five-weight world champion, he defeated 16 consecutive world champions, combining precision, strategy and adaptability to remain undefeated. Mayweather’s career remains a model of tactical dominance in the sport.
4 | Muhammad Ali [56–5, 37 KOs]
Ali’s charisma and skills went beyond sports. The three-time heavyweight champion produced some of the most iconic moments in boxing history, including the “Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman and the “Thrilla in Manila” against Joe Frazier. His influence in and out of the ring makes him an enduring figure that transcends victories and defeats.
5 | Manny Pacquiao [62–8–2, 39 KOs]
Pacquiao’s record speaks for itself, but it’s his achievements in eight weight classes that really lift him up. Now, at the age of 46, he has tied with Mario Barrios, another historic milestone, the rarest form of longevity in sports. From Asia to Las Vegas, Pacquiao consistently challenged the best of his era, cementing his legendary status as one of the greatest boxing champions of all time.
This year, WBN’s coverage highlighted Pacquiao’s adaptability and fitness, noting his ability to maintain speed, power and tactical sharpness throughout the decades of his career. Analysts praised his corner strategy and mid-fight substitutions, highlighting why he remains competitive with much younger champions.
6 | Rocky Marciano [49–0, 43 KOs]
The “Brockton Blockbuster” remains the only heavyweight to retire undefeated with such dominance. During his four-year reign, Marciano defeated legends such as Jo LouisJersey Joe Walcott (twice), Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, creating a benchmark of resilience and punching power unmatched for decades.
7 | Willie Pep [229–11–1, 65 KOs]
Pep, a two-time featherweight champion, was the epitome of technical mastery. His early record of 134–1–1 highlights a period of near-perfect dominance, while his longevity and victories over Hall of Famers in over 240 fights demonstrate the skill and intelligence that made him a true performer in the ring.
8 | Ezzard Charles [95–25–1, 52 KOs]
The “Cincinnati Cobra” faced opponents from all divisions, from middleweight to heavyweight, when few would have the courage. Charles went 39-1 over a five-year period, ultimately winning the heavyweight crown and demonstrating a remarkable ability to adapt to the era’s top talents.
9 | Archie Moore [183–23–10, 132 KOs]
“The Mongusta” combined extraordinary power with stunning durability. Moore won the delicate heavyweight world title after years of near misses and amassed 132 knockouts – a record that still resonates in up-to-date boxing. His career spanned almost thirty years, a true testament to his durability and skill.
10 | Henry Armstrong [151–21–10, 100 KOs]
His unprecedented simultaneous reign in three weight classes earns Armstrong a place in history in an era when there were only eight recognized world champions. His 27-fight knockout streak remains legendary, and his victories over numerous Hall of Famers cement his reputation as one of the most relentless and prolific champions of all time.
Abstract
The above rankings are based on a combination of factors including achievement, longevity and impact on the sport. Manny Pacquiao’s recent performance against Mario Barrios cemented his place among the greatest fighters of all time.
About the author
Phil Jay is experienced boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global combat scene. How Since 2010, editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN).Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and the most significant boxing evenings in the ring were reported.
[View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
“You can’t be disappointed with something that never happened,” Finkel told Sky Sports. “Eddie never contacted us and Joshua obviously had no intention of fighting Deontay Wilder. Same venerable story, just novel date.”
The comments question Eddie Hearn’s recent suggestions that Anthony Joshua could face Wilder ahead of his planned clash with Tyson Fury in slow 2026.
Joshua is instead scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyad, ending any immediate speculation about the long-discussed clash with Wilder.
Just a few weeks ago, Eddie Hearn was here calling Wilder a warm-up fight for Joshua’s scheduled fight with Tyson Fury. This is a solemn marketing move. This keeps the fans engaged and gives the impression that AJ is willing to take on the most risky puncher in the league just to keep himself busy.
However, Shelly Finkel’s answer is fascinating. He firmly stated that there was “no reason” to be frustrated because no real approach was ever taken. If Hearn was solemn, the first step would have been to email or call Finkel. According to Wilder’s camp, such a thing never happened.
Instead of Wilder, Joshua is now officially scheduled to face the little-known Prenga. This move serves two purposes for Joshua’s camp: It is a much safer fight as Joshua rehabs from his car accident earlier this year. It also opens the door to a massive fight with Fury in slow 2026 without the risk of Wilder ruining a payday with one right hand.
This has been a pattern for years. We saw this in 2019 when uncontested talks failed, and again in 2023 when both were on the “Day of Reckoning” card but never actually paired up.
Wilder, who recently returned to the ring after a victory over Derek Chisora, also mentioned his interest in a future fight with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Finkel’s comments suggest that Joshua’s fight remains in familiar territory, being discussed publicly but never formally pursued behind the scenes.
Boxing
Hall of Fame champion claims he would be the one to beat Terence Crawford: ‘I’m going to win’
Raizd announced the deal on Instagram on Monday, posting: “Official: Robeisy ‘El Tren’ Ramirez signs with RAIZD BOXING. World-class addition. Former WBO World Featherweight Champion. Two-time Olympic gold medalist. Welcome to the team, Robeisy.”
For a startup that is still building its name, this is a robust impulse. For everyone else, it encourages questions. There has been no evident move from Zuffa Boxing, Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions or other major teams that often pursue recognizable talent.
When a two-time Gold Medalist hits the open market and the Massive Four don’t pull the trigger. Raizd Boxing is basically a ghost ship right now. They are so modern that they haven’t even held their first event yet.
As for why the giants have stayed away, it probably comes down to a combination of time, shelf life and the ongoing business changes many of these companies are making.
At 126 pounds, 32 is on the older side. Promoters are notoriously wary of small-time fighters who have just had a career-changing break. Perhaps they would prefer to wait and see if he has anything left before signing him to an high-priced multi-fight contract.
While Dana White is finally taking action, Zuffa is aggressively targeting younger, buzz-worthy talent like Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins. Ramirez is 32 years aged and had a brutal knockout loss to Rafael Espinoza in December. Zuffa could see him as a veteran of damaged goods rather than a fundamental piece of their launch.
Ramirez may not have the same shine he had when he fled Cuba or when he beat Shakur Stevenson in the amateurs, but fighters with that kind of experience rarely hit the open market.
His recent form likely played a role. Ramirez is 14-3 with nine knockouts and has lost two of his last three fights, with both losses coming to Rafael Espinoza, including a stoppage in the rematch. At 32 years aged, he is no longer a long-term project that can be slowly developed.
Still, there is a clear advantage if handled properly. Ramirez remains a talented southpaw with the pedigree, experience and enough reputational value to quickly become relevant again at featherweight or above. If it combines wins, larger promoters may regret letting startup Raizd make the first move.
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