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The top 10 boxers of the last 10 years
Date: March 29, 2020By: Michael Daly
10) Deontay Wilder (2008-Pres)
Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images
Over his 12-year career, he amassed a 42-1-1 (41 KOs) record with most of those knockouts coming within the last 10 years. Wilder claimed the WBC heavyweight title on Jan. 17, 2015 via unanimous decision over Bermane Stiverne. He held the WBC belt for more than five years.
9) Terence Crawford (2008- Pres)
Fought for his first world title in March 2014, nearly six years after his pro debut. His overall record is 36-0 (27 KOs) and he has beaten notable opponents like Yuriorkis Gamboa, Viktor Postol, and Amir Khan. The switch-hitter is regarded as arguably the pound-for-pound best by many in 2020.
8) Vasyl Lomachenko (2013- Pres)
“Hi-Tech” Lomachenko is revered for his fundamental boxing skills and his ability to mix in his footwork with power. He has earned a 14-1 career record and his lone loss came in his second professional fight when he challenged Orlando Salido for the vacant WBO featherweight title.
7) Errol Spence Jr. (2012-Pres)
On May 27, 2017, Spence won his first world title when he ventured across the pond and took down Kell Brook for the IBF welterweight title. It is a toss-up between Spence and Crawford as to who is the best welterweight in the world. Spence’s career record is 26-0 (21 KOs).
6) Manny Pacquiao (1995-Pres)
When 2010 rolled around, Pacquiao just entered his prime and was in the midst of an incredible run across eight weight classes. Throughout his 25-year career, Pacquiao’s record stands at 62-7-2 (39 KOs). His most notable fight of last decade came in 2015 when he finally fought Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao suffered his first loss in over two years after losing to Mayweather. The latter stages of his career have been impressive and he recently defeated Keith Thurman last year for the WBA welterweight title.
5) Wladimir Klitschko (1996-2017)
Credit: Forbes
From 2004-2015, Klitschko went on an unprecedented run where he did not lose a single fight. He ended his career with an impressive 64-5 (53 KOs) record. He is known for his technical skills and his iron chin. Although the last fight of his career ended in a TKO loss to Anthony Joshua in April 2017, he knocked Joshua down once and picked himself up off the canvas several times.
4) Gennady Golovkin (2006-Pres)
Golovkin was easily the most feared man in the middleweight division for a five-year period during last decade. 40-1-1 (35 KOs) is his record and he has been able to maintain his power towards the back end of his career.
3) Canelo Alvarez (2005-Pres)
Oscar De La Hoya’s prized investment has panned out to say the very least. Alvarez’s only loss came to Mayweather in September 2013, which turned out to be a valuable learning experience for him. His career record is 53-2-1 and he has been able to move up and down in weight and dominate his opponents.
2) Andre Ward (2004-2017)
An underrated superstar that quietly retired after defeating Sergey Kovalev twice in 2016 and 2017. Ward ended his career with a 32-0 (16 KOs) record. He finished his career in 2017 as the pound-for-pound No.1 boxer in the world.
1) Floyd Mayweather (1996-2017)
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Mayweather is widely regarded as one of the five greatest boxers of all-time. He had stretches where he went at least one year between appearances in the ring but that did not stop him from breaking his opponents down with his signature counter-punches and pot shots. Mayweather retired several times during his career, and he came out of retirement in 2017 to box Conor McGregor and cemented his legacy at 50-0 (27 KOs).
Michael Daly is the Web Editor at WSOU SPORTS and can be reached at wsousportswebeditor@gmail.com.
