Naoya Inoue doesn’t yet have a firm grip on boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound spot, though he insists he should. The undisputed super bantamweight champion from Japan, currently ranked No. 3 by The Ring, is locked in a three-way battle for supremacy with No.2-ranked Oleksandr Usyk and the king Terence Crawford. Even before Crawford made history by becoming a three-division undisputed champion, Inoue had declared, “I am the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.” And he backed up that bold claim last week with a dominant win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev, leaving little doubt about where he stands.

“This is the greatest fighter in the world,” his promoter Bob Arum roared to the sold-out crowd at IG Arena, as the 31-0 boxer dismantled a fearless Akhmadaliev just hours after Crawford’s historic triumph in Las Vegas. Once again, Inoue showcased why he belongs at the top of the sport. Beyond his dominance in the ring, the Japanese superstar has become a global force, with his popularity now stretching well beyond his home country. And with that kind of momentum, there’s a strong chance he could soon unseat Terence Crawford as boxing’s next pound-for-pound king.

Can Naoya Inoue seize the pound-for-pound throne?

Yesterday, SourceofBoxing took to Instagram to post a picture of Naoya Inoue and posed the question: “If Naoya Inoue beats Alan Picasso in December, defeats Junto Nakatani in 2026, and then moves up to claim world titles at featherweight, would that cement him as the greatest fighter of this generation? 🤔”

And honestly, Naoya Inoue deserves respect for staying as active as he has. While champions like ‘Bud’ Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk typically fight once or twice a year at most, Inoue has been dominating opponents in three to four fights annually, often finishing with knockouts. For perspective, Terence Crawford’s last knockout came two years ago against Errol Spence Jr. In contrast, the 31-0 Japanese star has already beaten Ye Joon Kim by fourth-round KO, Ramon Cardenas by eighth-round TKO, and most recently scored a unanimous decision win at IG Arena in Nagoya, all in the same year. And he’s still not done, with another fight lined up for December.

Meanwhile, the undefeated Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk has earned the luxury of charting his own path. After his latest victory over Daniel Dubois via a fifth-round knockout, his mandatory WBO defense against Joseph Parker was put on hold due to a back injury. Meanwhile, a surprising potential opponent has emerged, a fight that, if Usyk takes it, could mark the final chapter of his career, as the 38-year-old champion edges closer to retirement.

Similarly, Terence Crawford, who turns 38 next week, has already secured his place among boxing’s all-time greats. Should Crawford take just a couple more fights before retiring, the path would be clear for Naoya Inoue to solidify his status as the greatest fighter of this generation, with the 32-year-old still in his prime and plenty of time left to leave his mark on the sport. The same is the case with Usyk.

The news Naoya Inoue would hate to hear

Before Ring Magazine’s latest update, Oleksandr Usyk held the No. 1 pound-for-pound ranking, with Naoya Inoue at No. 2 and Terence Crawford at No. 3. Canelo Alvarez was further down the list. But after the historic fights on September 13, the landscape shifted dramatically. Crawford surged to No. 1, pushing Usyk and Inoue each down a spot, while Canelo slipped to No. 10, now trailing behind David Benavidez.

Ultimately, the shake-up has fueled debate, particularly since Naoya Inoue also delivered a dominant performance and has cleared out his division over the past 26 months with six fights. In comparison, Crawford has fought just three times in the same span. Still, his accomplishment of becoming a three-division undisputed champion, a milestone no other male boxer has achieved in the four-belt era, earned him the edge in the rankings.

Even so, the Japanese ‘Monster’ has a strong case. Usyk has fought only four times in the last two years and is not expected back in the ring again this year, while Inoue is already lined up for a December fight against David Picasso and a possible showdown with Junto Nakatani next year. That said, do you think Naoya Inoue can be on top of the pound-for-pound list?