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

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

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

Some fighters on the list have fights scheduled but many 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 pound-for-pound king is scheduled to meet honorable mention Teofimo Lopez on Oct. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
  2. Terence Crawford — Promoter Bob Arum is in talks with the representatives of Kell Brook for a possible meeting on Nov. 14.
  3. Canelo Alvarez — Golden Boy reportedly has circled back to British 168-pound titleholders Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith in his search for an opponent for November or December.
  4. Naoya Inoue — Inoue reportedly is set to face Jason Moloney in November.
  5. Oleksandr Usyk — The meeting with Derek Chisora is targeted for Oct. 31.
  6. Gennadiy Golovkin — Triple-G still plans to defend his title against Kamil Szeremeta, possibly in November.
  7. Errol Spence Jr. — Spence vs. Danny Garcia is on for Nov. 21.
  8. Tyson Fury — The plan is still to fight Deontay Wilder. Dec. 19 was floated as a possible date but the fighters don’t seem to be close to finalizing a deal.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada — There has been talk about a rematch with Carlos Cuadras in October but nothing has been settled.
  10. Mikey Garcia — He’s still a prime candidate to face Manny Pacquiao but the Filipino icon seems to be focused on other things, including COVID-19 in his country.
  11. Artur Beterbiev — Reportedly scheduled to face Meng Fanlong on Sept. 25 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
  12. Josh Taylor — Scheduled to defend his title against Apinun Khongsong on Sept. 26 in London.
  13. Manny Pacquiao — Who knows?
  14. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai — Made a successful return on Aug. 1, defeating Amnat Ruenroeng. He wants another fight with Estrada but that could take a while.
  15. Leo Santa Cruz — Set to meet Gervonta Davis on Oct. 24 in Uncasville, Conn.

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