VASILY LOMACHENKO has been confirmed once again as the world’s best boxer after winning his fifth world title.
The southpaw wizard dethroned Luke Campbell in August to add the WBC belt to his WBA and WBO collection and as a result leads the way as the world’s best boxer, according to boxing bible Ring Magazine.
Familiar faces behind the Ukrainian, Terence Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, are yet to have their final fights of the year, and will make a late push to leap ahead of Loma.
Mexican superstar Canelo faces Sergey Kovalev on November 2 leaping two divisions to challenge for the WBO light-heavyweight title.
The unified middleweight and WBA ‘Regular’ super-middleweight champion has the chance to reign in three weight classes while holding four belts.
Here is Ring Magazine’s top ten boxers.
1. Vasiliy Lomachenko 14-1 (10)
Leaving the amateur game with a record of 396-1 – with the one loss to Albert Selimov later avenged – the simple question was could the boxing maestro transcend his skill-set to 12 rounds.
An early loss to Orlando Salido – for the WBO featherweight title in Lomachenko’s second pro fight – was a clear reminder that the unpaid ranks are a completely different game.
But after being roughed up and out-muscled by a veteran and overweight Salido, Loma has not suffered a blip since, becoming the quickest three-weight world champion in history.
In just 14 fights the 31-year-old has won four world titles and earned scalps such as Gary Russell Jr, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Jorge Linares and most recently Britain’s Campbell.
Loma has already named dangerous hitter Naoya Inoue, powerhouse Gervonta Davis and rising star Devin Haney on his wishlist of 2020 opponents.
But first he insists an undisputed lightweight title bout between the winner of Ricard Commey and Teofimo Lopez is what is next – giving him the chance to wipe out the division.
2. Terence Crawford – 35–0 (26 KO)
Possibly the best switch-hitter in the game right now, Crawford has the ability to overwhelm any foe with his combination punching.
The American has great balance allowing him to work as a counter-puncher – as Julius Indongo knows – though he is equally as deadly as an aggressive box-puncher, which often comes out in the later rounds.
Crawford has won world titles at lightweight, super-lightweight and currently reigns as WBO welterweight king – having held undisputed gold at 140lbs.
His boxing skills are undeniable, and his collection of multiple-weight belts mean “Bud” deserves to be recognised as one of the world’s best.
Though unlike others on this list, Crawford is yet to beat a high-profile name which could transcend his notoriety – but that could change if he secures a welterweight unification bout.
He faces little-known Egidijus Kavaliauskas on December 14 – but insists next year he will go after the best in the 147lbs division – and wants countrymen Errol Spence Jr.
3. Canelo Alvarez – 52–1–2 (35 KO)
Mexican hero Canelo Alvarez has quickly taken over as boxing’s biggest star since former foe Mayweather walked away from the sport.
With only a sole loss – to Mayweather in 2013 aged 23 – Canelo has gone on to rule the super-welterweight and middleweight divisions as well as winning a world title at super-middleweight.
The electric combination punching and chin of the Mexican has seen him stand toe-to-toe with the elite, and come out on top.
However, a controversial draw and contentious win against rival Gennady Golovkin had doubters questioning Canelo’s invincibility with a trilogy bout yet to take place.
Snubbing GGG to move up to 175lbs, a win over KO king Kovalev to become a four-weight champion and actively ruling three divisions should see him rise to the P4P top.
4. Naoya Inoue – 18–0 (16 KO)
A monstrous puncher, Inoue is working his way up the divisions and remaining the most powerful man in the ring.
Having began his career at 108 lbs the Japanese banger went onto claim titles at super-flyweight, junior-bantamweight champion and bantamweight.
Unbeaten Inoue recently dared to call out Lomachenko to a bout at featherweight – having scored 16 KOs in his 18 wins.
The heavy-handed 26-year-old has flown under the radar having campaigned at the lighter weights, but meets ex-four weight world champ Nonito Donaire in the World Boxing Super Series final.
A win against the Filipino could again draw eyes to Inoue’s devastating power, which may motivate him to copy Lomachenko and move up the weights in search of the greater challenges.
5. Oleksandr Usyk – 17–0 (13 KO)
Usyk reigned as undisputed cruiserweight king having won the WBSS – which involved all the divisions belts – and has now stamped his authority at heavyweight.
His nimble footwork, consistent punching rate and heavy hands made him no match for anyone at 200lbs – with his most high-profile win coming against Tony Bellew in Manchester.
The Ukrainian maestro has made a successful heavyweight debut stopping replacement opponent Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has already hinted the 32-year-old could be in line to challenge for the WBO heavyweight title after securing a No1 spot with the governing body.
Hearn claims the winner of the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr will likely vacate the belt to instead face their IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev – and easier option than Usyk.
6. Errol Spence Jr – 26–0 (21 KO)
Former sparring partner of Mayweather, Spence’s punch volume, body attacks and balance give him the tools to rule the welterweight division.
He has also been slated to move up the weights – having dwarfed many of his opponents at 147lbs – which could put his name among boxing legends.
Spence’s body punching is only matched by KO king Inoue, and his relentless pressure was on show against Kell Brook in Sheffield three years ago.
But the Texan added another belt in September, after he out-battled Shawn Porter in a Fight of The Year contender to become the new WBC and unified champion.
He was already lined up to face either Danny Garcia or WBA champion Manny Pacquiao, but a devastating car crash left the boxer lucky to be alive and miraculously without a single broken bone.
7. Gennady Golovkin – 40–1–1 (35 KO)
Failing to get the decision against Canelo in 2017 and then 2018 has cost Golovkin a spot in the second half of this list.
Having possibly outworked the Mexican in the first fight, Alvarez was more active in the return which rightly or wrongly, cost the Kazakh his belts.
But Golovkin, at age 37, is still one of the best boxing has to offer and became world champion again by winning the Canelo’s vacated IBF belt against Sergiy Derevyanchenko this month.
Alvarez insists despite GGG winning back a world honour the trilogy does not interest him – unless the money is right.
But for Golovkin the road does not end with Canelo, with a move up to super-middleweight to become a two-division champion also sure to enhance the Eastern European’s legacy.
8. Juan Francisco Estrada – 40–3–1 (27 KO)
The Mexican rose to fame after avenging his defeat to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai – the man who dethroned super-flyweight king Roman Gonzalez.
It came after Estrada reigned as unified flyweight world champion having beaten Brian Viloria.
The 29-year-old then moved up to super-fly and scored an upset win over underdog hero Rungvisai.
Estrada moved to 40 wins in August after stopping American Dewayne Beamon in a tune-up bout for bigger fights to come.
9. Artur Beterbiev – 15-0 (15 KO)
Russian powerhouse Beterbiev cemented his place as the man at 175lbs after stopping Oleksandr Gvozdyk to add the WBC title to his IBF belt.
The now unified light-heavyweight puncher stayed resilient in the Eastern European affair and kept his 100 per cent KO rate intact.
A unification clash against WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol has now been mentioned in what would be another clash of two heavy hitters.
But a potential meeting with Kovalev or even Canelo would do more to enhance Beterbiev’s already scary profile.
Britain already has a host of top light-heavies, including Anthony Yarde and Joshua Buatsi, meaning UK fans are sure to see more of the Russian brute, who KO’d Manchester’s Callum Johnson last year.
10. Manny Pacquiao – 62–7–2 (39 KO)
The Filipino great looked to have lost his status as one of the world’s best after a shock loss to Australian Jeff Horn in 2017.
But a resilient Pacquiao scored a first KO in 11 years in his next fight, against Lucas Matthysse, before high-profile wins against Americans Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman this year – the latter for the WBA welterweight crown.
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In his storied 24-year career PacMan has ruled eight weight divisions, beginning his career at flyweight (112lbs) and going on to win titles at every weight up until welterweight (147lbs).
The 40-year-old has had epic wins against Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosely and Oscar De La Hoya.
But his return to world champion in 2019 has rightfully earned his spot back amongst boxing’s current elite crop.
