Top Five Fighters Whose Careers Started Since 2000?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Fogger, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:32 PM.


Who do you got?

This poll will close on Oct 11, 2026 at 10:32 PM.

  1. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez

    12 vote(s)
    63.2%

  2. Artur Beterbiev

    5 vote(s)
    26.3%

  3. Dmitrii Bivol

    1 vote(s)
    5.3%

  4. Terence Crawford

    13 vote(s)
    68.4%

  5. Gennady Golovkin

    8 vote(s)
    42.1%

  6. Roman Gonzalez

    6 vote(s)
    31.6%

  7. Naoya Inoue

    16 vote(s)
    84.2%

  8. Kenshiro Teraji

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. Oleksandr Usyk

    17 vote(s)
    89.5%

  10. Andre Ward

    1 vote(s)
    5.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    Reading a different thread got me thinking about this. Retired or not, who are the top five fighters whose careers started no earlier than 2000? This eliminates Mayweather, Pacquiao and quite a few others.

    My question is based on the results of their careers not necessarily skill level. As an example, Vasyl Lomachenko, is probably the most uniquely skilled fighter of this century but he certainly has not had one of the top five or top ten careers. (I am sure you will feel free, if not downright compelled, to disagree.)

    You have ten poll choices, please pick five. It was extremely difficult narrowing it down to the top ten and I am sure some will have other choices. Please note this when you post your top five. They don't have to be in order but it would be great if you did. My top five are

    1. Oleksandr Usyk
    2. Terence Crawford
    3. Naoya Inoue
    4. Canelo Alvarez
    5. Gennady Golovkin

    On a different day I might switch Usyk and Crawford and leave Alvarez and Golovkin off altogether but this is what I think today.
     
    Fogger, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:32 PM
    Fogger, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:32 PM
    #1
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  2. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    My personal Top 5, my criteria is... how much I like watching them!

    1. Joe Calzaghe
    2. Sergio Martinez
    3. Oleksandr Usyk
    4. Sergey Kovalev
    5. Gennady Golovkin
     
    CST80, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:37 PM
    CST80, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:37 PM
    #2
    ForemanJab and Fogger like this.
  3. NoChin

    NoChin Doby Zhee in Three!!! Full Member

    10,030
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    Aug 1, 2023
    Inoue
    Crawfert
    GGG

    Forget the rest.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2026 at 12:30 AM
    NoChin, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM
    NoChin, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM
    #3
  4. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    Aug 9, 2021
    Just a note, Calzaghe started in 1993.
     
    Fogger, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:15 AM
    Fogger, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:15 AM
    #4
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  5. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    Nov 23, 2013
    Missed that part.:lol: I'll replace him with Naoya Inoue.
     
    CST80, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:21 AM
    CST80, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:21 AM
    #5
    Fogger likes this.
  6. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    I believe it's almost 3:30 in the morning where you are. Don't you know that there are people in poor parts of the world who would kill to have a bed. You should use yours.
     
    Fogger, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:25 AM
    Fogger, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:25 AM
    #6
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  7. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

    261,155
    265,565
    Nov 23, 2013
    They don't have insomnia like I do.:lol: Instead of laying in bed trying to go to sleep, I stay up until I get tired and start passing out, then stagger into my bedroom and go to sleep.:lol: It's my system.
     
    CST80, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:37 AM
    CST80, Aug 12, 2026 at 12:37 AM
    #7
    Fogger likes this.
  8. Chuck Norris

    Chuck Norris Obsessed with Boxing

    27,962
    40,678
    Aug 31, 2016
    Inoue, Crawford, Usyk, Canelo, Gonzalez.
     
    Chuck Norris, Aug 12, 2026 at 6:24 AM
    Chuck Norris, Aug 12, 2026 at 6:24 AM
    #8
    Fogger likes this.
  9. Ike

    Ike Active Member Full Member

    881
    1,252
    Feb 20, 2025
    Usyk
    Crawford
    Ward
    Inoue
    GGG
     
    Ike, Aug 12, 2026 at 9:14 AM
    Ike, Aug 12, 2026 at 9:14 AM
    #9
    Fogger likes this.
  10. ipitythefool

    ipitythefool Prediction ? Pain Full Member

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    13,001
    Mar 17, 2017
    1. Oleksandr Usyk
    2. Naoya Inoue
    3. Terence Crawford
    4. Canelo Alvarez
    5. Gennady Golovkin

    I like both Bivol and Beb but their relative inactivity at the top level prevents them getting on this list imho.
     
    ipitythefool, Aug 12, 2026 at 11:59 AM
    ipitythefool, Aug 12, 2026 at 11:59 AM
    #10
    MagnificentMatt and Fogger like this.
  11. DirtyDan

    DirtyDan Worst Poster of 2015 Full Member

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    There's no way Usyk is above someone like Inoue, debatable that he's above Crawford. Canelo also gets seriously underrated when you look at his body of work compared to other fighters)

    1. Inoue(26-0 in world title fights, 17-0 against champions) 4 division champ, 2 time undisputed in different weight classes top 5 wins, (Nakatani, Fulton, Donaire 1, Narvaez, Rodriguez)
    2. Crawford(20-0 in world title fights, 12-0 against champions) 5 division champ, 3 time undisputed in different weight classes top 5 wins (Canelo, Spence, Porter, Gamboa, Postol)
    3. Usyk(11-0 in championship fights, 12-0 against champions) 2 time undisputed in different weight classes top 5 wins (Joshua 1, Fury 1, Dubios 2, Joshua 2, Fury 2)
    4. Canelo Alvarez(23-3-1 in championship fights, 21-3-1 against champions) 4 division champ,1 time undipusted in different weight classes top 5 wins (Golovkin 2, BJS, Callum Smith, Lara, Kovalev)
    5. Roman Gonzalez(16-3 in world title fights, 11-3 against champions) 4 division champ, top 5 wins (Estrada 1, Yaegashi, Cuadras, Viloria, Sosa)
    6. Andre Ward(8-0 in world title fights, 7-0 against champions) 2 division lineal/unified champ, top 5 wins (Froch, Kessler, Kovalev 2, Kovalev 1, Dawson)

    Couple notes... Shakur Stevenson and Bam Rodriguez are slowly creeping up the top spots, couple more top wins and they'll overtake Ward and Gonzalez.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2026 at 1:37 PM
    DirtyDan, Aug 12, 2026 at 1:26 PM
    DirtyDan, Aug 12, 2026 at 1:26 PM
    #11
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  12. The Professor

    The Professor Socialist Ring Leader Staff Member

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    1.Oleksandr Usyk
    2. Naoya Inoue
    3. Terence Crawford
    4. Saul Alvarez
    5. Roman Gonzalez
     
    The Professor, Aug 12, 2026 at 2:24 PM
    The Professor, Aug 12, 2026 at 2:24 PM
    #12
    ikrasevic, MagnificentMatt and Fogger like this.