{"id":15992,"date":"2025-10-06T14:43:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T14:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=15992"},"modified":"2025-10-06T14:43:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T14:43:28","slug":"pound-for-pound-rankings-boxing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/pound-for-pound-rankings-boxing\/","title":{"rendered":"Pound-For-Pound Boxing Rankings Explained: What Does The P4P Ranking System Mean In Boxing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Elite fighters may be despite as some of the best in the current pound-for-pound boxing rankings. But what exactly does that mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pound-for-pound is a term used regularly in boxing circles, with all of the most elite fighters in the world labelled as P4P stars.<\/p>\n

Join us as we examine the meaning of pound-for-pound in boxing terms, and how exactly a P4P list is ranked.<\/p>\n

What Does Pound-For-Pound Mean?<\/h2>\n

The term ‘pound-for-pound’, in boxing, is a way of comparing fighters from various different weight classes to determine who the best is.<\/p>\n

In essence, the pound-for-pound rankings compare the best fighters from each separate weight class, putting them all in one hypothetic list and ranking each of them.<\/p>\n

This mean that if you had someone like Naoya Inoue, the super-bantamweight king, fighting Oleksandr Usyk, the dominant heavyweight force, it would be a hypothetical fight if both men were the same weight. Thus, who would win?<\/p>\n

Today, three-division undisputed champion Terence Crawford is most people’s P4P leader in the current rankings. Should Terence Crawford’s next fight<\/a> result in defeat however, he would fall at least a few places down the list. It’s a constantly updated list fight-by-fight.<\/p>\n

The pound-for-pound rankings cause great debate in boxing. The term has been used for well over a century in combat sports, not just boxing.<\/p>\n

It is also used in sports such as mixed martial arts, particular the UFC, and other combat sports such as kickboxing and wrestling. The pound-for-pound conversation and P4P rankings have been around for a very long time.<\/p>\n

The term was first used officially in 1906 in a boxing sense, but was coined into a phrase by sportswriters during the 1940s\/1950s when talking about the great Sugar Ray Robinson.<\/p>\n

As fighters don’t directly compete against one another due to huge weight disparities, judging the best P4P fighter is subjective, and ratings can vary massively.<\/p>\n

However, the general consensus is that a pound-for-pound list is the best way of matching fighters up against each other if they were fighting on a level playing field.<\/p>\n

When Were P4P Rankings First Brought In To Boxing?<\/h3>\n

The term ‘pound-for-pound’ was historically associated with fighters such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Benny Leonard and others who were widely considered to be the most skilled fighters of their day. However, the phrase itself has actually been used for well over a century now.<\/p>\n

An early example of the phrase being used in a boxing sense was in the Evening Star newspaper back in 1906. The article was about Battling Nelson, describing him as “the fighter of the century at his weight”<\/em>, and stated “he would never back water or split hairs when required to meet any boxer on a pound-for-pound basis.”<\/em><\/p>\n

What the Evening Star newspaper article was trying to say was that if the weight was equal, Battling Nelson would have fought anyone.<\/p>\n

These rankings were brough about to distinguish fighters from the lower weights from the generally more popular heavyweight champions.<\/p>\n

Just because a fighter wasn’t a heavyweight in size and stature, didn’t necessarily mean they weren’t more skilled or better boxers all-round than the heavyweight champions of yester year.<\/p>\n

Given the term ‘pound-for-pound’ has been talked about since the days of Battling Nelson, it is estimated that the phrase was first used sometime around 1905\/06. This makes the phrase around 120 years old as of today.<\/p>\n

Although sportswriters and boxing fans have been using the phrase for over a century, a legitimate pound-for-pound ranking system was only put into place in the late 20th century.<\/p>\n

Since 1989, The Ring Magazine<\/em> has maintained a pound-for-pound rankings list of fighters. Now owned by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh<\/a>, The Ring<\/em> is still the leading standard bearer when it comes to a P4P list.<\/p>\n

Today, this is how fans distinguish who the best fighters on the planet are from all weight classes combined.<\/p>\n

What Is The Criteria For A Pound-For-Pound List in Boxing?<\/h3>\n

When compiling a P4P list, there are various criteria fans, media and other boxing authorities may use to distinguish theirs. Like judging, it is subjective and can vary depending on how an individual sees it.<\/p>\n

Some people might prefer technical skill and boxing ability, some may favour the big knockouts. Other criteria may include the length of a reign as champion, beating top opponents, consistency at the top level and career longevity.<\/p>\n

Depending on what you like to watch, whether that be hitting and not getting hit, or big knockouts, pound-for-pound boxing rankings are totally subjective.<\/p>\n

There is no right or wrong answer as such, but it is generally the same fighters we see crop up at the top of the majority of P4P lists today.<\/p>\n

For example, if Junto Nakatani’s next fight<\/a> ends up being against Naoya Inoue and he ends up winning it, he would undoubtedly climb right up near the very top of the list. One fight can change everything in the P4P conversation.<\/p>\n

Which Fighters Are Recognised As P4P Stars Today?<\/h3>\n

Nowadays, the pound-for-pound conversation usually includes Naoya Inoue, Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk as the outright Top 3. Again, this isn’t definitive and is totally subjective.<\/p>\n

Some people may completely disagree with this Top 3 and have someone else at the top of the list, such as #1 light-heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol.<\/p>\n

Some might favour the power and eye-catching knockouts of Junto Nakatani, some might like Jesse Rodriguez’s chances again his contemporaries pound-for-pound.<\/p>\n

Other names such as Artur Beterbiev, Shakur Stevenson and David Benavidez are generally recognised as Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters. Some may still include the likes of Devin Haney or even Jai Opetaia. There is no real right or wrong answer.<\/p>\n

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is another name who undoubtedly remains near the top of almost all pound-for-pound rankings by various boxing authorities and respected names.<\/p>\n

Although Canelo’s record<\/a> has taken a dent of late due to his defeat to Crawford, he is still regarded as a P4P star in boxing circles.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udccb The Ring\u2019s latest pound-for-pound rankings:<\/p>\n

\u203c\ufe0fTerence Crawford officially climbs to the No. 1 spot following his historic victory over Canelo Alvarez, while the former undisputed super-middleweight champion drops two spots to No. 10.<\/p>\n

Who do you think should be higher or\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Lh3S6nw7rn<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n