Youngest Undisputed Boxing Champions

12 Youngest Undisputed Boxing Champions

Boxers are some of the greatest athletes in the world. They have to be, as they’re constantly under pressure to perform at their peak and keep their bodies healthy, even while they are training for a fight. The Undisputed Boxing Champions in the World are considered the greatest boxing champions in history.

These men and women have been undefeated for four major championship belts from IBF, WBC, WBA, and WBO. These boxers are known for having excellent stamina, skill, strength, and power. Boxing has always been a sport where there can be no age limit, but that doesn’t mean younger ones cannot punch their way into world titles.

Listed below are the youngest undisputed boxing champions ever.

12. Bernard Hopkins (January 15, 1965 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 58 years, 19 days 
Monicker: The Executioner
Nationality: American
Division: MIddleweight

Bernard Hopkinsphoto source: Ring Magazine

American professional boxer Bernard Hopkins Jr. fought from 1988 to 2016. With many championships under his belt in two weight divisions at the time, “The Executioner” was one of the most prominent boxers of the previous three decades.

Among his other accomplishments, Bernard Hopkins held the lineal light heavyweight title from 2011 to 2012 and the undisputed middleweight belt from 2001 to 2005.

Philadelphia was a hard-hitting city, and Bernard Hopkins Jr. soon found himself engaging in criminal activity. By the time he was seventeen, things had not improved and had grown worse. He was given an 18-year term at Graterford Prison for nine offenses, including armed robbery.

By thirteen, he was robbing people and had been stabbed three times. Bernard Hopkins found his love of boxing and finished his amateur career when he was detained in this facility.

Did You Know?

Bernard Hopkins was granted parole in 1988 after completing 56 months of his prison term. He kept his record spotless and started training as a pro boxer immediately.


11. Jermain Taylor (August 11, 1978 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 44 years, 5 months, 23 days
Monicker: Bad Intention
Nationality: American
Division: Middleweight

Jermain Taylorphoto source: Celebrity Net Worth

One of the top fighters in the sport, Jermaine Taylor, started boxing at thirteen and progressed through the amateur and professional categories. Olympic bronze medalist in boxing from 2000, he attained the title of undisputed middleweight champion in 2005, held it for two years, regained it in 2014, and lost it again the following year after being charged with assault.

The Undisputed Middleweight Championship match between Taylor and Bernard Hopkins took place on July 16, 2005, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hopkins, who was 40 years old, had won 20 straight successful championship defenses going into the battle and had not suffered a defeat in 12 fights.

Hopkins has a 3-2 advantage going into the boxing battle. Taylor prevailed over Hopkins in a split decision, with two judges awarding scores of 115–113 to Taylor and 116–112 to Hopkins.

Did You Know?

Taylor is the husband of Brinkley-based basketball player Erica Smith and a daddy of four kids as of right now.


10. Jessica McCaskill (September 8, 1984 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 38 years, 4 months, 26 days
Monicker: CasKILLA
Nationality: American
Division: Welterweight

photo source: boxingscene.com

Jessica McCaskill and her four brothers were reared by her great-aunt. McCaskill began boxing in 2008 for health purposes, and in April 2009, she participated in her first amateur fight. She rose up the ranks and took home the 2010 Golden Gloves trophy. McCaskill relocated to Chicago in 2012 and began to work as an investment banker.

On August 22, 2015, she made her professional boxing debut by defeating Tyrea Nichole Duncan via technical knockout at the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana. McCaskill joined Warriors Boxing in November 2016.

Did You Know?

McCaskill presently has a 12-3 record in professional boxing, which includes five knockout victories and seven championship victories.


9. Katie Taylor (July 2, 1986 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 36 years, 7 months, 1 day
Monicker: The Bray Bomber
Nationality: Irish
Division: Lightweight

photo source: World Boxing Organization

The current undisputed lightweight champion is Irish professional boxer Katie Taylor. Having won gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Taylor is a highly accomplished amateur.

In addition, she won five straight gold medals at the European Union Championships, six gold medals at the European Championships, and five gold medals at the World Championships. Taylor turned pro and joined Matchroom Boxing after the 2016 Games.

Taylor started boxing in 1998 when he was 12 years old. At the St. Fergal’s Boxing Club, based out of a former boathouse in Bray, her father trained her and her two elder brothers, Lee and Peter. She topped Belfast’s Alanna Audley in Ireland’s first officially sanctioned female boxing contest at the National Stadium when she was 15 years old in 2001.

Did You Know?

The 2005 European Amateur Championships in Norway marked Taylor’s first notable achievement. In the 60 kg lightweight class final, she defeated Eva Wahlström of Finland to win the gold medal.


8. Oleksandr Usyk (January 17, 1987 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 36 years, 17 days 
Monicker: The Cat
Nationality: Ukrainian
Division: Cruiserweight

Oleksandr Usykphoto source: Sky Sports

Oleksandr Usyk was born in Simferopol, Crimean Oblast. He played association football up until age 15 and received his training at the SC Tavriya Simferopol specialist sports school of the Olympic reserve. He made a move to boxing in 2002.

Usyk made his professional debut in late 2013 at 26 and secured a contract with K2 Promotions, run by the Klitschko brothers. He competed in the cruiserweight class.

Usyk made his professional debut on November 9, 2013, by knocking out Mexican boxer Felipe Romero in the fifth round. He defeated 38-year-old Epifanio Mendoza in four rounds the following month.

Did You Know?

Usyk was used to winning his fights via knockout before vying for this important belt. However, as he competed for the WBO cruiserweight championship, his run of knockout victories came to a stop.


7. Franchon Crews Dezurn (June 13, 1987 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 35 years, 7 months, 21 days
Monicker: The Heavy-Hitting Diva
Nationality: American
Division: Super Middleweight

Franchon Crews Dezurnphoto source: Ring Magazine

Franchon Crews-Dezurn, a Virginia Beach native, started her pro career on November 19, 2016, losing to Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic winner, by unanimous decision. During her stellar amateur career, she represented the United States globally.

Crews-Dezurn defeated Cornejo in ten rounds by majority decision on September 14, 2019, to retain the WBC super middleweight championship and win the WBO belt. In June 2019, Golden Boy Promotions hired Crews-Dezurn.

Did You Know?

The Ring and BoxRec regard Franchon Crews-Dezurn as the greatest active female super middleweight in the world as of May 2022.


6. Terence Crawford (September 28, 1987 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 35 years, 4 months, 6 days
Monicker: Bud
Nationality: American
Division: Light Welterweight

Terence Crawfordphoto source: badlefthook.com

American boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford is the unbeaten world champion. Crawford was born and reared in Omaha, Nebraska, and began boxing when he was seven. He quickly developed a passion for the sport. Crawford participated in 70 fights as a beginner and defeated Mikey Garcia and Danny Garcia, two future world champions.

Crawford has received several accolades in recent years, including being ranked as the top boxer in the world by ESPN in February of 2021. He is presently a co-founder of Pixelbird, a digital firm that uses blockchain and cryptocurrencies to promote strategic alliances for sports companies and individuals.

Did You Know?

Crawford established the non-profit B&B boxing academy outside of the ring, providing Omaha youngsters with free boxing and fitness instruction.


5. Jermell Charlo (May 19, 1990 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 32 years, 8 months, 15 days
Monicker: The Iron Man
Nationality: American
Division: Light Middleweight

Jermell Charlophoto source: CBS Sports

The moniker “The Iron Man” is given to Jermell, who is a minute younger than his twin brother Jermall. The twins, nurtured in Houston but born in Lafayette, Louisiana, initially went to the gym at age 8. Their father, Kevin, a former amateur boxer, did so to provide them with a supportive, orderly atmosphere.

Both siblings played basketball and football in high school but remained drawn to boxing. After two years of competition, Jermell quickly established himself as a notable amateur, taking home a bronze medal at the 2005 junior Olympics at 15.

Did You Know?

On October 31, 2015, after defeating former champion Joachim Alcine in the sixth round, Charlo decided to part ways with longtime coach Ronnie Shields, who was also Jermall’s cornerman, in favor of working with Derrick James.


4. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (July 18, 1990 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 32 years, 6 months, 16 days
Monicker: Canelo
Nationality: Mexican
Division: Super Middleweight

Saul Alvarezphoto source: Sky Sports

The Mexican native was raised on his family’s farm and was born in Guadalajara. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s parents own a family farm, and his father runs three ice cream shops. All seven of Alvarez’s siblings, who grew up on the family farm, were all boys involved with boxing. Alvarez is the youngest.

Canelo began boxing when he was just 13 years old and got professional only two years later, demonstrating tremendous promise even at such a young age.

At the Mexican Junior Championships, he took home the silver medal; the succeeding year, at the age of 15, he scooped the gold. He defeated players like Ryan Rhodes, Austin Trout, and Shane Mosley at the beginning of his career. Then, in his 17th recorded professional match, Floyd Mayweather dealt him his first loss in September 2013.

Did You Know?

Due to his brothers’ involvement in boxing, Alvarez developed a keen interest in the sport and quit school to focus on becoming a boxer full-time.


3. Josh Taylor (January 2, 1991 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 32 years, 1 month, 1 day
Monicker: The Tartan Tornado
Nationality: British, Scottish
Division: Light Welterweight

Josh Taylorphoto source: World Boxing Association

Scotch professional boxer Josh Taylor on July 18, 2015, turned 24 and made his professional boxing debut. He is the world champion in the super lightweight. At 28, Taylor faced Ivan Baranchyk for the super-lightweight IBF championship in his first world title fight on May 18, 2019, following 14 professional contests.

His most recent match occurred on February 26, 2022, when he faced English boxer Jack Catterall to defend his super-lightweight undisputed championship title. Taylor successfully defended his undisputed championship and prevailed by a split decision after 12 rounds.

Did You Know?

In his professional boxing career, Josh Taylor has never suffered a defeat.


2. Naoya Inoue (April 10, 1993 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 29 years, 9 months, 24 days
Monicker: The Monster
Nationality: Japanese
Division: Bantamweight

photo source: Kyodo News

Naoya Inoue won the Japanese Interscholastic Athletic Meeting and the 2009 Japanese Junior National Championships. In 2010, he took first place at the Japanese Junior Selection Tournament and finished third in Tehran, Iran’s Asian Youth Championships. The Monster has gained the nickname thanks to his timing, ferocity, body smashes, and 88% knockout percentage.

Inoue signed a contract with Ohashi Boxing Gym in 2012 and became a professional. However, he freely agreed with Hideyuki Ohashi that he would never engage in combat with an easy opponent.

Did You Know?

The Ring has only ever given the top spot to a Japanese boxer, Naoya Inoue, in the history of boxing.


1. Devin Haney (November 17, 1998 – present)

Current Age (as of February 2023): 24 years, 2 months, 17 days
Monicker: The Dream
Nationality: American
Division: Lightweight

Devin Haneyphoto source: tapalogy.com

The youngest undisputed boxing champion is the American professional boxer Devin Miles Haney, who is only 24 years old. However, many people know him because he has held the WBC championship since 2019 and the WBA, IBF, WBO, and Ring crown since June 2022.

Devin Haney was raised in San Francisco and lived most of his days in Las Vegas. He began pursuing boxing at the very young age of seven.

Haney defeated Lopez via first-round TKO when he made his professional boxing debut in 2015 at 17. After 23 professional fights, the WBC promoted Haney to lightweight world champion at 20. He defeated Alfredo Santiago in his title defense matchup.

Did You Know?

His most recent match occurred in October 2022, when he faced Australian boxer George Kambosos Jr. with defending his lightweight undisputed championship title. Haney successfully defended his undisputed championship and won the bout by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.

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