Naoya Inoue ascends to top of boxing's P4P rankings
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 1, 2026, 1:54 AM
Last updated Sep 1, 2026
Naoya Inoue has taken the top spot in the men’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings following a victory over Junto Nakatani in Tokyo on May 2, 2026. Inoue defended his undisputed junior featherweight titles with a decision win, marking his seventh defense. Oleksandr Usyk falls to second place after giving up his heavyweight titles while preparing for a final bout, with Deontay Wilder a potential opponent. Jesse Rodriguez, Shakur Stevenson, and David Benavidez round out the top five as they continue to build momentum in their respective divisions. Several fighters are currently seeking opponents for upcoming bouts, with some still finalizing arrangements for their next matches.
- •Naoya Inoue is now ranked first after defeating Junto Nakatani.
- •Oleksandr Usyk dropped to second and is planning a farewell fight.
- •Jesse Rodriguez won the WBA title in his bantamweight debut.
- •Shakur Stevenson is pursuing a unification fight with Gary Antuanne Russell.
- •David Benavidez became a three-division champion following a win over Gilberto Ramirez.
- 1:54 AMYahoo Sports — Boxing pound-for-pound rankings (Sept. 2026): Oleksandr Usyk ousted as a new No. 1 is crowned
- 1:38 PMYahoo Sports — Men’s boxing top 12 P4P rankings: Oleksandr Usyk no longer No. 1
"A fractured orbital bone, a farewell tour and a stalled superfight all reshaped the picture at the top of the sport.
"There’s a new king of the mountain in the sweet science.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 1, 2026, 1:54 AMBoxing 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.
- Yahoo SportsAug 30, 2026, 1:38 PMMen’s boxing top 12 P4P rankings: Oleksandr Usyk no longer No. 1
A fractured orbital bone, a farewell tour and a stalled superfight all reshaped the picture at the top of the sport.
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