After witnessing 168 pound champion and all time great Canelo Alvarez defend his title in dominating fashion against young NYC lion Edgar Berlanga, the question everyone wanted answered was what was next for him?
During the post fight interview the Mexican superstar stated that he was the best boxer in the world but...
Even he knows that isn’t true currently.
Although he can proudly say he is the greatest active boxer currently due to his unprecedented resume, it’s hard to rank someone above a person they lost to who hasn’t been defeated by anyone.
One of the men who Canelo was defeated by Dmitry Bivol, has a title match on October 12th against undefeated knockout artist and champion Artur Beterbiev, in which Alvarez states he wants the winner. Here are our Top 5 Pound for Pound Fighters in the World until the winner of that match is declared.
Oleksandr Usyk - The heavyweight champ is firmly in the #1 spot after defeating Tyson Fury in an electric match. His two convincing victories over Anthony Joshua mixed in with this triumph also adds to the logic of him being billed as the King at the moment.
Dmitry Bivol - After a dominate victory over the legendary Alvarez in which the judges scored too closely, Bivol has to sit in this spot until the fight with Beterbiev concludes. Depending on how the fight goes, he can find himself at #1, #2, or outside of the Top 5 with a loss.
Bud Crawford - The middleweight champ has this position after a tough victory over Madrimov and his impressive wins over Errol Spence and Shawn Porter.. We would love to see the champ get in there with somebody like Tim Tszyu or Fundora to make a case to raise him up.
Gervonta Davis - With victories over Pitbull Cruz, Ryan Garcia, and Frank Martin this seems like a fitting position for the still young champion. The guys above him are older and undefeated so we gave them the edge at the moment but Tank is always one knockout away from moving up.
Naoya Inoue - The Monster has cleaned out the 122 division and has not been threatened in his career. A fight with Jesse Rodriguez could put him up the list but #5 seems fair for the champ…
On the Outside of the Top 5
We have Canelo, Artur Beterbiev, and David Benavidez. If and when a match between Alvarez is made with the winner of Bivol/ Beterbiev is the only time we can see the Legend putting himself back in the Top 5 with a victory. Beterbiev would firmly be in the Top 5 with a victory over Bivol. Benavidez has constantly called out Canelo, and beaten some really good fighters in the process enhancing the pressure for Alvarez to respond.
We understand it’s a business, so we‘ll keep the Legend squarely on the bubble of Top 5 PFP
Until the next match is sealed and delivered. We won’t have a problem apologizing to Canelo once he clears the smoke in the next year.
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