The Top 10 Male Boxers of 2025 (So Far)
Boxing in 2025 has delivered high drama, legacy-defining fights, and unforgettable storylines. With some of the biggest names in the sport clashing in packed arenas across the globe, this year’s race for Male Boxer of the Year is heating up fast.
Unlike traditional pound-for-pound rankings or weight-class breakdowns, this list looks at who stepped up in the biggest moments. Who took the hardest fights? Who beat top opponents? And who made headlines for the right reasons?
From comeback kings to dominant champions, these are the ten boxers leading the charge as Male Boxer of the Year, based on quality of opposition, activity, and impact inside—and outside—the ring.
10. Isaac Cruz
Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz reminded everyone why he’s one of boxing’s most dangerous pressure fighters in 2025. After losing his WBA title in 2024, he came back swinging—literally. He scored a fan-favorite win over Angel Fierro in February in a slugfest that had “Fight of the Year” written all over it.
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Cruz then captured the interim WBC super lightweight title in July with a clean sweep against Omar Salcido, even dropping him in the final round. What makes Cruz stand out isn’t just his relentlessness, but the excitement he brings to every bout.
He may not have faced the deepest roster of elite names this year, but he made every second in the ring count. If the rumored fight against Lamont Roach happens in December, Cruz could cap off a powerful redemption year.
9. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
At just 25, Jesse Rodriguez continues to prove why he’s one of the slickest fighters on the planet. In 2025, he didn’t fight often—but when he did, he made it count. His unification win over Phumelela Cafu in July was a brutal statement of intent.
Rodriguez dominated the fight, using angles, pressure, and vicious body shots to force a corner stoppage in the 10th round. It was a performance that showed why he's already a two-division world champion.
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His footwork and IQ make him a nightmare matchup for anyone at super flyweight. If Bam closes out the year with another major win, he’ll be in serious contention for top honors.
8. Naoya Inoue
Inoue’s nickname is “The Monster,” and in 2025, he’s lived up to it once again. He kicked off the year with a KO win in Tokyo, survived a knockdown to beat Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas, and outboxed Murodjon Akhmadaliev to retain his belts in Nagoya.
He continues to be must-watch TV. Inoue’s combination of speed, power, and precision is unmatched in his division. His ability to shift gears mid-fight makes him a complete fighter.
Fans want a career-defining rival to test him, and Junto Nakatani could be the one. But even without that showdown, Inoue remains one of the sport’s most consistently dominant champions.
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7. Ricardo Sandoval
2025 is the year Ricardo Sandoval went from prospect to problem. He pulled off one of the year’s biggest upsets by traveling to Japan and stopping long-reigning flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji in his own backyard.
It wasn’t just that Sandoval won—it’s how he did it. Relentless pressure, brutal body shots, and fearless execution defined the night. He silenced the Tokyo crowd and stunned the boxing world.
That win didn’t just put him on the map—it changed his career. Now a unified flyweight champion, Sandoval is suddenly one of the most exciting fighters in the lower weight classes.
6. Junto Nakatani
Junto “Big Bang” Nakatani is living up to the hype. He went 2-0 in 2025, first stopping David Cuellar with a devastating body shot, then unifying titles by forcing Ryosuke Nishida to retire mid-fight due to a swollen eye.
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At 31-0 with 24 KOs, Nakatani is the total package: speed, power, and patience. His calm in chaos and ability to change tempo at will make him elite.
A potential clash with Naoya Inoue is already being called Japan’s Hagler-Hearns. If it happens, it could be one of the biggest boxing events in the country’s history.
5. Chris Eubank Jr
Chris Eubank Jr finally got the spotlight he’s long been chasing. His high-stakes clash with Conor Benn in 2025 turned into a national event, and Eubank delivered, winning a brutal contest that captivated fans across the UK.
The drama didn’t stop in the ring—his long-estranged father, Chris Eubank Sr, made a surprise return to walk his son out. It was boxing theater at its finest.
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With a rematch set for November, Eubank has a chance to deliver yet another chapter in what’s become one of the sport’s most emotionally charged rivalries.
4. Shakur Stevenson
Shakur Stevenson has always had elite defense, but in 2025, he added serious offense to the mix. His TKO of Josh Padley was sharp, but it was his dismantling of William Zepeda that elevated his year.
Facing a volume puncher many believed would overwhelm him, Stevenson adjusted mid-fight, landed clean counters, and made a tough opponent look ordinary. The performance turned heads.
Stevenson’s ring IQ and timing make him a master technician. He’s building a legacy not just on talent, but on taking real risks—and winning.
3. Rolly Romero
Once known more for his mouth than his hands, Rolly Romero changed the narrative in 2025. His upset win over Ryan Garcia shocked the sport and earned him the WBA super lightweight title.
Romero, born and raised in Las Vegas, became one of the few “Battle Born” fighters to win on the world stage. His awkward style and erratic movement gave Garcia fits.
Now a world champ, Rolly has silenced critics and opened the door to bigger fights. He’s gone from punchline to power player.
2. Dmitry Bivol
Dmitry Bivol’s rematch with Artur Beterbiev was personal—and historic. After losing a tight decision in 2024, Bivol came back with a masterclass performance to unify the light heavyweight division in 2025.
The win gave him the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, and Ring Magazine belts. Few fighters in boxing history have unified a division in this fashion.
Whether it’s a trilogy with Beterbiev, a Canelo rematch, or a fight against Benavidez or Yarde, Bivol now sits one win away from possibly closing the year as boxing’s top man.
1. Terence Crawford
There’s greatness, and then there’s Terence Crawford in 2025. Moving up two weight classes to face Canelo Alvarez—one of boxing’s most iconic champions—Crawford pulled off a 12-round masterclass that stunned the world.
At 168 pounds, having only previously fought at 154 once, Crawford didn’t just survive—he dominated. He out-thought, out-boxed, and outclassed a bigger, stronger opponent on boxing’s biggest stage.
Some are calling it the greatest win of the past 50 years. With this victory, Crawford joins legends like Roberto Durán and Henry Armstrong—fighters who dared to be great and delivered.
