Canelo Alvarez has been removed from The Ring Magazine’s poundforpound top 10, organized by Teddy Atlas, marking a major shift in his standing within the boxing world.
His September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford not only cost him the undisputed super middleweight title but also raised questions about whether the Mexican star can return to the dominance that once defined his career.
This is the first time in nearly a decade that Canelo hasn’t made the top 10 list, a jarring decision for the Mexican boxer.
The new ranking positions Oleksandr Usyk at No. 1, ahead of Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue, and places other top fighters such as Devin Haney and Junto Nakatani firmly inside the top ten.
From perennial favourite to P4P omission
For much of the last decade, Canelo had cemented his legacy as one of boxing’s greats. Rising from his early loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr., he went on an undefeated streak spanning nearly nine years, defeating recognized names such as Miguel Cotto, Gennady Golovkin, and Amir Khan along the way.
He held the No. 1 spot in the poundforpound rankings compiled by The Ring magazine from November 2019 until May 2022.
However, a decisive loss to Dmitry Bivol, followed by a move up in weight class, cost him that recognition.
Crawford‘s victory over Canelo was more than just another loss on the record, it was a statement.
At Las Vegas‘s soldout Allegiant Stadium, Crawford moved up two weight classes and outperformed Canelo to win a unanimous decision, becoming the undisputed supermiddleweight champion. Judges scored it 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113 in favor of Crawford.
The results of that fight marked a shift. The Canelo who once ruled four divisions, imposing his power and precision, now appeared stagnant. His knockout power had largely disappeared. Since defeating Caleb Plant in 2021, he hadn’t scored a stoppage.
In the latest update to The Ring‘s rankings, Canelo was replaced by Devin Haney, who reentered the top 10 after a win over Brian Norman Jr.
Is Canelo slipping away?
Atlas has long been vocal about his doubts regarding Alvarez‘s status among boxing’s alltime greats.
Back in 2023, Atlas argued that the Mexican star is “slipping,” suggesting that his physical decline and a hesitation to take the most dangerous fights may have diminished his aura of invincibility.
Atlas, a former protégé of trainer Cus D’Amato and longtime coach of champions such as Mike Tyson and Michael Moorer, brings a perspective shaped by classical boxing values: adaptability, ring IQ, timing, and finishing ability.
That lens seems to favor fighters who can not only survive but impose their will across weight classes, divisions, or stylistic matchups.
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