Top 10 Boxing Nations

Below is a list of the best current boxing nations. The first list was posted on December 7, 2018.

Rank	Nation	Top 10	Champs	5 Star	Div 10	Best
1	United States	4	1	32	49	Spence
2	Mexico	2	2	8	18	Canelo
3	United Kingdom	1	1	14	15	Taylor
4	Japan	1	0	3	15	Inoue
5	Russia	0	1	7	8	Bivol
6	Ukraine	1	0	4	5	Lomachenko
7	Cuba	0	1	2	7	Ugas
8	Philippines	0	0	2	8	Pacquiao
9	Thailand	0	0	1	4	SSR
10	Kazakhstan	1	0	1	1	Golovkin

Key:
Top 10: number of boxers from stated nation that are on my top 10 p4p list (current)
Champs: number of champions recognized by the Transnational Boxing Rankings (7 total)
5 Star: number of boxers who have 5 stars on BoxRec (take with a grain of salt, just meant to show a trend, nothing definitive.)

Div 10: The total number of top 10 fighters from that country in every weight division combined according to Transnational Boxing Rankings.
Best: In my opinion

1. The US. is far and away the number one boxing nation. With minor exceptions, the U.S. has representation in the top 10 from 122 pounds all the way up. The U.S. is strongest in the divisions around and including welterweight.. I have Spence, Crawford, Lopez, and Davis in my top 10 pound-for-pound. Lopez is the lone recognized champ, but there are three other divisions without champs in which and American fighter is #1. Not only does the U.S. have the most depth at the top, but also just outside the top ten in each division from 122 on up as well.

2. Mexico is up from 4th since my last list two years ago. That was a particularly low point for Mexican boxing. Super flyweight to featherweight are the best divisions for Mexico. Canelo is in the top 10 in three divisions and Munguia is the only other fighter who cracks a division's top ten above 140 pounds. Canelo is the #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He's the middleweight champ. The Ring lists him as the 168 pound champ, although the TBR doesn't. He's #1 at 268 there though. Estrada is the other champ and the other on my top 10 list. The difference between Mexico and the U.K. on this list is pretty close.

3. Last list, I listed England separately, but I listed the UK as one entity this time. No grand reason why the change. England was 3rd last time. The UK tends to be good in certain divisions, such as featherweight, junior welterweight, super middleweight, and heavyweight. Taylor, from Scotland, is the lone UK member of my top 10 pound-for-pound. Fury is the recognized heavyweight champ. If Fury and Joshua fight, the winner would elicit strong consideration in my top 10. BoxRec overrates heavyweights and British fighters, which is why their "5 star" is so out of whack compared to everything else on the chart.

4. Japan was 6th on the list last time. Japan had more than double the 5 star fighters two years ago, that is not indicative of Japanese boxing's standing. The 15 fighters in a division's top ten is more representative. Flyweight and junior flyweight are Japan's best divisions, but Japan is strong in virtually each division lightweight and lower. Murata is the only fighter in a top ten above 135 pounds. Inoue moved up my top ten pound-for-pound in the last two years, which helps move Japan up this list.

5. Russia was 5th two years ago. Light heavyweight continues to be the hottest division for Russian fighters. Russia has some one in the top ten from super middleweight on up. Beterbiev is the recognized light heavyweight champion although I believe Bivol would beat him if they fought. The winner of that fight would likely make my top 10 pound-for-pound list. Both are in my top 20.

6. Ukraine fell from the 2nd spot two years ago. Ukraine's high standing back then was due to the excellence of a few fighters at top and none of them are at the heights they were two years ago. Lomachenko lost recently, though he remains the only Ukrainian on my pound-for-pound list. I have Usyk 11th after a couple of unimpressive heavyweight showings although TBR and the Ring have him 4th on their lists. But Gvozdyk, who was the light heavyweight champ two years ago his now retired. Ukraine doesn't have the same depth as other countries on this list, but the country still produces top quality boxers, just not as good as they were two years ago.

7. Cuba was 8th last time  and basically moved up because Puerto Rico fell off. Their best fighters mostly in their mid 30s or older and there aren't as many prospects coming up, which means Cuba- along with Ukraine- won't be on this list too much longer. Rigondeaux is still the 122 pound champ although the 40 year old has fallen far off my top 10 list. No Cuban boxer is close to my top 10 though I rate Ugas highly and think he would be competitive against the top tier of welterweights if given a chance. Cuba doesn't have a ton of active fighters either.

8. Philippines was 9th last time. Pacquiao is the only Filipino on a division's top ten list over bantamweight. Pacquiao is 42 years old and is still clearly the best from the country. Right now, the Philippines doesn't have any other than Pacquiao who would within sniffing range of my top ten pound-for-pound, but depth is a plus, even if not at the top right now.

9. Thailand was 10th last time. SSR was better two years ago, but he's still the #1 super flyweight behind champion Estrada. Thailand controls the strawweight division. The top 3 fighters in the division are from Thailand. No other country controls the top of any division as convincingly. Otherwise, Thailand doesn't have much depth at the top.

10. Kazakhstan wasn't on this list last time. Golovkin represents all the "1"s in the chart above. he is far and away the best Kazakh fighter, the OTripleG of Kazakh boxing if you will. But there are some good prospects about to burst on the scene such as Yelenussinov, Jukembayev, and Alimkhanuly to name a few.

Others considered

Uzbekistan has only two fighters in a division's top 10, no 5 star fighters, and none I've considered for my top ten, but they have a group of prospects coming up who are about to put Uzbekistan in the top 10, and they're better than Kazakhstan's prospects. It's just too early at this point. Uzbekistan doesn't have the depth, but at the top they could resemble Ukraine from a couple years ago if all goes right.

France has 4 in division's top tens and 3 5 star fighters, but none are even close to my top 10. So the top is quite low compared to the others on the list. France has depth, but most prospects have domestic or European level ceilings.

Australia has 3 in the top 10 in a division and 1 five star fighter. None are anywhere near my top 10. There really aren't world class prospects in Australia at this point, although Tim Tszyu is one and to a lesser degree so is Kambosos.

Latvia wasn't really considered, but Briedis is the other TBR champion. Briedis is not too far from my top ten pound-for-pound, but otherwise, Latvia doesn't have the prospects of the other countries listed here.