Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk only fought once in 2025, but the significance of that fight was enormous. He stopped Daniel Dubois to unify the heavyweight division and leave no doubt about his position at the top of the sport.
Dubois entered the fight as the IBF champion and a physically bigger opponent. Usyk controlled the fight with movement, timing and precision before forcing the stoppage. When the fight ended, Usyk held every major heavyweight title, something few fighters have accomplished in the modern era.
The lack of activity works against him in this discussion. Still, heavyweight unification carries a level of historical weight that no other division can match.
Dmitry Bivol
Dmitry Bivol scored one of the most important wins of the year by defeating Artur Beterbiev. The fight settled a long-running debate against light heavyweight and ended Beterbiev’s undefeated run.
Bivol did not rely on survival or careful boxing. He controlled distance, disrupted Beterbiev’s pressure and consistently won rounds with clean striking and footwork. The victory was clear and left little room for dispute.
To beat an undefeated, long-reigning champion at this level puts Bivol among the strongest Fighter of the Year candidates.
Terence Crawford
Terence Crawford took a huge risk by moving up to Canelo Alvarez, and the gamble paid off. Crawford outboxed Canelo throughout the fight and won decisively.
Despite the size disadvantage, Crawford dictated the pace with excellent timing and movement. Canelo struggled to apply consistent pressure and never gained sustained control. The win further cemented Crawford’s status as one of the most complete fighters of his era.
Crawford’s case rests on the quality of a single performance rather than volume, but few wins in 2025 have been as significant.
Naoya Inoue
Naoya Inoue put together the strongest overall body of work in 2025. He fought three times and remained dominant in each appearance.
Inoue stopped Ye Joon Kim and Ramon Cardenas before defeating Murodjon Akhmadaliev, a skilled and dangerous opponent. He has shown strength, accuracy and discipline throughout the year, without any drop in form.
Although neither opponent carried the same global profile as some other candidates, Inoue’s consistency and activity make his case hard to dismiss.
Rafael Espinoza
Rafael Espinoza had a quieter year, but it was still an effective one. He had two stoppage victories, defeating Edward Vazquez and Arnold Khegai.
Neither opponent elevated him to mainstream conversation, but Espinoza performed as a champion should. He controlled both fights and finished them without allowing momentum to swing.
His resume lacks a signature win, which likely keeps him behind the top contenders, but his performances have been solid and decisive.
Final Assessment
There is no unanimous Fighter of the Year for 2025. The answer depends on what is most valued.
- Usyk delivered the greatest performance.
- Bivol scored the most decisive elite victory.
- Crawford took the biggest risk and succeeded.
- Inoue produced the strongest full-year campaign.
The debate remains open, and that uncertainty reflects the depth of top-level performances this year.
