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 choice on who needs to be rated the place is determined democratically each week. It sounds simple, however this may be an arduous and time-consuming course of.
I will likely be going by way 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 to see what might lay forward.
Subsequent up is mild heavyweight (175 kilos), which has the boxing world smitten by the 2 greatest fighters within the division assembly on Saturday.
As at all times, please benefit from the debate and respect different folks’s opinions.
No. 1 – ARTUR BETERBIEV
RECORD: 20-0 (20 KOs)
THE PAST: Beterbiev was a standout beginner, successful gold on the 2009 World Championships and competing on the 2012 Olympics. The physically-imposing Russian moved rapidly as knowledgeable. He received the IBF mild heavyweight title, stopping Enrico Koelling (KO 12) and defended towards Callum Johnson (KO 4) and Radivoje Kalajdzic (KO 5). His breakout win got here towards then-WBC titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk (TKO 10) in a unification bout. The 39-year-old marked time towards Adam Deines (TKO 10) and Marcus Browne (KO 9) earlier than demolishing WBO counterpart Joe Smith Jr. (TKO 2), confirmed his toughness in a beatdown over Anthony Yarde (TKO 8) and appeared sensational bludgeoning harmful Callum Smith (TKO 7).
THE FUTURE: He’ll face WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol for The Ring and undisputed championship on Saturday.
Battle prepared ⚔️@ABeterbiev vs. @bivol_d for the 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗗 light-heavyweight world title 👑#BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason | Oct 12, reside on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/z0TCWvEkIE
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 6, 2024
No. 2 – DMITRY BIVOL
RECORD: 23-0 (12 KOs)
THE PAST: Bivol was a standout beginner earlier than turning skilled in November 2014. The 33-year-old Kyrgyzstan-born technician claimed the WBA mild heavyweight title in 2017 and has reeled off 10 profitable defenses. He holds wins over Sullivan Barrera (TKO 12), Isaac Chilemba (UD 12), Jean Pascal (UD 12) and Joe Smith Jr. (UD 12). A career-best win over Canelo Alvarez (UD 12) is what vaulted Bivol into the pound-for-pound scores. He subsequently picked aside Gilberto Ramirez (UD 12), dominated Lyndon Arthur (UD 12) and, most just lately, stopped Malik Zinad (TKO 6).
THE FUTURE: He’ll collide with Beterbiev for all of the marbles on Saturday.
No. 3 – DAVID BENAVIDEZ
RECORD: 29-0 (24 KOs)
THE PAST: Benavidez is an offensive beast; bodily imposing with spectacular energy. He grew to become the youngest fighter to win a brilliant middleweight world title when he edged previous Ronald Gavril (SD 12) to gather the WBC title. Beat Gavril (UD 12) far more comprehensively in a rematch. The Arizona native was then busted for cocaine use and stripped of the title. Benavidez impressively regained the belt from Anthony Dirrell (TKO 9). Nevertheless, missed weight in his first protection and misplaced the belt on the scale. The 27-year-old notably demolished former middleweight titlist David Lemieux (TKO 3), beat arch-rival Caleb Plant (UD 12) and ran over two-division titlist Demetrius Andrade (RTD 6) earlier than heading up in weight when a mixture of frustration ready for Canelo to face him and weight. In his 175-pound debut, he beat former beltholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: It appears to be like like he’ll return towards David Morrell in January.
Demetrius Andrade’s nook had seen sufficient after six rounds of injury from David Benavidez (left) in November 2023. (Picture by David Becker/Getty Pictures)
No. 4 – JOSHUA BUATSI
RECORD: 19-0 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Buatsi received bronze on the 2016 Olympics earlier than turning skilled. He received the vacant British title in his tenth struggle however by no means defended it. The British-based fighter started coaching with Virgil Hunter in California and has proven promise however has seen his profession stagnate. The 31-year-old holds wins over unbeaten Marko Calic (TKO 7), Richards Bolotniks (TKO 11), Craig Richards (UD 12) and Pawel Stepien (UD 10). Nevertheless, this 12 months he has doubled down and crushed fellow Brits Dan Azeez (UD 12) and Willy Hutchinson (SD 12) in a pair of fantastic fights.
THE FUTURE: He’ll have one eye on Saturday’s Beterbiev-Bivol struggle however may additionally look to consummate a cope with long-time rival Anthony Yarde.
No. 5 – ANTHONY YARDE
RECORD: 25-3 (24 KOs)
THE PAST: The ability-punching Londoner steamrolled by way of average opposition to earn a shot because the WBO obligatory towards Sergey Kovalev in Russia. Unperturbed, he put ahead a stable effort and rocked Kovalev earlier than being stopped within the eleventh spherical. He returned to the winner’s circle earlier than being edged out by the slick Lydon Arthur (SD 12). Nevertheless, a 12 months later he exorcised his demons by being extraordinarily aggressive and knocked out Arthur within the fourth spherical. In his second world title shot, Yarde gave an excellent account of himself towards IBF, WBC and WBO titlist Artur Beterbiev, earlier than wilting beneath heavy fireplace in eight rounds. Since then, the 33-year-old has received two low key fights towards modest opposition. He had been lined as much as face crosstown rival Buatsi however left Queensberry to signal for Boxxer, who might elect to revive the deal now they promote each.
THE FUTURE: Yarde may have his first struggle beneath the Boxxer umbrella towards an as-yet-unknown opponent on October 19.
AY again within the ring 😤
October nineteenth simply bought that bit extra thrilling. You already know what @mranthonyyarde brings 💨
Tickets at https://t.co/yt3WMVlLFj 🎟️ #AzimDavies | 19.10.24 | @CopperBoxArena | @SkySportsBoxing | @peacock | @GoldenBoyBoxing pic.twitter.com/t1gpCVE9Nm
— BOXXER (@boxxer) October 4, 2024
No. 6 – ALBERT RAMIREZ
RECORD: 19-0 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: Ramirez represented his nation Venezuela on the 2016 Rio Olympics, shedding on the Spherical of 16 stage. His cousin former IBF tremendous middleweight titlist Jose Uzcategui opened the doorways to him turning skilled in Mexico, the place he received his first 9 fights. The 32-year-old southpaw later moved in a unique route and impressed throughout a coaching camp in Russia with Beterbiev. He shocked then-unbeaten Braian Suarez (KO 1), bested Artur Ziyatdinov (UD 10) and, most just lately, took out former world title challenger Adam Deines (TKO 7) in a homecoming struggle.
THE FUTURE: Ramirez is ranked within the prime 4 by all 4 sanctioning our bodies and is inside putting distance of his title shot. Although might have to remain energetic within the meantime.
No. 7 – CALLUM SMITH
RECORD: 29-2 (21 KOs)
THE PAST: Smith received the British and European tremendous middleweight titles in spectacular style and bought his large break within the WBSS. He defeated Erik Skoglund (UD 12) and late substitute Nieky Holzken (UD 12) to earn protected passage to the ultimate the place he stopped George Groves (KO 7) to change into Ring journal champion and WBA titleholder. The Englishman struggled to capitalize on that momentum, simply defeating the undersized Hassan N’dam N’Jikam (TKO 3) and laboring towards John Ryder (UD 12) in subsequent title defenses earlier than shedding to boxing famous person Canelo Alvarez (UD 12). The 34-year-old moved as much as 175-pounds and received two fights earlier than taking a hiding towards Beterbiev (TKO 7).
THE FUTURE: He hasn’t been heard of for the reason that Beterbiev defeat. It stays to be seen if he has the will to return after a profitable profession.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk ( Black and silver trunks ) defeats Medhi Amar ( Black with inexperienced trunks ) of their mild heavyweight Title struggle at The Hulu Theatre at Madison Sq. Backyard on March 17, 2018 in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Invoice Tompkins/Getty Pictures)
No. 8 – OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK
RECORD: 20-2 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist was a part of the Ukrainian dream staff alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko. As knowledgeable, he impressively beat Nadjib Mohammedi (KO 2), Isaac Chilemba (RTD 8) and Yunieski Gonzalez (TKO 3) en path to unseating WBC titleholder Adonis Stevenson (KO 11). “Nail” made one protection earlier than shedding a unification match as much as Beterbiev (TKO 10). He retired for over three-years earlier than returned with three wins however misplaced to Benavidez (UD 12) in June.
THE FUTURE: Hasn’t stated he’s retiring, so presumably weighing up his choices for a return perhaps in early 2025.
No. 9 – DAVID MORRELL
RECORD: 11-0 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Gained Cuban nationwide titles at numerous ranges earlier than turning skilled in 2019. His beginner pedigree has helped him transfer rapidly as knowledgeable, and he has already crushed some stable fighters together with Mike Gavronski (KO 3), Alantez Fox (TKO 4), Aidos Yerbossynuly (KO 12), Yamaguchi Falcao (KO 1) and Sena Agbeko (TKO 2) earlier than heading to 175 kilos the place he received however did not catch the attention towards Radivoje Kalajdzic (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: The phrase is he’ll struggle Benavidez in January.
No. 10 – WILLY HUTCHINSON
RECORD: 18-2 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Hutchinson was a touted beginner successful gold on the 2014 European junior championships and 2016 World Youth Championships. The Scottish fighter turned skilled as a young person in 2017. He received his first 13 towards modest opposition after which got here a cropper when he stepped up and fought Lennox Clarke (TKO 5) for the vacant British and Commonwealth tremendous middleweight titles. He moved as much as mild heavyweight and reeled off 5 wins, together with a coming-of-age win over Craig Richards (UD 12) and fought on close to even phrases, save two knockdowns, in a spirited shedding effort towards Buatsi (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: Taking a while off earlier than returning subsequent 12 months. Is perhaps an thought to have a look at the European title and use that as a platform again into world stage.
On the Cusp: Michael Eifert, Radivoje Kalajdzic, Imam Khataev, Conor Wallace and Malik Zinad
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Questions and/or feedback will be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
