We’re back! Things got muddled for a couple months there so this is our first update since March, and we’re taking into account three full months of boxing’s results and also reshuffling here and there, because I think it’s important to do that, as I’ve said before. Things can change fast, performance matters as much as wins and losses a lot of the time, and you start seeing things differently here and there. If you don’t do this, in my experience, you wind up staying static and keeping people ranked highly just because they were before.
Anyway, on with the many lists!
Heavyweight (Limit: None)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Oleksandr Usyk
WBC, WBA, IBF
24-0-0 (15)
Ukraine
Next: Rico Verhoeven, 5/23
4
2
Agit Kabayel
27-0-0 (19)
Germany
Next: TBA
2
3
Tyson Fury
35-2-1 (24)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
6
4
Daniel Dubois
WBO
23-3-0 (22)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
10
5
Moses Itauma
14-0-0 (12)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
3
6
Fabio Wardley
20-1-1 (19)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
5
7
Joseph Parker
36-4-0 (24)
New Zealand
Next: TBA
7
8
Anthony Joshua
29-4-0 (26)
United Kingdom
Next: Kristian Prenga, 7/25
9
9
Filip Hrgovic
20-1-0 (15)
Croatia
Next: TBA
–
10
Frank Sanchez
26-1-0 (19)
Cuba
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Oleksandr Usyk, WBA – Oleksandr Usyk, IBF – Oleksandr Usyk, WBO – Daniel DuboisUpcoming Notable Fights: Dante Stone vs Kingsley Ibeh, 6/20 … Gurgen Hovhannisyan vs Uila Mau’u, 7/11 … (7) Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga, 7/25
Notes: Oleksandr Usyk retains the top spot. The Rico fight is weird, it’s an anomaly of sorts, it’s hard to know what to make of it in a ratings context. Same with Fury scraping by Ngannou a couple years ago.
Speaking of, Tyson Fury dips to No. 3, I just didn’t make much of his win over Makhmudov nor his performance, but Tyson is still No. 2 or No. 3, I just think Agit Kabayel’s recent performances really have earned a nod above today’s version of Tyson.
Daniel Dubois goes up to No. 4 after trouncing Fabio Wardley, who drops to No. 6. Moses Itauma shoots up the rankings because when I look at the landscape of this division, the way that guy’s been thrashing opponents is quite impressive compared to the field. He’s young, he may sink instead of swim when the opposition gets better, but I’m being bold here. I really think he’s that good.
Frank Sanchez returns to the rankings after absolutely obliterating Richard Torrez Jr, and his win from years ago over Efe Ajagba still matters enough for me to put him in at No. 10 over Ajagba, who was the other consideration for me.
We now wait for big fights to shake out. AJ vs Fury is likely coming, so long as the two of them get past tune-ups they don’t actually need very much. Usyk vs Kabayel seems the probable next fight, but I would actually not be shocked if Usyk retired or gave up the WBC belt and fought Rico again.
Cruiserweight (Limit: 200)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Jai Opetaia
Zuffa
30-0-0 (23)
Australia
Next: TBA
–
2
David Benavidez
WBA, WBO
32-0-0 (26)
United States
Next: TBA
2
3
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez
48-2-0 (30)
Mexico
Next: TBA
3
4
Chris Billam-Smith
21-2-0 (13)
United Kingdom
Next: Ryan Rozicki, 6/6
4
5
Noel Mikaelyan
WBC
28-3-0 (12)
Armenia
Next: TBA
5
6
Badou Jack
29-4-3 (17)
Sweden
Next: TBA
6
7
Michal Cieslak
28-2-0 (22)
Poland
Next: TBA
7
8
Yuniel Dorticos
27-3-0 (25)
Cuba
Next: TBA
10
9
Viddal Riley
14-0-0 (7)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
8
10
Ryan Rozicki
21-1-1 (20)
Canada
Next: Chris Billam-Smith, 6/6
Titles: WBC – Noel Mikaelyan, WBA – David Benavidez, IBF – Vacant, WBO – David Benavidez, Zuffa – Jai OpetaiaUpcoming Notable Fights: (4) Chris Billam-Smith vs (10) Ryan Rozicki, 6/6 … Jack Massey vs Cheavon Clarke, 6/6 … Leonardo Mosquea vs Francisco Rivas, 6/6 … Luke Modini vs Xibei Jia, 6/6 … David Nyika vs Floyd Masson, 8/8 … Karim Maatalla vs TBA, 8/8
Notes: I don’t love Zuffa, but I’ll acknowledge their belt(s) with the others. Every bit as legit, especially in this case with Opetaia, who is the top cruiserweight in the sport. I don’t love the WBC, WBA, IBF, or WBO, either. Zuffa will soon enough have some weak champions. So do all of those sanctioning bodies.
David Benavidez rockets into the cruiserweight rankings and sits just behind Opetaia. The way Benavidez smoked Zurdo Ramirez really was a special performance. Zurdo is a good, tough fighter, and Benavidez took him apart and made him quit, basically. I don’t think a fight with Opetaia would be quite so easy for David, because Opetaia has hand speed that Zurdo lacks and a greater danger in his return fire, but I also know Benavidez is smart enough that he wouldn’t fight Zurdo the same way, and Benavidez hasn’t put a foot wrong in game planning yet.
Light Heavyweight (Limit: 175)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Dmitry Bivol
WBA, IBF, WBO
25-1-0 (12)
Russia
Next: TBA
2
2
David Benavidez
WBC
32-0-0 (26)
United States
Next: TBA
4
3
Albert Ramirez
22-0-0 (19)
Venezuela
Next: Lerrone Richards, 6/4
5
4
Joshua Buatsi
20-1-0 (13)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
6
5
Anthony Yarde
27-4-0 (24)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
7
6
Imam Khataev
11-1-0 (10)
Russia
Next: Mickael Diallo, 6/4
8
7
Radivoje Kalajdzic
30-3-0 (22)
United States
Next: TBA
9
8
Umar Dzambekov
14-0-0 (10)
Austria
Next: TBA
10
9
Willy Hutchinson
20-2-0 (14)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
–
10
Najee Lopez
16-0-0 (13)
Puerto Rico
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – David Benavidez, WBA – Dmitry Bivol, IBF – Dmitry Bivol, WBO – Dmitry BivolUpcoming Notable Fights: (3) Albert Ramirez vs Lerrone Richards, 6/4 … (6) Imam Khataev vs Mickael Diallo, 6/4 … Mehmet Unal vs Yoann Kongolo, 6/11 … Lyndon Arthur vs Lewis Edmondson, 6/20 … Ben Whittaker vs Richard Rivera, 6/27 … Jean Pascal vs Francis Lafreniere, 6/27 … Ardian Krasniqi vs Vinko Zadro, 6/27 … Maidel Sando vs TBA, 7/7
Notes: Dmitry Bivol is back, easy win over Michael Eifert, and now something bigger probably comes next. Probably. Maybe not! Could be Artur Beterbiev, who remains unranked here due to inactivity. I’m not as high on a third fight between Bivol and a 41-year-old, inactive Beterbiev as some may be. Maybe it’s still a good fight, maybe it kinda isn’t. And I say that as a huge fan of Beterbiev and Bivol, too, really. That said, unless the alternative is David Benavidez, I don’t know that you can make a better fight than Bivol vs Beterbiev 3, either. I know that among the current 175 crop, you can’t make a bigger one other than Benavidez.
David Morrell goes a-tumbling out of the top 10 after his shock upset loss to Zak Chelli, who does not join the top 10, but maybe would if we had our own pretend champions like The Ring does, which would provide an extra “contender” spot.
Super Middleweight (Limit: 168)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Canelo Alvarez
63-3-2 (39)
Mexico
Next: Christian Mbilli, 9/12
2
2
Osleys Iglesias
IBF
15-0-0 (14)
Cuba
Next: TBA
3
3
Christian Mbilli
WBC
29-0-1 (24)
France
Next: Canelo Alvarez, 9/12
4
4
Lester Martinez
19-0-1 (16)
Argentina
Next: TBA
5
5
Diego Pacheco
25-0-0 (18)
United States
Next: TBA
6
6
Hamzah Sheeraz
WBO
23-0-1 (19)
United Kigndom
Next: TBA
–
7
Jaime Munguia
WBA
46-2-0 (35)
Mexico
Next: TBA
7
8
Jacob Bank
19-0-0 (11)
Denmark
Next: TBA
8
9
Kevin Sadjo
28-1-0 (25)
France
Next: Richard Mtangi, 6/10
10
10
Bektemir Melikuziev
17-1-0 (11)
Uzbekistan
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Christian Mbilli, WBA – Jaime Munguia, IBF – Osleys Iglesias, WBO – Hamzah SheerazUpcoming Notable Fights: Weljon Mindoro vs Elias Espadas, 6/5 … (9) Kevin Sadjo vs Richard Mtangi, 6/10 … Wilkens Mathieu vs Esquiva Falcao, 6/11 … Moreno Fendero vs Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz, 6/11 … Edin Avdic vs Juan Narvaez, 6/19 … Elijah Garcia vs Ryan Adams, 6/20 … William Scull vs TBA, 7/7 … (1) Canelo Alvarez vs (3) Christian Mbilli, 9/12
Notes: Canelo has his next fight, and as expected it will be against Christian Mbilli on September 12, when “Mexico” goes on the road to battle “The World,” celebrating Mexican Independence with a real spectacle in Saudi Arabia.
The post-Crawford vacancies have all been filled and settled into place. Jaime Munguia took the WBA title from Armando Resendiz, a fight that should have made it clear enough how much of a contender Caleb Plant isn’t at this moment, and that’s the sort of thing I mean when I talk about getting too “static” if you don’t start shuffling now and then and dusting things off. Plant was a top name in this division some years back. Big emphasis on “some years back.” Having him ranked highly right now just doesn’t reflect the division’s reality to me.
Mbilli, like Resendiz, was “elevated” and now makes a big defense. Osleys Iglesias claimed the IBF. And Hamzah Sheeraz had the WBO title gift-wrapped and delivered with a basket of beautiful fresh-baked breads and high-end jams.
Middleweight (Limit: 160)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
2
1
Carlos Adames
WBC
25-1-1 (18)
Dominican Republic
Next: TBA
1
2
Erislandy Lara
WBA
32-3-3 (19)
Cuba
Next: TBA
3
3
Aaron McKenna
20-0-0 (10)
Ireland
Next: TBA
4
4
Jesus Ramos Jr
24-1-0 (19)
United States
Next: TBA
8
5
Yoenli Hernandez
10-0-0 (9)
Cuba
Next: TBA
6
6
Etinosa Oliha
22-0-0 (10)
Italy
Next: TBA
7
7
Anauel Ngamissengue
15-1-0 (10)
France
Next: TBA
–
8
Denzel Bentley
22-3-1 (18)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
10
9
George Liddard
14-0-0 (8)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
–
10
Andreas Katzourakis
17-0-0 (11)
Greece
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Carlos Adames, WBA – Erislandy Lara, IBF – Vacant, WBO – Janibek AlimkhanulyUpcoming Notable Fights: Michele Soro vs Hassan Mwakinyo, 6/10 … Troy Isley vs Leonardo Di Stefano, 6/14 … Derek Pomerlau vs TBA, 6/17 … Brad Pauls vs Bradley Goldsmith, 6/20 … Jahi Tucker vs Euri Cedeno, 6/27 … Bujar Tahiri vs TBA, 6/27
Notes: A switch at the top. Carlos Adames’ win over Ammo Williams kinda trumps the entire middleweight run of Lara, realistically. Would be nice if they fought each other! Lara did intend to fight Janibek. Speaking of, the IBF title that was stripped from Janibek has been given an order for a fight between Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha, which is a fine enough matchup. Meanwhile, the WBO continue to keep Janibek as champ despite the drug test failures that saw the IBF strip him.
Dropping out from last time are Ammo Williams, who lost pretty heavily to Adames, and Fiodor Czerkaszyn, who did nothing wrong but this is what I’m feeling right now. Denzel Bentley and Andreas Katzourakis are in. Katzourakis scored a really solid win over Misael Rodriguez on the May 10 Zuffa card, and Bentley’s on a good run of form right now, too, picking up the British and European titles two fights ago, and the interim WBO belt on April 4.
There are a lot of combinations you could have this division ordered after Adames/Lara or Lara/Adames at the top right now. The margins are thin. Also in the mix for me at the moment: Czerkaszyn still, Shane Mosley Jr, Ammo, Amari Jones (if you’re about to super object to that, I’m talking about Amari, not Omari), Vadim Tukov. And I’ve got a real eye on Jahi Tucker vs Euri Cedeno, too; an impressive performance in victory for one of those guys puts them in this conversation.
If you were giving individual scores to fighters over a top 10 — this guy is an 8.7, then we’ve got an 8.2, a few spots later is a 6.8 or whatever — then a top 10 would always have a better average among those 10 fighters than a top 15 would, just because it’s less people. But this is a division where I think a top 10 and top 15 would basically be the same average score for me. There’s nothing really separating a bunch of people.
(John doesn’t seem to have caught on fully to Katzourakis just yet, if we’re all quiet enough a bit longer he won’t dropkick the door in waving the Greek flag.)
Super Welterweight (Limit: 154)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
2
1
Sebastian Fundora
WBC
24-1-1 (16)
United States
Next: TBA
1
2
Vergil Ortiz Jr
24-0-0 (22)
United States
Next: TBA
3
3
Jaron “Boots” Ennis
35-0-0 (31)
United States
Next: Xander Zayas, 6/27
4
4
Xander Zayas
WBA, WBO
23-0-0 (13)
Puerto Rico
Next: Jaron Ennis, 6/27
5
5
Israil Madrimov
11-2-1 (7)
Uzbekistan
Next: TBA
6
6
Josh Kelly
IBF
18-1-1 (9)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
7
7
Abass Baraou
17-2-0 (9)
Germany
Next: TBA
8
8
Bakhram Murtazaliev
23-1-0 (17)
Russia
Next: TBA
9
9
Yoenis Tellez
12-1-0 (8)
Cuba
Next: TBA
10
10
Tim Tszyu
27-3-0 (18)
Australia
Next: Errol Spence Jr, 7/25
Titles: WBC – Sebastian Fundora, WBA – Xander Zayas, IBF – Josh Kelly, WBO – Xander ZayasUpcoming Notable Fights: Milan Prat vs Amiri Rashidi Matumla, 6/10 … Freddy Kiwitt vs Erik Agtaeljan, 6/13 … (3) Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs (4) Xander Zayas, 6/27 … (10) Tim Tszyu vs Errol Spence Jr, 7/25
Notes: Sebastian Fundora goes up to No. 1 for now. The win over Keith Thurman was just Keith Thurman, old and small, but he’s active and winning impressively, which trumps what Vergil Ortiz is doing at the moment. My feeling right now is that the Zayas vs Ennis winner will have their own strong argument in July, but we’ll have to see what happens.
The other news of note is that Errol Spence Jr is indeed returning, and will face Tim Tszyu in late July. If Spence looks good, yeah, he’ll probably jump into the top 10. But there are a lot of questions about Spence right now. The man hasn’t fought in three years, got absolutely walloped the last time he did, and is 36 years old. He’s also going up in weight. He also had some concerns about his general condition and dedication to boxing even before this very long hiatus. A long break honestly can be good, but I’d advise real caution with the expectations of his form upon return.
Welterweight (Limit: 147)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Devin Haney
WBO
33-0-0 (15)
United States
Next: TBA
2
2
Eimantas Stanionis
16-1-0 (9)
Lithuania
Next: TBA
3
3
Rolly Romero
WBA
17-2-0 (13)
United States
Next: TBA
9
4
Ryan Garcia
WBC
25-2-0 (21)
United States
Next: Conor Benn, 9/12
5
5
Brian Norman Jr
29-1-0 (23)
United States
Next: TBA
8
6
Jack Catterall
33-2-0 (14)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
7
7
Lewis Crocker
IBF
22-0-0 (11)
United Kingdom
Next: Liam Paro, 6/24
4
8
Vadim Musaev
14-0-0 (9)
Russia
Next: TBA
10
9
Conah Walker
18-3-1 (9)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
–
10
Liam Paro
27-1-0 (16)
Australia
Next: Lewis Crocker, 6/24
Titles: WBC – Ryan Garcia, WBA – Rolly Romero, IBF – Lewis Crocker, WBO – Devin HaneyUpcoming Notable Fights: Egidijus Kavaliauskas vs Luis Lopez, 6/19 … (6) Lewis Crocker vs (10) Liam Paro, 6/24 … Victor Cakiqi vs Florent Davis, 6/27 … Brandun Lee vs Cain Sandoval, 6/28 … Tiger Johnson vs Christopher Guerrero, 7/4 … Harlem Eubank vs David Papot, 7/18 … (4) Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn, 9/12 … Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao, 9/19
Notes: Did some major shuffling into more what I think the division really is right now, again a case where it’s easy for a guy to sit on a spot because the movement in the division has been a little strange. Stanionis has barely been active since losing to Boots Ennis, Haney feels pretty vulnerable for an unbeaten No. 1 and three-division champ, Romero and Garcia are inconsistent oddballs, Norman got pretty well handled by Haney but otherwise always looks good, Crocker’s two wins over Paddy Donovan both had some questions but they were wins all the same, and the second one in particular was solid — on and on.
There is star power here, relatively speaking, although certainly this isn’t five or 10 years ago in this division. All of that star power feels a lot more vulnerable than it did in those days, which in a way can be exciting, if they take good fights.
On Romero’s activity: It’s been 13 months since he fought. We’re giving him two more to get something scheduled. That’s my usual adjustment for Boxing Circumstances of some sort, a three-month grace period. Rolly had negotiated with Manny Pacquiao’s team for a January fight that obviously never materialized. As it stands, he probably should have lined up something else by now, but he’s on the PBC roster and PBC has very limited dates at this point. So a bit of leeway, but it’s coming up soon.
Super Lightweight (Limit: 140)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Shakur Stevenson
WBO
25-0-0 (11)
United States
Next: TBA
2
2
Dalton Smith
WBC
19-0-0 (14)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
5
3
Gary Antuanne Russell
WBA
19-1-0 (17)
United States
Next: TBA
6
4
Subriel Matias
23-3-0 (22)
Puerto Rico
Next: TBA
7
5
Alberto Puello
24-1-0 (10)
Dominican Republic
Next: TBA
8
6
Adam Azim
15-0-0 (12)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
9
7
Keyshawn Davis
15-0-0 (10)
United States
Next: TBA
10
8
Lamont Roach
25-1-3 (10)
United States
Next: TBA
–
9
Pierce O’Leary
19-0-0 (11)
Ireland
Next: Mark Chamberlain, 8/1
–
10
Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz
28-3-2 (18)
Mexico
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Dalton Smith, WBA – Gary Antuanne Russell, IBF – Vacant, WBO – Shakur StevensonUpcoming Notable Fights: Jhon Orobio vs Jonathan Montrel, 6/4 … Kuntae Lee vs Izuki Tomioka, 6/6 Joshuah Lupia vs Pasquale Barile, 6/6 … Mazlum Akdeniz vs Maurice Lee, 6/17 … Emiliano Vargas vs Bryce Mills, 6/27 … (9) Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain, 8/1
Notes: Teofimo Lopez has fully confirmed he’s going up to 147, so he’s out at 140. If he changes his mind, I put him back in. It’s not that hard, really. And the same goes for Richardson Hitchins, who has vacated the IBF title and signed with Zuffa to move to 147. That will stick, because Zuffa doesn’t do the “in-between” divisions like 140 for now.
So Pierce O’Leary — who has an August fight I’m really looking forward to against Mark “Kid Turki” Chamberlain — and Pitbull Cruz are in. Both spots are fragile, as most 8 through 10s are in any division. Guys like Tito Mercado and Artur Biyarslanov have arguments about on the same level, and could make a better one with any fight.
I was really impressed with Adam Azim when I watched his TKO-3 win over Steve Claggett. Claggett’s kind of a knockaround pro, solid but not a contender, but that guy is tough and does not get trucked like that historically. He went all 12 with Teofimo in 2024. His only other stoppage loss was in 2011. Azim thrashing him like that says something for Azim’s ability. Azim might really be No. 2 or No. 3 in this division right now.
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Raymond Muratalla
IBF
22-0-0 (17)
United States
Next: TBA
2
2
Abdullah Mason
WBO
20-0-0 (17)
United States
Next: Joe Cordina, 7/4
3
3
Floyd Schofield
19-0-0 (13)
United States
Next: TBA
4
4
Sam Noakes
18-1-0 (16)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
5
5
William Zepeda
33-1-0 (27)
Mexico
Next: TBA
6
6
Andy Cruz
6-1-0 (3)
Cuba
Next: TBA
7
7
Bakhodur Usmonov
12-0-0 (5)
Tajikistan
Next: TBA
8
8
Jadier Herrera
18-0-0 (16)
Cuba
Next: TBA
–
9
Andres Cortes
25-0-0 (13)
United States
Next: TBA
9
10
Armando Martinez
17-0-0 (15)
Cuba
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Vacant, WBA – Gervonta “Tank” Davis, IBF – Raymond Muratalla, WBO – Abdullah MasonUpcoming Notable Fights: Dzimitry Asanau vs Roger Gutierrez, 6/4 … Avery Martin Duval vs Jose Rodolfo Macias, 6/4 … Shuma Nakazato vs Taiga Imanaga, 6/7 … Siro Choi vs Hong Quan Dinh, 6/13 … Joshua Pagan vs Rodolfo Bustamante, 6/14 … Jose Valenzuela vs Edwin De Los Santos, 6/28 … (2) Abdullah Mason vs Joe Cordina, 7/4
Notes: Only a minor shift, with Andres Cortes coming in now that he’s signed with Zuffa, moved up to 135, and won a fight. Justin Pauldo drops out.
Super Featherweight (Limit: 130)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Emanuel Navarrete
IBF, WBO
40-2-1 (31)
Mexico
Next: TBA
2
2
O’Shaquie Foster
WBC
25-3-0 (12)
United States
Next: TBA
4
3
Robson Conceicao
19-3-1 (8)
Brazil
Next: TBA
5
4
Charly Suarez
18-0-0 (10)
Philippines
Next: TBA
3
5
Anthony Cacace
IBF
25-1-0 (9)
Ireland
Next: TBA
6
6
Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez
29-2-0 (27)
Mexico
Next: TBA
7
7
Oscar Valdez
33-3-0 (24)
Mexico
Next: TBA
8
8
Raymond Ford
18-2-1 (8)
United States
Next: TBA
–
9
Ryan Garner
19-0-0 (10)
United Kingdom
Next: Michael Magnesi, 6/20
–
10
Josh Padley
18-1-0 (6)
United Kingdom
Next: Aqib Fiaz, 6/6
Titles: WBC – O’Shaquie Foster, WBA – Anthony Cacace, IBF – Emanuel Navarrete, WBO – Emanuel NavarreteUpcoming Notable Fights: Edward Vazquez vs Daniel Lugo, 6/5 … (10) Josh Padley vs Aqib Fiaz, 6/6 … (9) Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi, 6/20 … Liam Wilson vs Alexandru Marin, 6/24 … Yamato Hata vs Tsubasa Narai, 7/4 … Hayato Tsutsumi vs TBA, 7/14
Notes: It’s a tough call for the No. 1 slot between Navarrete and Foster, but they’ve both been fantastic for years now at 130. Still edge a bit to Navarrete, but it’s close. Foster looked really good again beating Ray Ford, and for what it’s worth, the situation this division has right now, I don’t think Ford lost any standing. He lost to a better fighter in a good fight. I’d probably pick Ford to beat Oscar Valdez, really. And I still think Ford’s very best might be ahead of him. He handles adversity pretty well in fights, that’s the most impressive thing about him to me. More than his hand speed or anything.
Foster wants a fight with Shakur Stevenson, says if he can’t get that he hopes to fight Navarrete. I’d honestly rather see the Navarrete fight, but I’m guessing Foster might get more money out of the Shakur bout, and also that seems more personal for him. We’ll see what Shakur does next. Could be 140, could be 147, could be 135, could be signing with Zuffa which would mean 147 or 135.
Featherweight (Limit: 126)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Rafael Espinoza
WBO
28-0-0 (24)
Mexico
Next: TBA
2
2
Brandon Figueroa
WBA
27-2-1 (20)
United States
Next: TBA
3
3
Angelo Leo
IBF
26-1-0 (12)
United States
Next: TBA
4
4
Bruce Carrington
WBC
17-0-0 (10)
United States
Next: Rene Palacios, 7/4
5
5
Nick Ball
23-1-1 (13)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
8
6
Mirco Cuello
16-0-0 (13)
Argentina
Next: TBA
10
7
Luis Nery
37-2-0 (28)
Mexico
Next: John Riel Casimero, 6/6
–
8
Liam Davies
18-1-0 (9)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
–
9
Cristobal Lorente
21-0-3 (8)
Spain
Next: TBA
–
10
Lorenzo Parra
24-1-1 (18)
Venezuela
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Bruce Carrington, WBA – Brandon Figueroa, IBF – Angelo Leo, WBO – Rafael EspinozaUpcoming Notable Fights: (7) Luis Nery vs John Riel Casimero, 6/6 … Omar Trinidad vs Jerwin Ancajas, 6/28 … (4) Bruce Carrington vs Rene Palacios, 7/4
Notes: Three new in at the back end, three out.
Otabek Kholmatov is gone on inactivity. He hasn’t had a serious fight in over two years, hasn’t had a fight at all in 14 months, has nothing scheduled. I think he’s a good fighter, but that’s how it goes. Sam Goodman is gone because he’s moved back down to 122, and is ranked there. And Ra’eese Aleem is out because he missed weight and had an IBF title fight with Angelo Leo scrapped. We’ll also give Leo something of a grace period; technically, he’s now inactive a year, but that’s not his fault. He showed up to fight, he made weight.
Carrington has a chance to leapfrog Leo if he looks good on July 4, but I don’t think that fight is quite at the level to jump Figueroa at No. 2.
Super Bantamweight (Limit: 122)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Naoya Inoue
WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO
33-0-0 (27)
Japan
Next: TBA
3
2
Junto Nakatani
32-1-0 (24)
Japan
Next: TBA
4
3
Sebastian Hernandez
20-1-0 (18)
Mexico
Next: TBA
–
4
Sam Goodman
22-1-0 (8)
Australia
Next: TBA
5
5
Alan Picasso
32-1-1 (17)
Mexico
Next: TBA
6
6
Ramon Cardenas
27-2-0 (15)
United States
Next: TBA
–
7
Ryosuke Nishida
11-1-0 (2)
Japan
Next: TBA
7
8
Shabaz Masoud
15-0-0 (4)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
8
9
Murodjon Akhmadaliev
14-2-0 (11)
Uzbekistan
Next: TBA
10
10
Fillipus Nghitumbwa
17-2-0 (15)
South Africa
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Naoya Inoue, WBA – Naoya Inoue, IBF – Naoya Inoue, WBO – Naoya InoueUpcoming Notable Fights: Toshiya Ishii vs Kaito Yamasaki, 6/7 … Arturo Cardenas vs Jordan Martinez, 6/13 … Alexandro Santiago vs Alessio Lorusso, 6/21
Notes: Inoue vs Nakatani has come and gone, and I think we pretty obviously saw the two best super bantamweights in the sport. They sit a clear 1-2 for me, and I think if you go back to Nakatani’s fight with Sebastian Hernandez, that guy put in the effort that, to me, in a volatile sort of division at the moment, earns him the No. 3 spot.
Lots of changes. Sam Goodman is back at 122, looked good, he’s never lost at this weight, he comes in high at No. 4. Ryosuke Nishida comes in at No. 7 on the strength of a good win over Bryan Mercado, and hey, before he got stopped, he was giving Nakatani some decent looks down at bantamweight, too. Nishida can box. Fillipus Nghitumbwa comes in at No. 10; the South African had a loss to John Riel Casimero in 2023, has won five in a row since, including a TKO-1 stoppage of Yukinori Oguni, and that carries a little weight at the moment, too. Why? Because Oguni is the reason Marlon Tapales is out of the top 10, Oguni scored a 10-round decision upset over Tapales on April 3 in Tokyo.
In a weird way, this is a very interesting division below the top two guys, who I don’t think anyone else can beat or is on that same level. But it’s really nip-and-tuck beyond that with a lot of good fighters.
Bantamweight (Limit: 118)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Seiya Tsutsumi
WBA
13-0-3 (8)
Japan
Next: TBA
3
2
Takuma Inoue
WBC
22-2-0 (5)
Japan
Next: TBA
2
3
Christian Medina
WBO
27-4-0 (19)
Mexico
Next: TBA
4
4
Jose Salas
IBF
17-0-0 (11)
Mexico
Next: TBA
9
5
Tenshin Nasukawa
8-1-0 (3)
Japan
Next: TBA
6
6
Antonio Vargas
19-1-1 (11)
United States
Next: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, 6/13
–
7
Riku Masuda
10-1-0 (9)
Japan
Next: TBA
10
8
David Cuellar
29-1-0 (18)
Mexico
Next: TBA
–
9
Michael Angeletti
14-0-0 (8)
United States
Next: Kenneth Llover, 6/6
–
10
Andrew Cain
15-1-0 (13)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Takuma Inoue, WBA – Seiya Tsutsumi, IBF – Jose Salas, WBO – Christian MedinaUpcoming Notable Fights: (9) Michael Angeletti vs Kenneth Llover, 6/6 … Shori Umezu vs Keita Kurihara, 6/6 … Tasana Salapat vs Noli James Maquilan, 6/10 … (6) Antonio Vargas vs Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, 6/13 … Mauro Forte vs Vincenzo Picardi, 7/4
Notes: Bam Rodriguez is coming into the division this month. Sounds like a pit stop, basically, as he’s checking in at 118 to win a title (?????????????) from Antonio Vargas en route to a fight at 122 with Naoya Inoue. The title bit is somewhat of a mess. Vargas was promoted to full WBA titlist a little less than a year ago, and defended in a draw against Daigo Higa, while Seiya Tsutsumi was moved to “champion in recess.”
But Tsutsumi has returned and as of their latest update, I double-checked here, Tsutsumi is listed by the WBA as champion, not Vargas. But obviously the WBA will want some money, so I’m guessing somehow Vargas is also WBA champion. Usually on their rankings they’ll list, you know, Super World, World, Interim, whatever they’ve got, but not at 118. Just Tsutsumi as “World Champion.” No mention of Vargas. That’s probably just a mistake, or at least could be explained away as one, but anyway, whatever Bam’s possibly/probably about to win with the WBA at 118, it’s full-on paper belt status because of the standard idiot way this has all been handled. He’s a great fighter, but I’m not about to take this claim of a world title at 118 seriously. Not his fault, just standard WBA absurdity.
Tenshin Nasukawa gets a bump back up after his pretty one-sided win over Juan Francisco Estrada. Estrada’s small at 118, he’s gotten older, but he still clearly could fight. He just couldn’t do much of anything with Tenshin.
This remains one of my favorite divisions in boxing at the moment, has been for a while. Nobody’s great, but there’s a lot of quality, and these guys tend to fight each other.
Super Flyweight (Limit: 115)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
2
1
Fernando Martinez
18-1-0 (9)
Argentina
Next: TBA
3
2
David Jimenez
18-1-0 (12)
Costa Rica
Next: TBA
4
3
Phumelela Cafu
11-1-3 (8)
South Africa
Next: TBA
5
4
Ricardo Malajika
17-2-0 (12)
South Africa
Next: TBA
6
5
Tomoya Tsuboi
3-0-1 (2)
Japan
Next: TBA
7
6
Chocolatito Gonzalez
53-4-0 (42)
Nicaragua
Next: TBA
8
7
Willibaldo Garcia
IBF
23-6-2 (13)
Mexico
Next: Andrew Moloney, 6/6
10
8
Ryusei Kawaura
15-2-0 (9)
Japan
Next: TBA
–
9
Sikho Nqothole
22-3-0 (13)
South Africa
Next: TBA
–
10
Theophilus Allotey
14-0-0 (11)
Ghana
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, WBA – Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, IBF – Willibaldo Garcia, WBO – Jesse “Bam” RodriguezUpcoming Notable Fights: (7) Willibaldo Garcia vs Andrew Moloney, 6/6 … Jayr Raquinel vs Kenbun Torres, 7/12
Notes: Bam Rodriguez hasn’t vacated his belts yet, but he’s functionally gone from the division, moving up this month with plans to move up again right after, should he win. Now, if he doesn’t win, he’d have leverage to come back to 115, and if he does that, we put him back.
Rene Calixto is also out, as he’s moving down to flyweight to challenge for a title.
So it’s a division that will have to figure itself out soon at the top levels. Good chance the WBA will elevate David Jimenez from interim status to full title status, which would be fair enough, given how things work. Hopefully that means those thought to be real contenders fight each other, but it’s boxing, so we’ll see. That said, there’s depth in this division, and it can also be a chance for someone to really emerge.
Last
Rank
Name
Info
2
1
Ricardo Sandoval
WBC, WBA
27-2-0 (18)
United States
Next: TBA
3
2
Anthony Olascuaga
WBO
12-1-0 (9)
United States
Next: Andy Dominguez, 7/11
2
3
Masamichi Yabuki
IBF
19-4-0 (18)
Japan
Next: Rene Calixto, 6/6
4
4
Seigo Yuri Aku
22-3-1 (12)
Japan
Next: TBA
5
5
Angel Ayala
19-1-0 (8)
Mexico
Next: TBA
8
6
Felix Alvarado
42-5-0 (35)
Nicaragua
Next: TBA
9
7
Jonathan Gonzalez
29-4-1 (14)
Puerto Rico
Next: Abraham Perez, 6/14
–
8
Yoali Mejia
15-0-0 (12)
Mexico
Next: TBA
7
9
Galal Yafai
9-0-0 (7)
United Kingdom
Next: TBA
–
10
Abraham Perez
14-0-0 (7)
United States
Next: Jonathan Gonzalez, 6/14
Titles: WBC – Ricardo Sandoval, WBA – Ricardo Sandoval, IBF – Masamichi Yabuki, WBO – Anthony OlascuagaUpcoming Notable Fights: (3) Masamichi Yabuki vs Rene Calixto, 6/6 … (7) Jonathan Gonzalez vs (10) Abraham Perez, 6/14 … (2) Anthony Olascuaga vs Andy Dominguez, 7/11
Notes: Up first, should be noted that the loss was taken off of Galal Yafai’s record finally, with Francisco Rodriguez Jr’s failed drug test fully acknowledged in April. Hey, only took nine months. Rodriguez, meanwhile, won a WBC eliminator on May 30, beating Angelino Cordova. We’ll see if that win sticks for Rodriguez, since the two before it both got erased. You’d think the WBC, with their immense concern for doping in boxing, would not keep rewarding someone with further opportunities, but that would involve taking them seriously in the first place.
Yafai technically goes inactive this month but will get a grace period. I still wonder what he’ll really have if/when the fight with Ricardo Sandoval is rescheduled. You can give him back the “0,” but you can’t take away the beating he took from Rodriguez.
Light Flyweight (Limit: 108)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Rene Santiago
WBA, WBO
16-4-0 (9)
Puerto Rico
Next: TBA
3
2
Shokichi Iwata
WBC
16-2-0 (13)
Japan
Next: TBA
7
3
Thanongsak Simsri
IBF
40-1-0 (35)
Thailand
Next: TBA
2
4
Carlos Canizales
28-3-1 (20)
Venezuela
Next: TBA
4
5
Regie Suganob
18-1-0 (7)
Philippines
Next: TBA
5
6
Erik Badillo
19-0-0 (8)
Mexico
Next: TBA
8
7
Sivenathi Nontshinga
14-2-0 (11)
South Africa
Next: TBA
9
8
Cristian Araneta
25-3-0 (20)
Philippines
Next: TBA
–
9
Kyosuke Takami
10-1-0 (8)
Japan
Next: TBA
–
10
Aaron De La Cruz
14-0-0 (9)
Mexico
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Shokichi Iwata, WBA – Rene Santiago, IBF – Thanongsak Simsri, WBO – Rene SantiagoUpcoming Notable Fights: TBA
Notes: Iwata claimed the WBC title from Thammanoon Niyomtrong (aka Knockout CP Freshmart) via 8th round TKO on March 15, pretty much dominated him. Thammanoon’s status as a champ was pretty paper-y in the first place and he got a beating in that fight, he’s had a good career but the last two times he’s faced anyone near true world class, he has been dominated.
Minimumweight (Limit: 105)
Last
Rank
Name
Info
1
1
Oscar Collazo
WBA, WBO
14-0-0 (11)
Puerto Rico
Next: TBA
3
2
Pedro Taduran
IBF
20-4-1 (14)
Philippines
Next: TBA
4
3
DianXing Zhu
17-1-0 (14)
China
Next: TBA
10
4
Siyakholwa Kuse
WBC
10-3-1 (4)
South Africa
Next: TBA
2
5
Melvin Jerusalem
25-4-0 (12)
Philippines
Next: TBA
5
6
Joey Canoy
25-5-2 (15)
Philippines
Next: TBA
6
7
Ryusei Matsumoto
8-0-0 (4)
Japan
Next: TBA
7
8
Takeshi Ishii
11-1-0 (8)
Japan
Next: TBA
–
9
Joseph Sumabong
10-1-0 (5)
Philippines
Next: TBA
–
10
Beaven Sibanda
9-1-0 (3)
Zimbabwe
Next: TBA
Titles: WBC – Siyakholwa Kuse, WBA – Oscar Collazo, IBF – Pedro Taduran, WBO – Oscar CollazoUpcoming Notable Fights: Russell Acosta vs Mario Cardenas, 6/6
Note: Kuse upset Jersusalem to win the WBC title on May 16 in Kempton Park, where Kuse obviously had home advantage, which was a rematch of a close fight in the Philippines last October.