Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is officially back in boxing’s pound-for-pound top 10, roaring his way into the elite rankings after a dominant decision victory over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this past Saturday. It’s been over a year since Terence Crawford stripped him of his undisputed crown, but Canelo just reminded everyone why he’s still one of the best fighters in the game, hands down.
Canelo’s Masterclass and the Road Back to Gold
Man, what a statement! That win against Mbilli wasn’t just another notch on the belt, it returned a world title to Alvarez’s waist. Even as he’s hitting the tail end of his career at 39, the Mexican superstar proved he’s still a step above the rest of the super middleweight division. The Uncrowned panel, made up of experts like Kel Dansby and Darshan Desai, ranked these guys using a weighted points system, and Canelo’s performance clearly screamed “elite.” The boxing world had to notice.
The Undisputed Kings: Inoue’s Next Move and Usyk’s Wild Twist
While Canelo makes his return, the top of the men’s pound-for-pound list is still dominated by two absolute legends. Naoya Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champion, holds down the No. 1 spot. Word on his next move is coming soon, and trust me, everyone’s on the edge of their seats. This guy scored his finest career win in May, just outclassing Junto Nakatani in what was Japan’s biggest boxing match ever. Now, he’s eyeing a March superfight against Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. If that doesn’t happen, get ready, because he might chase a featherweight world title, which would make him only the seventh fighter in men’s boxing history to be a five-division champ. He’s a legacy fighter, plain and simple.
Then there’s Oleksandr Usyk, tied at No. 2. The former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champ, also 39, seemed like he was easing into retirement after winning Olympic gold and undisputed titles. He took a novelty fight with Rico Verhoeven in May and even dropped his belts rather than defending them against Agit Kabayel. It looked like he was angling for a “past-his-best” Deontay Wilder for one of his final fights, and honestly, who could blame him after everything he’d accomplished? But hold up, that’s not happening! Talks with Wilder failed, and now Usyk wants to go back to cruiserweight and become undisputed champion AGAIN. Serhii Lapin just revealed Usyk wants to fight for the IBF title next. Talk about a plot twist!
On the women’s side, with Katie Taylor’s “final dance” now in the books, there’s a new consensus No. 1 fighter for the first time since Uncrowned started their women’s rankings in December 2024. This month’s list also saw a new debut and an elite name returning to the fold.
What’s Next?
So, what are we looking forward to? Canelo is back on top, reminding everyone he’s still got that fire. Inoue’s next move is imminent, and whether it’s “Bam” Rodriguez or a featherweight title shot, you know it’s going to be electric. And Usyk, who seemed ready for a soft landing, is now charging back into the cruiserweight division, hungry for another undisputed title. The stakes are huge for all of them, with legacies still being written. Get ready, because November’s rankings are just a taste of what’s coming in the boxing world!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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