The perfect opponent for Inoue may not even exist

Naoya Inoue may be the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.

- ALEX PATTLE

That sentiment has been shared enough times on these pages, even amid Oleksandr Usyk's back-to-back victories over Tyson Fury in 2024, and Terence Crawford’s repeated triumphs. In fact, there are no better measuring sticks for Inoue than Usyk and Crawford.

Inoue, Crawford and Usyk – The Independent’s top three poundfor-pound boxers, in that order – are the only fighters in the four-belt era to have been undisputed champions at two weights. Crawford did it first, adding undisputed welterweight gold to his super-lightweight silverware; Inoue followed later in 2023, becoming undeniable at super-bantamweight, having previously earned that status at bantamweight; then Usyk got involved last May, the former cruiserweight king winning a classic with Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years.

And given all three men are unbeaten, you have to split hairs to separate them. Usyk is “only” a two-weight champion overall, while Crawford’s latest win made him a four-weight champion. Inoue has also held world titles in four divisions, but his knockout rate (25 KOs from 28 wins) eclipses those of Crawford and Usyk. An unmatched ruthlessness.

All of this is to say: the average boxing fan may be quick to name Crawford or Usyk as the greatest living boxer – they may not even be that aware of Inoue – but the Japanese’s achievements might actually surpass the American and Ukrainian’s. Inoue’s profile does not match his prowess, basically.