Pound-for-pound: The top stars’ immediate plans

The Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list hasn’t budged because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some fighters on the list have fights scheduled but most don’t as promoters, managers and matchmakers try to figure out how to get the best fighters into the …

The Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list hasn’t budged because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some fighters on the list have fights scheduled but most don’t as promoters, managers and matchmakers try to figure out how to get the best fighters into the ring without fans in attendance or wait until until COVID-19 subsides enough to allow spectators.

Here is an updated look at our Top 15 and their immediate plans.

BOXING JUNKIE

POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Vasiliy Lomachenko — The latest target date for a fight with honorable mention Teofimo Lopez is Oct. 3 but nothing is set.
  2. Terence Crawford — Promoter Bob Arum said he hopes to make an announcement soon. Sergey Lipinets? Kell Brook? Shawn Porter? Ray Robinson? Who the hell knows?
  3. Canelo Alvarez — The best realistic choice is Callum Smith. Other options — John Ryder, David Lemieux, Anthony Dirrell, Tureano Johnson, Jason Quigley, et al — wouldn’t go over as well but might be more affordable.
  4. Naoya Inoue — Expected to fight in the fall in the U.S. John Riel Casimero, his pre-COVID-19 opponent, is still an option.
  5. Oleksandr Usyk — The plan is to fight Derek Chisora, probably in November. No official announcement has been made.
  6. Gennadiy Golovkin — Triple-G seems intent on defending his title against Kamil Szeremeta as soon as September but, again, nothing is final.
  7. Errol Spence Jr. — Danny Garcia appears to be the man. A date and site haven’t been announced.
  8. Tyson Fury — Deontay Wilder has exercised the rematch clause in their contract for their second fight. The question is when.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada — There is talk about a rematch with Roman Gonzalez but that seems unlikely without fans in attendance. Otherwise, who knows?
  10. Mikey Garcia — Seems to be the top choice for Pacquiao. Waiting for the announcement.
  11. Artur Beterbiev — Reportedly scheduled to face Meng Fanlong on Sept. 25 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
  12. Josh Taylor — Still tentatively scheduled to defend his title against Apinun Khongsong but the date and site aren’t set.
  13. Manny Pacquiao — Mikey Garcia … we think.
  14. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai — Reportedly scheduled to face Amnat Ruenroeng on Aug. 1 in Thailand.
  15. Leo Santa Cruz — Reportedly in talks with Gervonta Davis.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Miguel Berchelt, Mairis Briedis, Teofimo Lopez, Shawn Porter and Kosei Tanaka