The list is published by The Ring, widely considered the most authoritative boxing magazine in the US.

The Japanese boxer’s second round technical knockout win over Nonito Donaire of the Philippines on Tuesday was highly praised, earning Inoue the title best boxer in the world across all weight classes.

“It is an honour for me as a boxer to be recognised in this way for all the things I have built up, one by one,” Inoue, 29-years old and nicknamed “Monster”, said in a statement.

In announcing its ranking, The Ring praised Inoue, saying he “has made history by becoming the first Japanese national to sit atop the mythical ranking”.

Pound for pound is a concept that aims to determine the best boxer, assuming there were no weight classes.

While media in Europe and the US publish their own rankings, the list published by The Ring, which was founded in 1922, is highly regarded by fans and others involved in the sport.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, one of only two six-weight champions in history, is among those to be ranked No 1 by the magazine.