Usyk claims pound-for-pound top spot as returning Fury misses out
Oleksandr Usyk has claimed the number one spot in the men’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings following Terence Crawford’s retirement, while Tyson Fury has missed out on the top 10 despite winning his comeback fight.
Fury defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision in London on Saturday to mark his sixth successful return from retirement.
However, the heavyweight’s latest victory was not deemed significant enough to elevate him back into the sport’s elite cross-division conversation.
Usyk assumes top spot
Unified heavyweight champion Usyk moves to number one following an undefeated 24-fight professional career.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian last fought in July 2025, delivering a one-sided knockout victory in his rematch with Daniel Dubois.
He will next defend his WBC title against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in May.
Inoue and Rodriguez complete top three
Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue sits second on the list after maintaining a blistering fight pace.
The Japanese star secured four victories in a single calendar year and will next face compatriot Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome.
Unified junior bantamweight titleholder Jesse Rodriguez takes the third position following a dominant 10th-round stoppage of Fernando Martinez.
Opetaia debuts as Fury seeks Joshua bout
Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia has made his debut on the list at number 10 following a unanimous decision win over Brandon Glanton.
To join him in the rankings, Fury will likely need to deliver a definitive performance against a top-tier opponent.
The British fighter has already targeted a high-profile domestic showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year to force his way back into contention.
