Weekend Highlights in Boxing
This weekend showcased some of the finest talents in boxing, including the noteworthy Naoya Inoue and Canelo Alvarez. Inoue demonstrated his resilience, bouncing back from a knockdown in the second round to secure an eighth-round stoppage against Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas, successfully defending his undisputed junior featherweight title.
Canelo, meanwhile, faced William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he claimed a unanimous decision victory in a fight characterized by an unusually low punch output. Despite landing only 56 punches compared to Scull’s 55, the fight became notable for Canelo’s total of just 152 punches thrown— one of the lowest counts for a 12-round bout in the history of CompuBox.
“Scull wasn’t trying to win,” Canelo remarked, expressing disdain for opponents who prioritize survival over competition.
ESPN boxing analyst Andreas Hale cited Canelo’s recent fights as insufficiently impressive, suggesting the champion might be prioritizing money over his legacy, especially given that his last notable performance was against Caleb Plant in 2021.
Inoue’s Continued Dominance
Meanwhile, Inoue’s victory against Cardenas marked his 11th consecutive knockout in title matches, solidifying his standing as one of boxing’s most electrifying fighters. He will look to continue this momentum with a title defense against mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September.
“I was very surprised [by the knockdown], but I took things calmly and put myself together,” Inoue stated following the bout.
His performance ensures he remains ranked No. 2 behind Oleksandr Usyk on our list.
Heavyweight Landscape
In the heavyweight division, Usyk continues to solidify his legacy as he prepares for a rematch against Daniel Dubois on July 19, having already established himself as the undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight categories. His impressive record as a gold medalist continues to elevate him among the sport’s all-time greats.
Competitive Rankings
As anticipated, the rankings reflect a competitive landscape, highlighting fighters such as Terence Crawford, who is transitioning to super middleweight to challenge Canelo, and Dmitry Bivol—who recently avenged an only loss against Artur Beterbiev. Each fighter on our list adds excitement to the boxing realm with upcoming bouts that promise to shape the future of the sport.
The set rankings were derived from a points-based system, with every first-place vote contributing 10 points and subsequent positions receiving decreasing values. Ties favor the fighter with the higher ranking and most votes at that ranking. The current standings are reflective of performance up until May 8, setting the stage for a thrilling summer in boxing as champions defend their titles and contenders rise to prominence.
