Category: Pound-for-pound

Pound-for-pound: Where does Canelo Alvarez fit in after victory over John Ryder?

One could interpret Canelo Alvarez’s unanimous decision victory over John Ryder on Saturday in more than one way. The undisputed 168-pound champion outclassed a solid challenger to win at least nine of the 12 rounds, which is a solid performance by …

One could interpret Canelo Alvarez’s unanimous decision victory over John Ryder on Saturday in more than one way.

The undisputed 168-pound champion outclassed a solid challenger to win at least nine of the 12 rounds, which is a solid performance by any measure.

At the same time, the 32-year-old, 17½-year professional veteran didn’t look like one of the best fighters in the world and failed to stop a tough, but far inferior opponent.

Alvarez probably deserved about a 5 on a scale of 1-10. And that might be generous.

So where does that leave him on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, on which he sat at No. 8 going into the fight on Saturday night?

The talented Jermell Charlo (No. 9) and Gervonta Davis (No. 10) sit directly below the Mexican superstar and are 10 times hotter than he is at the moment.

Still, we decided we couldn’t demote Alvarez after a clear victory over a legitimate contender. Thus, he holds his position on the list.

It’s important to add one thing, though: Alvarez is expected to face 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol a second time in September and will be the underdog, meaning his long stint in the Top 10 could come to an end then.

Stay tuned.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 15 Devin Haney is scheduled to defend the undisputed 135-pound championship against No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship but no deal has been reached.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Reportedly in talks to defend his three heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois but nothing concreate has emerged from the negotiations.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 1 Terence Crawford for the undisputed 147-pound championship but no deal has been reached..
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. or Zhilei Zhang in July.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Expected to challenge 175-titleholder Dmitry Bivol in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion and No. 15 Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Reportedly near a deal to defend his 175-pound titles against Callum Smith in August in Canada but the deal hasn’t been finalized.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco on June 24 in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York).

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Pound-for-pound: Did Gervonta Davis’ KO of Ryan Garcia boost him up the list?

Pound-for-pound: Was Gervonta Davis’ knockout of Ryan Garcia enough for him to climb the list?

Gervonta Davis could be on his way to the top of the pound-for-pound list.

That fate seems more likely than ever after his seventh-round knockout of previously unbeaten Ryan Garcia in their 136-pound fight Saturday night in Las Vegas. Davis outboxed his rival and then finished him off in spectacular fashion, the result of a single body shot.

But did the performance lift Davis – No. 10 going into the fight – higher on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list?

No. We’ll explain why.

Davis’ fans might say, “Hey, wait a second? You boosted Shakur Stevenson up the list after his April 8 stoppage of Shuichiro Yoshino, who clearly isn’t as good or accomplished as Garcia.”

True. But Stevenson leap-frogged Vasiliy Lomachenko, a 35-year-old who many feel has begun to decline, and Artur Beterbiev, a 38-year-old who is still formidable but clearly not the boxer Stevenson is.

The two fighters sitting directly above Davis are No. 8 Canelo Alvarez and No. 9 Jermell Charlo. We didn’t feel a victory over the talented, but relatively untested Garcia was enough for Davis to rise above fighters of Alvarez and Charlo’s caliber.

Davis will have to beat a fellow pound-for-pounder or watch those above him fall to climb toward the top of the list. And that time could come soon, as he has his sights set on 135-pound rivals No. 11 Lomachenko, No. 13 Stevenson and No. 15 Devin Haney, the undisputed champion.

Many believe Davis is a prime candidate to end up at No. 1. He just needs better opposition and time.

Next pound-for-pounder up: Alvarez is scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on pay-per-view May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Reportedly in talks to defend his three heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois but nothing concreate has emerged from the negotiations.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 1 Terence Crawford for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached..
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. or Zhilei Zhang in July.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion and No. 15 Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – The WBC has ordered the three-belt champ to defend its title against Callum Smith but it’s not clear whether there is movement in that direction.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco on June 24 in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York).

 

Pound-for-pound: Did Gervonta Davis’ KO of Ryan Garcia boost him up the list?

Pound-for-pound: Was Gervonta Davis’ knockout of Ryan Garcia enough for him to climb the list?

Gervonta Davis could be on his way to the top of the pound-for-pound list.

That fate seems more likely than ever after his seventh-round knockout of previously unbeaten Ryan Garcia in their 136-pound fight Saturday night in Las Vegas. Davis outboxed his rival and then finished him off in spectacular fashion, the result of a single body shot.

But did the performance lift Davis – No. 10 going into the fight – higher on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list?

No. We’ll explain why.

Davis’ fans might say, “Hey, wait a second? You boosted Shakur Stevenson up the list after his April 8 stoppage of Shuichiro Yoshino, who clearly isn’t as good or accomplished as Garcia.”

True. But Stevenson leap-frogged Vasiliy Lomachenko, a 35-year-old who many feel has begun to decline, and Artur Beterbiev, a 38-year-old who is still formidable but clearly not the boxer Stevenson is.

The two fighters sitting directly above Davis are No. 8 Canelo Alvarez and No. 9 Jermell Charlo. We didn’t feel a victory over the talented, but relatively untested Garcia was enough for Davis to rise above fighters of Alvarez and Charlo’s caliber.

Davis will have to beat a fellow pound-for-pounder or watch those above him fall to climb toward the top of the list. And that time could come soon, as he has his sights set on 135-pound rivals No. 11 Lomachenko, No. 13 Stevenson and No. 15 Devin Haney, the undisputed champion.

Many believe Davis is a prime candidate to end up at No. 1. He just needs better opposition and time.

Next pound-for-pounder up: Alvarez is scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on pay-per-view May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Reportedly in talks to defend his three heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois but nothing concreate has emerged from the negotiations.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 1 Terence Crawford for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached..
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. or Zhilei Zhang in July.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion and No. 15 Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – The WBC has ordered the three-belt champ to defend its title against Callum Smith but it’s not clear whether there is movement in that direction.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco on June 24 in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York).

 

Pound for pound: Did Shakur Stevenson’s brilliant performance boost him up the list?

We had a dilemma. We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong. There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such …

We had a dilemma.

We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong.

There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such a sublime performance that he simply has to be rewarded.

That’s the case with No. 13-ranked Shakur Stevenson, who was nearly flawless in his sixth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Shuichiro Yoshino in Stevenson’s 135-pound debut Saturday in Newark New, Jersey.

Stevenson gave a hit-and-not be-hit clinic, picking a pitiful Yoshino apart from a perfect distance and taking almost nothing in return.

And he showed us something for which he’s not known, punching power. He put Yoshino down twice and ultimately landed so many hard, damaging blows that referee Allen Huggins had no choice but to stop the fight.

OK, Yoshino isn’t on the level of Gervonta Davis (No. 10), Vasiliy Lomachenko (No. 11), Devin Haney (No. 15) or the like. He’s a good, proven fighter, though. And he was overwhelmed.

Where does that leave Stevenson?

We feel he earned the right to leap frog Lomachenko and No. 12 Artur Beterbiev, lifting him to No. 11 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

A bonus to our decision is that Lomachenko’s fate is in his own hands. If the former three-division champion defeats undisputed 135-pound champ Haney on May 20, he likely would jump back into the Top 10.

And remember: Stevenson’s biggest fights lie ahead of him, which means he’ll have opportunities to demonstrate that he is truly what he believes he is — the best fighter in the world.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 1 Terence Crawford for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached..
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. in the summer but that seems to be only one option.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – No fight scheduled.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York).

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Pound for pound: Did Shakur Stevenson’s brilliant performance boost him up the list?

We had a dilemma. We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong. There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such …

We had a dilemma.

We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong.

There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such a sublime performance that he simply has to be rewarded.

That’s the case with No. 13-ranked Shakur Stevenson, who was nearly flawless in his sixth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Shuichiro Yoshino in Stevenson’s 135-pound debut Saturday in Newark New, Jersey.

Stevenson gave a hit-and-not be-hit clinic, picking a pitiful Yoshino apart from a perfect distance and taking almost nothing in return.

And he showed us something for which he’s not known, punching power. He put Yoshino down twice and ultimately landed so many hard, damaging blows that referee Allen Huggins had no choice but to stop the fight.

OK, Yoshino isn’t on the level of Gervonta Davis (No. 10), Vasiliy Lomachenko (No. 11), Devin Haney (No. 15) or the like. He’s a good, proven fighter, though. And he was overwhelmed.

Where does that leave Stevenson?

We feel he earned the right to leap frog Lomachenko and No. 12 Artur Beterbiev, lifting him to No. 11 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

A bonus to our decision is that Lomachenko’s fate is in his own hands. If the former three-division champion defeats undisputed 135-pound champ Haney on May 20, he likely would jump back into the Top 10.

And remember: Stevenson’s biggest fights lie ahead of him, which means he’ll have opportunities to demonstrate that he is truly what he believes he is — the best fighter in the world.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 1 Terence Crawford for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached..
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. in the summer but that seems to be only one option.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – No fight scheduled.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York).

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Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him?

Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him higher on the list?

David Benavidez demonstrated in his one-sided victory over Caleb Plant on Saturday that he’s the best 168-pounder in the world not named Canelo Alvarez.

But was that accomplishment enough to lift the Honorable Mention pound-for-pounder higher on the list?

No. Here’s why.

Plant, an excellent boxer, arguably was the toughest opponent of Benavidez’s career even though the Phoenix native is a two-time world titleholder. And while it took time for Benavidez to close the distance on his fleet opponent, he ultimately delivered a beat down.

That’s why Benavidez was named Boxing Junkie Fighter of the Month for March.

However, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) probably will have to take down an opponent on the pound-for-pound list or possibly someone on the cusp in order to climb into the Top 15.

Of course, he’ll eventually get that opportunity if he continues to win. And based on what we saw this past weekend, it’s a good bet he’ll do so.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Ordered by the WBO to defend his 147-pound title against Alexis Rocha but no agreement is in place.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Talks with No. 6 Tyson Fury for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Usyk with no opponent for the time being.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Unified 147-pound titleholder reportedly set to face Keith Thurman at 154 pounds in April but no official announcement has been made.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Reportedly in talks to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev in a 175-pound title-unification fight but no agreement is in place.
  6. Tyson Fury – Talks with No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Fury with no opponent for the time being.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Reportedly in talks to face No. 5 Dmitry Bivol in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early but no agreement is in place.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to face Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on April 8 in Newark, New Jersey.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (reportedly will defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York but no announcement has been made).

Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him?

Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him higher on the list?

David Benavidez demonstrated in his one-sided victory over Caleb Plant on Saturday that he’s the best 168-pounder in the world not named Canelo Alvarez.

But was that accomplishment enough to lift the Honorable Mention pound-for-pounder higher on the list?

No. Here’s why.

Plant, an excellent boxer, arguably was the toughest opponent of Benavidez’s career even though the Phoenix native is a two-time world titleholder. And while it took time for Benavidez to close the distance on his fleet opponent, he ultimately delivered a beat down.

That’s why Benavidez was named Boxing Junkie Fighter of the Month for March.

However, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) probably will have to take down an opponent on the pound-for-pound list or possibly someone on the cusp in order to climb into the Top 15.

Of course, he’ll eventually get that opportunity if he continues to win. And based on what we saw this past weekend, it’s a good bet he’ll do so.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Ordered by the WBO to defend his 147-pound title against Alexis Rocha but no agreement is in place.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Talks with No. 6 Tyson Fury for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Usyk with no opponent for the time being.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Unified 147-pound titleholder reportedly set to face Keith Thurman at 154 pounds in April but no official announcement has been made.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Reportedly in talks to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev in a 175-pound title-unification fight but no agreement is in place.
  6. Tyson Fury – Talks with No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Fury with no opponent for the time being.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Reportedly in talks to face No. 5 Dmitry Bivol in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early but no agreement is in place.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to face Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on April 8 in Newark, New Jersey.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (reportedly will defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York but no announcement has been made).

Pound for pound: Shakur Stevenson continues ascent after another strong performance

Pound for pound: Shakur Stevenson continues his ascent after another strong performance against Robson Conceicao on Friday.

Shakur Stevenson shows no signs of slowing down.

The gifted now-135-pounder dominated another good fighter on Friday in Newark, New Jersey, easily outpointing 2016 Olympic champion Robson Conceicao after losing his 130-pound titles on the scale the day before.

The victory wasn’t as monumental as his impressive triumphs over former titleholders Jamel Herring and Oscar Valdez, who were more respected than Conceicao before meeting Stevenson. For example, the Brazilian also lost a wide decision to Valdez.

Thus, Stevenson won’t crack the Top 10 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list based on this performance

At the same time, another dazzling performance against a legitimate contender merits recognition. With that in mind, he moves up two notches, from No. 14 to No. 12.

That pushes Artur Beterbiev and Jermall Charlo — previously Nos. 12 and 13 — down one spot each. Gervonta Davis, a potential opponent for Stevenson, is No. 11.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas but no official announcement has been made.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Paul Butler for the undisputed bantamweight championship on Dec. 13 in Japan but no official announcement has been made.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas but no official announcement has been made.
  5. Tyson Fury – Reportedly has reached an agreement to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua on Dec. 3 but no official announcement has been made.
  6. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to defend his WBA light heavyweight title against Gilberto Ramirez on Nov. 5 in the United Arab Emirates.
  7. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Jamaine Ortiz on Oct. 29 in New  York but no official announcement has been made.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – Scheduled to face Roman Gonzalez on Dec. 3. Estrada is the WBC’s junior bantamweight “franchise champion”.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly has reached an agreement to defend his undisputed junior middleweight championship against Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28 but no official announcement has been made.
  11. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Had been scheduled to defend his unified titles against Anthony Yarde on Oct. 29. However, the fight was postponed after Beterbiev was injured. No new date has been announced.
  13. Jermall Charlo – No fights scheduled.
  14. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  15. Roman Gonzalez – Scheduled to face WBC junior bantamweight “franchise champion” Juan Francisco Estrada on Dec. 3.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Devin Haney (scheduled to defend his undisputed lightweight championship in a rematch with George Kambosos Jr. on Oct. 16 in Australia); Kazuto Ioka (no fight scheduled); Josh Taylor (reportedly in talks to defend his WBO junior welterweight title in a rematch with Jack Catterall in January but no deal is in place).

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Pound for pound: Shakur Stevenson continues ascent after another strong performance

Pound for pound: Shakur Stevenson continues his ascent after another strong performance against Robson Conceicao on Friday.

Shakur Stevenson shows no signs of slowing down.

The gifted now-135-pounder dominated another good fighter on Friday in Newark, New Jersey, easily outpointing 2016 Olympic champion Robson Conceicao after losing his 130-pound titles on the scale the day before.

The victory wasn’t as monumental as his impressive triumphs over former titleholders Jamel Herring and Oscar Valdez, who were more respected than Conceicao before meeting Stevenson. For example, the Brazilian also lost a wide decision to Valdez.

Thus, Stevenson won’t crack the Top 10 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list based on this performance

At the same time, another dazzling performance against a legitimate contender merits recognition. With that in mind, he moves up two notches, from No. 14 to No. 12.

That pushes Artur Beterbiev and Jermall Charlo — previously Nos. 12 and 13 — down one spot each. Gervonta Davis, a potential opponent for Stevenson, is No. 11.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas but no official announcement has been made.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Paul Butler for the undisputed bantamweight championship on Dec. 13 in Japan but no official announcement has been made.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas but no official announcement has been made.
  5. Tyson Fury – Reportedly has reached an agreement to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua on Dec. 3 but no official announcement has been made.
  6. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to defend his WBA light heavyweight title against Gilberto Ramirez on Nov. 5 in the United Arab Emirates.
  7. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Jamaine Ortiz on Oct. 29 in New  York but no official announcement has been made.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – Scheduled to face Roman Gonzalez on Dec. 3. Estrada is the WBC’s junior bantamweight “franchise champion”.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly has reached an agreement to defend his undisputed junior middleweight championship against Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28 but no official announcement has been made.
  11. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Had been scheduled to defend his unified titles against Anthony Yarde on Oct. 29. However, the fight was postponed after Beterbiev was injured. No new date has been announced.
  13. Jermall Charlo – No fights scheduled.
  14. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  15. Roman Gonzalez – Scheduled to face WBC junior bantamweight “franchise champion” Juan Francisco Estrada on Dec. 3.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Devin Haney (scheduled to defend his undisputed lightweight championship in a rematch with George Kambosos Jr. on Oct. 16 in Australia); Kazuto Ioka (no fight scheduled); Josh Taylor (reportedly in talks to defend his WBO junior welterweight title in a rematch with Jack Catterall in January but no deal is in place).

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Pound for pound: Gennadiy Golovkin drops out after long, illustrious run

Pound for pound: Gennadiy Golovkin drops off Boxing Junkie’s list after a long, illustrious run near the top.

Gennadiy Golovkin, 40, is no longer one of the best.

That was abundantly clear on Saturday in Las Vegas, where he looked his age in a unanimous-decision loss to super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez in their third fight.

He did next to nothing for two thirds of the fight but showed some signs of life down the stretch, which might’ve saved him from embarrassment.

However, overall, the Triple-G we saw at T-Mobile Arena had no resemblance to the beast who ran roughshod over a long list of solid middleweight opponents for a decade-plus. That fighter is gone.

Thus, Golovkin (unlucky No. 13 in the most recent rankings) drops off of Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

That allows Jermall Charlo and Shakur Stevenson to move up one notch each from Nos. 14 and 15, respectively. And Roman Gonzalez ascends from Honorable Mention to No. 15.

Golovkin is replaced on the list by veteran Kazuto Ioka, who re-enters as an Honorable Mention. The Japanese junior bantamweight titleholder last fought in July, when he easily outpointed Donnie Nietes to avenge an earlier split-decision loss.

Meanwhile, Alvarez (No. 7) got back into the win column after his upset loss to Dmitry Bivol in May. However, a victory over this version of Golovkin wasn’t enough for him to climb the list. He stays put.

Stevenson, who is on the rise, is scheduled to defend his 130-pound titles against Robson Conceicao on Friday in Newark, New Jersey.

Here is what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas but no official announcement has been made.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Paul Butler for the undisputed bantamweight championship on Dec. 13 in Japan but no official announcement has been made.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas but no official announcement has been made.
  5. Tyson Fury – Reportedly has reached an agreement to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua on Dec. 3 but no official announcement has been made.
  6. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to defend his WBA light heavyweight title against Gilberto Ramirez on Nov. 5 in the United Arab Emirates.
  7. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Jamaine Ortiz on Oct. 29 in New  York but no official announcement has been made.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – Scheduled to face Roman Gonzalez on Dec. 3. Estrada is the WBC’s junior bantamweight “franchise champion”.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly has reached an agreement to defend his undisputed junior middleweight championship against Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28 but no official announcement has been made.
  11. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Had been scheduled to defend his unified titles against Anthony Yarde on Oct. 29. However, the fight was postponed after Beterbiev was injured. No new date has been announced.
  13. Jermall Charlo – No fights scheduled.
  14. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to defend his unified junior lightweight titles against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 23 in Newark, N.J.
  15. Roman Gonzalez – Scheduled to face WBC junior bantamweight “franchise champion” Juan Francisco Estrada on Dec. 3.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Devin Haney (scheduled to defend his undisputed lightweight championship in a rematch with George Kambosos Jr. on Oct. 16 in Australia); Kazuto Ioka (no fight scheduled); Josh Taylor (reportedly in talks to defend his WBO junior welterweight title in a rematch with Jack Catterall in January but no deal is in place).

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