Crawford’s no. 1 was always arguing
Crawford’s run at no. 1 never sat the same way. His win over Canelo Álvarez was a big night, but it came with questions that never went away. The size difference mattered. The setup mattered. And after that fight, there wasn’t much added to bolster the argument. The ranking remained in place, but the CV below it did not change.
That’s where the gap shows. Pound-for-pound isn’t supposed to be about reputation or past accolades. It’s supposed to be about who kept taking tough fights and supporting the place. Usyk did it. Crawford didn’t do much to close the distance once he got there.
Ring Magazine’s updated top 10 pound-for-pound rankings (December 24):
- Oleksandr Usyk
- Naoya Inoue
- Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
- Artur Beterbiev
- Dmitry Bivol
- Canelo Alvarez
- Junto Nakatani
- Gervonta Davis
- Devin Haney
- Oscar Collazo
Most of the complaints come from the bottom of the list. WBO minimum weight champion Oscar Collazo reports at no. 10 in, and many fans are not sold. Not because Collazo can’t fight, but because the division isn’t attracting much interest. Pound-for-pound lists say weight shouldn’t matter. Fan reaction says it still does.
Beterbiev on Bivol: why ring leaned so
Artur Beterbiev who was ranked ahead of Dmitriy Bivol was also questioned. It shouldn’t have been. In their rematch, Bivol spent long periods moving and staying on the outside. Beterbiev came forward, landed the heavier shots and controlled the early rounds.
Bivol got the decision, but it wasn’t decisive. The battle was close. Ring’s order reflects this. Movement alone did not settle it.
Reputation carried more than results
This update doesn’t feel dramatic. It feels overdue. Crawford held the top spot more based on reputation than who he actually beat in their prime. The CV never caught up to the post. And when the conversation turned to bigger, more dangerous battles at 168, it ended quickly. He retired before that piece ever arrived. Usyk did not take that route. He stayed in the mix, took the hard fights and left less room for arguments. This is why the list at no. 1 settles and begins to unravel further down.
