The 21st century has already featured some all-time boxing legends, from dominant heavyweights to dazzling multi-division stars. But who are the 10 best and in what order? And where the hell is Audley Harrison?
For a start, each fighter is ranked here on what they’ve done in the last 20 years, not before. So the likes of Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield and Ricardo Lopez all fought in the 2000s – but as they did their best work in the 1980s or 1990s, they’re less likely to feature. Simply, these are the 10 greatest boxers to define the last two decades.
- Andre Ward
W: 32 (16 KOs), L: 0
2004-2017 (USA)
For such a slick, smart Olympic gold medallist, Ward knew how to fight dirty when needed. Gifted at range or in close, Ward was rarely thrilling to watch but he cleaned out a strong super-middleweight division, outboxing Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch. Stepped up to 175lb and defeated Sergey Kovalev (controversially the first time, conclusively the second) and retired at age 33. It’s just a shame bouts of inactivity kept Ward out of the ring for so long.
- Joe Calzaghe
W: 46 (32 KOs), L: 0
1993-2008 (Britain)
Welsh southpaw was already 27-0 at the start of the millennium, but his career hit lift-off when he absolutely humiliated unbeaten American Jeff Lacy in 2006. That sparked a late-career surge that saw the quick-handed, high-octane Calzaghe unify at 168lb then step up in weight to outwork icons Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. Retired undefeated in a career path remarkably similar to Ward’s, but we’re giving Calzaghe the edge on sheer longevity.
- Vasyl Lomachenko
W: 15 (11 KOs), L: 2
2013-present (Ukraine)
With an astonishing 396-1 amateur record, Loma has packed an incredible amount into only 17 pro fights across three weight classes. Defeated Gary Russell Jr in his third fight, which is insane, and caused four opponents in a row to retire mid-fight because they simply couldn’t deal with his Matrix-style movement and the punches coming from all angles. A unique ring master who would be even higher on this list if he’d chosen to turn professional earlier.
- Gennady Golovkin
W: 43 (KOs 41), L: 1, D: 1
2006-present (Kazakhstan)
Golovkin can argue that his record should read: 45-0, the hotly disputed draw and defeat with rival Canelo Alvarez being the only blemishes. Finally slowing down at age 39 but in his prime, ‘Triple G’ was a formidable middleweight champion, boasting a world-class jab that he used to set up his devastating power shots. With a titanium jaw, the only knock on Golovkin is a relative lack of big names on his CV. But that’s mainly because nobody wanted to fight him.
- Canelo Alvarez
W: 56 (38 KOs), L: 1, D: 2
2005-present (Mexico)
The scary thing about the Mexican megastar is that he seems to improve with every fight. The counter puncher who couldn’t catch Floyd Mayweather in 2013 is now a versatile, all-round fighting machine capable of knocking out light-heavyweights even while he cleans out 168lb. Some will never let him forget the failed test for clenbuterol (least of all upcoming opponent Caleb Plant). But antagonising the current pound-for-pound No 1 may not be a wise move.
- Juan Manuel Marquez
W: 56 (40 KOs), L: 7, D: 1
1993-2014 (Mexico)
An all-time great technician, Marquez was the kryptonite to Manny Pacquiao’s Superman. Their epic rivalry officially finished 2-1 to Pac Man (with one draw), but JMM can argue the judges were very unkind. Four-weight world champion also beat the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera and Joel Casamayor. The only knock against Marquez is the questionable body change and surge in power he had at age 39 before knocking out Pacquiao in 2012.
- Roman Gonzalez
W: 50 (41 KOs), L: 3
2005-present (Nicaragua)
Imagine a smaller, Nicaraguan, orthodox version of Pacquiao – that’s the quick guide to ‘Chocolatito’, a 5ft 3in all-action buzzsaw. This four-weight world champion got to 46-0 before tasting his first defeat – and his two decision losses were both bad calls, so even now the super-flyweight should be 52-1. Approaching his mid-30s and with many miles on the clock, still had enough to end Kal Yafai’s unbeaten record and world title reign in 2020. A marvel.
- Bernard Hopkins
W: 55 (32 KOs), L: 8, D: 2, N/C: 2
1988-2016 (USA)
‘The Executioner’ turned 35 in January 2000. But it was his masterclass versus Felix Trinidad in 2001 that showed the world how good B-Hops really was. After a record middleweight title run, the grumpy old man stepped up to 175lb to upset Antonio Tarver, then kept pulling off wins against far younger foes just when he’d been written off. Also avenged an earlier defeat to Roy Jones Jr (absent from this list as he peaked in the 1990s). ‘The Alien’ indeed.
- Manny Pacquiao
W: 62 (39 KOs), L: 8, D: 2
1995-2021 (Philippines)
Barrera, Morales, Marquez, De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Margarito, Mosley – the fighters this multi-weight phenomenon gobbled up is a who’s-who of boxing greats. But that can’t describe the exhilarating joy of watching this human dynamo in action. Pac Man’s longevity was also incredible – he was still beating undefeated world champions at age 40 – though it remains a shame he didn’t get a Mayweather fight when he was at his jaw-dropping peak at 147lb.
- Floyd Mayweather
W: 50 (27 KOs), L: 0
1996-2017 (USA)
Announced his genius to the world when he took apart Diego Corrales in 2001 – then never stopped announcing it. Young ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd was the most fun version, with his fast, flashy skills. But the older, defensive master was just as impossible to defeat. Cherry-picked his opponents late in his career, which frustrated fight fans, but Mayweather was as crafty inside the ring as he was outside the ropes. Stands – with Pacquaio – among the best of any era.
Honorable mentions: Tyson Fury, Marco Antonio Barerra, Erik Morales, Oleksandr Usyk, Miguel Cotto, Terence Crawford, Sergio Martinez, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko