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Boxing top 10 pound-for-pound list: Loma leads the way

By Matthew Saljanin

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Vasiliy Lomachenko celebrates his Junior Lightweight bout victory over Guillermo Rigondeaux at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Vasiliy Lomachenko celebrates his Junior Lightweight bout victory over Guillermo Rigondeaux at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 16: (L-R) Gennady Golovkin throws a punch at Canelo Alvarez during their WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 16: (L-R) Gennady Golovkin throws a punch at Canelo Alvarez during their WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin

Record: 38-0-1, 34 KOs

GGG was last seen in action on Cinco de Mayo, where he brutalized the overmatched Vanes Martirosyian. The fight was in place of the highly anticipated rematch with Canelo Alvarez, which was called off when Canelo failed two drug tests for the banned substance clenbuterol.

The fight with Martirosyian ended via knockout in the second round, and GGG appeared to be back in form. In his previous two fights (against Canelo and Jacobs), GGG failed to earn a knockout.

On top of not knocking them out, both Canelo and Jacobs were able to land more shots than fans were accustomed to seeing other opponents land on Golovkin, leading many to feel Golovkin’s best days were behind him.

However, it seems as though GGG has not slipped as much as some believed. He looked like the Golovkin of old against Martirosyian, landing punishing shots at will.

As the undeniable middleweight king, Golovkin belongs in the top five of any pound for pound list. He has dominated the division, had an absurd 24 fight KO streak, and has defended his title 20 times, which ties Bernard Hopkins’ record for the middleweight division.

GGG does not have many “big name” fighters on his record, but this is due in part to many of the those boxers not wanting to fight him earlier in his career. Additionally, he wiped out the middleweight division, and did so in dominating fashion.

The hardest hitter in the sport pound-for-pound, Golovkin is a fan favorite who delivers an exciting fight every time he is in the ring.

While Usyk is the undisputed champion of his division, GGG has dominated his division longer. There is not much separating these two in the rankings, and their order could have easily gone the other way.

Next fight: Sept. 15 in a much anticipated rematch against Canelo Alvarez. This is one of the biggest fights to make in the sport, as few fights can garner the level of mainstream attention that this fight will.

Their first fight was a fantastic show that resulted in a disputed draw. If the rematch is anything like the first fight, fans will be in for a treat.

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