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Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Usyk climbs to the top

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6 months ago

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There is a recent No. 1 pound-for-pound contender, which is no surprise. Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed champion in the four-belt era and the first since Lennox Lewis held three belts in 2000 lifted him to first place over Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford.

Usyk’s performance was so impressive that even Crawford admitted after the fight that Usyk deserved to be considered the best fighter in the world.

“Man, you better show some respect [Usyk] Man,” Crawford wrote on X after the fight. “He is definitely a candidate for the No. 1 P4P player in the world. I’m not a hater. He beat a man who beat a man in a bigger division, adding to what he had already achieved. Salute, brother!”

Usyk (22-0, 14 KO) – a former undisputed cruiserweight champion – joins Crawford, Inoue, Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields as the only boxers to win undisputed championships in two divisions in the four-belt era.

“Usyk is the true definition of pound-for-pound,” boxing analyst Timothy Bradley Jr. said. about his decision to put Usyk first on his list. “Fury’s nearly 40 pounds, with a reach deficit of seven inches and a height difference of six inches, he even managed to take Fury down. And let’s not forget that he defeated another giant, Anthony Joshua, not once, but twice. What he did on Saturday night was truly extraordinary.”

Boxing writer Mike Coppinger agreed, moving Usyk from third to the top of his list.

“You could put any Usyk, Crawford or Inoue at No. 1, but the Ukrainian epitomized what it means to be the best on a pound-for-pound basis after another victory over an elite heavyweight who was much bigger. Moreover, Usyk came close to stopping Fury – and also Joshua – and did so after dominating the cruiserweight division.”

After the defeat, Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO) drops out of the top ten, giving way to the return of Teofimo Lopez Jr.

Our panel includes Coppinger, Bradley, Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas, Nick Parkinson, Eric Raskin, Michelle Joy Phelps, Claudia Trejos, Bernardo Osuna, Crystina Poncher, Eric Woodyard, Bernardo Pilatti, Charles Moynihan, Salvador Rodriguez, Jim Zirolli , Michael Mascaro, Aladdin Freeman, Victor Lopez and Damian Delgado Averhoff share their voices.

1. OLEKSANDR USYKPrevious ranking: No. 3

RECORD: 22-0, 14 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Heavyweight (Undisputed Champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (SD12) Tyson Fury, May 18
NEXT FIGHT: October 12 vs. Tyson Fury

2. TERENCE CRAWFORDPrevious ranking: No. 1

RECORD: 40-0, 31 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Welterweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Errol Spence Jr., July 29
NEXT FIGHT: August 3 vs. Israil Madrimov

3.NAOYA INOUEPrevious ranking: No. 2

RECORD: 27-0, 24 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Junior Featherweight (Undisputed Champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO6) Luis Nery, May 6
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

4. DMITRY BIVOLPrevious ranking: No. 5

RECORD: 22-0, 11 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Featherlight heavyweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Lyndon Arthur, 23 December
NEXT FIGHT: June 1 vs. Malik Zinad

5.CANELO ALVAREZPrevious ranking: No. 4

RECORD: 61-2-2, 39 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Super middleweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (UD12) Jaime Munguia, May 4
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

6. ARTHUR BETERBIEVPrevious ranking: No. 6

RECORD: 20-0, 20 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Featherlight heavyweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Callum Smith, January 13
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

7. Gervont DavisPrevious ranking: No. 7

RECORD: 29-0, 27 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Lightweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO7) Ryan Garcia, April 22
NEXT FIGHT: June 15 vs. Frank Martin

8. SHAKUR STEVENSONPrevious ranking: No. 8

RECORD: 21-0, 10 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Lightweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (UD12) Edwin De Los Santos, November. 16
NEXT FIGHT: July 6 vs. Artem Harutyunyan

9. JESSE “BAM” RODRIGUEZPrevious ranking: No. 9

RECORD: 19-0, 12 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Flyweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Bright Edwards, December 16
NEXT FIGHT: June 29 vs. Juan Francisco Estrada

10. TEOFIMO LOPEZPrevious ranking: N/A

RECORD: 20-1, 13 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Junior welterweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (UD12) Jamaine Ortiz, February 8
NEXT FIGHT: June 29 vs. Steve Claggett

Formula

The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote awarding 10 points, a second-place vote awarding nine points, and so on. The tie goes to the player with the highest ranking and then to the player with the most votes in that ranking.

Others who received votes: Vasily Lomachenko (16), Tyson Fury (12), David Benavidez (12), Errol Spence Jr. (12). (3), Total Cuts (3), Devin Haney (1).

How our authors voted

Atlas: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Buffalo, 5. Davis, 6. Lomachenko, 7. Fury, 8. Beterbiev, 9. Alvarez, 10. Benavidez

Bradley: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3: Inoue, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Stevenson, 8. Davis, 9. Rodriguez, 10. López Jr.

Copper: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Nakatani, 10. Benavidez

Weaver: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Buffalo, 6. Stevenson, 7. Alvarez, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Lopez, 10. Davis

Parkinson’s: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Alvarez, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Buffalo, 7. Lomachenko, 8. Davis, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Nakatani

Raskin: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Stevenson, 7. Davis, 8. Benavidez, 9. Beterbiev, 10. Lomachenko

Three: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Buffalo, 4. Alvarez, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Crawford, 7. Davis, 8. Stevenson, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Lomachenko

Phelps: 1. Usyk, 2. Alvarez, 3. Inoue, 4. Crawford, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Buffalo, 7. Fury, 8. Lopez, 9. Davis, 10. Haney

Poncher: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Stevenson, 8. Davis, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Lopez

Osuna: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Stevenson, 9. Lopez, 10. Davis

Rodriguez: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Davis, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Lomachenko

Shipyard: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Davis, 6. Lopez, 7. Stevenson, 8. Buffalo, 9. Beterbiev, 10. Fury

Moynihan: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Buffalo, 7. Davis, 8. Spence, 9. Stevenson, 10. Benavidez

Pilate: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Buffalo, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Davis, 7. Benavidez, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Lomachenko, 10. Fury

Zirolles: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Stevenson, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Buffalo, 8. Lopez, 9. Benavidez, 10. Rodriguez

Hood: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Buffalo, 6. Alvarez, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Lopez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Lomachenko

Citizen: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Buffalo, 6. Alvarez, 7. Stevenson, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Davis, 10. Lomachenko

López: 1. Crawford, 2. Usyk, 3. Inoue, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Lopez

Delgado Averhof: 1. Inoue, 2. Usyk, 3. Crawford, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Fury, 10. Stevenson

ESPN expert poll

First place: Usyk (12), Crawford (6), Inoue (1)

Second place: Inoue (10), Crawford (6), Inoue (2), Alvarez (1)

Third place: Inoue (8), Usyk (5), Crawford (5), Bivol (1)

Fourth place: Alvarez (8), Bivol (6), Beterbiev (3), Crawford (1), Stevenson (1)

Fifth place: Bivol (7), Alvarez (5), Beterbiev (5), Davis (2)

Sixth place: Beterbiev (7), Bivol (3), Alvarez (2), Davis (2), Stevenson (2), Crawford (1), Lopez (1), Lomachenko (1)

Seventh place: Davis (6), Stevenson (4), Rodriguez (2), Fury (2), Bivol (1), Alvarez (1), Beterbiev (1), Lomachenko (1), Benavidez (1)

Eighth place: Rodriguez (7), Davis (3), Lopez (3), Stevenson (2), Bivol (1), Beterbiev (1), Benavidez (1), Spence (1)

Ninth place: Stevenson (4), Rodriguez (4), Beterbiev (2), Davis (2), Lopez (2), Alvarez (1), Lomachenko (1), Fury (1), Benavidez (1), Nakatani (1)

10th place: Lomachenko (5), Lopez (3), Benavidez (3), Davis (2), Fury (2), Stevenson (1), Rodriguez (1), Nakatani (1), Haney (1)

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Boxing

The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena

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4 hours ago

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November 23, 2024

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Rocha vs Curiel

In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).

The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00

“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”

Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.

“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.

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Boxing

George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

Published

21 hours ago

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November 23, 2024

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Boxing

Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

Published

2 days ago

on

November 21, 2024

By

Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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