Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue debate 2025 Fighter of the Year honors

The debate over the 2025 Fighter of the Year title has centered on Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue. Crawford secured the honors from The Ring and the BWAA following a unanimous decision victory over Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas. In that bout, Crawford moved from 154 to 168 pounds to become the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in three weight divisions.

Critics argue that Crawford’s single appearance in 2025 should have qualified him for a Performance of the Year award rather than Fighter of the Year. Arguments against his selection highlight that his victory came against an aging Álvarez and that Crawford chose retirement in December 2025 rather than defending his position against active contenders.

In contrast, supporters of Naoya Inoue point to his consistent dominance throughout the year, which included four fights, four victories, and four successful defenses of his undisputed super bantamweight title against world-class opposition.