Emanuel Navarrete nails Eduardo Baez throughout his ultimate protection of the WBO featherweight title in August 2022. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/ High Rank Inc through Getty Photographs)
The Ring first launched its divisional rankings in 1925. Virtually a century later, it’s no exaggeration to assert that these unbiased rankings are essentially the most revered and talked-about in world boxing.
The Ring Rankings Panel is made up of a dozen consultants from world wide. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the ultimate choice on who needs to be rated is determined democratically each week. It sounds simple, however this may be an arduous and time-consuming course of.
I can be going by means of every division in reverse order and work my means up from strawweight to heavyweight. I’ll have a look at every rated fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what could lay forward.
Subsequent up is junior featherweight (130 kilos), which is a division that has a number of wonderful fighters however that may acquire added depth with the approaching arrival of numerous featherweights within the close to future.
As all the time, please benefit from the debate and respect different individuals’s opinions.
No. 1 – EMANUEL NAVARRETE
RECORD: 38-2-1 (31 KOs)
THE PAST: Navarrete burst onto the scene to assert the WBO junior featherweight title on the expense of Isaac Dogboe (UD 12) in December 2018. The heavy-handed Mexican stopped Dogboe (TKO 12) within the first of 5 defenses earlier than transferring up in weight. The 29-year-old bested beforehand unbeaten Ruben Villa (UD 12) to assert the WBO title and went on to make three defenses, notably topping Joet Gonzalez (UD 12) earlier than transferring up in weight once more. He bought off the canvas to cease Liam Wilson (TKO 9) to assert the vacant WBO junior light-weight title after which defended it agains Oscar Valdez (UD 12) and Robson Conceicao in a draw (D 12). He jumped to light-weight in an try to win the vacant WBO title however was crushed by Ivan Baranchyk (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: Tabbed to rematch Valdez on December 7.
No. 2 – O’SHAQUIE FOSTER
RECORD: 22-3 (12 KOs)
THE PAST: Foster misplaced twice early in his profession at light-weight in opposition to Samuel Teah (UD 8) and Rolando Chinea (SD 8). Nevertheless, the 30-year-old Houston native discovered his stride at 130 and is unbeaten in 10 fights over the previous seven years. Throughout that interval, Foster ruined the unbeaten document of Jon Fernandez (UD 10), stopped grizzled former world title challenger Miguel Roman (KO 9) and dominated Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (UD 12). These wins earned him a combat for the vacant WBC title in opposition to Rey Vargas and he placed on a clinic to win a 12-round unanimous choice. He scored an exhilarating final spherical knockout over Eduardo Hernandez (TKO 12) in Mexico to maintain the title after which squeezed by Abraham Nova (SD 12), however misplaced his belt in controversial style to Robson Conceicao (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: He’ll get his rematch with Conceicao on November 2.
Conceicao (left) was the aggressor in opposition to Foster (proper) however solely seldom was it efficient. (Photograph by Mikey WIliams-High Rank)
No. 3 – OSCAR VALDEZ
RECORD: 32-2 (24 KOs)
THE PAST: Valdez was a standout beginner, showing on the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and profitable bronze on the 2009 World Championships. The Mexican star claimed the vacant WBO featherweight title by blasting out Matias Rueda (TKO 2), in July 2016, and made six defenses. Notable triumphs got here in opposition to Miguel Marriaga (UD 12) and Scott Quigg (UD 12) earlier than he moved to 130. Valdez scored a career-best win when he knocked out Miguel Berchelt (KO 10) for the WBC title. The 33-year-old made one profitable protection, struggling to get previous Robson Conceicao (UD 12) earlier than dropping to Stevenson (UD 12). Harm compelled him to the sidelines for over a 12 months, and after besting Adam Lopez (UD 10), he misplaced a firefight with Navarrete (UD 12). Nevertheless, he regarded fairly good beating Liam Wilson (TKO 7) on his return.
THE FUTURE: He’ll face Navarrete for the second time on December 7.
No. 4 – LAMONT ROACH JR.
RECORD: 25-1-1 (10 KOs)
THE PAST: After success within the beginner ranks domestically, the American turned his consideration to skilled boxing in 2014. He was held to a draw by former two-time world title challenger Orlando Cruz however went on to earn a shot at then-WBO titlist Jamel Herring (L UD 12) in 2019. The 29-year-old recalibrated with 4 wins earlier than beating Hector Luis Garcia (SD 12) for the WBA title. He has since defended it beating Feargal McCrory (TKO 8).
THE FUTURE: May look to make one other elective protection or may need to face Albert Batyrgaziev in what seems to be a harmful proposition.
No. 5 – ANTHONY CACACE
RECORD: 22-1 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: Cacace made his skilled bow in 2012. After going unbeaten by means of 15 fights he misplaced a British and Commonwealth title combat to Martin J. Ward (UD 12). Two fights later he claimed the British title beating Sam Bowen (SD 12). After one protection he received a thriller in opposition to Michael Magnesi (SD 12) and adopted that up in opposition to Damian Wrzesinski (UD 12). Nevertheless, the tall 35-year-old’s huge alternative got here after a 12 months off when he confronted beforehand unbeaten IBF boss Joe Cordina in Might. Cacace knew alternatives like this don’t come alongside so usually, and he surprised Cordina scoring an eighth-round stoppage.
THE FUTURE: The Irishman will meet former three-time featherweight titlist Josh Warrington in London on September 21.
Anthony Cacace’s homecoming occasion 🥳
Congrats to Eire’s new champion ! #CordinaCacace
pic.twitter.com/UBbAzabWGU— HotBoxingMinute (@HotBoxingMinute) Might 20, 2024
No. 6 – JOE CORDINA
RECORD: 17-1 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Cordina had an in depth beginner profession, competing on the 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships. The Welshman claimed gold on the 2015 European Championships and represented Group GB on the 2016 Rio Olympics earlier than turning skilled. Cordina captured Commonwealth and British light-weight titles earlier than dropping down in weight. Got here of age when he spectacularly knocked out IBF titleholder Kenichi Ogawa (KO 2). A hand harm meant the 32-year-old was harshly stripped of the title and after a number of months returns and edged previous teak-tough Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (SD 12) to regain his previous title. He struggled previous Edward Vazquez (MD 12) earlier than weight points caught up with him when he was surprisingly crushed by Cacace (TKO 8).
THE FUTURE: Armed with a brand new coaching workforce, Cordina will tackle seemingly insurmountable odds when he heads as much as light-weight to face WBC ruler Shakur Stevenson in Riyadh on October 12.
No. 7 – HECTOR LUIS GARCIA
RECORD: 16-2 (10 KOs)
THE PAST: The Dominican Republic native represented his nation on the 2016 Olympics. Fought largely at dwelling as a professional earlier than upsetting the touted Chris Colbert (UD 12) in Las Vegas. The 32-year-old southpaw bested Roger Gutierrez (UD 12) to select up the WBA title. He rolled the cube by stepping as much as light-weight the place he misplaced to Gervonta Davis (TKO 9). He returned to 130-pounds to defend his title in opposition to Lamont Roach Jr. however a final spherical knockdown price him the combat, and he misplaced a 12-round cut up choice.
THE FUTURE: Must get again within the win column, may return later this 12 months however for the time being issues are quiet.
Joe Cordina (proper) lands a tough proper on Edward Vazquez – Photograph by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
No. 8 – ROBSON CONCEICAO
RECORD: 19-2-1 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: The Brazilian fought on the 2008 and 2012 Olympics earlier than profitable gold on the 2016 Rio Video games. Labored his means by means of the ranks as knowledgeable and gave then-WBC titlist Oscar Valdez suits earlier than dropping a contentious 12-round unanimous choice. He rebounded strongly, taking Xavier Martinez’s unbeaten document by lopsided 10-round choice however misplaced a second world title combat in opposition to then WBC/WBO kingpin Shakur Stevenson (UD 12). He twice bought off the canvas to carry WBO titlist Emanuel Navarrete to a draw. He lastly bought over the hump when on the fourth time of asking he received a world title edging previous Foster (SD 12) to select up the WBC title in controversial style.
THE FUTURE: The Brazilian will meet Foster in a rematch in November.
No. 9 – EDUARDO NUÑEZ
RECORD: 27-1 (27 KOs)
THE PAST: The Los Mochis native toiled in close to anonymity in Mexico for a number of years, profitable all however one his fights – a loss to Hiram Gallardo (UD 6) – inside the gap with solely three opponents getting previous the sixth spherical. The 27-year-old puncher’s huge break got here when he went to Tajikistan and stopped iron-jawed Shavkatzhon Rakhimov (TKO 11). Beat up and stopped pale however nonetheless serviceable former title challenger Miguel Marriaga (TKO 6) on the weekend.
THE FUTURE: He’s the IBF obligatory and can doubtless push for the Cacace-Warrington winner.
Sugar Nunez is a beast. It’s so simple as that 🤷♂️@IBFUSBAboxing 🔜 pic.twitter.com/2WDwgfMga6
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 1, 2024
No. 10 – ALBERT BATYRGAZIEV
RECORD: 10-0 (7 KOs)
THE PAST: The massively proficient Dagestan-born fighter received gold on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021). Because of his beginner credentials and background he was capable of transfer shortly and beat the likes of former WBA ruler Jezreel Corrales (TKO 9) and beforehand unbeaten Francis Frometa (UD 10) and Ender Luces (KO 5). Extra not too long ago he zeroed in on the WBA title by beating up Jono Carroll (TKO 9) to select up an interim title.
THE FUTURE: Because the WBA interim titlist he’ll have designs on dealing with Roach for the complete title. Whether or not that’s subsequent or not stays to be seen.
On the Cusp: Albert Bell, Andres Cortes, Eduardo Hernandez, Mark Magsayo and Masanori Rikiishi.
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)
The Ring Rankings Reviewed 2024: Featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Questions and/or feedback could be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
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