TERENCE CRAWFORD catapulted himself to the top of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings in the eyes of many in 2023.
It was the year he finally fought, and beat, long-time rival Errol Spence Jr, and made history in doing so.
As he became the first man to become an undisputed champion in two separate divisions.
Naoya Inoue then replicated the feat on Boxing Day by beating Marlon Tapales to keep the argument of world’s best boxer alive.
Here, SunSport ranks their list of top ten stars in the boxing world.
1. Terence Crawford
Crawford, 36, managed only one fight in 2023 but it was a seismic one that could define his legacy.
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The manner in which he dominated Spence, 33, over nine rounds to capture all four welterweight titles cemented his place as No1 in the world.
Inoue has a strong case to rival Crawford but the Japanese star, in the lower weights, is missing that marquee name value victory.
2. Naoya Inoue
With 26 wins and 23 knockouts, Inoue is among the most exciting fighters in the world.
And, with belts in four divisions, he is no doubt Crawford’s fiercest rival to the P4P throne.
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But, a win over another pound-for-pound rival is what prevents Inoue from topping this list.
3. Oleksandr Usyk
Having reigned as undisputed champ at cruiserweight and unified at heavyweight, Usyk, 36, is also a threat to Crawford’s throne.
And victory over Tyson Fury, 35, in their undisputed decider on February 17 would see the Ukrainian top the lot.
4. Devin Haney
Haney was the fighter of the year in 2023 with victories over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Regis Prograis.
Beating Lomachenko meant he retained his undisputed lightweight crown before moving up to win the WBC belt from Prograis.
Now a two-weight champ with an ever-improving resume, Haney’s place in the top five was secured.
5. Canelo Alvarez
Once dominating the mythical rankings, defeat to Dmitry Bivol, also 33, left question marks over the Mexican’s standing.
But, since returning to super-middleweight, Canelo has got back on track and beat John Ryder and Jermell Charlo in 2023.
Mega-fights await the 33-year-old boxing legend in 2024 with David Benavidez and a rematch with Bivol touted.
6. Dmitry Bivol
Bivol endured a frustrating year boxing just once, a routine points win over Britain’s Lyndon Arthur, 32, in Saudi Arabia.
But he has signed to face fellow light-heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev, 38, in another undisputed super-fight.
Victory over Beterbiev would put Bivol is the discussions for pound-for-pound No1.
7. Artur Beterbiev
Beterbiev is boxing’s only champion with a 100 per cent KO ratio with all 19 of his wins coming inside the distance.
And he looked to be an unstoppable force until Londoner Anthony Yarde, 32, took the Russian to the wire before losing in round eight.
But equally for Beterbiev, beating Bivol would see him soar the rankings.
8. Shakur Stevenson
Stevenson is a three-division champion at the age of just 26.
He was recently elevated from interim WBC champ to full after Haney vacated the belt.
And while still unbeaten, Stevenson needs a marquee name to help see him rival the likes of Haney.
9. Tyson Fury
Reigning as the undefeated heavyweight world champ, it is hard to leave the Gypsy King off the list.
And beating Usyk would be among his greatest ever achievements.
But having fought just once in 2023 – controversially beat MMA star and boxing debutant Francis Ngannou – Fury failed to gain ground in the rankings.
10. Anthony Joshua
After knocking out Otto Wallin in Saudi it is fair to say Joshua, 33, is back.
But after Deontay Wilder was beaten on points by Joseph Parker the £100m blockbuster deal with AJ was KO’d.
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Now, Joshua could eye the heavyweight world title again as part of a huge 2024.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
