James Toney, the two-time Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year, has shared his top three pound-for-pound boxers. The former three-weight world champion left out some big names from his list.
Toney, known as "Lights Out" during his career, was an elite counterpuncher who never got stopped inside the distance in his 92 fights. He recently spoke to Title Sports Network about who he thinks are the best fighters in the world right now.
At the top of Toney's list is Terence Crawford. Crawford is the only boxer from the widely accepted top three to make Toney's cut.
In second place, Toney puts David Benavidez. The undefeated two-time super-middleweight champion is known for his all-action, high-volume style. Benavidez is now moving up to light-heavyweight, aiming to become the mandatory challenger for the winner of the undisputed contest between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Gervonta 'Tank' Davis rounds out Toney's top three. Davis holds the WBA Lightweight World Title and boasts an undefeated record of 30 wins, with only two fights going the distance. Many consider Davis to be possibly the hardest puncher relative to weight class in the sport today.
Notably absent from Toney's list are Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue. Usyk has achieved the rare feat of being undisputed champion in both cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, defeating Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury along the way. He's set to face Fury again in a rematch, putting his undefeated record on the line.
Inoue, another fighter left off Toney's list, is a four-weight world champion known for his exceptional punching power in the lower weight classes.
Crawford, Usyk, and Inoue are often considered the top three pound-for-pound fighters by many boxing experts. They're the only men to be two-time undisputed champions in the four-belt era.
Toney's rankings offer a different perspective on the current boxing landscape, highlighting fighters he believes deserve recognition among the world's best.