Gabriela Fundora (proper) lands an extended proper jab on Christina Cruz – Picture by Golden Boy/Cris Esqueda
It isn’t common to see an undefeated champion retire at 32 years of age, however that’s precisely what future Corridor of Famer Seniesa Estrada did this previous week, and her exit has not solely left the Ring flyweight championship vacant but in addition an open spot within the pound-for-pound prime 10 as nicely.
After a vote that included candidates corresponding to Savannah Marshall and Lauren Worth, lastly it was flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora the one who was picked to enter the pound-for-pound record at No. 10, with everybody transferring up one spot to fill Estrada’s No. 4 place, surpassing even Ring flyweight champ Gabriela Alaniz, who fights Fundora this coming Saturday.
“Assuming she beats Chucky Alaniz this weekend, which she most undoubtedly ought to, Fundora is poised to turn out to be undisputed 112-pound champion at solely 22,” mentioned author Christopher Benedict in his remark. “A younger, tall southpaw who packs a punch, the sky’s the restrict for Fundora.”
Lovely Brawlers’ Lupi Beagle mentioned that “(Fundora) takes the true fights and wins with none doubt,” whereas TV producer and author Yesica Palmetta mentioned that “Fundora is a superb candidate for P4P for her qualities within the ring, her achievements at a younger age and for the picture she offers as an athlete.”
A byproduct of this debate was a request to maneuver Denmark’s Dina Thorslund up within the pound-for-pound rankings as nicely.
“Thorslund has defended her title 3 times this yr, whereas Baumgarder has solely fought as soon as. Plus, Thorslund is simply the higher fighter,” argued columnist Mark Jones, with author and editor Irene Deserti saying that “I additionally agree that Thorslund needs to be ranked above Baumgardner. Since her explosive win over Mayer, Alycia hasn’t had notably compelling matches, whereas Thorslund has maintained a better degree of exercise towards strong opponents and stays undefeated. She undoubtedly deserves to be ranked increased at this level.”
With the brand new pound-for-pound lineup executed, it was time to maneuver down the record with a couple of extra adjustments.
Spain’s Jennifer Miranda broke into the featherweight rankings at No. 5 with a win over Teresa Almengor. Though a number of panelists stay skeptic about her upside, the Spaniard has put up sufficient numbers on the board to earn the spot, in keeping with the overall sentiment.
As said above, bantamweight champ Dina Thorslund solidified her place as one of many world’s finest with one other strong win, this time towards Japan’s Terumi Nuki. And likewise at 118 kilos, No. 4 Miyo Yoshida dropped a controversial choice towards Shurretta Metcalf, a earlier occupant of those rankings. Regardless that it wasn’t a stellar efficiency by Metcalf, the outcome certified her to reenter the rankings on the expense of Florencia Juarez. Metcalf is now No. 4 as Yoshida slips again to No. 5.
Within the strawweight division, Estrada’s exit left the division and not using a Ring champion. And a fast evaluation of the remainder of the division indicated that Jessica Basulto had been inactive and wanted to be dropped out as nicely. Argentina’s Sol Cudos was picked to turn out to be the brand new No. 5.
Diego M. Morilla has been writing for The Ring since 2013. He has additionally written for HBO.com, ESPN.com and plenty of different magazines, web sites, newspapers and retailers since 1993. He’s a full member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and an elector for the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame. He has received two first-place awards within the BWAA’s annual writing contest, and he’s the moderator of The Ring’s Ladies’s Scores Panel. He served as copy editor for the second period of The Ring en Español (2018-2020) and is presently a author and editor for RingTV.com.
