With one quarter to go in 2023, the latest big win from boxing’s biggest star returns him to the top spot in the competition index.
Saul Alvarez made easy work of then-undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo on the last day of September. Now three quarters of the way through 2023, it remains to be seen what big fights will solidify and occur to further shake things up.
Here’s a few notes on the update:
- As was the case in the August update, this update focused almost exclusively on reigning primary titlists. Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson, undefeated fighters who appear on several notable pound-for-pound lists, are exceptions.
- Dmitry Bivol, inactive so far on the year, was edged out of the top ten by the results since August. Kenshiro Teraji, with an impressive win over Hekkie Budler in September, makes his return to the top ten.
- As always, all of the results influence each other so the list tends to move by quarter and tie breakers can abound as there is so little to separate some of the best in the game. Both Saul Alvarez and Devin Haney were tied in the end, with Alvarez getting the advantage for higher overall gross points total. There was also a tie in the 3-5 and 7-9 spots. It’s often that close.
- A total pool of 52 fighters were considered for this update.
With three months to go in an excellent year for the sport in the ring, here’s where things stand.
1) Saul Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 1 (48.7 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 1 (6 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 4 (16.08 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 2 (3.28)
Age: 33
Current Lineal Titles: World Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 3 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBA Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 6 Defenses); WBC Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 6 Defenses); WBO Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 4 Defense); IBF Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 3 Defenses)
Additional Lineal Titles: World Middleweight (2015-21, 4 Defenses)
Additional Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2011-13, 6 Defenses); Ring Super Welterweight (2013); WBC Middleweight (2015-17, 2 Defenses; 2018-19, 1 Defense); WBO Super Welterweight (2016-17); IBF middleweight (2019); WBO Light Heavyweight (2019); WBA Middleweight (2018-21, 1 Defense); TBRB/Ring Magazine Middleweight (2015-17, 1 Defense; 2018-21, 1 Defense); Ring Magazine Super Middleweight (2020-Present, 5 Defenses); TBRB Super Middleweight (2021-Present, 3 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 20-2-1, 10 KO (21-2-1, 11 KO including WBA secondary title fights)
Last Five: Jermell Charlo UD12 (World Champion – 154 [–]), John Ryder UD12 (Ring/TBRB #5 – 168, Gennadiy Golovkin UD12 (#1 – (160[-]), Dmitrii Bivol L12 (#2/#1 – 175[+]), Caleb Plant TKO11 (#2 – 168)
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes – Callum Smith UD12 (Ring Champion/#1 – 168), Billy Joe Saunders RTD8 (Ring #5/TBRB #6 – 168)
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: With a near shutout of Jermell Charlo, Saul Alvarez defeated his third consecutive opponent found as champion or in the top ten of their division according to TBRB or Ring Magazine. Going back to his victory over Callum Smith in December 2020, Alvarez’s six ranked wins are the most in the sport over the last three years. A loss to highly ranked light heavyweight bad ass Dmitry Bivol barely hurts at this point as Alvarez’s burst of activity versus the COVID period continues to count. In eight starts over the last three years, only Avni Yildirim was unranked. Alvarez benefits from two wins over fighters from below super middleweight since Bivol and the pressure will continue to rise for a showdown with leading divisional contender David Benavidez, but the big picture is an overall exceptional body of work.
2) Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 2 (36.5 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 2 (5 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 1 (20 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 3 (4.92)
Age: 24
Current Lineal Titles: World Lightweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Lightweight (2019-Present, 7 Defenses*); IBF/WBA/WBO Lightweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses)
Additional Titles: None
Record in Title Fights: 3-0 (7-0, 1 KO including WBC interim/non-franchise title fights)
Last Five: Vasyl Lomachenko UD12 (#1 Ring/#2 TBRB – 135), George Kambosos UD12 (#1 – 135), George Kambosos UD12 (Champion – 135), Joseph Diaz UD12 (#6/#9 – 135), Jorge Linares UD12 (#7/Unrated)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No
*Haney’s initial WBC lightweight title was a result of franchise rules so whether it was the primary or secondary WBC title can be debated.
Next Opponent: December 09, 2023 vs. Ring #2/TBRB #1 – 140[+] Regis Prograis (29-1, 24 KO, WBC)
The Take: Haney’s fifth consecutive victory over a lightweight ranked top ten by Ring and/or TBRB was his toughest of the bunch. Haney’s battle with Lomachenko came down to the wire with arguments to be made for both men. Haney edged it and it appears he will continue to test touch competition. By the time of the next update, Haney will either have picked up a win and title against one of the best junior welterweights in the world or not. If he wins, he will assume the position as the fighter with the most ranked wins in the last three years as Alvarez’s win over Smith ages out of consideration. The top two spots could continue to be a battle between Haney and Alvarez if their opposition remains consistently highly ranked and they keep winning.
3) Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 3 (29.34 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 5 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 5 (14.34 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 8 (6.16)
Age: 30
Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Super Bantamweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses); WBO Jr. Featherweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Additional Lineal Titles: World Bantamweight (2022-23, 1 Defense)
Additional Titles: WBC Light Flyweight (2014, 1 Defense); WBO Jr. Bantamweight (2014-18, 7 defenses); Ring Magazine Bantamweight (2019-23, 6 Defenses); IBF Bantamweight (2019-23, 6 Defenses); TBRB Bantamweight (2022-23, 1 Defense) WBA Bantamweight (2019-23, 5 Defenses); WBC Bantamweight (2022-23, 1 Defense); WBO Bantamweight (2022-23)
Record in Title Fights: 18-0, 16 KO (20-0, 18 KO including sub-title fights)
Last Five: Stephen Fulton TKO8 (#1 – 122[+]); Paul Butler KO11 (#6/#8 – 118); Nonito Donaire TKO2 (#1/#2 – 118); Aran Dipaen TKO8 (Unranked – 118); Michael Dasmarinas KO3 (Unranked – 118)
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes – Jason Moloney KO7 (#6/#5 – 118)
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: Inoue won a pair of titles in his fourth division with one of the best wins of his career, a shutout masterpiece of undefeated Stephen Fulton punctuated with a knockout finish. It was Inoue’s eighth top ten win in his last ten fights and third in a row. Of those eight wins, seven were ranked in the top five at bantamweight or junior featherweight by TBRB, Ring, or both. The drag on Inoue for the moment is consecutive wins over unranked foes but his next outing should put that farther behind him, assuming things go as expected. Inoue versus unified titlist Marlon Tapales will give fans a 1-2 clash in the division and the first undisputed junior featherweight champion since the modern version of the division launched in the 1970s.
4) Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 4 (29 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 6 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 7 (13 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 4 (5.2)
Age: 38
Current Lineal Titles: World Light Heavyweight (2019-Present, 4 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: IBF Light Heavyweight (2017-Present, 7 Defenses); WBC Light Heavyweight (2019-Present, 4 Defenses); WBO Light Heavyweight (2022-Present, 1 Defenses)
Additional Titles: TBRB Light Heavyweight (2019-Present, 4 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 8-0, 8 KO
Last Five: Anthony Yarde TKO8 (Ring Magazine #7/TBRB #6 – 175), Joe Smith Jr. TKO2 (#3/#2 – 175), Marcus Browne KO9 (#6/#5 – 175), Adam Deines (Unrated), Oleksandr Gvozdyk TKO10 (#1/TBRB Champion – 175)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: Beterbiev got more than he bargained for with a spirited challenge from Anthony Yarde. As spirited as it was, Yarde ended up being the latest victim of a perfect statistical run. Beterviev has yet to need the judges. It was Beterbiev’s third consecutive top ten win at light heavyweight and fourth in his last five starts. The most fearsome light heavyweight in the world has only the most cerebral, Dmitrii Bivol, in the way of joining a recent trend toward undisputed champions in the sport. Beterbiev’s mandatory with former super middleweight titlist Callum Smith has been postponed as the latest health issue plagues Beterbiev in a career full of them.
5) Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 6 (28.25 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 3 (5 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 4 (16.67 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 9 (6.24)
Age: 28
Current Alphabet Titles: None
Additional Titles: IBF Super Featherweight (2017, 1 Defense); WBA Super Featherweight (2018-19, 2 Defenses; 2020-21)
Record in Title Fights: 6-0, 6 KO (12-0, 11 KO including interim or sanctioning body sub-title title fights)
Last Five: Ryan Garcia KO7 (#3 – 135), Hector Garcia TKO9 (#2 – 130[-]), Rolly Romero (Unrated), Isaac Cruz (#9/#6 – 135), Mario Barrios (#7/#9 – 140[++])
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes – Leo Santa Cruz KO 6 (Ring Unranked/TBRB #1[-] – 126)
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: Davis got off to a big start in 2023. Ranked at the fringes of the top 30 in the competition index at the end of 2022, Davis entered the top ten strong. Davis added a pair of highly rated wins and ranks as one of only four fighters (along with Alvarez, Haney, and Junto Nakatani) to have five or more rated wins in the last three calendar years. The Santa Cruz win will age out at the end of October and Davis has indicated he may not be back until early next year. Davis is the undisputed star of the lightweight division, coming off his rich showdown with Ryan Garcia. With Haney testing the waters at junior welterweight, there is no lane for the moment to becoming its undisputed champion.
6) Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 5 (28.83 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 12 (3 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 17 (8.58 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking Rank: 1 (1.98)
Age: 33
Lineal Titles: World Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2019-Present, 3 Defenses); WBA “super” Super Welterweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses); IBF Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses); WBO Jr. Middleweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)
Additional Titles: WBC Super Welterweight (2016-18, 3 Defenses); Ring Magazine Jr. Middleweight (2020-Present, 2 Defenses); TBRB Jr. Middleweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 7-1-1, 6 KO
Last Five Opponents: Saul Alvarez L12 (Champion – 168), Brian Castano KO10 (#1/#2 – 154), Brian Castano D12 (#3/#2 – 154), Jeison Rosario KO8 (#2/#1 – 154), Tony Harrison KO11 (#6/#3 – 154)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: Despite a loss to Alvarez where Charlo did little to make the super middleweight king uncomfortable, he remains the lineal and unified junior middleweight champion. Alvarez was his fifth straight opponent ranked near the top of their division by one or both bodies utilized here and Charlo likely won’t have a light option should he return to junior middleweight. Welterweight champion Terence Crawford would be a big money option and the winner of Tim Tszyu-Brian Mendoza will clear up his number one contender. Charlo will have opportunities from a disappointing effort just as Alvarez did after his loss to Bivol.
7) Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 9 (24.24 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 8 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 14 (9 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 10 (6.42)
Age: 34
Current Alphabet Titles: WBA Super Flyweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Previous Titles: WBC Minimumweight (2011-12, 3 Defenses); WBA Minimumweight (2012); WBA Light Flyweight (2014*); WBA Flyweight (2016-17, 2 Defenses); WBO Jr. Bantamweight (2019-23, 6 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 13-2-1, 5 KO (21-2-1, 11 KO including WBA sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: Joshua Franco UD12 (#3/#4 – 115); Joshua Franco D12 (#5/TBRB Unranked – 115); Donnie Nietes UD12 (#9/#10 – 115); Ryoji Fukunaga UD12 (Unranked – 115); Francisco Rodriguez Jr. UD12 (#7 – 115)
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes – Kosei Tanaka TKO8 (#1 – 112 [-])
*Ioka won sub-versions of the WBA belts at Jr. flyweight and flyweight only to be elevated when primary titlists Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada vacated those belts, respectively. Title reign dates reflect those moves.
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: It’s been more than a dozen years since Ioka won his first of what would be titles in four weight classes and Ioka remains among the best in the world. After a debated draw in their first contest, and despite Joshua Franco grossly missing weight, Ioka left no doubt about the better man in their rematch. Ioka has built a Hall of Fame case but has yet to secure a career-defining showdown having missed the biggest names so far in this golden era at junior bantamweight. A fight with lineal and WBC titlist Juan Francisco Estrada is the best the division can offer right now.
8) Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KO)
Points Rank: 10 (21.5 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 9 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 9 (12.5 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 13 (6.7)
Age: 36
Current Lineal Titles: World Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBO Welterweight (2018-Present, 7 Defenses)
Additional Lineal Titles: World Lightweight (2014-15); World Jr. Welterweight (2016-17, 3 Defenses)
Additional Titles: WBO Lightweight (2014-15, 2 Defenses); TBRB/Ring Lightweight (2014-15); WBO Light Welterweight (2015-17, 6 Defenses); WBC/TBRB/Ring Super Lightweight (2016-17, 3 Defenses); WBA Super Lightweight (2017); IBF Jr. Welterweight (2017); TBRB/Ring Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Record in Title Fights: 18-0, 15 KO
Last Five: Errol Spence TKO9 (#1 – 147); David Avanesyan KO6 (#8/#9 – 147); Shawn Porter TKO10 (#4 – 147); Kell Brook TKO4 (Unranked – 147); Egidijus Kavaliauskas TKO9 (#8/#10 – 147)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: “Bud” left no doubt about his place in the welterweight division. This index reflects only what did happen without consideration of why. Terence Crawford for years didn’t get some of the fights he needed to cement his place in the sport. He easily beat the guys who beat men like Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov and credit wasn’t always fulsome. Manny Pacquiao didn’t happen when Pacquiao was with Top Rank or PBC, and the latter umbrella hosted most of the best of the welterweight division. They could compete against each other without him. After the Spence beating, Crawford is undeniable. The first man to capture lineal thrones from lightweight to welterweight since Barney Ross; the first man to unify four major titles in two divisions since the birth of the WBO; and, in terms of this index, the winner of three straight and four of his last five against the top ten at welterweight. The world awaits the Spence encore.
9) Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 16 (15.5 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 13 (3 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 6 (14 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 6 (5.6)
Age: 26
Current Lineal Titles: World Jr. Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBO Jr. Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses)
Additional Lineal Titles: World Lightweight (2020-21)
Additional Titles: TBRB/Ring Jr. Welterweight (2023-Present, 0 Defenses); TBRB/Ring/IBF/WBA/WBO Lightweight (2020-21)
Record in Title Fights: 3-1, 1 KO
Last Five: Josh Taylor UD12 (Champion – 140); Sandor Martin SD12 (Ring Unranked/#6 – 140); Pedro Campa TKO7 (Unranked – 140); George Kambosos L12 (#8 – 135); Vasyl Lomachenko UD12 (Champion/#1 – 135)
Three Year Activity Kicker: No
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: A two-division lineal champion at age 26 with victories over Lomachenko and the then-undefeated Taylor is about as good as any fighter could ask for right now. The stunning loss to Kambosos between those two wins is the drag on Lopez’s place. Combine it with a lackluster win over Martin and we may have one of the most mercurial talents in boxing since James Toney. We can’t know for sure what version of Lopez we’ll see from fight to fight, but in his two most significant fights fans saw a savvy, quick, sharp battler capable of beating anyone. The talent pool at 135 and 140 pounds gives Lopez plenty of tantalizing options in the coming years.
10) Kenshiro Teraji (22-1, 14 KO)
Overall Points Rank: 11 (21 pts)
Unique Rated Wins Rank: 10 (4 unique wins)
Last Two Starts Rank: 18 (8.5 pts)
Average Opponent Ranking: 5 (5.5)
Age: 31
Current Lineal Titles: World Jr. Flyweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses)
Current Alphabet Titles: WBC light flyweight (2022-Present, 3 Defenses); WBA light flyweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses)
Additional Titles: TBRB/Ring Jr. Flyweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses), WBC light flyweight (2017-21, 8 Defense)
Record in Title Fights: 13-1, 9 KO, 1 KOBY
Last Five: Masamichi Yabuki TKO by 10 (#10/Unranked – 108), Masamichi Yabuki KO3 (#2/#1 – 108), Hiroto Kyoguchi (Champion/#2 – 108), Anthony Olascuaga TKO9 (Unranked – 108), Hekkie Budler TKO9 (#2#/3 – 108)
Three Year Activity Kicker: Yes – Tetsuya Hisada UD12 (#6/#7 – 108)
Next Opponent: TBA
The Take: Teraji made it four wins in a row since a shocking loss to Yabuki that may have been influenced by Teraji’s first appearance after a bout with COVID. He avenged his lone loss violently and then destroyed the undefeated Kyoguchi. He still has his eye on being the first undisputed champion in junior flyweight history. Kenshiro is making his case with the upper echelon of the division’s history, a tier that includes Hall of Fame battlers Hilario Zapata, Jung Koo Chang, Myung-Wuh Yuh, Michael Carbajal, and Humberto Gonzalez. Accomplishing something none of those great fighters could would be a feather in his cap.
Rest of the Top Thirty: Dmitry Bivol (Ranked 13 on Overall Points/7 on Unique Wins/2 on Last Two Starts/14 on Average Opponent Ranking), Juan Francisco Estrada (12/16/11/14), Tyson Fury (7/15/25/7), Shakur Stevenson (8/7/31/17), Joe Cordina (20/19/7/22), Oleksandr Usyk (14/27/14/16), Emanuel Navarrete (21/14/11/27), Junto Nakatani (17/4/35/28), Tie – Leigh Wood (24/21/30/11)/Jai Opetaia (22/29/10/25), Tie – Hector Garcia (23/20/33/11)/Sunny Edwards (18/11/38/20), O’Shaquie Foster (26/22/19/30), Jesse Rodriguez (19/18/44/21), Petchmanee CP Freshmart (15/28/44/18), Oscar Collazo (27/23/20/37), Chris Billam-Smith (27/31/13/37), Regis Prograis (29/32/20/31), Jason Moloney (35/37/27/18), Fernando Martinez (25/30/36/29)
Previous Competition Index Updates
Here’s how it works (with updated criterion in bold).
Using the most recent ratings available in a print issue of Ring (or now monthly sample of online ratings) or the most recent archived Transnational Boxing Rankings Board ratings prior to a fight:
- Every primary WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titlist was evaluated based on the official results against their last five opponents and/or last three years of activity and what those opponents were rated heading into the fight. Select notable non-titlists are also included.
- Wins over rated opponents started at 11 points for a recognized TBRB or Ring champion down to one point for defeating a number ten contender. Draws got half credit. No points were given for a No Contest or No Decision but the result will be noted.
- Fighters who have produced a higher activity level were given a kicker score for any wins over rated opposition in the last three years no later than October 1, 2020. Everyone evaluated was scored for their last five opponents even if that was past the three year mark.
- Losses to rated opponents were given an inverse score, beginning with -1 for a champion down to -11.
- Losses to unrated opponents received a universal score of -12.
- Wins over unrated opponents were worth nothing.
- If there is a difference between a fighter’s Ring and TBRB rankings, the average of the two numbers was used (i.e. a win over a fighter rated second by one body and fifth by the other would be worth 7.5 pts).
- If a fighter was rated by only Ring or TBRB, half credit was given for a win based on the single rating. A loss total would come from an average of -12 and the point loss that would apply to the rating that was in place.
- Moves between weight classes were adjusted for by taking into consideration the body weight shift between weight classes. In other words, if a rated Jr. welterweight jumped up to beat a rated welterweight, the math would work like this: 147/140 multiplied by the divisional rating score. It works in reverse for a win over a fighter rated lower (i.e. 160/168 multiplied by the smaller fighters rating in his class). In an over the weight class fight, the divisions the men were rated in were used.
- Fighters from a higher class are noted with a [+], from a lower [-], after the weight limit of their respective weight class. The totals generated result in a rating for overall total score.
- Each fighter evaluated is given a score for how many unique wins they have against rated opponents; beating the same opponent twice counts for only one unique win. They are then rated based on unique wins with tiebreakers decided by whoever holds higher total points.
- A rating is generated for the point total for each fighter’s last two wins.
- The Ring/TBRB rankings for each fighter’s qualified opponents is generated on a scale of 0-11 (0 for champion/11 for unranked). Adjustments are made for weight classes. As an example, super middleweight champion Saul Alvarez’s 2022 loss at light heavyweight to Dmitrii Bivol came with Bivol ranked #2 by Ring and #1 by TBRB at light heavyweight. That’s an average ranking of 1.5. Adjusting for the move up in weight, 168 is divided by 175 and multiplied by 1.5 for a 1.44. Conversely, Alvarez’s defense at super middleweight against #1 ranked middleweight Gennadiy Golovkin would result in a 1.5 for Golovkin. The opponent rankings are combined and divided by total qualified fights for an average opponent ranking. Those averages were ordered lowest to highest and assigned a rating.
- The rating in each scoring category (Total/Unique Wins/Last Two Bouts/Average Opponent Ranking) were averaged against each other for a final score. Tiebreakers go to the fighter with the highest overall points.
- All divisions were treated equally based on the idea fighters can only face the men in their division while they are there and all point totals were applied based on official results.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com