The top 15 pound-for-pound rankings
Here are the best boxers in the world in order
Welcome to the Fight Freaks Unite top 15 pound-for-pound rankings.
The list is obviously subjective. This is my opinion. You can agree or disagree or make your own list. I base these rankings on a variety of things, including overall accomplishment but with an emphasis on more recent activity and who, in my view, would defeat the others if they were the same size. Here are the top 15 in reverse order.
As of May 19, 2022
15. Josh Taylor
Record: 19-0, 13 KOs
Division: Unified junior welterweight champion
Age: 31
Last fight: Won a controversial split decision over mandatory challenger Jack Catterall to retain the undisputed junior welterweight title on Feb. 26.
Next fight: Nothing is set, but he’ll probably defend his three remaining belts vs. WBC mandatory challenger Jose Zepeda. Taylor lost his undisputed status when the WBA stripped him for declining to face obscure mandatory challenger Albert Puello in a fight for which there was little money and zero public interest.
Ideal next fight: He should give Catterall a rematch, but Zepeda is very legit foe. As long as Taylor is staying at 140 pounds, I’d also like to see him eventually face former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, who is moving up to junior welterweight.
14. Juan Francisco Estrada
Record: 42-3, 28 KOs
Division: Junior bantamweight champion
Age: 32
Last fight: On March 3, 2021, Estrada was fortunate to emerge with a split decision win in his long-awaited rematch with Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez to unify 115-pound titles. Most thought Gonzalez deserved the decision a fantastic fight of the year contender.
Next fight: A third fight with Gonzalez was canceled twice due to Covid-19 and now Estrada is instead penciled in to face mandatory challenger and WBA secondary titlist Joshua Franco on DAZN on July 16.
Ideal next fight: Rescheduling the rubber match with “Chocolatito” is a must before it’s all said and done.