Juan Manuel Marquez, the legendary three-weight world champion, has named Naoya Inoue as his pound-for-pound number one boxer. The Mexican fighter, known for his epic battles with Manny Pacquiao and win over Marco Antonio Barrera, shared his rankings in a recent interview.
Marquez, who was Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year in 2012, picked Inoue over other top contenders like Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk. These three fighters stand out in the current boxing landscape as the only men to become two-division undisputed champions in the four-belt era.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Marquez explained why he rates the Japanese fighter so highly:
"Inoue puts everything in the ring. He makes pressure, throws a lot of punches, and fights against great opponents. He's also very active, fighting two or three times a year."
Marquez ranked Crawford second, calling him a "great fighter," and placed Usyk third, noting his recent victory over Tyson Fury.
All three boxers have made significant statements recently. Crawford dominated Errol Spence Jr at welterweight, Usyk outpointed and hurt Tyson Fury at heavyweight, and Inoue knocked out Marlon Tapales to become undisputed at super-bantamweight.
Looking ahead, Inoue will defend his four super-bantamweight belts against TJ Doheny in September. Usyk is set for a rematch with Fury in December, while Crawford is still deciding on his next move, with a potential fight against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez on the horizon.
Marquez's ranking comes as a strong endorsement for Inoue, considering the Mexican's own storied career and deep understanding of the sport. The Japanese fighter's combination of pressure, volume punching, quality opposition, and high activity rate has clearly left a lasting impression on one of boxing's modern greats.
