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The top 10 pound-for-pound boxers pre-Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev II

By Zachary Alapi

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev pose for photographs at the end of the press conference at the Roosevelt Ballroom on April 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Sergey Kovalev will challenge Andre Ward for the Unified Light Heavyweight World Championship Saturday, June 17, 2017 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev pose for photographs at the end of the press conference at the Roosevelt Ballroom on April 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Sergey Kovalev will challenge Andre Ward for the Unified Light Heavyweight World Championship Saturday, June 17, 2017 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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8. Naoya Inoue

A few years from now, boxing fans may very well be revering Naoya Inoue the way Roman Gonzalez was greeted upon finally getting featured on HBO. Inoue, a Japanese prodigy who already has an 8-0 record in world title fights at age 24, is one of the sport’s most gifted fighters, a devastating puncher who punishes opponents to the body and has exceptional technique to complement his raw gifts. The question for Inoue is whether he will make that Stateside splash earlier than Chocolatito.

Ironically, Inoue’s golden ticket could be a Gonzalez unification fight should Chocolatito regain his WBC strap against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. If Gonzalez wins that fight decisively, a match against Inoue (13-0, 11 KOs) on U.S. soil, if properly promoted and supported by a compelling co-feature, would be more than worthy of headlining an edition of HBO World Championship Boxing. Gonzalez has built up a solid following in America thanks to being featured alongside Gennady Golovkin and delivering thrilling performances, and Inoue could easily be sold to boxing’s discerning fans who haven’t yet had the chance to see him fight.

Another solid option for Inoue would be Gonzalez victim and former champion Carlos Cuadras, who has developed a profile on HBO as well. Cuadras, however, did struggle against David Carmona in his last fight. Regardless, Inoue, a major star in Japan, will continue to dominate his opposition until a marquee opportunity presents itself. Already a two-weight champion who will continue to grow as he approaches his athletic prime, Inoue is a legitimately special talent who will be at or near the top of this list for the next seven (or so) years.

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