Updated: September 4, 2026
The calendar has flipped to September, but there is no reason for Fight Week to manufacture movement in its pound-for-pound rankings just for the sake of change.
After reviewing August’s major fights and the current boxing landscape, Naoya Inoue remains the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to Fight Week, with Oleksandr Usyk holding the No. 2 position.
Shakur Stevenson, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and David Benavidez complete our top five.
More importantly, all 20 fighters remain in the same positions they held in August.
That’s intentional.
Fight Week’s rankings are based on what happens in the ring—not on the need to create movement every month.
How Fight Week Ranks Fighters
The Fight Week Pound-for-Pound Top 20 considers:
- Quality of opposition
- Recent performances
- Championship accomplishments
- Success across multiple weight divisions
- Dominance
- Technical ability
- Activity
- The traditional pound-for-pound “same size” eye test
An undefeated record alone isn’t enough.
A loss against elite opposition also doesn’t automatically send a fighter tumbling down the rankings.
The goal is simple:
Rank the best fighters in boxing regardless of weight class.
Fight Week Pound-for-Pound Top 20 — September 2026
| Rank | Fighter | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naoya Inoue | 1 | — |
| 2 | Oleksandr Usyk | 2 | — |
| 3 | Shakur Stevenson | 3 | — |
| 4 | Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez | 4 | — |
| 5 | David Benavidez | 5 | — |
| 6 | Dmitry Bivol | 6 | — |
| 7 | Jaron “Boots” Ennis | 7 | — |
| 8 | Devin Haney | 8 | — |
| 9 | Junto Nakatani | 9 | — |
| 10 | Canelo Alvarez | 10 | — |
| 11 | Jai Opetaia | 11 | — |
| 12 | Oscar Collazo | 12 | — |
| 13 | Vergil Ortiz Jr. | 13 | — |
| 14 | Rafael Espinoza | 14 | — |
| 15 | Sebastian Fundora | 15 | — |
| 16 | O’Shaquie Foster | 16 | — |
| 17 | Raymond Muratalla | 17 | — |
| 18 | Dalton Smith | 18 | — |
| 19 | Emanuel Navarrete | 19 | — |
| 20 | Keyshawn Davis | 20 | — |
1. Naoya Inoue
Previous Ranking: #1
There is still no reason to move Naoya “The Monster” Inoue from the top spot.
Inoue’s combination of speed, timing, accuracy, power and technical brilliance remains unmatched. His victory over previously unbeaten Junto Nakatani earlier this year further strengthened an already exceptional résumé.
Inoue doesn’t merely win fights.
He controls elite opponents and frequently finishes them.
Until somebody provides a compelling reason to change it, the Fight Week pound-for-pound throne belongs to The Monster.
2. Oleksandr Usyk
Previous Ranking: #2
Few fighters in modern boxing have built a résumé comparable to Oleksandr Usyk.
Becoming undisputed at cruiserweight before conquering the heavyweight division would be enough by itself to establish an extraordinary legacy.
Doing it while routinely giving away substantial size makes it even more impressive.
Usyk’s footwork, conditioning, ring intelligence and ability to make adjustments remain elite.
He has a legitimate argument for No. 1.
For September, we continue to give Inoue the slight edge.
3. Shakur Stevenson
Previous Ranking: #3
If pound-for-pound rankings were based purely on how difficult a fighter is to beat, Shakur Stevenson might already be No. 1.
Stevenson’s ability to control range, anticipate attacks, defend and dictate the pace of a fight is exceptional.
His victory over Teofimo Lopez added another significant accomplishment to his résumé and showed that his skills continue to translate as he moves through divisions.
Stevenson remains firmly inside Fight Week’s top three.
4. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
Previous Ranking: #4
Bam Rodriguez continues to build one of boxing’s most impressive résumés.
Already a champion across multiple divisions, Rodriguez combines intelligent pressure, precision, body punching and legitimate finishing ability.
And he’s still improving.
The possibility of eventually seeing Bam Rodriguez against Naoya Inoue is one of the most fascinating potential fights in boxing.
For now, Bam remains No. 4.
But the gap between No. 3 and No. 4 is extremely small.
5. David Benavidez
Previous Ranking: #5
David Benavidez continues to prove that his combination of pressure, hand speed, stamina and combination punching works against bigger opponents.
Moving through divisions without losing his effectiveness has strengthened his pound-for-pound case considerably.
Benavidez is no longer simply one of boxing’s most dangerous pressure fighters.
He’s one of the best fighters in the sport.
6. Dmitry Bivol
Previous Ranking: #6
Dmitry Bivol remains one of boxing’s most technically complete fighters.
His balance, footwork, distance control and disciplined defense make him incredibly difficult to solve over 12 rounds.
His lone professional defeat doesn’t diminish what he has proven against elite opposition.
Fight Week keeps Bivol comfortably inside the top 10.
7. Jaron “Boots” Ennis
Previous Ranking: #7
For years, the question surrounding Jaron Ennis wasn’t ability.
It was whether his résumé would eventually match his talent.
That’s beginning to happen.
Boots combines explosive offense, switch-hitting ability, speed and knockout power. He has the tools to become a future pound-for-pound No. 1.
Another elite victory could move him rapidly toward the top five.
8. Devin Haney
Previous Ranking: #8
Devin Haney remains one of boxing’s most accomplished fighters under 30.
His jab, ring IQ, preparation and ability to control distance have carried him successfully across multiple divisions.
Haney may not possess the knockout power of several fighters around him, but pound-for-pound rankings aren’t knockout rankings.
His overall body of work keeps him at No. 8.
9. Junto Nakatani
Previous Ranking: #9
Fight Week isn’t going to punish fighters simply for accepting difficult fights.
Nakatani’s first professional defeat came against the fighter we currently rank No. 1 in the world.
That loss does not erase his championship accomplishments, technical ability or punching power.
Taking risks against elite opposition should matter.
Nakatani remains a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter.
10. Canelo Alvarez
Previous Ranking: #10
Canelo Alvarez is no longer at the peak of the pound-for-pound rankings, but his overall résumé remains impossible to ignore.
World championships across four weight divisions and years spent fighting elite opposition continue to carry significant weight.
Younger fighters are beginning to pass him.
But Fight Week isn’t ready to remove Canelo from the top 10 yet.
11-20: Knocking on the Door
11. Jai Opetaia
The elite cruiserweight continues to make a strong case for the top 10.
Opetaia’s combination of athleticism, power and championship experience puts him one significant victory away from making a serious jump.
12. Oscar Collazo
Boxing’s smaller weight classes deserve pound-for-pound recognition, and Oscar Collazo continues to demand it.
Speed, pressure, technique and surprising power make him one of the most complete fighters near the bottom of boxing’s weight spectrum.
13. Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s combination of pressure and fight-changing power makes him dangerous against anyone.
Another victory over elite opposition could send Ortiz directly toward the top 10.
14. Rafael Espinoza
At featherweight, Espinoza presents an unusual combination of tremendous size, aggression and knockout power.
He remains undefeated and continues to build a stronger pound-for-pound case.
15. Sebastian Fundora
Fundora has evolved considerably during his career.
His extraordinary height and reach initially made him interesting.
His improved skill, experience and ability to win major fights have made him legitimate.
16. O’Shaquie Foster
Foster remains one of the best technical boxers around 130 pounds.
His professional record isn’t perfect, but Fight Week values current ability and quality of competition more than the zero in the loss column.
17. Raymond Muratalla
Muratalla continues to establish himself among the world’s best lightweights.
He remains undefeated and has reached the point where his next major matchup could determine whether he belongs inside the pound-for-pound Top 15.
18. Dalton Smith
Dalton Smith’s rise has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
His combination of boxing ability, power and his victory over Subriel Matias earned him a place in our inaugural Top 20.
He stays there in September.
19. Emanuel Navarrete
Navarrete remains one of boxing’s most unconventional—and effective—fighters.
His awkward angles, volume, power and championship experience have produced an excellent career.
The style isn’t textbook.
The results speak for themselves.
20. Keyshawn Davis
Keyshawn Davis remains the Fight Week Top 20’s projection pick.
His résumé isn’t as extensive as many fighters above him, but his speed, technique, athleticism and upside make him difficult to leave out.
Now he needs another significant victory to prove he belongs here long term.
No Changes? That’s the Point
It’s tempting to move fighters every month simply because a new ranking is being published.
Fight Week isn’t going to do that.
Nobody in August produced a result compelling enough to change the order of our Top 20.
So there is no movement this month.
That doesn’t make the September rankings boring.
It makes them consistent.
When somebody moves up the Fight Week rankings, we want the change to mean something.
Fight Week P4P Watch List
These fighters aren’t in the Top 20 yet, but they’re firmly on our radar.
Agit Kabayel
The heavyweight division is changing rapidly, and Kabayel continues to establish himself among its most dangerous fighters.
Brian Norman Jr.
Young, powerful and talented, Norman remains close to cracking the Fight Week Top 20.
Abdullah Mason
One of boxing’s most exciting young fighters. Mason may not need much longer before talent turns into a pound-for-pound résumé.
Filip Hrgovic
Hrgovic’s dramatic heavyweight title victory over Moses Itauma gives him one of the biggest recent wins outside our Top 20.
Another major victory would make his case much harder to ignore.
William Zepeda
Zepeda’s pressure, volume and offensive output keep him on the edge of the rankings.
Who Can Shake Up the Rankings Next?
The top of the Fight Week rankings is stable.
That won’t last forever.
Inoue has Bam Rodriguez chasing him from the lower divisions. Stevenson continues adding accomplishments. Benavidez keeps moving into bigger challenges. Boots Ennis appears capable of making a major push.
Meanwhile, prospects and champions outside the Top 20 are beginning to build cases of their own.
For September, however, the verdict is clear.
Naoya Inoue remains No. 1.
And for the first time since launching the Fight Week Pound-for-Pound Top 20, every fighter holds his position.
That could change with one fight.
Fight Week Pound-for-Pound Top Five
- Naoya Inoue
- Oleksandr Usyk
- Shakur Stevenson
- Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
- David Benavidez
Who do you have at No. 1? Who is ranked too high, who is ranked too low, and who should break into the Top 20 next?
Join the discussion and check back next month for the updated Fight Week Pound-for-Pound Top 20.
The Fight Week Pound-for-Pound Top 20 is an independent editorial ranking and is not affiliated with any sanctioning organization.
