Ranking the 10 best male boxers of the 21st century

Boxing has a long history of great champions, stars and Hall of Famers. Since the Marquis of Queensberry Act was enacted in 1867, almost every generation has produced at least one boxer who is considered the greatest ever.

Since the early 2000s, several boxers have earned a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and others are awaiting the call. Some have fought in memorable trilogies, and most have won championships in multiple weight classes and topped pound-for-pound lists at some point in their careers.

With such a storied history, it was difficult to compile a list of the 10 best male boxers of the 21st century, but we tried. From Floyd Mayweather to Oscar De La Hoya and Roy Jones Jr., here is our list of the best boxers since 2000.

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1. Floyd Mayweather

Key Achievements: 50-0 record (27 KOs) from 1996 to 2017, five-division world champion, perennial pound-for-pound #1

Mayweather won world titles in five weight divisions and dominated the pound-for-pound rankings from 2005 to 2015. His impeccable defense — with his signature shoulder roll to block punches — coupled with superb footwork, quick hand speed and pinpoint accuracy, helped him defeat the best fighters of his time: Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez, among others.

His decision win over Pacquiao in 2015 generated over $600 million and remains the biggest fight in decades. Mayweather’s fight with former MMA champion Conor McGregor in 2017 also generated over $600 million, second only to all time. Mayweather’s boxing prowess has made him the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2018 (according to Forbes). — Nick Parkinson

2. Manny Pacquiao

Key Achievements: Since January 1, 2000: professional record 35-6-2, multi-division world champion, has held world titles in 2000, 2010 and 2020.

Pacquiao was an unknown when he first fought in the United States in 2001 but has gone on to become a record eight-division world champion. His all-out, chainsaw style, with punches thrown from every angle, has overwhelmed greats such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.

His fight with Floyd Mayweather took five years to come together, and while it wasn’t the entertainment that boxing fans expected, it generated more than $600 million in gross revenue. Pacquiao also had a memorable feud with Juan Manuel Marquez, winning the first three and losing the fourth by KO. Pacquiao rebounded from that loss in 2012 to win six more welterweight title fights in 2019. — Nick Parkinson

3. Bernard Hopkins

Key Achievements: Record 55-8-2 (32 KOs) from 1988 to 2016, oldest world boxing champion at age 49, 20-time middleweight title defense, two-division world champion; inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014

Hopkins’ extraordinary longevity led him to call himself “The Alien” at the end of his 28-year professional career. He defended his world middleweight title a record 20 times (1996-2005) and knocked out Oscar De La Hoya with a body punch to become the undisputed champion in 2004. The Philadelphia native’s exceptional ring IQ and physical fitness allowed him to win a world title well into his 40s. In 2011, Hopkins defeated Jean Pascal to win the light heavyweight title, becoming the oldest boxing world champion at the age of 46. Two years later, Hopkins regained the light heavyweight title, and in 2014, at the age of 49, he defeated light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov. — Nick Parkinson

4. Roy Jones Jr.

Key Achievements: Record 66-10 (47 KOs) from 1989 to 2023, four-division world champion, perennial pound-for-pound #1

Jones is widely considered the best boxer of the 1990s, but he also had considerable success in 2000 and beyond. Jones, from Pensacola, Florida, became the second boxer to win titles at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight (after Bob Fitzsimmons) when he jumped two weight classes to overcome and defeat John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title in 2003. Jones won easily despite Ruiz being 33 pounds heavier than him. But Jones was never the dominant boxer again. He returned to light heavyweight to defeat Antonio Tarver by majority decision but was knocked out in the rematch. More defeats followed, and he was still fighting last year at the age of 55.

5. Oscar De La Hoya

Key Achievements: Record 39-6 (30 KOs) from 1992 to 2008; six-division world champion; successful promoter while still a boxer, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014

From 2000 until his career ended in 2008, De La Hoya lost just five times. And despite the losses, De La Hoya remained boxing’s biggest star, generating an estimated $700 million in pay-per-view revenue until Floyd Mayweather eclipsed him. De La Hoya entertained with his vicious left hook and fought some of the best fighters of his generation. The East Los Angeles native won the sixth-weight world title (middleweight) by decision over Felix Sturm in 2004. He also became a top promoter after founding Golden Boy Promotions in 2002.

6. Canelo Alvarez

Key Achievements: 61-2-2 (39 KOs) career record from 2005 to 2024; undisputed super middleweight champion; four-division world champion

The exciting fighter from Guadalajara, Mexico, is still at his peak at 34 and is ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s latest pound-for-pound rankings. Only Dmitry Bivol and Floyd Mayweather have beaten Canelo in a 19-year professional career. Alvarez has also won world titles at middleweight, welterweight and light heavyweight. His trilogy against Gennadiy Golovkin will define his career. Some believe Golovkin was unlucky not to win their first fight – a draw in 2017 – before Canelo won a majority decision in the 2018 rematch and was the more convincing third-round winner in 2022.

7. Andre Ward

Key Achievements: Record 32-0 (16 KOs) from 2004 to 2017; two-division world champion, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021

At age 33, Ward retired with an unblemished record after unifying the world titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. Ward, from Oakland, California, won gold at the 2004 Olympics and as a professional, unified two super middleweight titles, won three light heavyweight titles and retired in 2017 as ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. His best wins came over Carl Froch (2011) by decision and Sergey Kovalev (2017) in the eighth round of a rematch after Ward controversially won the first fight. Ward is a smart fighter and a skilled technician with a great straight punch, which helped him defeat heavy hitters like Froch and Kovalev.

8. Juan Manuel Márquez

Key Achievements: Record 56-7-1 (40 KOs) from 1993 to 2014; three-division world champion, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020

Marquez delivered one of the most memorable and spectacular knockouts in recent years when he knocked out the great Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round of their 2012 bout. The pair had fought four times; after one draw, Pacquiao had won two before Marquez’s right hand brought a shock end to their last encounter. Marquez was in trouble in Round 5 but showed the toughness that has defined his career to recover and knock out Pacquiao. “Dinamita” Marquez, from Mexico City, has won titles in four weight classes (featherweight, lightweight, light heavyweight and welterweight) and has also defeated the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor.

9. Joe Calzaghe

Key Achievements: Record 46-0 (32 KOs) from 1993 to 2008; longest reigning super middleweight champion, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014

Calzaghe retired in 2009 with an unbeaten record of 46 fights, mostly at super middleweight, and is boxing’s third-longest reigning world champion (10 years, 11 months). Clazaghe, from Wales, UK, complained of being avoided before he defeated Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler in title unification bouts. He had a glorious end to his career, including a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Kessler to successfully defend his WBO super middleweight title for the 21st time, winning Kessler’s WBA and WBC belts in the process. After that fight, the left-handed Calzaghe’s hand speed proved too much for Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. in decision victories at light heavyweight, fighting in the United States.

10. Vitali Klitschko

Key Achievements: Record 45-2 (41 KOs) from 1996 to 2012; three-time heavyweight champion, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021

The century started badly for Klitschko: He retired from his chair with a shoulder injury in a fight with Chris Byrd in 2000, then in 2003, his face was cut into pieces after he entered a challenge with world champion Lennox Lewis. Dr. Ironfist recovered from the loss to Lewis to win the WBC heavyweight championship but announced his retirement in 2005 due to injury. He took over three years later and, along with his brother Wladimir, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion, dominated the heavyweight division until Vitali’s ninth and final title defense in 2012 at the age of 40. Vitali was considered the heavier and less cautious of Wladimir, and finished his career with a 15-2 record in world title fights.