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Appeals court reverses decision that freed pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil

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Appeals court reverses decision that freed pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil



A federal appeals panel on Thursday reversed a lower court decision that released Mahmoud Khalil from an immigration jail, bringing the government one step closer to detaining and ultimately deporting the Palestinian activist.A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia instructed the lower court to dismiss Khalil’s habeas petition, a court filing that secured his release. The panel ruled that the federal district court in New Jersey did not have jurisdiction over the matter because immigration challenges are handled differently under the law.In a 2-1 decision, the panel wrote that federal immigration laws require deportation challenges be made by filing a petition for review of a final order of removal to a federal appeals court — not a lower-level district court.“That scheme ensures that petitioners get just one bite at the apple—not zero or two,” the panel wrote. “But it also means that some petitioners, like Khalil, will have to wait to seek relief for allegedly unlawful government conduct.”The law bars Khalil “from attacking his detention and removal in a habeas petition,” the panel added.Messages sent to Khalil and his legal team were not immediately returned.

PHILADELPHIA —

A federal appeals panel on Thursday reversed a lower court decision that released Mahmoud Khalil from an immigration jail, bringing the government one step closer to detaining and ultimately deporting the Palestinian activist.

A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia instructed the lower court to dismiss Khalil’s habeas petition, a court filing that secured his release. The panel ruled that the federal district court in New Jersey did not have jurisdiction over the matter because immigration challenges are handled differently under the law.

In a 2-1 decision, the panel wrote that federal immigration laws require deportation challenges be made by filing a petition for review of a final order of removal to a federal appeals court — not a lower-level district court.

“That scheme ensures that petitioners get just one bite at the apple—not zero or two,” the panel wrote. “But it also means that some petitioners, like Khalil, will have to wait to seek relief for allegedly unlawful government conduct.”

The law bars Khalil “from attacking his detention and removal in a habeas petition,” the panel added.

Messages sent to Khalil and his legal team were not immediately returned.



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20 people charged in connection to sweeping basketball game fixing scandal

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20 people charged in connection to sweeping basketball game fixing scandal


Federal prosecutors secured indictments against 20 people accused of rigging college basketball games in America and pro hoops contests in China, according to court papers unsealed in Philadelphia on Thursday.

This sweeping FBI investigation marks the latest gambling scandal to rock high-level U.S. sports.

NBA journeyman Terry Rozier was arrested on Oct. 23 and accused of conspiring with gamblers to pass on insider knowledge for wagers.

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were arrested in November and accused of working with gamblers to bet on individual pitches they threw during games.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Tom Winter is NBC’s National Law Enforcement and Intelligence Correspondent.

Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.

David K. Li contributed.



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FDA Recalled Deadly Cheese Sold Exclusively in These 20 States

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FDA Recalled Deadly Cheese Sold Exclusively in These 20 States


On January 26, the FDA elevated a deadly cheese recall to a Class I situation, which means consuming it could prove to be deadly for you.

The 5 brands of cheese that possibly have a deadly Listeria strain in them come from these 5 brands:

  1. Locatelli
  2. Pinna
  3. Boar’s Head
  4. Sam’s Club’s brand Member’s Mark
  5. Ambriola

Where Was the Deadly Cheese Sold?

The Class I FDA recalled cheese was sold in 20 states across America. The FDA is desperately urging you to check your refrigerators if you live in or near any of these states, as the cheese can indeed cross state boundaries pretty easily.

Read More: Check Your Fridge: FDA Expands Deadly Cheese Recall

The affected states are:

  1. Arizona
  2. California
  3. Colorado
  4. Connecticut
  5. Delaware
  6. Florida
  7. Georgia
  8. Illinois
  9. Indiana
  10. Maine
  11. Massachusetts
  12. New Jersey
  13. New York
  14. Ohio
  15. Oregon
  16. Pennsylvania
  17. Texas
  18. Virginia
  19. Washington
  20. Wisconsin

Note that the cheese capital of America, Wisconsin, is among the states entangled in this deadly cheese recall.

What Happens if You Eat Cheese With Listeria?

You can get listeriosis, which according to the USDA, causes headaches, fever, muscle aches, confusion and diarrhea among other symptoms.

Once you have listeriosis, it can then turn into invasive listeriosis which can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks for it to do major damage to your internal organs and lead to death.

The mortality rate of invasive listeriosis is around 30%, according to the World Health Organization.

Deaths can occur anywhere and anytime. Take a walk down memory lane to see which country artists died in 2025.

Remembering the Country Stars Who Died in 2025

Several of the Grand Ole Opry’s most well-known stars are included among nearly 40 stories of country singers who died in 2025.

The year was also hard on celebrities attached to popular TV shows. Here is a list of the most notable deaths from this year, including several iconic songwriters, beloved hitmakers and famous spouses.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman’s Relationship Through the Years

Photos of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, through their years. The couple married in 2006 but in September 2025 it was revealed they’d separated.

On Jan. 6, 2026, the divorce was finalized thus ending their nearly 20-year relationship. Of course they’ll still carry on as parents to two daughters.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes





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Repsol Shares Fall as Production Misses Expectations

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Repsol Shares Fall as Production Misses Expectations




Shares were down nearly 6% in afternoon trade in Europe, the second-largest faller on the Stoxx Europe 600 index.



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MLB international free agency: Top prospects to know, bonus pools and more

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MLB international free agency: Top prospects to know, bonus pools and more



Thursday marks the open of MLB’s 2026 international signing period, one of two ways major-league teams acquire amateur talent each year. The annual July draft covers players born in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Players from everywhere else in the world fall into international free agency.

Roughly 30% of current MLB players originally signed as international amateur free agents. That group includes superstars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and José Ramírez. Perennial contenders like the Dodgers and Yankees, teams that typically pick late in the draft, use international free agency to add high-end prospects to their farm system.

Future All-Stars will sign during the international free agency window. Maybe even a future Cy Young winner or MVP. A player who signs Thursday could even one day find himself in Cooperstown. Here’s everything you need to know going into the open of the 2026 international signing period.

Format

International free agency remains free agency because MLB and the MLB Players Association did not agree to an international draft during collective bargaining agreement talks in 2022. MLB has pushed for an international draft for decades, but the union has resisted because it would strip players of the freedom to pick their team, not to mention limit their earning potential. The collective bargaining agreement expires in December. Expect MLB to once again push for an international draft during labor talks.

The international signing period used to run from July 2 to June 25, but the start of the 2020-21 signing period was pushed back to Jan. 15 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and that change was later made permanent. The signing period is now neatly confined to a single calendar year, running from Jan. 15 to Dec. 15. To be eligible to sign, players must be at least 16 years old and turn 17 by Sept. 1 of the following year. This year’s newly eligible players were born between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009.

Bonus pools

International bonus pools, the money teams can spend on players, are tied to revenue and market size. Generally speaking, small-market teams get the biggest bonus pools and large-market teams get the smallest. There are bonus pool penalties for signing major-league free agents who declined the qualifying offer, and teams can trade for an additional 60% of their original bonus pool. The bonus pools are a hard cap. You cannot spend more than you’re allotted.

Here are the 2026 international bonus pools as reported by Baseball America:

The Blue Jays (Anthony Santander), Padres (Nick Pivetta), and Red Sox (Alex Bregman) each forfeited $500,000 in bonus pool money to sign a qualified free agent last offseason. The Astros (Christian Walker), Giants (Willy Adames), Mets (Juan Soto), and Yankees (Max Fried) each forfeited $1 million because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold.

Bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count against the bonus pool. Players who get bonuses that small usually aren’t great prospects, though every so often one breaks through and reaches the big leagues. Houston signed both Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez to $10,000 bonuses as amateurs, for example. The Tigers signed Eugenio Suárez for $10,000 way back in the day.

International players younger than 25 can sign minor-league contracts only. Teams cannot entice these players by offering to put them on the 40-man roster. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was posted out of NPB at age 25 and thus wasn’t subject to the international bonus pools, allowing him to sign his record $325 million contract. Roki Sasaki was posted at 23 and was subject to the bonus pools.

Top prospects

As good as scouts are these days and as much data as teams have, it is really difficult to project ahead when you’re talking about players this young. A player who looks like the best prospect today could get lapped by several others in a few months time. It is the nature of the beast. Here are a few of the top prospects for the 2026 international signing period, listed alphabetically.

SS Wandy Asigen, Dominican Republic: Perhaps the most famous player in this year’s international free agent class, Asigen has the defensive chops to remain at shortstop long-term, and MLB Pipeline praises his “special left-handed swing.” Asigen is expected to sign with the Mets after backing out of an agreement with the Yankees.

C Fernando Graterol, Venezuela: Graterol is the top backstop available in international free agency this year. “Graterol’s offensive profile centers around his big-time raw power … Equipped with a cannon of a throwing arm, Graterol fits the bill of what clubs look for from a teenage catching prospect,” writes MLB Pipeline. Graterol has been linked to the White Sox.

SS Luis Hernandez, Venezuela: The consensus No. 1 prospect of the signing period, Hernandez is touted as the best international prospect in several years. “Gifted with immense physical projection and a laundry list of impressive tools … (he) also earns plus marks for his work ethic and all-around baseball IQ,” writes MLB Pipeline. Hernandez has been connected to the Giants.

LHP Andri Hidalgo, Dominican Republic: In a down year for international prospect arms, Hidalgo is considered the best pitcher available. MLB Pipeline says he has an “extremely high ceiling” thanks to a promising fastball/slider/changeup package. The Orioles have been connected to Hidalgo more than other teams.

OF Francisco Renteria, Venezuela: Renteria is the top power-hitting prospect available this year. He held his own during a brief stint in the Venezuelan Major League last summer and MLB Pipeline says he’s earned comparisons to Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin, one of the best prospects in the minors. The Phillies has been most tied to Renteria.





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Timothy Busfield court appearance, Albuquerque zoning changes, Warmer weather, UNM Athletic Director search, River of Lights attendance

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Timothy Busfield court appearance, Albuquerque zoning changes, Warmer weather, UNM Athletic Director search, River of Lights attendance




Thursday’s Top Stories Thursday’s Five Facts [1] Timothy Busfield to remain in custody until next hearing – Actor-director Timothy Busfield faced a judge Wednesday for the first time since being accused of child sex abuse charges in Albuquerque. Busfield is facing a child abuse charge and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Judge Blea-Rivera didn’t […]



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Kurdish Iranian opposition in Iraq ready to take on regime, but says not yet, as Trump steps back from threats

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Kurdish Iranian opposition in Iraq ready to take on regime, but says not yet, as Trump steps back from threats


In the mountains of northern Iraq, just 30 miles from the Iranian border, CBS News met Thursday morning with fighters — many of them women — from an armed Kurdish Iranian opposition group who say they’re poised to take on and help topple the Islamic Republic’s hardline clerical rulers.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) is banned as a terror group inside Iran and based in exile across the border in Iraq. For years it has trained for the day the Iranian regime can be ousted from power. But as President Trump appears to step back from threats of a U.S. military intervention on behalf of Iran’s protesters, the Kurdish group’s leader told CBS News that time has not yet come.

President Trump said Wednesday that he’d heard on “good authority” that the “killing in Iran is stopping” and that there was “no plan for executions” in the country following a brutal crackdown to end two weeks of widespread protests. Sources inside Iran have told CBS News the Iranian authorities’ crackdown may have killed upwards of 12,000 people, and possibly many more.

Unrest In Iran As Protesters Demonstrate Over Economic Crisis

People gather during an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 8, 2026.

Anonymous/Getty


His remarks appeared to signal a step back from repeated warnings of an unspecified U.S. intervention to protect protesters, and then a threat on Tuesday to order “very strong actions” if Iran hanged protesters.

That may not have been the signal from Washington that the PDKI forces training across the border in Iraq were hoping for.

Commander Sayran Gargoli told CBS News the protests had given them hope that the oppressive regime that came to power with the 1979 Islamic Revolution might finally be toppled, but only “if the people who are demonstrating on the street get international help.”

PDKI leader Mustafa Hijri has lived in exile for more than four decades, and he’s watched as Iran’s rulers quash several rounds of major unrest. As the latest protests seem to suffer the same fate, he said he couldn’t say for sure whether this uprising might prove pivotal.

“It depends on if the widespread killing will continue or not. If it continues, for sure the demonstrators will not be able to continue. On the other hand, there are other possible scenarios, like America gets into negotiations with the regime of mullahs and forces them to accept its conditions. In this case, the regime will manage to extend its existence for some time.”

iranian-kurdish-mustafa-hijri-kdpi.png

Mustafa Hijri, leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) armed Iranian opposition group, speaks with CBS News in northern Iraq, where the group is based in exile, Jan. 15, 2026. 

CBS News/Rob Taylor


He said he hoped for a U.S. intervention, and specifically, strikes on Iran that “hit the centers of suppressing forces who are shooting people on the streets, and their so-called ‘justice’ institutions that serve the government. We want to see those institutions gone.”

“The majority of the people in Iran are unhappy with this regime, and they stand against it,” Hijri said.

But in the absence of such help from abroad, Hijri told CBS News that sending PDKI forces across the border — and calling into action the thousands of forces he says the group has lying in wait inside the country — could backfire dramatically.

“I believe that it is not in the benefit of the demonstrators at the moment to have armed forces move back in the country, because it becomes a convenient excuse to the regime to kill the people,” he said. “This is why we haven’t reached the moment to make such a decision. But when the day comes, and we come to a conclusion that the return of our peshmerga [Kurdish] forces will not become additional reason to suppress the demonstrators, then we might do that.”

iranian-kurdish-kdpi-iraq.png

Members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), an armed Iranian opposition group based in exile, are seen during an exercise in the mountains of northern Iraq, Jan. 15, 2026.

CBS News/Rob Taylor


Hijri said the PDKI wants Kurds, who form about 10% of Iran’s population, and other ethnic minorities to be allowed to live “under democratic law, and that their children are allowed to learn in their own languages, and that the government officially recognizes” their right to do so.

The opposition fighters, Hijri said, “have been trained, and they are there, ready for when the party needs them.”

But as Iran’s hardline leaders increasingly appear to have survived yet another significant challenge to their grip on power, at least for now, the PKDI, and millions of Iranians still inside the country, can only keep waiting.



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UK Sci-Fi Death Metallers CRYPTIC SHIFT Set To Release Overspace & Supertime Via Metal Blade Records

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UK Sci-Fi Death Metallers CRYPTIC SHIFT Set To Release Overspace & Supertime Via Metal Blade Records


UK progressive death metal innovators Cryptic Shift are poised to take listeners on a journey beyond the stars with their new full-length, Overspace & Supertime, arriving February 27 via Metal Blade Records. The Leeds-based duo — vocalist/guitarist Alexander Bradley and drummer Ryan Sheperson — have spent the last decade forging a signature blend of technical thrash, death metal, and sci-fi storytelling, a sound they’ve dubbed “Phenomenal Technological Astrodeath.”

Formed in 2015, Cryptic Shift quickly set out to merge their twin passions for science fiction and extreme metal, first taking the UK by storm before venturing internationally. Their debut full-length, Visitations From Enceladus in 2020, earned widespread acclaim for its audacious compositions, blending progressive structures with relentless technicality — a foundation upon which Overspace & Supertime now expands.

The new album continues the conceptual universe introduced on their debut. As Sheperson explains: “Overspace & Supertime plays as an alternative reality to the happenings of Visitations From Enceladus, taking our character into new dimensions filled with both greater adventures and more bizarre encounters. Whilst the concept themes of our sci-fi tale have grown, so have our efforts in synthesizing it with the ultimate Astrodeath soundscape.”

Produced by Jack Helliwell and mastered by Greg Chandler (Esoteric, My Dying Bride), Overspace & Supertime also features stunning artwork by Jesse Jacobi, inspired by Moebius‘ 40 Days in the Desert.

Bradley elaborates: “The tall, sombre, cloaked figures were a fitting reference for our main character ‘The Recaller’ as she encounters ‘The Alien Sorceress.’ The backdrop of clouds in the composition mirrors our lyrical attention to astronomical detail, and the cover art echoes Visitations From Enceladus, linking the paths of these interdimensional characters.”

Musically, the album promises to push boundaries even further. Lead single “Hexagonal Eyes (Diverity Trepaphyphasyzm)” showcases what Bradley describes as a “vicious proficiency never before seen in death and thrash metal,” combining relentless riffs with compositional complexity.

The track depicts the early stages of a warped temporal disease, as the protagonist revisits the moonbase from the debut album, blending sci-fi narrative inspiration with punishing technicality. Bradley adds: “Fans of sci-fi storytelling and ripping technical metal are guaranteed to have a blast with this record.”

Pre-orders for Overspace & Supertime are available here.

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U.S. Forces Seize Sixth Oil Tanker

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U.S. Forces Seize Sixth Oil Tanker




The U.S. military is targeting the shadow fleet of vessels carrying sanctioned crude from countries including Venezuela.



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Men’s boxing pound-for-pound rankings: A new No. 1 crowned, plus a top-10 return

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Men’s boxing pound-for-pound rankings: A new No. 1 crowned, plus a top-10 return


Jan 15, 2026, 07:53 AM ET

With last month’s retirement of pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford, there’s a new No. 1 in the ESPN men’s rankings.

It’s unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, last seen dominating Daniel Dubois in a fifth-round KO victory in July. Usyk, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, who turns 39 on Saturday, previously was ranked second.

The No. 2 position in these rankings is now occupied by undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue. He defeated David Picasso on Dec. 27 by unanimous decision to set up a potential 2026 clash with countryman Junto Nakatani, which would be the biggest bout in Japanese boxing history.

The retirement of Crawford also created space for a new face in the top 10, and the spot was claimed by Teofimo Lopez Jr., the WBO junior welterweight champion. No. 10-ranked Lopez has a pound-for-pound clash on Jan. 31 when he faces WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, who is ranked eighth.

Our panel of Andreas Hale, Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas, Nick Parkinson, Eric Raskin, Bernardo Osuna, Eric Woodyard, Bernardo Pilatti, Charles Moynihan, Salvador Rodriguez, Jim Zirolli, Michael Mascaro, Aladdin Freeman, Victor Lopez and Damian Delgado Averhoff shares its votes.

More ESPN rankings: Divisional rankings and women’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Note: Results are through Jan. 15, 2026.

1. OLEKSANDR USYK     Previous ranking: 2

RECORD: 24-0, 15 KOs
DIVISION: Heavyweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO5) Daniel Dubois, July 19
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

The retirement of Terence Crawford elevates Usyk to the top spot on the pound-for-pound rankings. Although he is almost 39 years old, he remains elite with no signs of slowing down as evidenced by his one-sided knockout win in a rematch with Dubois last July. He has defeated Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois twice each, and is in need of a new opponent for his next fight. That name will likely be former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Even though Wilder is 2-4 in his past six fights, he remains one of the biggest punchers in heavyweight boxing history and would serve as an intriguing opponent for Usyk to add to his decorated résumé. — Andreas Hale

2. NAOYA INOUE     Previous ranking: 3

RECORD: 32-0, 27 KOs
DIVISION: Junior featherweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) David Picasso, Dec. 27
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Inoue completed his four-fight year in 2025 by notching his fourth win with a wide unanimous decision against Picasso. It’s been a blistering pace for the champion and one not typically seen from fighters of his stature. More importantly, he set the stage for a massive showdown with Junto Nakatani in early 2026. The gap between Inoue and Usyk for the top spot is razor thin and a win over Nakatani would vault Inoue to the top of the list. — Hale

3. DMITRY BIVOL     Previous ranking: 4

RECORD: 24-1, 12 KOs
DIVISION: Light heavyweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (MD12) Artur Beterbiev, Feb. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Bivol has been sidelined since his rematch win over Beterbiev while recovering from surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back. His manager, Vadim Kornilov, has reportedly said Bivol will be back in action in early 2026, likely against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, before targeting the rubber match with Beterbiev later this year. If the Beterbiev fight doesn’t come to fruition, there’s a potential showdown with current WBC champion David Benavidez as well. — Hale

4. JESSE RODRIGUEZ     Previous ranking: 5

RECORD: 23-0, 16 KOs
DIVISION: Junior bantamweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO10) Fernando Martinez, Nov. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

“Bam” Rodriguez took care of business in dominant fashion against Martinez to add the WBA title to his collection at junior bantamweight. It wasn’t just that he won, it was how easy he made it look. Martinez was undefeated heading into the fight, yet he was made to look like a novice as Rodriguez had his way before securing the finish in the 10th round. At 25, Rodriguez is the youngest fighter on the pound-for-pound list and will have plenty of time to crack the top four. Rodriguez is one of the best fighters in the world as well as one of the most entertaining to watch. — Hale

5. ARTUR BETERBIEV     Previous ranking: 6

RECORD: 21-1, 20 KOs
DIVISION: Light heavyweight
LAST FIGHT: L (MD12) Dmitry Bivol, Feb. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Beterbiev was set to return in November after his loss to Bivol, but a fight with Deon Nicholson was scratched, leaving the powerful Russian without a clear next opponent. At 41 years old, Beterbiev is approaching the end of his career but still has several options for massive fights, including a rubber match with Bivol or an all-action showdown with WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez. He’ll likely need a tune-up first and will hopefully be back in action sometime during the first half of 2026. — Hale

6. DAVID BENAVIDEZ     Previous ranking: 7

RECORD: 31-0, 25 KOs
DIVISION: Light heavyweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Anthony Yarde, Nov. 22
NEXT FIGHT: May 2 vs. Gilberto Ramirez

After wiping out Yarde in November, Benavidez announced that he would move up to cruiserweight to challenge “Zurdo” Ramirez, the unified champion. The fight is set to take place during Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, with Benavidez looking to become a three-division champion. Should Benavidez emerge victorious, his options are plentiful, as a move back down to light heavyweight for the right fight (Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol) is still in his plans. “The Mexican Monster” is primed to have a massive 2026 between his crowd-pleasing style and a bevy of quality opponents. — Hale

7. SHAKUR STEVENSON     Previous ranking: 8

RECORD: 24-0, 11 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) William Zepeda, July 12
NEXT FIGHT: Jan. 31 vs. Teofimo Lopez Jr.

Fresh off a victory over Zepeda in which he showed he’s more than just a slick ring tactician, displaying aggression and a willingness to trade in the pocket against a dangerous, high-volume puncher, Stevenson now raises the stakes. He moves up to 140 pounds to challenge Lopez, the WBO junior welterweight champion, on Jan. 31. A victory over Lopez would almost certainly propel Stevenson into the upper tier of the pound-for-pound rankings and position him for a future run at the No. 1 spot. — Hale

8. JUNTO NAKATANI     Previous ranking: 9

RECORD: 32-0, 24 KOs
DIVISION: Bantamweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Sebastian Hernandez, Dec. 27
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Despite narrowly escaping with a controversial win over Hernandez, Nakatani still secured his end of a potential all-Japanese showdown with Naoya Inoue later this year. The performance was far from Nakatani’s best, but a move to a new weight class and a tougher-than-expected opponent likely contributed to a fight many expected him to cruise through. Off nights happen, and they’re forgivable. Nakatani will have the opportunity to silence any doubts by defeating Inoue. — Hale

9. DEVIN HANEY     Previous ranking: 10

RECORD: 33-0, 1 NC, 15 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Brian Norman Jr., Nov. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Haney defeated the biggest puncher at welterweight with relative ease as he dominated Norman to become WBO champion. Comments about Haney’s demise after the Ryan Garcia fight were grotesquely exaggerated, and he silenced the naysayers by brilliantly outboxing a fighter with even bigger punching power than Garcia. A three-division champion who just turned 27, Haney cracks the list with his impressive skill set and instincts. — Hale

10. TEOFIMO LOPEZ JR.     Previous ranking: NR

RECORD: 22-1, 13 KOs
DIVISION: Junior welterweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Arnold Barboza Jr., May 2
NEXT FIGHT: Jan. 31 vs. Shakur Stevenson

The supremely gifted Lopez has repeatedly shown an ability to rise to the occasion against elite competition — most notably against Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor — and he made it look effortless when he overwhelmed Barboza last May. If there’s a knock on Lopez, it’s that he often fights to the level of his opposition. If that pattern holds, his Jan. 31 title defense against Stevenson could bring out one of the best versions of him yet. Lopez is among the most complete fighters in the sport, and a victory over Stevenson would further cement his status as a top pound-for-pound fighter. — Hale

The formula

The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote awarding 10 points, a second-place vote awarding nine points and so on. A tie goes to the fighter with the highest ranking, then the one with the most votes at that ranking.

Others receiving votes: Canelo Alvarez (9), Gervonta Davis (3), Vergil Ortiz Jr. (1), Osleys Iglesias (1).

How our writers voted

Hale: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Rodriguez, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Benavidez, 7. Stevenson, 8. Haney, 9. Nakatani, 10. Lopez

Atlas: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Benavidez, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Stevenson, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Nakatani, 9. Haney, 10. Davis

Tessitore: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Rodriguez, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Bivol, 6. Benavidez, 7. Nakatani, 8. Stevenson, 9. Lopez, 10. Haney

Parkinson: 1. Inoue, 2. Usyk, 3. Bivol, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Haney, 6. Benavidez, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Stevenson, 9. Nakatani, 10. Lopez

Raskin: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Stevenson, 7. Benavidez, 8. Alvarez, 9. Nakatani, 10. Ortiz

Osuna: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Stevenson, 6. Nakatani, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Benavidez, 9. Haney, 10. Lopez

Rodriguez: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Rodriguez, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Benavidez, 7. Nakatani, 8. Stevenson, 9. Alvarez, 10. Lopez

Woodyard: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Stevenson, 6. Benavidez, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Nakatani, 9. Haney, 10. Lopez

Moynihan: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Rodriguez, 6. Benavidez, 7. Stevenson, 8. Alvarez, 9. Davis, 10. Nakatani

Pilatti: 1. Inoue, 2. Usyk, 3. Rodriguez, 4. Benavidez, 5. Bivol, 6. Haney, 7. Stevenson, 8. Nakatani, 9. Beterbiev, 10. Iglesias

Zirolli: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Stevenson, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Lopez, 8. Benavidez, 9. Nakatani, 10. Haney

Mascaro: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Rodriguez, 4. Bivol, 5. Nakatani, 6. Benavidez, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Stevenson, 9. Haney, 10. Lopez

Freeman: 1. Inoue, 2. Rodriguez, 3. Usyk, 4. Bivol, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Stevenson, 7. Nakatani, 8. Haney, 9. Benavidez, 10. Lopez

Lopez: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Bivol, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Benavidez, 7. Stevenson, 8. Nakatani, 9. Haney, 10. Alvarez

Delgado Averhof: 1. Inoue, 2. Usyk, 3. Rodriguez, 4. Bivol, 5. Benavidez, 6. Bterebiev, 7. Stevenson, 8. Haney, 9. Lopez, 10. Nakatani

ESPN experts’ poll

First place: Usyk (11), Inoue (4)

Second place: Inoue (11), Usyk (3), Rodriguez (1)

Third place: Bivol (7), Rodriguez (6), Usyk (1), Stevenson (1)

Fourth place: Bivol (6), Rodriguez (5), Beterbiev (2), Benavidez (2)

Fifth place: Beterbiev (7), Bivol (2), Stevenson (2), Rodriguez (1), Benavidez (1), Nakatani (1), Haney (1)

Sixth place: Benavidez (8), Stevenson (3), Rodriguez (1), Beterbiev (1), Nakatani (1), Haney (1)

Seventh place: Stevenson (5), Beterbiev (4), Nakatani (3), Rodriguez (1), Benavidez (1), Lopez (1)

Eighth place: Stevenson (4), Nakatani (4), Haney (3), Benavidez (2), Alvarez (2)

Ninth place: Haney (6), Nakatani (3), Lopez (2), Beterbiev (1), Benavidez (1), Alvarez (1), Davis (1)

10th place: Lopez (7), Nakatani (2), Haney (2), Alvarez (1), Davis (1), Ortiz (1), Igelsias (1)



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