Sunny Edwards (left) vs. Felix Alvarado. (Picture by George Wooden/Getty Photos)
The Ring first launched its divisional scores in 1925. Nearly a century later, it’s no exaggeration to say that these unbiased scores are probably the most revered and talked-about in world boxing.
The Ring Rankings Panel is made up of a dozen consultants from all over the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the ultimate determination on who must be rated the place is determined democratically each week. It sounds simple, however this may be an arduous and time-consuming course of.
I might be going by means of every division in reverse order and work my approach up from strawweight to heavyweight to check out every rated fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what might lay forward.
Subsequent up is flyweight (112-pounds), which has seen IBF/WBO kingpin Jesse Rodriguez vacate his titles and transfer up in weight, which in flip has created openings for others. As at all times, please benefit from the debate and respect different individuals’s opinions.
No. 1 – SUNNY EDWARDS
RECORD: 21-1 (4 KOs)
THE PAST: Edwards was novice, profitable titles domestically within the UK earlier than turning skilled in 2016. He adopted his older brother, Charlie, who received a flyweight world title, when he used his professional footwork and quick fingers to shock IBF titlist Moruti Mthalane (UD 12). Edwards made 4 title defenses, notably besting Felix Alvarado (UD 12). The 28-year-old dared to be nice and headed to America solely to lose to WBO titlist Jesse Rodriguez (RTD 9) in a unification, however has since returned with a win over former junior flyweight beltholder Adrian Curiel (TD 9).
THE FUTURE: An all-British battle with Galal Yafai looms, but when that doesn’t occur he might look to safe a second world title.
No. 2 – ANGEL AYALA
RECORD: 18-0 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: The 24-year-old Mexican burst onto the world scene when he scored a formidable win over former titleholder Cristofer Rosales (UD 12). The nonetheless largely unknown fighter has since grow to be the primary man to cease 32-fight veteran Miguel Angel Herrera (TKO 1). He needed to get off the canvas to edge previous Felix Alvarado (SD 12) however got here good impressively stopping Dave Apolinario (KO 6) to win the IBF title.
THE FUTURE: He’s now basking in his world title glory, although we might even see him defending his title within the fall.
No. 3 – SEIGO YURI AKUI
RECORD: 20-2-1 (11 KOs)
THE PAST: The Japanese fighter began off his profession with 11 wins from 12 fights, the blemish was a draw, earlier than shedding his unbeaten standing to future two-weight titleholder Junto Nakatani (TKO 6). He bounced again impressively, stopping future junior flyweight titlist Masamichi Yabuki (TKO 1). Nonetheless, he then suffered one other reverse, this time in opposition to Jaysever Abcede (TKO 8). The 28-year-old went on to say the nationwide title and holds wins over Taku Kuwahara (TKO 10), Takuya Kogawa (TKO 10) and a shutout over Jayson Vayson (UD 10). He edged dwelling in opposition to Artem Dalakian (UD 12) to win the WBA title, and repeated the win over Kuwahara (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: More likely to make his second protection on one of many large reveals in Japan within the ultimate quarter of this 12 months.
Dalakian’s counterpunch-on-the-fly model gave Akui (left) suits however didn’t rating factors with the official judges. Picture by Naoki Fukuda
No. 4 – ARTEM DALAKIAN
RECORD: 22-1 (15 KOs)
THE PAST: Dalakian quietly went about his enterprise within the Ukraine earlier than coming to the U.S. and impressively beating Brian Viloria (UD 12) for the vacant WBA title in February 2018. The 36-year-old has since made six defenses, with all however one happening within the Ukraine, largely in opposition to mid-level opposition. His exercise has been badly hit by the Covid pandemic after which the battle in his homeland. Dalakian returned to motion in England and beat Ring-rated David Jimenez (UD 12) however misplaced the title in his final outing in controversial trend to Yuri Akui (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: Relocated to Los Angeles and presently assessing his choices.
No. 5 – DAVID JIMENEZ
RECORD: 16-1 (11 KOs)
THE PAST: Jimenez fought internationally for Costa Rica as an novice earlier than turning skilled in early 2019. The 32-year-old has been capable of transfer comparatively shortly. Nonetheless, it’s his win over Ricardo Sandoval (MD 12) in a WBA title eliminator, by which he scored an eleventh spherical knockdown that made the distinction, that he drew approval for. He misplaced to Dalakian (UD 12) however returned to profitable methods with 4 victories, notably in opposition to the normally sturdy Rosendo Hugo Guarneros (RTD 7) and, most just lately, jumped as much as 115 kilos the place he bested John Ramirez (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: But to determine whether or not his future lays at 112 or 115, might battle in Costa Rica in December.
No. 6 – RICARDO SANDOVAL
RECORD: 25-2 (18 KOs)
THE PAST: The 25-year-old Californian turned skilled throughout the border in Mexico in 2016. He bounced again from an early defeat and scored wins over once-beaten Oscar Vasquez (UD 8) and stopped skilled Raymond Tabugon (KO 7). He traveled to the UK and beat former world title challenger Jay Harris (KO 8) in an IBF eliminator. Took a big gamble that didn’t repay when he confronted unheralded David Jimenez (MD 12). “El Niño” has since returned with 5 wins, which incorporates victories over skilled former world title challenger Carlos Buitrago (RTD 8) and former junior flyweight titleholder Angel Acosta (KO 10).
THE FUTURE: Sandoval is ranked within the prime 15 by all 4 main sanctioning our bodies, and might be in search of a world title shot quickly.
No. 7 – FELIX ALVARADO
RECORD: 41-4 (35 KOs)
THE PAST: Alvarado misplaced world title makes an attempt to Kazuto Ioka (UD 12) and Juan Carlos Reveco (UD 12) early in his profession. “El Gemelo” rebounded with 15 wins to safe a shot on the vacant IBF 108-pound belt. He stopped Randy Petalcorin (TKO 7) in October 2018 and made two profitable title defenses. The aggressive 35-year-old vacated his title to maneuver up in weight, he misplaced an IBF title battle in opposition to Edwards (UD 12). He headed to Mexico and appeared unfortunate in opposition to Ayala (L UD 12) however has scored two wins again in Nicaragua.
THE FUTURE: A harmful puncher who’s a tricky out for anybody, might must work his approach into a compulsory place to get a world title shot.
Galal Yafai (left) and Miguel Cartagena throughout their bout at Madison Sq. Backyard. – Picture by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
No. 8 – ANTHONY OLASCUAGA
RECORD: 7-1 (5 KOs)
THE PAST: Olascuaga turned skilled in 2019 and moved shortly, defeating former world title challengers Saul Juarez (UD 8) and Gilberto Pedroza (UD 8) in his second and third fights respectively. The Los Angeles native acquired a late discover name after solely 5 professional bouts to step right into a world title battle in opposition to Ring champion and WBA/WBC titleholder Kenshiro Teraji, and although he was stopped in 9 rounds he acquitted himself nicely. He returned with a stoppage win over Giemel Magramo (TKO 7) and, most just lately, knocked out Riku Kano (KO 3) to win the vacant WBO belt.
THE FUTURE: Seems like he might face obligatory challenger Jonathan Gonzalez as quickly as October.
No. 9 – CRISTOFER ROSALES
RECORD: 37-6 (22 KOs)
THE PAST: The Nicaraguan warhorse earned his stripes preventing at dwelling and gaining worldwide expertise in shedding efforts to future world titleholder Kal Yafai (PTS 8) and once-touted Andrew Selby (UD 12). Bounced again in model to stun the extremely regarded however weight-drained Haigo Higa (TKO 9) to grow to be the WBC titleholder. He made one protection earlier than dropping the title to Charlie Edwards (UD 12). He was stopped by Julio Cesar Martinez (TKO 9) when the 2 contested the vacant WBC title. Subsequently misplaced to Ayala (UD 12) in a WBC title eliminator however is on a five-fight profitable streak, together with taking Joselito Velazquez’s (UD 10) unbeaten file.
THE FUTURE: Tabbed to fulfill Kenshiro Teraji for the vacant WBC belt later this 12 months.
No. 10 – GALAL YAFAI
RECORD: 7-0 (5 KOs)
THE PAST: Yafai wasn’t capable of medal on the 2016 Olympics however returned in 2020 (delayed to 2021) and picked up gold. The youngest of three preventing brothers, he famously turned skilled in a 10-round contest and has moved shortly. The 31-year-old southpaw holds wins over Rocco Santomauro (UD 10) and once-touted Agustin Gauto (TKO 8).
THE FUTURE: A possible all-British battle with Edwards might occur within the fall, in any other case he’ll preserve working towards a world title battle.
On the Cusp: Dave Apolinario, Angelino Cordova, Vince Paras, Tobias Reyes and Francisco Rodriguez Jr.
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)
Questions and/or feedback might be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
