There is no belt for it, there is no ringside judge who can declare the winner and not even the sanctioning bodies can recognise it.

Yet few accolades in boxing trigger more serious debate who is the pound-for-pound No 1.

Whether on social media, in the crowds at the big fights, or in bars and pubs the world over, the discussion over who is the best in boxing when weight does not matter is often the biggest topic of conversation.

But who do boxing insiders rate most highly?

The Athletic has canvassed the opinion of 25 stakeholders in the sport to get their top 10 pound-for-pound lists. We’ve kept our panel’s votes anonymous to ensure they had more freedom to be honest rather than protecting their professional or personal relationships, but they break down as follows:

Four promoters and publicists
Five managers
Three trainers
13 former and current fighters

The No 1 picks in their list received 10 points, the second got nine, the third eight, fourth seven and so on, with the 10th getting one point. The fighters were then ranked by their total score.

10. Devin Haney

Division: Welterweight
Age: 27
Country: USA
Record: 33-0

Haney started his professional career in Mexico at the age of 17, as the U.S. does not allow boxers to compete until 18. He became a world lightweight champion at 20 and has since moved up to win titles at super-lightweight and welterweight. He was controversially beaten by Ryan Garcia in 2024 but that was changed to a no-contest because his opponent failed a drugs test. His biggest win was a closely contested bout with Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2023, while his unanimous victory over Brian Norman Jr in November was impressive.

9. Artur Beterbiev

Division: Light-heavyweight
Age: 41
Country: Russia
Record: 21-1

A highly-decorated amateur who turned professional 13 years ago, Beterbiev was a much-feared puncher as he rose up the light-heavyweight rankings, having based himself out of Canada. He started to collect titles in the division before his two brilliant fights with compatriot Dmitry Bivol in 2024 and 2025. He won the first and lost the second but injuries have prevented him from fighting since.

8. Jai Opetaia

Division: Cruiserweight
Age: 31
Country: Australia
Record: 30-0

The Sydney-born fighter’s best win probably came against Mairis Briedis in 2022 and he beat the Latvian again in 2024. He has had some quality, eye-catching performances which have showcased his skill but the two-time world champion has had a lack of consistent bouts against top opposition.

Jai Opetaia needs more consistent bouts against top-class opponents (Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

7. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis

Division: Super-welterweight
Age: 29
Country: USA
Record: 36-0

Now a two-weight world champion, having moved up to super-welterweight and won the WBA and WBO titles in an impressive victory over Xander Zayas, Ennis is a fighter of old-school Philadelphia style who has also reigned as champion at welterweight. This has not been the most illustrious era for the 147lb division but victory over Eimantas Stanionis in 2024 was impressive.

6. David Benavidez

Division: Cruiserweight
Age: 29
Country: USA
Record: 32-0

Now a three-weight world champion after a stunning sixth-round win over Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez back in May, the American-Mexican is a heavy-handed skilled fighter who has won titles at super-middleweight, light-heavyweight and cruiserweight. A Canelo Alvarez fight has evaded him but his biggest nights are still ahead.

5. Shakur Stevenson

Division: Super-lightweight
Age: 29
Country: USA
Record: 25-0

One of the standout American fighters, his last outing was an impressive win over Teofimo Lopez as he moved up to super-lightweight to win a fifth world title in a fourth weight class. A silky-skilled southpaw, the New Jersey native also has notable wins over Oscar Valdez and William Zepeda.

4. Dmitry Bivol

Division: Light-heavyweight
Age: 35
Country: Russia
Record: 25-1

A highly skilled boxer who had long been an avoided foe for many, Bivol won the WBA title, which helped entice opponents to the challenge. He beat Canelo Alvarez in 2022 when the Mexican stepped back up to light-heavyweight but his two defining fights came against compatriot Beterbiev. He lost the first bout in a closely contested but debatable defeat before getting revenge in the rematch last year to become undisputed champion.

Dmitry Bivol celebrates after becoming undisputed world light heavyweight champion after his second fight with Artur Beterbiev (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

3. Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez

Division: Bantamweight
Age: 26
Country: USA
Record: 26-0

A three-weight world champion at just 26 with titles at flyweight, super-flyweight and most recently bantamweight, the Texan is exciting to watch, has fast hands and his aggressive style makes him a draw for fans. Notable wins over Juan Francisco Estrada and Carlos Cuadras at super-flyweight while he superbly broke down Britain’s Sunny Edwards at flyweight.

2. Naoya Inoue

Division: Super-bantamweight
Age: 33
Country: Japan
Record: 33-0

One of the most feared punchers on the planet despite standing at just 5ft 5in and competing at super-bantamweight. He has won world titles in four weight divisions and been undisputed champion in two of them. ‘The Monster’, as he is known, is fast, ferocious and fabulous to watch. Many believe the only way he can lose is if he goes too high in weight.

1. Oleksandr Usyk

Division: Heavyweight
Age: 39
Country: Ukraine
Record: 25-0

Usyk conquered cruiserweight by winning all four belts on the road after turning professional following a stellar amateur career. The Ukrainian then went up to heavyweight in an era of giants in the division and beat everyone of note — despite being smaller than most, at 6ft 3in — to become undisputed again. No longer a world champion, having recently given up all his belts, but he is still the best in most people’s eyes.

Oleksandr Usyk is in the twilight of his career but remains hugely admired (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Who are the most notable fighters to miss out?

Mexican super-middleweight great Canelo Alvarez is probably the biggest casualty but his defeat by the now-retired Terence Crawford last September and inactivity since probably cost him votes.

Mexico’s impressive three-weight champion and current IBF and WBO super-featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete is perhaps unlucky not to be in the top 10.

Japan’s Junto Nakatani recently lost for the first time to Inoue in an entertaining fight after moving up from bantamweight but as a three-weight world champion is still very highly regarded.

Unbeaten Texan Vergil Ortiz Jr is locked in a dispute with Golden Boy Promotions, which has stopped him from a defining fight with Ennis. That bout could see him shoot up the rankings if he was to land it and win.

Others to receive votes from our panel included: strawweight champion Oscar Collazo, super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster, WBO heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, Mexican super-lightweight Isaac Cruz and soon-to-be returning Ukrainian Vasiliy Lomachenko.

How might this change?

Usyk’s decision to drop the three world titles and search for a ‘last dance’ opponent as he nears retirement may soon see him slide down this table, given his remarkable career is nearing its end.

For now, given he remains unbeaten and active, he will be near the top of people’s pound-for-pound lists because of his extraordinary achievements.

Inoue did come top in 10 of our panellists’ lists and was within a whisker of No 1 spot but there are still plenty of big nights ahead for him.

A fight with Rodriguez appears to be in the near future once the talented bantamweight steps up a division. Provisional discussions are under way and it would be a huge showdown between two of the finest fighters on the planet.

Bivol’s inactivity has not cost him a higher place but it may do soon. The Russian returned in May with a win over unheralded German Michael Eifert after 15 months out following his stunning win to avenge his loss to Beterbiev, but he is now undergoing elbow surgery and faces more time out.

His compatriot and former adversary Beterbiev has still not fought since that first career defeat but has maintained votes from the panel.

Stevenson is one of the hottest properties in U.S. boxing and after an impressive victory over Lopez in January to win a title at super-lightweight, the world is waiting on his next step with talks having taken place about signing with Zuffa Boxing.

Haney is another highly-regarded U.S. fighter but has frustratingly been inactive since November of last year, with his promotional future also in doubt. A bout with Stevenson at a catch-weight has been mooted.

Both men could surge up pound-for-pound lists with a win over each other, or other top contenders in their divisions.

Benavidez’s win over Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in May was one of the outstanding performances of the year and, now at cruiserweight, there is a clamour for him to potentially face Opetaia. That, however, is complicated by the latter being signed to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Opetaia’s standard of opposition in the last couple of years certainly makes him a surprise inclusion in the list. There is little doubting his abilities, but if he does not step up in class soon, that admiration may be replaced by frustration.

Ennis’ recent win over Zayas was mightily impressive as he broke down a bona fide world champion in emphatic fashion, and in entertaining style. He is certainly someone who may rise in these ranks over the coming months.