Devin Haney, Vasiliy Lomachenko embrace make-or-break matchup

Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko are embracing their make-or-break matchup on May 20.

Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko both have golden opportunities on May 20.

For Haney, the undisputed 135-pound champion, it’s his best chance yet to prove he is what he says he is – one of the best handful of fighters in the world. For Lomachenko, it’s an opportunity to reclaim past glory at 35.

They’re scheduled to meet on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’m blessed to be here,” Haney said at the kickoff news conference Thursday. “It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve been wanting this fight since 2019. I’ve been begging for it and calling for it. The time has finally come.”

The soft-spoken Lomachenko wasn’t as effusive as Haney but he knows what’s at stake.

“I’m excited for May 20,” he said. “This is my second chance, and I will try my best. Thank you to Team Haney for the opportunity. We are all prepared for this.”

Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) has been on steep trajectory. The gifted technician’s last four fights are as follows:

  • One-sided decision over former three-division beltholder Jorge Linares in May 2021, his breakthrough victory.
  • Another clear decision over a former champ, Joseph Diaz Jr., in December of that year.
  • A dominating performance en route to a unanimous decision over George Kambosos Jr. last June in Australia to become undisputed lightweight champ.
  • And a repeat of that result in the rematch with Kambosos four months later, again in the loser’s home country.

That run has lifted him onto many pound-for-pound lists, including Boxing Junkie’s (No. 15). And he’s only 24.

“The better the opposition, the better I am,” Haney said. “Loma is a good fighter. But I’m on a totally different level. On fight night, the world will see that. The world will see how good Devin Haney really is.”

The world has already seen how good Lomachenko is – or was, depending on where he stands at the moment.

Arguably the greatest amateur fighter of all time became a three-division champion in his first 12 pro fights, a remarkable feat even if you think the value of titles have become diluted. As a result, he became recognized by many as the best fighter on the planet.

That changed when he lost his undisputed 135-pound championship to Teofimo Lopez by decision in October 2020, although he entered that bout with a shoulder injury.

He has fought only three times since, including a single fight – a wide decision over Jamaine Ortiz last October – since Russia invaded his native Ukraine in February of last year.

“You can’t think about your future when there’s a war coming to your house,” he said. “You just think about life and about your family and about the people around you. You think about how you can live another day. You can’t think about your job. You can’t think about a professional sport.”

The Ukrainian government has encouraged its athletes to compete to raise the morale of its people, though.

The Ortiz fight marked his return. And now he’ll be taking part in his first truly major event since the setback against Lopez, who went on to lose his titles to Kambosos. A victory would allow him to climb back up the pound-for-pound lists – he’s No. 11 at Boxing Junkie now – and regain all the belts he lost if he has his hand raised.

Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) has always been a supremely confident fighter but he made no bold predictions for the fight with Haney.

“We never know what will happen,” he said. “We can prepare for one strategy, but in the ring it can all change. Right now, I don’t know. I just train hard and prepare. I believe in God and in my team.”

[lawrence-related id=33776,33581,33574,33545,33502,33794]

Devin Haney, Vasiliy Lomachenko embrace make-or-break matchup

Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko are embracing their make-or-break matchup on May 20.

Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko both have golden opportunities on May 20.

For Haney, the undisputed 135-pound champion, it’s his best chance yet to prove he is what he says he is – one of the best handful of fighters in the world. For Lomachenko, it’s an opportunity to reclaim past glory at 35.

They’re scheduled to meet on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’m blessed to be here,” Haney said at the kickoff news conference Thursday. “It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve been wanting this fight since 2019. I’ve been begging for it and calling for it. The time has finally come.”

The soft-spoken Lomachenko wasn’t as effusive as Haney but he knows what’s at stake.

“I’m excited for May 20,” he said. “This is my second chance, and I will try my best. Thank you to Team Haney for the opportunity. We are all prepared for this.”

Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) has been on steep trajectory. The gifted technician’s last four fights are as follows:

  • One-sided decision over former three-division beltholder Jorge Linares in May 2021, his breakthrough victory.
  • Another clear decision over a former champ, Joseph Diaz Jr., in December of that year.
  • A dominating performance en route to a unanimous decision over George Kambosos Jr. last June in Australia to become undisputed lightweight champ.
  • And a repeat of that result in the rematch with Kambosos four months later, again in the loser’s home country.

That run has lifted him onto many pound-for-pound lists, including Boxing Junkie’s (No. 15). And he’s only 24.

“The better the opposition, the better I am,” Haney said. “Loma is a good fighter. But I’m on a totally different level. On fight night, the world will see that. The world will see how good Devin Haney really is.”

The world has already seen how good Lomachenko is – or was, depending on where he stands at the moment.

Arguably the greatest amateur fighter of all time became a three-division champion in his first 12 pro fights, a remarkable feat even if you think the value of titles have become diluted. As a result, he became recognized by many as the best fighter on the planet.

That changed when he lost his undisputed 135-pound championship to Teofimo Lopez by decision in October 2020, although he entered that bout with a shoulder injury.

He has fought only three times since, including a single fight – a wide decision over Jamaine Ortiz last October – since Russia invaded his native Ukraine in February of last year.

“You can’t think about your future when there’s a war coming to your house,” he said. “You just think about life and about your family and about the people around you. You think about how you can live another day. You can’t think about your job. You can’t think about a professional sport.”

The Ukrainian government has encouraged its athletes to compete to raise the morale of its people, though.

The Ortiz fight marked his return. And now he’ll be taking part in his first truly major event since the setback against Lopez, who went on to lose his titles to Kambosos. A victory would allow him to climb back up the pound-for-pound lists – he’s No. 11 at Boxing Junkie now – and regain all the belts he lost if he has his hand raised.

Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) has always been a supremely confident fighter but he made no bold predictions for the fight with Haney.

“We never know what will happen,” he said. “We can prepare for one strategy, but in the ring it can all change. Right now, I don’t know. I just train hard and prepare. I believe in God and in my team.”

[lawrence-related id=33776,33581,33574,33545,33502,33794]

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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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).

[lawrence-related id=32833,32830,32783]

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Pound for pound: Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin could shake up list

The third fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin next Saturday in Las Vegas will put to rest one of the most compelling rivalries in recent years. It also could shake up Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound rankings even though neither is as …

The third fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin next Saturday in Las Vegas will put to rest one of the most compelling rivalries in recent years.

It also could shake up Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound rankings even though neither is as high on the list as they once were.

Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) dropped from No. 2 to No 7 after his one-sided loss to light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol on May 7 at T-Mobile Arena, the same site as the upcoming showdown with Triple-G.

And the 40-year-old Golovkin, once near the top of the list, has gradually slipped down because of a series of so-so performances and the rise of other fighters. He’s currently at No. 13.

What would a victory do for Alvarez? Not much. The 32-year-old super middleweight champ is a significant favorite over his challenger, who is perceived to be in decline and moving up in weight for the fight.

Alvarez will likely retain his current position if he has his hand raised.

If Golovkin scores what would be a monumental upset? Well, he could jump back into the Top 10 depending. More important to Kazakhstani, he would claim his greatest victory and extend his status as one of the sport’s most significant stars.

And, naturally, Alvarez, considered by many to be the best in the business before the Bivol fight, would take another tumble. Could he recover from that?

Yes, a lot will be at stake on Sept. 17.

Here is what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly in talks to face Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship before the end of the year.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Paul Butler for the undisputed bantamweight championship on Dec. 13 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly in talks to face Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship before the end of the year.
  5. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  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– Scheduled to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles in a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept. 17.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly set to face Jamaine Ortiz on Oct. 29 in New York but no official announcement has been made.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly set 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.
  13. Gennadiy Golovkin – Scheduled to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez a third time on Sept. 17.
  14. Jermall Charlo – No fights scheduled.
  15. Shakur Stevenson Scheduled to defend his unified junior lightweight titles against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 23 in Newark, N.J.

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

Pound for pound: Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin could shake up list

The third fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin next Saturday in Las Vegas will put to rest one of the most compelling rivalries in recent years. It also could shake up Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound rankings even though neither is as …

The third fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin next Saturday in Las Vegas will put to rest one of the most compelling rivalries in recent years.

It also could shake up Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound rankings even though neither is as high on the list as they once were.

Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) dropped from No. 2 to No 7 after his one-sided loss to light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol on May 7 at T-Mobile Arena, the same site as the upcoming showdown with Triple-G.

And the 40-year-old Golovkin, once near the top of the list, has gradually slipped down because of a series of so-so performances and the rise of other fighters. He’s currently at No. 13.

What would a victory do for Alvarez? Not much. The 32-year-old super middleweight champ is a significant favorite over his challenger, who is perceived to be in decline and moving up in weight for the fight.

Alvarez will likely retain his current position if he has his hand raised.

If Golovkin scores what would be a monumental upset? Well, he could jump back into the Top 10 depending. More important to Kazakhstani, he would claim his greatest victory and extend his status as one of the sport’s most significant stars.

And, naturally, Alvarez, considered by many to be the best in the business before the Bivol fight, would take another tumble. Could he recover from that?

Yes, a lot will be at stake on Sept. 17.

Here is what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly in talks to face Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship before the end of the year.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Reportedly has reached an agreement to meet Paul Butler for the undisputed bantamweight championship on Dec. 13 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly in talks to face Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship before the end of the year.
  5. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  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– Scheduled to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles in a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept. 17.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly set to face Jamaine Ortiz on Oct. 29 in New York but no official announcement has been made.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly set 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.
  13. Gennadiy Golovkin – Scheduled to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez a third time on Sept. 17.
  14. Jermall Charlo – No fights scheduled.
  15. Shakur Stevenson Scheduled to defend his unified junior lightweight titles against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 23 in Newark, N.J.

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

Devin Haney: ‘I’m expecting a hungry, determined [George] Kambosos’ in rematch

Devin Haney: “I’m expecting a hungry, determined [George] Kambosos” in rematch.

How things have changed.

Two-plus months ago George Kambosos Jr. was still basking in his upset of Teofimo Lopez the previous November in New York, which gave him the undisputed lightweight championship. Devin Haney was a 23-year-old with a dream.

Well, the realization of Haney’s dream became Kambosos’ nightmare, as Haney went to the Aussie’s country this past June 5 and easily outboxed him to win a wide decision, take his titles and stamp himself as a genuine young star.

Kambosos (20-1, 10 KOs) will have a chance to avenge the setback when they meet again on Oct. 16 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, the site of the now-former champion’s worst night as a pro (ESPN, ESPN+).

“George Kambosos is quiet right now like he should have been before our first fight,” Haney said. “I wish him a healthy training camp. I’m expecting a hungry and determined Kambosos on October 16th in Melbourne. I will be prepared for any adjustment he brings.

“This is a great opportunity to gain more Aussie fans and add to my legacy.”

Kambosos, bursting with confidence after the victory over Lopez, had a lot to say in the lead up to his first fight with Haney. Now, after losing badly in front of 41,129 supporters at Marvel Stadium, he’s mum.

No talk about what he’ll do to Haney (28-0, 15 KOs). No predictions. Just a you-wait-and-see attitude.

“I am looking forward to October 16th at Rod Laver Arena,” Kambosos said, “… That’s where I will do my talking, inside the ring.”

Lou DiBella, one of the promoters of the show, pointed out that Kambosos is in the same position he was before he faced Lopez.

“George Kambosos Jr. is again the hungry challenger, chasing Devin Haney’s belts, with a chance to regain it all on home soil,” DiBella said. “Kambosos-Haney I was the Devin Haney show. George is going to have to fight a completely different fight to get that victory, and he knows it.

“That alone assures an action-packed rematch. The odds are against George. He needs to defy the odds yet again.”

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Devin Haney: ‘I’m expecting a hungry, determined [George] Kambosos’ in rematch

Devin Haney: “I’m expecting a hungry, determined [George] Kambosos” in rematch.

How things have changed.

Two-plus months ago George Kambosos Jr. was still basking in his upset of Teofimo Lopez the previous November in New York, which gave him the undisputed lightweight championship. Devin Haney was a 23-year-old with a dream.

Well, the realization of Haney’s dream became Kambosos’ nightmare, as Haney went to the Aussie’s country this past June 5 and easily outboxed him to win a wide decision, take his titles and stamp himself as a genuine young star.

Kambosos (20-1, 10 KOs) will have a chance to avenge the setback when they meet again on Oct. 16 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, the site of the now-former champion’s worst night as a pro (ESPN, ESPN+).

“George Kambosos is quiet right now like he should have been before our first fight,” Haney said. “I wish him a healthy training camp. I’m expecting a hungry and determined Kambosos on October 16th in Melbourne. I will be prepared for any adjustment he brings.

“This is a great opportunity to gain more Aussie fans and add to my legacy.”

Kambosos, bursting with confidence after the victory over Lopez, had a lot to say in the lead up to his first fight with Haney. Now, after losing badly in front of 41,129 supporters at Marvel Stadium, he’s mum.

No talk about what he’ll do to Haney (28-0, 15 KOs). No predictions. Just a you-wait-and-see attitude.

“I am looking forward to October 16th at Rod Laver Arena,” Kambosos said, “… That’s where I will do my talking, inside the ring.”

Lou DiBella, one of the promoters of the show, pointed out that Kambosos is in the same position he was before he faced Lopez.

“George Kambosos Jr. is again the hungry challenger, chasing Devin Haney’s belts, with a chance to regain it all on home soil,” DiBella said. “Kambosos-Haney I was the Devin Haney show. George is going to have to fight a completely different fight to get that victory, and he knows it.

“That alone assures an action-packed rematch. The odds are against George. He needs to defy the odds yet again.”

[lawrence-related id=30685]

[vertical-gallery id=30693]