The boxing world is buzzing, and the pound-for-pound rankings are in flux! With Terence Crawford's recent retirement, the title of 'best boxer' is up for grabs, and WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has weighed in with his pick. But who did he choose? It wasn't who you might expect!
Stevenson, known for his admiration of Crawford, has instead spotlighted another fighter, labeling him as the best in the sport, excluding himself, of course. This declaration comes as Stevenson himself is poised to potentially enter the top five pound-for-pound rankings, boasting an undefeated record and world titles across three weight divisions. He's even eyeing a challenge against Teofimo Lopez for a title in a fourth weight class. Talk about ambition!
Currently, the top spot is hotly contested between Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue, both of whom have achieved undisputed champion status across multiple weight classes while remaining undefeated. But here's where it gets interesting...
In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, Stevenson surprised many by naming unified light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol as the best in boxing. Stevenson's appreciation for Bivol's traditional boxing style is evident. He stated, “I think that Bivol is one of the hardest fighters to beat because he’s so basic and he mastered the fundamentals of boxing. He keeps his hands up, he keeps his one-two going and he got great footwork.”
He continued, “He doesn’t just stand there in front of guys all night, he is moving all around and to me, besides myself, I think that he is the best [active] boxer.”
This is a bold statement! Bivol has been out of action for 11 months since avenging his only career loss and defeating Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175lb title. However, fans can anticipate his return, possibly facing IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert this spring.
What do you think? Do you agree with Stevenson's assessment of Bivol? Or do you believe another fighter deserves the top spot? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
