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Pound for pound list as of November 2018: Loma still on top

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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YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 07: Champion Naoya Inoue of Japan celebrates defeating Challenger Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic in round one during the WBA bantamweight title bout as a part of the WBC Light Flyweight title bout at Yokohama Arena on October 7, 2018 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 07: Champion Naoya Inoue of Japan celebrates defeating Challenger Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic in round one during the WBA bantamweight title bout as a part of the WBC Light Flyweight title bout at Yokohama Arena on October 7, 2018 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) /

7.  Naoya Inoue

17-0, 15 KOs

Previous Ranking: 9

Also known as ‘The Monster,’ Inoue is arguably the least known fighter on this list, but he is on a path similar to the great Lomachenko.

In just eight fights, Inoue became a two-division world champion, and in his 16th fight, he moved up to his third weight class to challenge WBA “regular” champion Jamie McDonnell, stopping him in just one round.

Following the destruction of McDonnell, it was announced that Inoue would be entering the WBSS Bantamweight tournament, and in his first-round matchup, he laid waste to Juan Carlos Payano, earning his second consecutive first-round knockout.

First-round knockouts are always impressive, but the fact that Inoue is doing it on a top level, in his third weight class, is something special. He figures to be the favorite to win the entire WBSS, which would likely land him in the top five pound for pound (and there is an argument to be made for him to be up there already).

At just 25 years old, Inoue is not even in his physical prime yet, which is a scary thought. The sky is the limit for ‘The Monster’ and he figures to be around for a long time.

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