Leigh Wooden (left) was in command all through his rematch with Mauricio Lara – Photograph courtesy of DAZNBoxing
The Ring first launched its divisional rankings in 1925. Nearly a century later, it’s no exaggeration to assert that these unbiased rankings are probably the most revered and talked-about in world boxing.
The Ring Rankings Panel is made up of a dozen specialists from world wide. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the ultimate choice on who needs to be ranked the place is determined democratically each week. It sounds straightforward, however this may be an arduous and time-consuming course of.
I will likely be going by means of every division in reverse order and work my approach up from strawweight to heavyweight. I’ll then take a look at every rated fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball as to what could lay forward.
Subsequent up is featherweight (126 kilos), which is a division with loads of depth however no actual clear No. 1, other than a number of fighters who will quickly be making the soar to junior light-weight.
As all the time, please benefit from the debate and respect different folks’s opinions.
No. 1 – LEIGH WOOD
RECORD: 28-3 (17 KOs)
THE PAST: Wooden had been a 10-year professional when he claimed the vacant British title on the expense of Reece Mould (TKO 9). That triumph vaulted him right into a struggle with Chinese language punching machine Xu Can, who Wooden shockingly upset in a last-round stoppage. The 36-year-old proved he was no fluke by getting off the canvas early to roar again and cease Michael Conlan (TKO 12) whereas trailing on all three scorecards in The Ring’s 2022 Combat of the 12 months. He then rolled the cube and met harmful Mexican puncher Mauricio Lara, and regardless of being forward on the scorecards was stopped in seven rounds. Wooden invoked the rematch clause and outboxed a lackluster Lara (UD 12) to regain his title. He was once more behind on the scorecards and looking out like he was about to lose to Josh Warrington earlier than developing huge with a startling seventh-round stoppage.
THE FUTURE: Had been in talks earlier this yr for a rematch towards Warrington that finally didn’t come to cross. He has stated he’ll return within the fall at junior light-weight.
No. 2 – ANGELO LEO
RECORD: 25-1 (12 KOs)
THE PAST: Leo turned skilled as a youngster again in 2012 in his native Albuquerque. He recorded notable wins over skilled fighters resembling Mark John Yap (UD 10) and former world title challenger Cesar Juarez (TKO 11). When Emanuel Navarrete vacated the WBO 122-pound title, Leo was matched with beforehand unbeaten Tramaine Williams. Leo scored a powerful 12-round unanimous choice however misplaced his belt in his first protection towards Stephen Fulton (UD 12). After one comeback win, Leo spent two and a half years on the sidelines earlier than returning earlier this yr and scoring two wins to earn a shot at IBF featherweight titlist Luis Alberto Lopez. The 2 battled on even phrases till Leo thrilled his hometown followers with a picture-perfect one-punch knockout within the tenth spherical.
THE FUTURE: Nonetheless basking in his latest world title triumph, however when he does return he’ll need to face obligatory challenger Tomoki Kameda.
LOOK AT THIS BRUTAL KO BY ANGELO LEO ONE MORE TIME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aPy9PW697g
— Prime Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 11, 2024
No. 3 – REY VARGAS
RECORD: 36-1-1 (22 KOs)
THE PAST: Vargas received the WBC 122-pound title when he outboxed Gavin McDonnell (MD 12). The tall Mexican boxer made 5 defenses of the belt, notably beating Ronnie Rios (UD 12), Azat Hovhannisyan (UD 12) and Tomoki Kameda (UD 12). Nevertheless, accidents and Covid slowed his exercise. He fought simply as soon as in three years however bounced again to outbox Mark Magsayo (SD 12) for the WBC title. The 33-year-old headed to 130 kilos to attempt to change into a three-weight world titleholder when he contested the vacant WBC belt, however he was outboxed by O’Shaquie Foster (UD 12). He returned to 126-pounds and was held to a draw by Nick Ball (D 12) earlier this yr.
THE FUTURE: An extended-awaited struggle with Brandon Figueroa is predicted to occur on a PBC present within the fall.
Rey Vargas (proper) punches Nick Ball through the Knockout Chaos boxing card on the Kingdom Enviornment on March 08, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Photograph by Richard Pelham/Getty Photos
No. 4 – NICK BALL
RECORD: 20-0-1 (11 KOs)
THE PAST: Ball turned skilled in 2017 and claimed a WBC regional title by beating Isaac Lowe (TKO 6) on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte. That proved to be the leg up the 27-year-old wanted. He then added wins over Ludumo Lamati (TKO 12) and former junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe (UD 12) to agency up his title credentials. In March, Ball overcame a big dimension drawback to drop WBC titlist Vargas twice to earn a draw that many felt he deserved to win. He then met WBA ruler Raymond Ford and edged him in an in depth contest by 12-round break up choice.
THE FUTURE: He’ll have a homecoming bout towards Ronny Rios on October 5.
The Homecoming is Set! 😤@nick_ball97 defends his WBA Featherweight title towards Ronny Rios in his hometown.
Absolutely story: https://t.co/Uqs8BBzRbc pic.twitter.com/GCvHjXZkcA
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) August 15, 2024
No. 5 – LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ
RECORD: 30-3 (17 KOs)
THE PAST: The Mexicali native turned skilled in 2015 and moved by means of the ranks however dropped selections to Abraham Montoya (SD 10) and Ruben Villa (UD 10) whereas studying on the job. He received 9 consecutive fights, notably beating beforehand unbeaten trio of Cristian Baez (TKO 5), Gabriel Flores Jr. (UD 10) and Isaac Lowe (KO 7) to change into the IBF obligatory challenger for Josh Warrington. When that probability got here, he edged out Warrington (MD 12) within the defending champion’s hometown. He took his title to Michael Conlan’s yard in Belfast and surprised the locals by stopping the Irishman in 5 rounds. Wins over Joet Gonzalez (UD 12) and Reiya Abe (TKO 8) adopted earlier than he got here unstuck towards Angelo Leo (KO 10).
THE FUTURE: The 31-year-old’s profession hangs within the stability after a minor mind bleed within the loss to Leo.
No. 6 – RAFAEL ESPINOZA
RECORD: 25-0 (21 KOs)
THE PAST: The Mexican beanpole (6-feet-1) fought nearly solely in his homeland for the primary decade of his profession earlier than seemingly coming from nowhere to get off the canvas and upset Robeisy Ramirez (MD 12). The 30-year-old regarded like he had grown into the title win by simply stopping Sergio Chirino (TKO 4) in his first protection.
THE FUTURE: He might face Ramirez in a rematch later this yr though there’s additionally the potential for him taking his huge body to 130-pounds.
Brandon Figueroa (proper) lands a hook on Mark Magsayo – Photograph by Esther Lin/Showtime
No. 7 – BRANDON FIGUEROA
RECORD: 25-1-1 (19 KOs)
THE PAST: Figueroa adopted his older brother, Omar (a former light-weight titleholder), into boxing, initially incomes his stripes on the native scene in Texas. When his probability got here, he lived as much as his “Heartbreaker” moniker by stopping Oscar Escandon (KO 10) and Moises Flores (KO 3) in bouts that put him within the 122 pound rankings. The 27-year-old impressed by knocking out beforehand unbeaten Luis Nery (KO 7) with a savage physique shot, incomes him the WBC 122-pound belt. He was edged out narrowly when he tried to unify with WBO titlist Stephen Fulton (MD 12), after which moved as much as featherweight (a extra pure division given his tall and rangy body) and has received 3 times, together with towards Mark Magsayo (UD 12) in a fan-friendly shootout and, most just lately, Jesse Magdaleno (KO 9).
THE FUTURE: Now that PBC is choosing up extra enterprise he might discover himself dealing with WBC titlist Vargas subsequent.
No. 8 – RAYMOND FORD
RECORD: 15-1-1 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: Ford was an excellent beginner, capping off his time within the unpaid ranks by successful the Golden Gloves in 2018. He turned skilled the next yr with Matchroom and beat the likes of future world title challenger Edward Vazquez (SD 10), fringe contender Sakaria Lukas (KO 8) and former world title challenger Jessie Magdaleno (UD 12). When the chance got here to struggle for the vacant WBA title he scored an exhilarating come-from-behind closing spherical stoppage over Otabek Kholmatov (TKO 12). The New Jersey native was edged out of the title in his first protection by Ball (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: The 25-year-old southpaw has already declared his intentions to step as much as 130-pounds, which might occur in one among his promoter Matchroom’s U.S. playing cards in November or December.
No. 9 – ROBEISY RAMIREZ
RECORD: 14-2 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Ramirez, who received gold at each the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, turned skilled to nice acclaim after defecting from Cuba. Issues didn’t go to plan when Ramirez was surprised by Adan Gonzales (SD 4) in his professional debut, however the worm turned shortly. After regrouping, he shutout Gonzalez (UD 6) in a rematch, and has gone from energy to energy. The 30-year-old southpaw regarded the true deal in taking aside Eric Donovan (TKO 3) and beforehand unbeaten Abraham Nova (KO 5). These wins landed him a shot on the vacant WBO title which he received by dominating Isaac Dogboe (UD 12). He stopped Satoshi Shimizu (TKO 5) in his maiden protection in Japan earlier than dropping in The Ring Journal Upset of The 12 months to then-unheralded Espinoza (MD 12). He bounced again effectively, stopping Brandon Leon Benitez (TKO 7).
THE FUTURE: Not clear at this level, although he’ll probably determine on a Prime Rank card sooner or later within the coming months, probably in a rematch with Espinoza.
No. 10 – JOSH WARRINGTON
RECORD: 31-3-1 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: Warrington went the normal route of successful British, Commonwealth and European championships earlier than defeating IBF titleholder Lee Selby (SD 12). The massively common Leeds-born fighter made three defenses, notably turning again the challenges of Carl Frampton (UD 12) and Child Galahad (SD 12). He vacated his title slightly than face Galahad a second time and got here unstuck towards Mauricio Lara (TKO 9). The rematch was curtailed on the finish of the second spherical, attributable to a conflict of heads. However the 33-year-old regained his IBF title by stopping Kiko Martinez (TKO 7) in a struggle that left the Brit with a damaged jaw. Nevertheless, he has since misplaced it to Lopez (MD 12) and got here up quick towards Wooden (TKO 7).
THE FUTURE: He’ll step as much as 130-pounds and face IBF titlist Anthony Cacace as a part of Riyadh Season invoice in London on September 21.
On the Cusp: Bruce Carrington, Mirko Cuello, Victor Morales, Sulaiman Segawa and Otabek Kholmatov.
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Pound for Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Junior flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Junior bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Junior featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Questions and/or feedback could be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
