Naoya Inoue makes his debut at No. 1 in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings following an emphatic victory over Junto Nakatani on May 2. Inoue was previously ranked second and Nakatani No. 6. Fighting in front of more than 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome, Inoue delivered a performance that reinforced his standing as the best fighter in the world.
With the win, Inoue overtakes unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the No. 1 spot. Usyk is scheduled to face kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Giza, Egypt. Despite the loss, Nakatani slips just one position to No. 7, a testament to his quality at the elite level.
Our panel of Andreas Hale, Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas, Nick Parkinson, Eric Raskin, James Regan, 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.
RECORD: 33-0, 27 KOs DIVISION: Junior featherweight (undisputed champion) LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Junto Nakatani, May 2 NEXT FIGHT: TBA
RECORD: 24-0, 15 KOs DIVISION: Heavyweight (unified champion) LAST FIGHT: W (KO5) Daniel Dubois, July 19, 2025 NEXT FIGHT: May 23 vs. Rico Verhoeven
RECORD: 23-0, 16 KOs DIVISION: Junior bantamweight (unified champion) LAST FIGHT: W (KO10) Fernando Martinez, Nov. 22, 2025 NEXT FIGHT: June 13 vs. Antonio Vargas
RECORD: 25-0, 11 KOs DIVISION: Junior welterweight (champion) LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Teofimo Lopez Jr., Jan. 31 NEXT FIGHT: TBA
RECORD: 33-0, 1 NC, 15 KOs DIVISION: Welterweight (champion) LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Brian Norman Jr., Nov. 22, 2025 NEXT FIGHT: TBA
RECORD: 32-1, 24 KOs DIVISION: Bantamweight (unified champion) LAST FIGHT: L (UD12) Naoya Inoue, May 2 NEXT FIGHT: TBA
Nakatani dug himself a hole he couldn’t quite get out in the first half of the fight against Inoue and lost a unanimous decision. However, his rally to claw his way back into the fight was impressive as he took the fight to Inoue in the middle rounds. He’ll be sidelined with a left orbital bone fracture as he decides where to go following the first loss of his career. — Hale
RECORD: 35-0, 31 KOs DIVISION: Interim junior middleweight champion LAST FIGHT: W (TKO1) Uisma Lima, Oct. 11, 2025 NEXT FIGHT: June 27 vs. Xander Zayas
RECORD: 63-3-2, 39 KOs DIVISION: Super middleweight LAST FIGHT: L (UD12) Terence Crawford, Sept. 13, 2025 NEXT FIGHT: TBA vs. Christian Mbilli
Canelo has formally announced his return following elbow surgery and will look to reclaim one of the titles he lost to Crawford when he challenges WBC super middleweight champion Mbilli on Sept. 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At 35 and with 68 professional fights, Canelo remains one of boxing’s biggest stars and one of its best, but he’ll need to prove it again against Mbilli’s high work rate. — Hale
RECORD: 30-0, 23 KOs DIVISION: Cruiserweight LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Brandon Glanton, March 8 NEXT FIGHT: TBA
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.
10th place: Nakatani (5), Ortiz (2), Espinoza (2), Fundora (2), Ennis (1), Alvarez (1), Collazo (1), Muratalla (1), Garcia (1)
What looked on paper like a very close fight for the undisputed junior featherweight championship ultimately turned into a showcase for Inoue’s precision and control. While the official scorecards (116-112, 116-112 and 115-113) suggested a competitive fight, the action told a different story. Inoue established command early in the all-Japanese clash, sweeping the first four rounds on all three cards and dictating the pace throughout. Nakatani showed resilience and found moments of success in the middle rounds, but Inoue reasserted himself down the stretch, closing strong by taking the 11th and 12th rounds on two of the three scorecards.
Inoue takes over the top spot after turning back the challenge of fellow pound-for-pound fighter Nakatani in the biggest fight in the history of Japanese boxing. “The Monster” had to endure a late surge from Nakatani and seized control in the championship rounds to retain his undisputed status. With this highly anticipated fight behind him, he’ll await his next challenge. The next big fight for Inoue would be against another pound-for-pound fighter in Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, a fight that could happen in early 2027. — Hale
“Bam” Rodriguez took care of business in dominant fashion against Martinez to add the WBA title to his collection at junior bantamweight. It wasn’t just that he won, it was how easy he made it look. Martinez was undefeated heading into the fight, yet he was made to look like a novice as Rodriguez had his way before securing the finish in the 10th round. At 25, Rodriguez is the youngest fighter on the pound-for-pound list and will have plenty of time to crack the top spot. Rodriguez is one of the best fighters in the world as well as one of the most entertaining to watch. — Hale
Stevenson shoots up the pound-for-pound list after pitching a near shutout against Teofimo Lopez Jr. to win a major world title in a fourth weight class. But it’s not just that he’s winning fights. Stevenson, 28, is operating on a different plateau, dominating the opposition and barely conceding rounds against fellow world champions. He has plenty of options moving forward as he could look to unify at 140 pounds or 135. Or, he could climb up another weight class to 147 pounds. He’s knocking at the door of the top spot. — Hale
Ennis’ talent is undeniable as “Boots” has mowed down the opposition since debuting a decade ago. The only question has been his opposition, as Ennis has yet to face an elite fighter. He’s passed the eye test thus far and arrives on the pound-for-pound list due to his brilliant switch-hitting ability and boxing IQ. He needs to be tested, and a long-anticipated showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr. has been teased for the past few years. Just when it felt like it was close to happening, legal issues came between the two fighters. Ennis will move on — for now — to challenge WBO and WBA junior middleweight champion Zayas. — Hale
The undefeated Australian make his debut on American soil with a one-sided throttling of Brandon Glanton in March to claim the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight championship. However, the most compelling story had to do with the IBF title, which Opetaia would be later stripped of for a second time. There’s no doubt that Opetaia is the best cruiserweight in the world, but the real question will surround how Zuffa Boxing manages to help him fulfill his dream of becoming the undisputed champion. — Hale
More ESPN rankings: Divisional rankings and women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
RECORD: 32-0, 26 KOs DIVISION: Light heavyweight (champion) and cruiserweight (unified champion) LAST FIGHT: W (KO6) Gilberto Ramirez, May 2 NEXT FIGHT: TBA
Sixth place: Haney (12), Nakatani (1), Ennis (1), Alvarez (1), Opetaia (1)
Seventh place: Nakatani (6), Haney (2), Ennis (2), Alvarez (2), Opetaia (2), Ortiz (1), Collazo (1)