Boxing pound-for-pound rankings (Sept. 2026): Oleksandr Usyk ousted as a new No. 1 is crowned
There’s a new king of the mountain in the sweet science.
In September 2026, boxing rankings saw a significant shift, as Oleksandr Usyk was dethroned from his spot at the top of the pound-for-pound list. The new No. 1 was crowned quickly, with Naoya Inoue taking the top spot. Usyk had previously held the undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight titles, but a controversial loss to Rico Verhoeven in April weakened his aura of invincibility.
Usyk had vacated his WBO heavyweight title in November, choosing to pursue a fight with Deontay Wilder instead of facing Agit Kabayel, who was the most proven new contender at heavyweight.
Benavidez, a WBA & WBO unified cruiserweight champion and WBC light heavyweight champion, saw his position rise four spots after his impressive performance against Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez. He is now seeking to add a third belt by competing for the cruiserweight title, with a scheduled fight against WBC interim champion Michal Cieslak on December 12 in Arizona.
Stevenson, the WBO super lightweight champion, moved up to the top five after defeating Teofimo Lopez, showcasing his ability to nullify opponents' games and win a near shutout. Stevenson, who recently signed with Zuffa Boxing, is expected to return in the final quarter of 2026, but his opponent remains unknown.
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