Though some call the sport brutal, there is no denying that boxing requires a skillset not all can develop. Not only does discipline need to be employed, but boxers must also practice agility along with the style techniques that lead them closer to the title they seek.
The sport has been a part of American culture since the 1860s and has since evolved into a popular, beloved sport that calls forth flocks of people to enjoy the scene play out live on pay-per-view channels. Baby boomers have long relished the sport and have decided on their favorites.
To put this list together of the most popular boxers according to baby boomers, 24/7 Tempo reviewed YouGov, a website dedicated to measuring the popularity and fame of anything under the sun, including athletes. (And here’s a look at America’s favorite football players.)
20. Leo Santa Cruz
- Popularity: 4%
- Fame: 17%
Born in Mexico, Leo Santa Cruz has a total of 19 knockouts on his record. His alias is “El Terremoto,” which translates to “The Earthquake.” He held several titles, including at Featherweight, Super Bantamweight, and Bantamweight. He’s a Four-Division World Champion and his most recent fight occurred in 2022 against Keenan Carbajal in Las Vegas. Cruz won that fight.
19. Alexander Povetkin
- Popularity: 5%
- Fame: 16%
Between 2011 and 2013, Povetkin held the WBA (Regular) Heavyweight title. His nickname is “White Lion,” he’s originally from Russia and stopped competing after 2021. His record is 35–2–1 with a total of 24 knockouts. His last fight was in 2021 against Dillian Whyte. He lost that fight.
18. Keith Thurman
- Popularity: 5%
- Fame: 22%
Born in Florida, Thurman became a Unified Welterweight Champion. His record is 30-1 with a total of 22 knockouts. He had a long streak until 2019 when he lost in a fight against Manny Pacquiao. His alias is “One Time,” and he had another fight in 2022 following his loss to Pacquiao. He fought against Mario Barrios and won.
17. Carl Frampton
- Popularity: 5%
- Fame: 15%
He has 28 wins, three losses, and zero draws with a knockout ratio of 57%. Frampton is currently inactive. His last fight was in 2021 when he fought against Jamel Herring in Dubai. He lost that fight.
16. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
- Popularity: 5%
- Fame: 11%
Born in Thailand, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is currently ranked 6th by the IBF at Bantamweight, 3rd by the WBC and 8th by The Ring. He has 46 knockouts on his record for a ratio of 82%. His current record is 56-6-1 and his last fight occurred in February 2024 against Guangheng Luan. He won that fight.
15. Lauren Price
- Popularity: 5%
- Fame: 17%
Price was born in Wales in 1994 and began competing in kickboxing in 2007 when she was only 13 years old. That experience bode well and she won a silver medal. Then, she became a Four-Time World Champion and a Six-Time European Champion. Her current record is 4-0-0 and her last fight was in 2023 against Kirstie Bavington. Her win improved her record.
14. Galal Yafai
- Popularity: 5%
- Fame: 13%
Yafai’s knockout ratio is 71.43% and he’s currently suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Born in the United Kingdom, Yafai is from a family of boxers. His last fight occurred in 2024 against Agustin Guato. He won that fight.
13. Devin Haney
- Popularity: 5%
- Fame: 16%
Haney is a former undisputed Lightweight Champion with a record of 31-1 and a total of 15 knockouts. He gave up his previous title so that he could pursue another weight class. Following his first Junior Welterweight fight, Haney became the WBC Champion. His most recent fight was against Ryan Garcia. He lost that fight.
12. Jarrell Miller
- Popularity: 6%
- Fame: 19%
Miller’s alias is “Big Baby,” and he has a 26-1-1 record with an 84.62% ratio. Born in New York, Miller competes in the Heavyweight Division. He was ranked 8th by The Ring and 7th by BoxRec. His most recent fight was in 2023 against Daniel Dubois. He lost that fight. His next fight is set for August 2024 against Andy Ruiz.
11. Gennady Golovkin
- Popularity: 6%
- Fame: 23%
Born in Kazakhstan, Golovkin currently has a record of 42-2-1. His knockout ratio is 88.1%. His alias is “Triple G” and he was ranked as the “World’s Best Boxer” by The Ring between 2017 and 2018. Golovkin’s last fight was in 2022 when he fought against Saul Alvarez. He lost that fight.
10. Tyson Fury
- Popularity: 6%
- Fame: 25%
Born in England, Fury became the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World. His current record is 34-1-1 with a total of 24 knockouts. His last fight was in May 2024 against Oleksandr Usyk. He lost that fight.
9. Saul Alvarez
- Popularity: 6%
- Fame: 15%
Affectionately known as “Canelo,” Alvarez is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes. Forbes estimates that his net worth is at least $275 million. His record is 61-2-2 for a knockout ratio of 63.93%. He holds several titles, including IBF World Super Middle, WBA Super World Super Middle, WBA World Super Middle, WBC World Super Middle, and WBO Super Middle. His last fight was in 2024 against Jaime Munguia. He won that fight.
8. Dillian Whyte
- Popularity: 7%
- Fame: 20%
Whyte is a British professional boxer whose alias is “The Body Snatcher.” From 2019 to 2022, he held the WBC Interim Heavyweight title on two occasions. The Ring magazine ranks him as the 5th Best Active Heavyweight. His knockout ratio sits at 68%. Whyte’s last fight was in 2024 against Christian Hammer. He won that fight.
7. Claressa Shields
- Popularity: 7%
- Fame: 17%
USA-born Shields is a Women’s Lightweight professional boxer and professional mixed martial artist. She has held several world championships and not just in a single weight class. She has fought in three different weight classes. Her last fight was in February 2024 against Kelsey DeSantis. She won that fight.
6. Anthony Joshua
- Popularity: 8%
- Fame: 17%
Joshua was a gold medalist in 2012’s Summer Olympics and went on to earn several titles, including the WBO, IBF, and WBA Heavy Champion titles. His record is 28-3 with a total of 25 knockouts. His last fight was in 2024 against Francis Ngannou. He won that fight.
5. Joseph Parker
- Popularity: 9%
- Fame: 18%
Parker is a Heavyweight professional boxer who holds a 35-3-0 record. Born in New Zealand, he has gone on to hold the WBO Interim Heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018 and again in 2024. His last win was against Zhilei Zhang.
4. Deontay Wilder
- Popularity: 10%
- Fame: 25%
American professional boxer Wilder holds a record of 43-3-1 with a total of 42 knockouts. His alias is “The Bronze Bomber” and he held the WBC Men’s Heavyweight Champion title from 2015 through 2020. His last fight was in 2023 against Joseph Parker. He lost that fight. His next fight is set for June 2024 against Zhilei Zhang.
3. Luis Ortiz
- Popularity: 10%
- Fame: 36%
Cuban professional boxer Ortiz holds a record of 34-3-0 with a total of 29 knockouts. His alias is “King Kong,” and his last fight was in early 2024 against Francisco Cordero. He won that fight.
2. Terence Crawford
- Popularity: 11%
- Fame: 22%
Crawford holds a record of 40-0-0 with a total of 31 knockouts and is the undisputed Welterweight World Champion. His last win was in 2023 against Errol Spence Jr.
1. Manny Pacquiao
- Popularity: 27%
- Fame: 60%
Pacquiao not only led a successful political career, but he also stands as the only Eight-Division World Champion in the history of the sport. Pacquiao is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes. He was nearly 43 during his last fight in 2021 and he’s set to come out of retirement in 2024 to fight Conor Benn. (In the mood for boxing right now? Here are the best movies about boxing.)