CANELO ALVAREZ will aim to become undisputed super-middleweight world champ when he fights Caleb Plant on November 6.
And if he manages to beat the American, you won’t find many arguing against him being the pound-for-pound best.
The Mexican is already four-weight world champ – you wouldn’t be surprised if he fancies a crack at cruiser or even heavy in the future.
Here’ SunSport gives its pound-for-pound top 10 boxers – and it wasn’t an easy task.
1 Canelo Alvarez
Mexican hero Alvarez has quickly taken over as boxing’s biggest star since former foe Floyd 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.
Last time out he crushed Billy Joe Saunders’ dreams, as well as his eye socket, with a stoppage win.
Next up is the unification blockbuster against Caleb Plant – but the Mexican looks unbeatable right now.
2 Josh Taylor
Incredibly, Taylor still doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves.
Along his path to becoming UNDISPUTED super-lightweight champion, the 30-year-old Scott has battered some real warriors.
Taylor is now the face of Sky Sports’ new boxing era without Eddie Hearn – and it’s about time.
3 Terence Crawford
Crawford is as classy in the ring as he is outside it.
Possibly the best switch-hitter in the game right now, he 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.
4 Anthony Joshua
Joshua make it into this list for his boxing skillset learned from his amateur days and also his bouncebackability.
The sport was stunned when Joshua was flattened by the unfancied late stand-in Andy Ruiz Jr – but went back to the drawing board, came back, and scored an easy rematch victory.
Critics will argue that AJ could well be the complete heavyweight, but not pound-for-pound for his transferrable skills.
But he has never shirked a challenge and the list of his conquests is very impressive.
5 Naoya Inoue
The Americans now know all about Inoue.
He has secured two KO victories in his last two fights in Las Vegas – demonstrating his phenomenal power at bantamweight.
Having began his career at 108 lbs the Japanese banger went on to claim titles at super-flyweight, junior-bantamweight champion and bantamweight.
The heavy-handed 28-year-old has flown under the radar having campaigned at the lighter weights.
But beating fighting legend Nonito Donaire in the World Boxing Super Series final had everyone sitting up and taking notice.
6 Teofimo Lopez
Lopez became lightweight world champ in only his 15th bout – three fights before Mayweather – as he knocked out Richard Commey for the IBF belt in December 2019.
The 24 year old was still rightfully an outsider against masterful southpaw Lomachenko in October 2020, where all the titles were at stake.
But Lopez silenced the doubters and became an overnight sensation, knocking the P4P No1 off his perch.
It also made him only the fifth man – behind Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk – to hold all four undisputed titles.
7 Tyson Fury
The Gypsy King completed the most memorable of journeys back to the top when he battered Deontay Wilder to be crowned WBC heavyweight champ.
Even at his heaviest back in the boxing ring, Fury moves like the wind and is several steps ahead of his opponent before a punch is even thrown.
Fury is still undefeated as a pro – 30 wins and one draw, with 21 KOs.
He has his trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder on October 4 – and providing he gets through that, all eyes will switch to FINALLY getting him in the ring against AJ.
8 Vasiliy Lomachenko
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 became the quickest three-weight world champion in history.
A contentious points defeat by Lopez saw the proud Ukrainian take a hit and he is desperate for the rematch.
But he bounced back brilliant, completely outclassing Masayoshi Nakatani before KO’ing the Japanese fighter in the ninth
9 Oleksandr Usyk
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 hasn’t had it all his own way at heavyweight – notable Derek Chisora caused him all sorts of problems.
And now next up is Joshua on September 24 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
If he hands the Brit his second defeat and snatches the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles, he would have every chance to be rivalling Canelo at the top of this list.
10 Artur Beterbiev
Russian powerhouse Beterbiev cemented his place as the man at 175lbs after stopping Oleksandr Gvozdyk to add the WBC title to his IBF belt and then defending those against Adam Deines.
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.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
