Top Male Boxers in the World | Champions of the Ring

All-time Best Male Boxers From Muhammad Ali to pound-for-pound rankings Champion Oleksander Usyk!

Boxing showcases the most talented athletes in the world and produces legendary figures who have left lasting memories in the sport with their classic achievements. Picking out the one as the top boxer is challenging, as each athlete stands out for their exceptional skills and techniques in his whole fighting career. Every boxer is ruling out this challenging combat at some point in their fighting era, whether it’s undisputable Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao or current stars such as Terence Crawford.

8 Top Male Boxers in the World

As per ESPN and Pound-for-Pound rankings, here are some of the best male boxers of all time with their classic achievements and victories.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Undefeated Fighter With No Loss

Key Achievements: Undefeated 50-0 (27 by knockout), 15 major championships across five weight classes, ranked No.1 on the pound-for-pound list.
Notable Victories: Faced Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao.
Main Awards: Fighter of the Year in 1998, 2007,2013, and 2015 by Ring Magazine and American Boxing Writers Association, Six-time winner of Best Fighter ESPY, Fighter of the Decade (2010-2019) by BWAA and WBA.

Floyd Mayweather’s professional boxing career started with his first international debut on 11 October 1996 at the Texas station. At just 19 years of age, he faced Roberto Apocada and knocked him down twice in the second round with body shots. He called out for retirement after his final fight in 2017, when he defeated Conor McGregor by TKO.

Floyd maintained a flawless history of no losses throughout his career, which makes him widely recognized as one of the greatest boxers ever. He won 15 titles in super feather, light, light welter, WW, and middleweight. At the start of his fighting career, Mayweather received his first successful 1996 Olympics bronze medal to reveal his dominance in the ring.

Manny Pacquiao | Only Boxer with Eight-Weight Classes Championship

Key Achievements: Twelve major world titles across eight divisions and First boxer to win the lineal championship in 4-weight classes.
Notable Victories: Against Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Keith Thurman.
Main Awards: Fighter of the Decade (the 2000s) by WBC, WBO and BWAA. Three-time winner of Fighter of the Year 2006, 2008, and 2009, Best Fighter ESPY in 2009 and 2011, Philippine National Hero.

In boxing, many resemble Pacquiao with the game character “Pac-Man” due to his aggressive fighting style and ability to devour opponents in the ring. This nickname showcased his dynamic and relentless approach to fighting. Manny Pacquiao made multiple accomplishments with his first WBC flyweight belt just 2 years after his start at 16. He set the standard of 62 wins (39 knockouts), 8 losses, and 2 draws.

But the most unforgettable was his fight against Miguel Cotto where Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight belt by TKO in the final round. This victory transformed his boxing career as the only fighter to win seven different weight class championships.

Due to these titles across four decades, he gained fame as the world’s best male boxer with strong adaptability and skills to break down an opponent. Manny also made history by becoming the oldest welterweight world champion at the age of 40 when he defeated Thurman to win the WBA belt in 2019.

Oscar De La Hoya | Golden Boy with Eleven Championship Titles

Key Achievements: 11 world titles across six different weight classes, Barcelona Olympics gold medal in the lightweight division,
Notable Victories: Against prominent fighters such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, and Fernando Vargas
Main Awards: Fighter of the Year in 1995 and top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world (1997, 1998)

Former American boxer Oscar De La Hoya earned the nickname “Golden Boy” after winning a golden medal in the lightweight division during the 1992 Summer Olympics. This accomplishment established him as the top male boxer and attracted substantial media attraction.

Due to his family’s boxing background, De La Hoya began his fighting journey at a very young age. He captured numerous medals before making his first professional debut in 1992 and wore down an opponent in 1st round. Oscar had an impressive amateur record of 223 wins with only 5 losses, which showcased his potential from the outset.

Oleksandr Usyk | First Boxer with Both Undisputed Heavyweight and Cruiserweight Titles

Key Achievements: Claim first undefended heavyweight fighter title against Tyson Fury in the four-belt era with existing WBA, IBF, WBO, and WBC. First achiever of the Cruiserweight championship from 2018 to 2019. A professional record of 22 wins with no losses.
Notable Victories: Anthony Joshua in 2021 and rematch in 2022, Tyson Fury, and Murat Gassiev
Main Awards: Olympic gold medal in heavyweight division. Fighter of the Year in 2018. Secured Mohammad Ali’s Trophy by winning the World Boxing Super Series.

Oleksandr Usyk initially pursued football before starting as a boxer at 15. He turned professional in 2013 by signing up for K2 promotions and competing in the cruiserweight category. Usyk maintains an unbeaten statistics of 22 victories, with 14 coming by knockout. This solidifies his status as one of boxing’s elite fighters worldwide.

Usyk is a prominent Ukrainian boxer who quickly rose through the ranks because of his tactical intelligence and resilience. He ruled the ring by becoming the only undefeated boxer with a cruiserweight championship since Evander Holyfield.

Usyk also holds the position of the first heavyweight champion of the 21st century on May 18, 2024 by defeating the strongest Tyson Fury in a split decision. Winning this fight also ranks him as the top pound-for-pound male boxer nowadays.

Terence Crawford | Ranked Best Pound-for-Pound Boxer of his Generation

Key Achievements: Three-Division world champion belt, the first male boxer who became undisputed champion in junior welterweight and welterweight.
Notable Victories: Against Ricky Burns, Thomas Dulorme and most recently Errol Spence Jr.
Main Awards: Fighter of the Year 2014 and 2017, ranked among the top Pound-for-pound fighters worldwide, Best Fighter ESPY Award.

Terence Crawford is an undefeated American boxer with a record of 41-0, including 31 knockouts. He has held world titles in three weight classes and became the first male fighter to be an unbeatable champion in two divisions during the four-belt era. His ability to switch stances effectively makes him unpredictable and difficult to counter, marking him among the most popular male boxing athletes in the world.

Muhammad Ali | The Greatest Who Win the First Heavyweight Title in Boxing History

Key Achievements: First fighter to win the world heavyweight championship three times, Gold medalist at Rome Olympics
Notable Victories: Facing Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier in 1971 and again in 1975, George Foreman
Main Awards: Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated in 1999, BBC’s Sporting Personality of the Century, Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Muhammad Ali took the official start in 1960 when he won an Olympic gold medal in boxing. He became well-known for saying, “I shook up the world,” after defeating Sonny Liston to become the first heavyweight champion in boxing history.

Fans and many other athletes called him “The Greatest” in boxing sport who took many initiatives to popularize this challenging combat globally. Ali retired with a great 56 wins, 5 losses, and 37 all-time strongest knockouts. He is the most iconic figure in the combative world for his indescribable contribution to promoting Padded Boxing Gloves and signature strategies like Rope-a-Dope.

Not just in boxing, Muhammad Ali’s influence extended worldwide to promote peace and harmony. He used his platform to speak out loud for civil rights and was honored with many humanitarian awards. All this justifies his position as the best male boxer in history and a good human being.

Andre Ward | Super Six World Boxing Classic Champion

Key Achievements: Super Middleweight and light heavyweight champion.
Notable Victories: Against Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, and Sargey Kavolev in 2016 and 2017.
Main Awards: Fighter of the Year in 2011, inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, The Ring Title Holder.

Andre Ward made his first professional appearance in 2004, defeating Chris Molina by TKO. He retired at just 33 with an undefeated record of 32 wins and 0 losses, including 16 knockouts.

Ward is on the list of the world’s top male boxers due to his successful multiple belts, winning two weight classes and Super Six World Boxing Classic. This represents his legacy and dominance in combat.

Following his retirement, Ward transitioned into a role as a boxing commentator and analyst to provide insights and expertise on various boxing platforms

Tyson Fury | The Gypsy King— Lineal Heavyweight Champion

Key Achievements: Hold WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, and WBC titles, as well as being a lineal heavyweight champion.
Notable Victories: Against Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder (2018, 2020, 2021), Dillian Whyte.
Main Awards: Fighter of the Year in 2018 and 2020, ESPY award, BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Tyson Fury is a prominent British professional boxer renowned for his incredible achievements, unique fighting style, and larger-than-life personality. He has an impressive record of 34 wins, 1 draw, and 25 knockouts till now and is enthusiastic about more future victories in his premium boxing gear for facing Oleksandr Usyk again on 21st December 2024.

Fury can switch stances and adapt his strategy mid-fight due to his exceptional agility and footwork skills. The perfect blend of boxing techniques alongside his size, classifies him as one of the top male boxers in the world.

Conclusion

The world of boxing continues to evolve with each passing year, but the accomplishments of these world’s top male boxers remain truly recognizable. Each fighter brings unique skills and strategies to the ring and holds memorable titles in his boxing career. From the greatest Muhammad Ali, who ruled boxing history, to current star Tyson Fury, these famous boxers’ legacies continue to inspire future generations.