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50: ANDREY RYABINSKY
Despite the retirement of his former fighters like Alexander Povetkin and Denis Lebedev, entrepreneur turned boxing promoter Andrey Ryabinsky remains a key figure in the sport via his company World of Boxing. Crucially promotes Dmitry Bivol.
49: GEORGE ROSE
These are heady times for Australian boxing and Rose is one of the most prominent figures on the scene down under. As the head of No Limit Boxing, he promotes the likes of Tim Tszyu, Liam Wilson and Sam Goodman.
48: KIM SUMBLER
As executive director of the New York State Athletic Commission, Kim Sumbler has overseen the implementation of new policies around concussion and head injuries in boxing and other combat sports. The city, too, plays host to some of the biggest fights in the sport.
47: JEFF MULLEN
Following the retirement of Bob Bennett after nearly a decade at the helm, Jeff Mullen took over from him as the Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director. Despite the recent shift of power to the middle east in boxing, Las Vegas remains a destination for huge fights.
46: LEE EATON
One of the world’s busiest managers, with fighters from all over the world, there are not many shows where Eaton is not involved in some capacity. Had been promoter for the now-defunct MTK Global before they ceased operations due to ‘unprecedented levels of unfair scrutiny and criticism since the sanctioning by the US government of Daniel Joseph Kinahan’.
45: LUIS DECUBAS
The son of the Hall of Fame promoter of the same name, DeCubas Jnr was very much born into boxing and has become an integral part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions operation. He works very closely with Haymon’s company while also managing a number of high profile fighters too.
44: BRUCE TRAMPLER
The revered matchmaker for Top Rank, Trampler has been in the International Hall of Fame for more than two decades. Has been working in Bob Arum’s company in his current position since 1981, overseeing and making some of the biggest fights in the sport’s history.
43: FRANCIS NGANNOU
The former UFC champion has shaken up the heavyweight division like no other zero-bouter in history. In his debut he dropped Tyson Fury and was unlucky to drop a split. Is now set to face Anthony Joshua and maybe even Deontay Wilder before the year is out. Unquestionably one of the faces of the Saudi revolution.
42: MIKE TYSON
Never mind boxing, Iron Mike remains one of the most recognisable sportsmen on the planet even 19 years after the last fight of his unforgettable career. Was front and centre when Ngannou boxed Fury and is involved in the Saudi movement, where he has put his name to a brand-new gym in the country.
41: ERIC GOMEZ
The president of Golden Boy Promotions since 2016, in reality Eric Gomez has been Oscar De La Hoya’s right-hand man for many years before that. While De La Hoya is the figurehead, Gomez is very much the operations man in charge of negotiations and day-to-day running.
40: ROBERT SMITH
Despite a turbulent period for the British Boxing Board of Control and their general secretary Robert Smith as a result of the ongoing Conor Benn saga, there is no doubting their influence in the UK, which remains one of the world’s most significant boxing markets.
39: MARGARET GOODMAN
As the founder and chair of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA), Goodman oversees what is still considered as the gold standard of drug testing in the sport. Most major championship fights will be subject to full VADA testing which can – and has – resulted in the cancellation of shows due to adverse findings.
38: KATIE TAYLOR
Remains at the vanguard of women’s boxing and with seemingly no plans on retirement yet. Boxed, twice, in Ireland for the first time as a professional during 2023 and became undisputed champion in a second weight class in the second of those outings.
37: AMANDA SERRANO
One of the most prominent figures in women’s boxing and, backed by Jake Paul, has made huge moves to change the sport she has excelled in for years. Most notably, Serrano pushed hard for three-minute rounds in women’s boxing and was involved in the first professional fight boxed in that format during 2023.
36: UMAR KREMLEV
These are volatile times for amateur boxing with the threat of expulsion from the 2028 Olympic Games still looming large. Umar Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association, remains at loggerheads with the International Olympic Committee and will be key to any decision either way.
35: BORIS VAN DER VORST
The Dutchman who failed in his attempt to become the IBA president is now instead the head of the brand-new breakaway organisation World Boxing, which has been set up in a bid to appease the IOC and preserve boxing’s long-term place in the Olympics.
34: GILBERTO MENDOZA JR
The WBA have been criticised for the sheer volume of belts within their organisation but, headed by president Mendoza, have insisted they are on the path to cleaning things up and ensuring only one champion per weight class. They are still a long way off.
33: DARYL PEOPLES
The IBF, along with their president Peoples, are still the sanctioning body with the best track record of enforcing mandatory challenges of their champions. Does not always result in the best fights but it does mean a clear path to the title for their ranked boxers.
32: FRANCISCO VARCARCEL
Former lawyer Varcarcel has been the president of the WBO since 1996 and is now nearly three decades into the role. The WBO is still considered one of the four major sanctioning bodies and ‘Mr Paco’ has a particularly strong relationship with Frank Warren.
31: ALEX KRASSYUK
Krassyuk has emerged as one of the foremost promoters in global boxing as a result of his work alongside Oleksandr Usyk during his historic cruiserweight run and now his days at heavyweight. As the head of K2 Promotions, he also looks after other fighters like Denis Berinchyk and Dmitro Mytrofanov.
30: LEONARD ELLERBE
As the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Ellerbe has a direct line to Al Haymon and is often heavily involved in PBC events too. Has also been – and continues to be – an integral part of the development of Gervonta Davis’ career.
29: KALLE AND NISSE SAUERLAND
The Anglo-German brothers remain an influential force in British and European boxing in particular. Team Sauerland were acquired by world renowned talent agency Wasserman in 2021 and have enjoyed much success since, including a broadcast deal with Channel 5 which ensures huge ratings for their fight nights. There are also rumours of a return for the World Boxing Super Series, which they were heavily involved in too.
28: RYAN GARCIA
Given his vast following on social media, Garcia is one of boxing’s biggest crossover stars who has managed to harness a very different fanbase than most others in the sport. Also does huge numbers traditionally and pocketed $30m for his part in the clash with Gervonta Davis.
27: JAKE PAUL
Say what you like about Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul but there is no denying the impact he has had on the sport since turning up. Was instrumental in finally getting Amanda Serrano’s fight with Katie Taylor over the line and has amassed millions of his own via fights with non-boxers and actual boxers alike.
26: EDDY REYNOSO
Very much the man behind Canelo, who he now manages and has trained, alongside his father, for nearly two decades. A key component when it comes to Team Canelo decisions and has also worked with other established stars like Ryan Garcia, Andy Ruiz Jr and Julio Cesar Martinez.
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