Terence Crawford hung up his gloves overdue last year, deciding it was time for an undefeated professional campaign that spanned 257 rounds and five divisions.

After winning over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and becoming the undisputed champion of three weight classes, The 38-year-old retired at what many considered to be the perfect moment. He left a vacant place for an American star who occupies the top positions on most ranking lists.

The likes of Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney will still make their own claims, but stylistically they are more comparable to Floyd Mayweather than Crawford.

Another man who is highly tipped to be America’s next half-pound star and whose attributes can be compared to Crawford’s is Jaron Ennis. Or rather, a promoter Eddie Hearn has said his protégé is the man who will “replace Crawford”.

“I’ve seen all the top fighters. I truly believe Jaron Ennis is the number one prospect pound for pound… I think this guy is going to come through this division, move up to 160 pounds and be a three-weight world champion. I think he’s the guy to replace Terence Crawford. I think he’s that good.”

However, Crawford is not sold yet. I keep talking X he recently said that Ennis “can’t even tie my shoes.”

How he can’t even tie my shoes

— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) April 30, 2026

Ennis still has time on his side. Although the fight with Crawford fell through and “Bud” moved up to super welterweight while “Boots” won his aged welterweight belts, he now made it to 154 pounds himself. He is less than two months away from fighting for the unified title against Xander Zayas.

It’s a fight that Crawford supports Ennis winning, but he said he thinks another champion in this division, Sebastian Fundora, will beat the American.

Zayas’ fight is another chance for “Boots” to step out of his compatriot’s shadow and forge his own path. At 28 years aged, fans will be watching this journey for some time to come.

Floyd Mayweather’s fighting future will soon become much brighter.

After not competing professionally since 2017 and not competing in exhibition fights since 2024, Mayweather seemed poised for a busy 2026, with three different fights announced.

He first lined up for an exhibition with fellow boxing legend Mike Tyson before it was confirmed on September 19 that a shock professional rematch with former foe Manny Pacquiao would take place on September 19.

The American didn’t stop there when it was revealed he had another fight scheduled with Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis, but over the past few weeks, doubts have swirled around each of those fights.

Initially, rumors about the fight with Tyson in Congo were to take place in April, but this date quickly passed, and various factors, including the injury of “Iron Mike”, raise doubts whether the meeting will be postponed.

Mayweather’s fight with Pacquiao also hit a few snags after the pair disagreed on whether it would be a professional fight or an exhibition contest, and the announced venue for The Sphere in Las Vegas is currently unavailable on the originally planned date.

However, it looks like Mayweather will at least take part in one of these three fights – he revealed on social media details of the press conference devoted to the battle with Zambidis.

PRESS CONFERENCE:
FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER VS.
IRON MIKE ZAMBIDIS

WHEN: Thursday, May 7

TIME:
14:30 PT – media arrival
15:00 PT – press conference begins

WHERE:
Mayweather Boxing Club
4020 Schiff drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89103 pic.twitter.com/Le5iXCBafz

— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) May 7, 2026

For now, it appears that Mayweather is focusing on the Zambidis exhibition, but Pacquiao’s team has previously stated that the American will be in breach of contract if he continues this fight, so it appears that these issues are still a long way from being resolved.

Deontay Wilder has reclaimed his place as the top-rated American heavyweight less than a year after his 4,296-day streak at the top of the pack in the United States finally ended.

Last year, Wilder overtook Richard Torrez Jr. after more than a decade as America’s top heavyweight champion, but one win over Derek Chisora ​​put the “Bronze Bomber” back ahead of the undefeated Olympic silver medalist.

The latest WBC list places Wilder in sixth place and Torrez in ninth place, down three spots. This is a real change for Wilder: Torrez moved forward, but the takeover didn’t last long.

WBN first calculated that the period was 4,296 days when Torrez moved over Wilder, making this latest change a direct reversal of the longest American heavyweight reign in the current rankings picture.

Torrez’s rise looked like a possible changing of the guard in the American heavyweight division. Instead, Wilder took the spot before the 26-year-old could properly take up the role.

The same rankings also confirmed Tyson Fury’s return to the top spot after his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, with the WBC heavyweight list now filled with British fighters.

Wilder regains his place in the USA

Wilder’s return to America’s top spot comes just months after Torrez became the first American heavyweight to overtake him in the WBC rankings in twelve years.

The former WBC heavyweight champion maintained that position in the country through title reigns, defeats, inactivity and the latter stages of his career. The loss of this award marked Wilder’s first real break from the American heavyweight scene. Taking him away keeps him alive in a division that has started to grow.

This is not a detail that can be overlooked. Wilder’s name is still bigger than any other American name in his area, and his punching power remains the one thing that every challenger and champion in this division must respect.

Stalls along the WBC Belt route

The former WBC champion could face Oleksandr Usyk for the world title later this month as the WBC gave the Ukrainian a voluntary window.

Instead, Wilder stuck to his agreement to fight Chisora, a decision that could ultimately cost him the clearest route back to the WBC belt.

Wilder has another path to the WBC title if the heavyweight fight stalls. Bridgeweight champion Kevin Lerena told World Boxing News he will “100 percent” give Wilder a chance to win the 224-pound crown, while maintaining the possibility that Wilder will retire as a two-weight world champion.

This option gives Wilder a second path to a world title, and his return to heavyweight restored his domestic ranking without giving him back control of the world title fight.

The WBC’s decision earlier this year to create an interim championship line around Agit Kabayel puts Wilder in an odd position. He’s once again above all American heavyweights in the WBC rankings, still unsafe enough to matter, and still waiting for the championship picture to open up.

Currently, the cleanest scenario in the heavyweight division may involve Kabayel finally being elevated to full champion after Usyk faces Rico Verhoeven.

WBC list of British heavyweight fighters

As well as Wilder reclaiming the US number one, the latest rankings also highlight how much the WBC heavyweight picture is currently tilting towards the UK.

Fury remains on top despite two defeats to Usyk, and Itauma’s rapid rise to third place continues to fuel expectations that the youthful contender is being aggressively pushed towards a future title fight.

Joshua also remains at the top of the division despite his inactivity, while Okolie remains in second place despite his drug testing controversy.

The concentration of British names in the rankings gives this list a second Wilder comeback story. America has its top heavyweight champion back, but the wider WBC picture is being cluttered by UK fighters.

But for Wilder, the headline is national. The 4,296-day winning streak ended, Torrez took the lead, and the former WBC champion returned to this position.

Whether this becomes a route to the heavyweight title, a bridgeweight gamble or just a rankings win now depends on what the WBC does next with Usyk, Kabayel, Lerena and the belts floating around the Wilder name.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.