Angelo Leo (proper) turned in a career-best efficiency in opposition to The Ring’s No. 1-rated featherweight Luis Alberto Lopez. Picture by Mikey Williams / Prime Rank
On August 10 the boxing world was handled to fight-of-the-year and KO-of-the-year candidates with competing major occasions.
In Las Vegas, Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Serhii Bohachuk battled it out on brutally even phrases for 12 rounds, delivering the most effective motion bouts of 2024.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, former 122-pound beltholder Angelo Leo ended Luis Alberto Lopez’s IBF featherweight title reign with a single left hook within the tenth spherical of what had been a aggressive and entertaining combat.
Each major occasions had been good matchups on paper and each bouts exceeded expectations.
Ortiz (22-0, 21 KOs) bought up from two knockdowns and actually pounded out an in depth majority determination, which catapulted the previous welterweight contender to the No. 4 spot in The Ring’s junior middleweight rankings.
Vergil Ortiz digs arduous to Serhii Bohachuk’s physique throughout their Combat-of-the-Yr candidate. Picture by Adam DelGiudice
Leo’s chilling knockout vaulted him to No. 2 in the featherweight rankings, whereas former No. 1-rated Lopez fell to No. 5. Nonetheless, the unhappy information of Lopez struggling a small mind bleed broke only one week after the combat, placing his profession in jeopardy.
The Ring Scores Panel briefly mentioned what to do with the troubling and unlucky details about Lopez earlier than shelving the matter till an official announcement is made on behalf of the 31-year-old Mexicali native.
“Early days and never totally on top of things however I heard Luis Alberto Lopez had a mind bleed,” famous Anson Wainwright. “If that’s appropriate we must always take out the fallen warrior. I hope he’s doing OK.”
Abraham Gonzalez cautioned Wainwright on appearing earlier than extra is understood about Lopez’s situation.
“I believe we must always wait a bit,” he stated, “see what the entire state of affairs is.”
Added Jake Donovan: “Agreed with Abe. We are able to let Prime Rank (or Lopez and his speedy workforce) launch an official assertion earlier than we make a transfer.”
Adam Abramowitz, Daisuke Sugiura, Tom Grey and Wainwright agreed.
“What a brutal sport,” famous Sugiura. “I simply want Venado the most effective.”
“Let’s pray he comes by way of,” added Grey.
The Panel briefly debated the place to rank Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs), who scored two knockdowns (in Rounds 1 and eight) whereas urgent (and at occasions outworking) the hard-punching Ortiz throughout the complete combat.
Bohachuk connects with an enormous proper cross. Picture Adam DelGiudice
Ortiz’s No. 4 rating pushed Tim Tszyu to No. 5 and Bohachuk to No. 6, however some panelists thought the 29-year-old Ukrainian was nonetheless worthy of the No. 5 spot he held going into the August 10 showdown.
“I’d carry Ortiz and Bohachuk up at junior [middle] and drop Tszyu behind each,” advised Tris Dixon. “Terrific combat. Excessive degree and each ought to be rewarded.”
Michael Montero and your favourite Editor-In-Chief agreed with Dixon.
Abramowitz disagreed with score Bohachuk forward of Tszyu.
“I believe Tszyu has accomplished rather more within the division, even together with his loss,” he stated.
Replied Montero: “Yeah you’ll be able to positively make that argument. However, technically, Tszyu is coming off a loss with nothing scheduled, whereas Ortiz and Bohachuk simply fought on even phrases within the FOTY.
“However maybe I’m getting caught up within the second. I’d favor Tszyu over each Ortiz and Bohachuk, in addition to [Gabriel] Fundora in a rematch.”
Added Gonzalez: “I don’t suppose Tszyu ought to take a again seat to Bohachuk. Though Tszyu misplaced, it was an in depth combat and he wasn’t shut out or something like that. Main as much as that combat, he confronted the most effective fighters that wouldn’t keep away from him. He ought to drop one within the rankings however not two. Additionally, [Erickson] Lubin is arising on a yr subsequent month with no combat with nothing on the schedule, so one thing to keep watch over.
“1. Bud, 2. Madrimov, 3. Fundora, 4. Ortiz, 5. Tszyu, 6. Bohachuk, 7. Lubin, 8. Conwell, 9. Ramos, 10. Mendoza (Michel Soro drops out).”
Added Wasim Mather: “The combat was nice. I like Adam Abramowitz’s suggestion for the 154-pound division. I’m going to rewatch the combat once more!”
RING RATINGS UPDATE (as of August 17):
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT – Christian Mbilli stays at No. 1 after scoring a 10-round determination over gallant veteran Sergey Derevyanchenko. Osleys Iglesias stays at No. 3 after stopping Sena Agbeko in two rounds.
No. 1-rated Christian Mbilli takes it to the physique of Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Picture by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT – Ortiz enters at No. 4. Bohachuk drops to No. 6. Charles Conwell stays at No. 9 after scoring a second-round physique shot KO of Khiary Grey.
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT – Otar Eranosyan exits because of inactivity. Eduardo Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs), a 27-year-old knockout artist from Los Mochis, Mexico, enters at No. 10.
“Eranosyan is now one-year inactive and with nothing scheduled,” famous Donvoan. “It sucks that he was twice screwed over for a title shot and his obligatory wasn’t enforced. However, the value to pay for believing within the sanctioning our bodies and never having a workforce who can ship fights.
“I believe Albert Bell was the final to be bumped out of the highest ten; I equally like Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nuñez. Different names, for the sake of debate: Rocky Hernandez, Andres Cortes, Abraham Nova (for those who felt he was robbed vs. Cortes), Zelfa Barrett.”
Wainwright leaned towards the Mexican fighter.
“Between Bell and Nunez, I believe I’d go along with Nunez. That win over [Shavkatdzhon] Rakhimov in Tajikistan is the decider for me.”
Added Donovan: “Yup, I’m with you on Nuñez. Simply needed to verify it didn’t break coverage.”
FEATHERWEIGHT – Leo advances to No. 2. Lopez drops to No. 5.
“Lopez and Leo went at it till Leo discovered an ideal punch to place Venado’s lights out to say the IBF title and turn into a two-division champion,” famous Wainwright. “Gorgeous one-punch knockout that can be within the operating for Knockout of the Yr. Leo to No. 4 and Lopez to drop to No. 7. That feels slightly harsh on Lopez to go from No. 1 to No. 7 having fought on even phrases, but it surely was such a definitive ending unsure what else to do.”
Angelo Leo scored a KO of the Yr candidate stoppage in opposition to revered titleholder Luis Alberto Lopez. Picture by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank
Abramowitz disagreed with dropping Lopez that low.
“I might transfer Lopez right down to fifth, not seventh. He nonetheless has a a lot better physique of labor within the division over [Brandon] Figueroa and [Raymond] Ford in my view.”
Different panelists co-signed Adam’s opinion.
Added Donovan: “The extra I take into consideration featherweight, we should be aware of the present panorama. Leigh Wooden will probably by no means once more combat on the weight plus can be one yr inactive in October. As soon as he drops, our present rankings can have Rey Vargas at No. 1, who’s coming off a draw and who hasn’t gained at featherweight since July 2022 (Magsayo).
“Type of leaves me to suppose possibly Leo ought to leap all the way in which to no less than No. 2 (with Wooden floating as much as No. 1). Beating the No. 1 the way in which he did and as an already ranked contender would warrant the transfer, IMO.
1) Leigh Wooden 2) Angelo Leo 3) Rey Vargas 4) Nick Ball 5) Luis Alberto Lopez.”
FLYWEIGHT – Angel Ayala advances to No. 2 after stopping beforehand unbeaten Dave Apolinario within the sixth spherical of a world title bout.
“Ayala battered poor Apolinario’s physique and stopped the Filipino in six rounds to win the vacant IBF title,” famous Wainwright.
E-mail Fischer at [email protected]. Comply with him on Twitter and IG at @dougiefischer, and be a part of him, Tom Loeffler, Coach Schwartz and pals by way of Tom’s or Doug’s IG Stay most Sundays.
