BAM RODRIGUEZ BECOMES THREE-WEIGHT CHAMPION, MAPS INOUE BLUEPRINT

 

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez became a three-weight world champion on Saturday night and may already have a clear blueprint for a future showdown with Naoya Inoue.

Rodriguez stopped Antonio Vargas in six rounds to claim the WBA bantamweight title in Arizona, improving to 24-0 and adding a world championship in a third weight class to his growing list of achievements.

The victory keeps Bam among boxing’s pound-for-pound elite. However, the long-term significance of the result may lie in what comes next rather than what happened against Vargas.

Vargas Asked Questions

The final result suggests a comfortable night for Rodriguez, but Vargas made him work for it.

The former champion enjoyed success during the early rounds and was able to read many of the angles and movements that usually make Rodriguez so difficult to deal with. Vargas matched the footwork well, kept a high work rate and prevented Bam from taking immediate control of the fight.

For several rounds, Vargas looked capable of making the contest far more competitive than many expected.

A heavy overhand left dropped Vargas in the fifth round and altered the direction of the fight. Although he survived the round by holding and smothering Rodriguez’s attacks, the momentum had swung decisively.

Rodriguez hurt Vargas again at the start of the sixth before finishing the job moments later with a sharp combination that left the champion unable to beat the count.

The ending was emphatic, but Vargas deserves credit for making Rodriguez think before the stoppage.

The Inoue Route Is Already There

After becoming a three-weight world champion, Rodriguez has already outlined a clear route to the fight many fans want to see.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken about Bam potentially fighting again before challenging Naoya Inoue, and there is an obvious option available.

A unification clash with WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue would allow Rodriguez to strengthen his position at 118 pounds while moving one step closer to the Japanese superstar’s older brother.

A meeting with Takuma would also give Rodriguez the opportunity to add another title, build his profile further in Japan and create a direct path toward a future showdown with Naoya.

Two Wins From Number One

Inoue remains boxing’s pound-for-pound king after defeating Junto Nakatani in May.

Nakatani pushed Inoue harder than many expected and enjoyed success over twelve rounds before the undisputed champion pulled away late to retain his crown.

The performance showed why Inoue remains at the top of the sport and underlined the level Rodriguez will need to reach if the pair eventually meet.

A fight with Takuma Inoue in late 2026 followed by a move to super bantamweight for a stadium clash with Naoya in the spring of 2027 looks like the perfect blueprint.

Should Rodriguez fall short against Naoya, a move back to bantamweight to pursue undisputed status may still be possible, although special dispensation would likely be required after moving divisions.

For now, Rodriguez can enjoy becoming a three-weight world champion, but the next two fights could define his entire legacy.

Beat Takuma Inoue and then beat Naoya Inoue, and Bam Rodriguez would have a legitimate claim to being boxing’s pound-for-pound number one.

Effectively, Rodriguez is now just two wins away from the biggest fight in the sport and a realistic claim to the top spot in boxing.

- Phil Jay

NAOYA INOUE VS. GERVONTA DAVIS | THE BIGGEST FIGHT OF 2026!

 

NAOYA INOUE VS. ALAN PICASSO PREDICTION: HOW WILL THE RING V MAIN EVENT GO?

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue will make his fourth appearance of the calendar year when he defends his undisputed and Ring Magazine junior featherweight championships against Mexico’s Alan Picasso at the Mohammed Abdo Arena on Saturday.

The 12-round bout is the main event of the eagerly anticipated "Ring V: Night of the Samurai" card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The 32-year-old Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) stopped Ye Joon Kim (KO 4) and Ramon Cardenas (TKO 8) this year before outpointing former unified titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September. The Japanese warrior will be looking to shine in his Riyadh Season debut and appears to be taking this assignment very seriously as talks of a superfight against elite-level compatriot Junto Nakatani intensify.

“I’ve always had [Nakatani] in mind, but now that I’m here [in Riyadh], all my concentration and focus is on Picasso,” stated Inoue during the Grand Arrivals on Tuesday. “[With Terence Crawford’s retirement], I’d like to plan out a great match to be deserving of being pound-for-pound champion.”

Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) is currently rated No. 4 by The Ring at 122 pounds. In his most recent outing, in July, he was pushed hard by Kyonosuke Kameda before claiming a 10 round majority decision victory. The 25-year-old pressure fighter has been the WBC’s mandatory challenger since August 2024 and will be contesting his first world title bout.

“I’ve been waiting a long time and prepared really well for this,” Picasso said. “I’m maybe not the strongest fighter, maybe not the quickest fighter, but I’m mentally very strong at the moment. I’ve been getting ready for this with the help of my family and we can do it.” The Ring provides some pre-fight analysis and makes a final pick on the outcome.

Naoya Inoue vs. Alan Picasso fight prediction

It’s no embarrassment that Picasso comes into this showdown as a +1400 underdog in a two-horse race. Almost any 122-pound fighter, with the obvious exception of Nakatani, would be given next to no chance of vanquishing “The Monster”.

Picasso is a quality operator and has a lot going for him. The challenger has a three-inch height advantage (5-foot-8 to 5-foot-5) and a two-and-a-half-inch reach advantage (70 inches to 67 ½ inches). He is also seven years younger than the champion and will be hoping to make that count.

As is often the case with Mexican fighters, Picasso is an aggressive volume puncher. That style is in his DNA. While he can operate efficiently on the outside, the challenger prefers to close the gap with the jab and go to work with hooks and uppercuts at mid-to-close range. In that posture, Picasso is a handful and has excellent punch variation.

Making all this work against Inoue, however, will be a tall order. Should the champ elect to stand off, it’s difficult to foresee Picasso outboxing him. Inoue is the faster and more skilled fighter of the two by far. On the flip side, if Picasso manages to get in close, he’s likely to encounter the kind of hellfire counterpunching that he’s never seen before.

The style looks made-to-order for Inoue, so the result will depend on how he wants to win. Against “MJ” Akhmadaliev, the future Hall of Famer produced a brilliant exhibition of boxing skill and movement to flummox the Uzbekistan native over the distance. If Inoue adopts that approach, then perhaps he goes the distance in back-to-back fights for the first time in his career.

That’s not what I envision. With Nakatani waiting in the wings, my guess is that Inoue will want to make a serious statement of intent. Invariably, Picasso will have to close the distance and is likely to come off second best in most of the exchanges. As the punishment increases, the damage will mount, bringing around a mercy stoppage late in the fight. There may also be a knockdown or two.

Prediction: Inoue TKO 10

- TOM GRAY

TOP 10 POUND-FOR-POUND FIGHTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

 

CURRENT RING WORLD CHAMPIONS

 

All Current Ring Magazine World Champions:

🥊 Oleksandr Usyk

👑 Ring Heavyweight Champion

🥊 Jai Opetaia

👑 Ring Cruiserweight Champion

🥊 Dmitry Bivol

👑 Ring Light-Heavyweight Champion

🥊 Terence Crawford

👑 Ring Super-Middleweight Champion

🥊 Shadasia Green

👑 Ring Super-Middleweight Champion

🥊 Lauren Price

👑 Ring Welterweight Champion

🥊 Teofimo Lopez

👑 Ring Super-Lightweight Champion

🥊 Katie Taylor

👑 Ring Super-Lightweight Champion

🥊 Alycia Baumgardner

👑 Ring Super-Featherweight Champion

🥊 Amanda Serrano

👑 Ring Featherweight Champion

🥊 Naoya Inoue

👑 Ring Super-Bantamweight Champion

🥊 Ellie Scotney

👑 Ring Super-Bantamweight Champion

🥊 Dina Thorslund

👑 Ring Bantamweight Champion

🥊 Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez

👑 Ring Super-Flyweight Champion

🥊 Mizuki Hiruta

👑 Ring Super-Flyweight Champion

🥊 Gabriela Fundora

👑 Ring Flyweight Champion

🥊 Oscar Collazo

👑 Ring Strawweight Champion

NAOYA INOUE VS. MURODJON AKHMADALIEV | FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

 

GERVONTA 'TANK' DAVIS VS. NAOYA INOUE | SIMILAR STATS

 

BOXING POUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGS: DOWN AND OUT; WHO REPLACES DEVIN HANEY IN THE TOP 10?

Devin Haney, above, is out of the top 10 after losing to Ryan Garcia on April 20. Al Bello/Getty Images

 In one of the most entertaining fights between two of boxing's young stars this year, Ryan Garcia defeated Devin Haney by majority decision Saturday night at a packed Barclays Center in New York City.

Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) entered the fight surrounded by controversy, erratic comments and questions about his readiness and fitness to fight. To top that, Garcia was 3.2 pounds over the weight limit the day before the bout.

But as soon as the bell rang, Garcia showed his speed and power and wobbled Haney with his trademark left hook to the chin. Haney recovered well, and won the next four rounds in all three judges' scorecards, but Garcia took over the fight in Rounds 6 and 7, connecting 28 power punches while Haney only landed five. Garcia outlanded Haney the rest of the way 50 to 34 and knocked him down three times (Rounds 7, 10 and 11).

"I shouldn't have put too much pressure on myself to stop him, because every time I hurt him, I went crazy and I couldn't stop him," Garcia said after the fight. "I think the ref [Harvey Dock] should've stopped the fight. [Haney] was really hurt. I felt bad, I even looked at [Bill Haney, Devin's father and trainer] to stop the fight."

The loss sends Haney out of the top 10 from his previous spot at No. 6, opening the door for Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez to make his debut in ESPN's P4P rankings. Garcia received a few votes but not enough yet to crack the top 10.

"After the way Garcia was able to break through Haney's defense, and the tremendous power he displayed with three knockdowns, Garcia cracks my top 10," ESPN boxing writer Mike Coppinger, who ranked Garcia at No. 9 on his list, said. "Haney looked untouchable against Regis Prograis. And while Garcia had a weight advantage, he still was able to land flush on Haney's chin with surprising frequency."

Timothy Bradley Jr., a two-division champion, current ESPN boxing analyst and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, left Haney out of his list after the loss.

"Haney was beaten by a fighter who admittedly was drinking and smoking weeks out before their match," Bradley said. "Someone who was out partying nights before their battle. Someone that has never participated in a championship contest. Haney is talented but is no longer a P4P fighter at the moment."

Our panel of Mike Coppinger, Timothy Bradley Jr., Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas, Nick Parkinson, Eric Raskin, Michelle Joy Phelps, Claudia Trejos, Bernardo Osuna, Eric Woodyard, Bernardo Pilatti, Charles Moynihan, Salvador Rodriguez, Jim Zirolli, Michael Mascaro, Aladdin Freeman, Victor Lopez and Damian Delgado Averhoff, shares its votes.

1. TERENCE CRAWFORD     Previous ranking: No. 1

RECORD: 40-0, 31 KOs

DIVISION: Welterweight (undisputed champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Errol Spence Jr., July 29

NEXT FIGHT: Aug. 3 vs. Israil Madrimov

2. NAOYA INOUE     Previous ranking: No. 2

RECORD: 26-0, 23 KOs

DIVISION: Junior featherweight (undisputed champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (KO10) Marlon Tapales, Dec. 26

NEXT FIGHT: May 6 vs. Luis Nery

3. OLEKSANDR USYK     Previous ranking: No. 3

RECORD: 21-0, 14 KOs

DIVISION: Heavyweight (unified champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Daniel Dubois, Aug. 26

NEXT FIGHT: May 18 vs. Tyson Fury

4. CANELO ALVAREZ     Previous ranking: No. 4

RECORD: 60-2-2, 39 KOs

DIVISION: Super middleweight (undisputed champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Jermell Charlo, Sept. 30

NEXT FIGHT: May 4 vs. Jaime Munguia

5. DMITRY BIVOL     Previous ranking: No. 5

RECORD: 22-0, 11 KOs

DIVISION: Light heavyweight (champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Lyndon Arthur, Dec. 23

NEXT FIGHT: June 1 vs. Artur Beterbiev

6. ARTUR BETERBIEV     Previous ranking: No. 7

RECORD: 20-0, 20 KOs

DIVISION: Light heavyweight (unified champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Callum Smith, Jan. 13

NEXT FIGHT: June 1 vs. Dmitry Bivol

7. GERVONTA DAVIS     Previous ranking: No. 8

RECORD: 29-0, 27 KOs

DIVISION: Lightweight

LAST FIGHT: W (KO7) Ryan Garcia, April 22

NEXT FIGHT: June 15 vs. Frank Martin

8. SHAKUR STEVENSON     Previous ranking: No. 9

RECORD: 21-0, 10 KOs

DIVISION: Lightweight champion

LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Edwin De Los Santos, Nov. 16

NEXT FIGHT: July 6 vs. Artem Harutyunyan

9. TYSON FURY     Previous ranking: No. 10

RECORD: 34-0-1, 24 KOs

DIVISION: Heavyweight (champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (SD10) Francis Ngannou, Oct. 28

NEXT FIGHT: May 18 vs. Oleksandr Usyk

10. JESSE "BAM" RODRIGUEZ     Previous ranking: Not ranked

RECORD: 19-0, 12 KOs

DIVISION: Flyweight (champion)

LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Sunny Edwards, Dec. 16

NEXT FIGHT: June 29 vs. Juan Francisco Estrada

The formula

The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote awarding 10 points, a second-place vote awarding nine points, and so on. A tie goes to the fighter with the highest ranking, then the one with the most votes at that ranking.

Others receiving votes: Teofimo Lopez Jr. (20), David Benavidez (11), Vasiliy Lomachenko (5), Devin Haney (4), Ryan Garcia (3), Emanuel Navarrete (3), Errol Spence Jr. (2), Junto Nakatani (2).

How our writers voted

Atlas: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Usyk, 5. Davis, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Lomachenko, 8. Alvarez, 9.Benavidez, 10. Haney

Bradley: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3: Usyk, 4. Bivol, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Stevenson, 8. Davis, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Lopez Jr.

Coppinger: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Bivol, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Fury, 9. Garcia, 10. Haney

Tessitore: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Bivol, 6. Stevenson, 7. Alvarez, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Lopez, 10. Davis

Parkinson: 1. Inoue, 2. Crawford, 3. Alvarez, 4. Usyk, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Bivol, 7. Davis, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Nakatani, 10. Lopez

Raskin: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Alvarez, 5. Usyk, 6. Stevenson, 7. Davis, 8. Benavidez, 9. Beterbiev, 10. Rodriguez

Trejos: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Bivol, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Stevenson, 9. Fury, 10. Garcia

Phelps: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Bivol, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Stevenson, 9. Fury, 10. Garcia

Osuna: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Bivol, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Stevenson, 9. Lopez, 10. Davis

Rodriguez: 1. Inoue, 2. Crawford, 3. Alvarez, 4. Usyk, 5. Bivol, 6. Davis, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Fury, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Stevenson

Woodyard: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Alvarez, 4. Davis, 5. Fury, 6. Lopez, 7. Usyk, 8. Stevenson, 9. Bivol, 10. Beterbiev

Moynihan: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Alvarez, 4. Usyk, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Bivol, 7. Davis, 8. Fury, 9. Spence, 10. Stevenson

Pilatti: 1. Inoue, 2. Crawford, 3. Usyk, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Davis, 7. Benavidez, 8. Navarrete, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Fury

Zirolli: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Stevenson, 4. Alvarez, 5. Usyk, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Bivol, 8. Lopez, 9. Benavidez, 10. Rodriguez

Mascaro: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Bivol, 6. Alvarez, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Lopez, 9. Stevenson, 10. Haney

Freeman: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Bivol, 6. Alvarez, 7. Stevenson, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Davis, 10. Lomachenko

Lopez: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Bivol, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Fury, 9. Stevenson, 10. Rodriguez

Delgado Averhof: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Bivol, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Fury, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Stevenson

ESPN experts' poll

First place: Crawford (15), Inoue (3)

Second place: Inoue (14), Crawford (3), Alvarez (1)

Third place: Usyk (10), Alvarez (4), Bivol (2), Inoue (1), Stevenson (1)

Fourth place: Bivol (5), Usyk (4), Alvarez (4), Beterbiev (4), Davis (1)

Fifth place: Bivol (7), Alvarez (4), Beterbiev (3), Usyk (2), Davis (1), Fury (1)

Sixth place: Beterbiev (8), Bivol (2), Alvarez (2), Davis (2), Stevenson (2), Fury (1), Lopez (1)

Seventh place: Davis (7), Usyk (2), Stevenson (2), Rodriguez (2), Bivol (1), Alvarez (1), Beterbiev (1), Benavidez (1), Lomachenko (1)

Eighth place: Fury (5), Stevenson (3), Rodriguez (3), Lopez (3), Alvarez (1), Davis (1), Benavidez (1), Navarrete (1)

Ninth place: Rodriguez (4), Davis (2), Stevenson (2), Lopez (2), Benavidez (2), Bivol (1), Beterbiev (1), Fury (1), Spence (1), Garcia (1), Nakatani (1)

10th place: Haney (4), Stevenson (3), Rodriguez (3), Davis (2), Lopez (2), Beterbiev (1), Fury (1), Lomachenko (1), Garcia (1)

- ESPN 

NAOYA INOUE SCORES 10TH-ROUND KO FOR UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP

Getty 

Japanese star Naoya Inoue scored a 10th-round KO of Marlon Tapales on Tuesday in Tokyo to capture the undisputed junior featherweight championship.

"The Monster" landed two right hands in succession that were partially blocked, but following a systematic breakdown of Tapales, the punches were enough to finish the fight.

After the second shot landed, Tapales dropped to one knee on a delayed reaction and was counted out at 1:02 of Round 10 to lift Inoue to his second undisputed championship in 12 months.

Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) also scored a knockdown in Round 4 after a left hand connected followed by a barrage of punches.

"I think [junior featherweight] is my weight class for now so, in 2024, I would like to show myself at [junior featherweight] in even stronger form," Inoue said in interpreted remarks.

" ... I am so happy that I got the knockout in such a decisive manner."

Inoue, ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer, won the undisputed 118-pound championship last December with an 11th-round KO of Paul Butler.

Inoue, 30, then made his 122-pound debut in July against the top fighter in the division, Stephen Fulton. Inoue knocked him out in Round 7 to claim the WBC and WBO titles.

Tapales (37-4, 19 KOs) offered far more resistance than Fulton but found no answers. The Filipino landed the career-high payday after he upset Murodjon Akhmadaliev in April via split decision to win the WBA and IBF titles.

His heavy, snappy jab was effective against Inoue, too, but it only served to stave off the inevitable. After all, Inoue was a -2000 favorite, per ESPN BET.

Tapales, 31, was game and determined but was overmatched in every imaginable category: speed, power, strength and athleticism. Tapales was able to use his ring smarts and effective pressure to back up Inoue, but sustained success was harder to come by.

Inoue pounced on every precious punching opportunity with explosive combinations as Tapales boxed from a high guard. He was wise to show Inoue's power such respect.

The last Inoue opponent to hear the final bell was Nonito Donaire in ESPN's 2019 Fight of the Year. Inoue blasted him out in Round 2 of the rematch.

Tapales, a former 118-pound champion, simply couldn't keep up with Inoue punch for punch. In Round 4, the southpaw and Inoue traded hooks to the body; Inoue won the exchange. Moments later, he rocked Tapales with a left hook before he planted him on the canvas.

Inoue patiently pursued the KO after that sequence with the knowledge Tapales is a capable counter-puncher. The underdog connected on a series of powerful right uppercuts in Round 5 and found his best success in Round 7 on the strength of his jab.

But just like all of Inoue's prior opponents from 108 pounds and beyond, it was a matter of time.

"He never showed me fatigue or damage from his face, so I was quite surprised when he went down in the 10th round," said Inoue, who has now stopped seven consecutive opponents.

"It was one of the most intense fights I've had before, probably, but my corner cheered me up and kept me focused throughout the bout."

Inoue could next focus on Luis Nery. The Mexican earned a title shot with his thrilling KO victory over Azat Hovhannisyan in February's WBC eliminator. The organization is due up in the rotation system used for unified champions. Inoue indicated his next bout is slated for May.

He's already etched his place in boxing lore with his sustained run of dominance at the elite level. Inoue has proven that his greatness isn't bound by weight with titles in four weight classes but appears committed to 122 pounds for the foreseeable future.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN 

NAOYA INOUE & MARION TAPALES STAND SIDE-BY-SIDE AT PRESS CONFERENCE

NAOYA INOUE AMAZING STATS

TOP 100 MEN BOXERS: CANELO, WILDER AND OTHER TOP FIGHTERS

Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, Deontay Wilder and Naoya Inoue are some of the top 100 fighters in boxing. Illustration by ESPN

Five of ESPN's top 10 heavyweights -- three of them former champions -- compete Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on one of the most stacked cards in years (ESPN+ PPV, 11 a.m. ET).

Anthony Joshua meets Otto Wallin in the main event while Deontay Wilder faces Joseph Parker in the co-feature. If both Joshua and Wilder win -- no foregone conclusion -- they have a deal in place to finally meet on March 9 in Riyadh, sources told ESPN.

Also on the undercard: ESPN's No. 1 light heavyweight, Dmitry Bivol, and No. 1 cruiserweight, Jai Opetaia.

No. 8 heavyweight Filip Hrgovic will compete as well on Saturday. There are also talented heavyweight boxers on this eight-fight card that sit just outside ESPN's rankings, like Frank Sanchez, Arslanbek Makhmudov and Daniel Dubois, who meets Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller.

The following week, Naoya "The Monster" Inoue attempts to become an undisputed champion in a second weight class in 12 months with a fight against Marlon Tapales on Tuesday in Tokyo (ESPN+, 3 a.m. ET).

But where do they all rank among the top 100 boxers in the world?

The age-old pound-for-pound debate rages on year after year. Just who is the baddest man on the planet?

Fighters jockey for position in their respective weight classes, but they're also measured against each other time and again. Those who can rack up titles in multiple weight classes sometimes are pushed ahead of others during these water-cooler arguments across the world, and really, it's impossible to have a consensus No. 1 no matter who's competing at the time.

This is all subjective. After all, most of the fighters on this list will never face each other, sometimes even when they're competing in the same weight class. That's the reality of today's fractured boxing landscape.

But we can still try to determine who deserves to stand above the rest across global boxing, taking into account accomplishments, current form, talent level, potential, and most of all, the vaunted eye test. Some fighters just look the part.

TOP FIVE FIGHTERS TO WATCH IN 2023

NAOYA INOUE WITH THE 2020 KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR NOMINEE IN IS TOP RANK DEBUT | KNOCKOUT OF THE WEEK