Bam took the combat to Estrada from the opening bell. (Picture by Kelsey Grant/Getty Photographs)
The Ring first launched its divisional rankings in 1925. Nearly a century later, it’s no exaggeration to say that these unbiased rankings are essentially the most revered and talked-about in world boxing.
The Ring Scores Panel is made up of a dozen consultants from all over the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the ultimate resolution on who must be rated the place is set democratically each week. It sounds simple, however it may be an arduous and time-consuming course of.
I shall be going by way of every division in reverse order and work my approach up from strawweight to heavyweight to take a look at every rated fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what could lay forward.
Subsequent up is junior bantamweight (115-pounds), which has a brand new sheriff on the town after Jesse Rodriguez vanquished grizzled veteran Juan Francisco Estrada to annex the Ring and WBC titles.
As all the time, please benefit from the debate and respect different individuals’s opinions.
CHAMPION – JESSE RODRIGUEZ
RECORD: 20-0 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Rodriguez was a embellished newbie earlier than turning skilled at 17 years of age. “Bam” labored his approach by way of the junior flyweight rankings and was a extremely touted prospect when he appeared on ESPN through the pandemic. The Texan was given the chance to leap two weight lessons and face savvy former titleholder Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC title. He made essentially the most of his large likelihood, dropping Cuadras en path to claiming a 12-round unanimous resolution. He went on to make two defenses, notably stopping Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TKO 8). He determined to drop down in weight and picked up the vacant WBO title however suffered a damaged jaw within the course of towards Cristian Gonzalez (UD 12). The 24-year-old southpaw stopped Sunny Edwards (RTD 9) so as to add the IBF title earlier than electing to vacate each titles to maneuver again as much as 115-pounds, the place, most not too long ago, he gained The Ring junior bantamweight belt and regained the WBC title by getting off the canvas to knockout former pound-for-pound entrant Juan Francisco Estrada (KO 7).
THE FUTURE: Estrada has a rematch clause and it appears to be like prefer it might occur in November.If he wins, it might be nice to see him additional solidifying his standing by going through IBF/WBA counterpart Fernando Martinez.
No. 1 – FERNANDO MARTINEZ
RECORD: 17-0 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Martinez was a standout newbie and represented his residence nation of Argentina everywhere in the world. Martinez appeared within the World Collection of Boxing and the 2016 Olympics earlier than turning skilled in 2017. He gained his first 9 fights, all in Argentina, earlier than venturing to South Africa to cease Athenkosi Dumezweni (TKO 11). The 33-year-old was largely unknown till he scored an upset over Jerwin Ancajas (UD 12) to win the IBF title and repeated the trick in a rematch for his first protection. He then stopped one other Filipino in Jade Bornea (TKO 11). In his final outing he impressively unified belts with with WBA ruler Kazuto Ioka (UD 12) in Japan.
THE FUTURE: The street warrior can have no drawback coming to America for an additional unification with Rodriguez, however may must bide his time. Hopefully he’ll keep lively within the meantime.
No. 2 – JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA
RECORD: 44-4 (28 KOs)
THE PAST: Estrada got here of age in a shedding effort to former pound-for-pound king Roman Gonzalez (UD 12) in November 2012. He rebounded to win WBA and WBO 112-pound titles on the expense of Brian Viloria (SD 12). After making 5 defenses, Estrada abdicated his throne for a transfer as much as junior bantamweight. After shedding to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (MD 12), he outboxed the big-punching Thai to say Ring and WBC junior bantamweight titles within the rematch. He made three defenses, edging previous rival Gonzalez (SD 12) who held the WBA title, in a basic. “El Gallo” had his WBA and WBC titles taken when he spent 18 months on the sidelines. When he returned he was given a harder-than-expected time towards Argi Cortes (UD 12). Nonetheless, the 34-year-old returned to kind boxing to an early lead and holding off Gonzalez (UD 12) to select up the vacant WBC title and retain his Ring title of their trilogy combat however once more didn’t combat for 18-months. His workforce have been unable to dealer a deal to face Kazuto Ioka final 12 months and ended up as an alternative yielding his titles to Jesse Rodriguez (KO 7).
THE FUTURE: He has a rematch clause with Rodriguez, and issues are progressing in direction of a November date.
Fernando Martinez scores with an uppercut throughout his junior bantamweight title-unification combat towards Kazuto Ioka. (Picture by Naoki Fukuda)
No. 3 – KAZUTO IOKA
RECORD: 31-3-1 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: After claiming titles at strawweight and junior flyweight, Ioka misplaced for the primary time to IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng (SD 12). Unperturbed, the Japanese star rebounded to finest Juan Carlos Reveco (MD 12) to win the WBA belt in that division. He made 5 defenses, together with a rematch victory over Reveco (TKO 11), then shockingly retired from the game in 2017. Nonetheless, following a 17-month layoff, Ioka returned at junior bantamweight searching for extra glory. He misplaced a WBO title bout to Donnie Nietes (SD 12) however stopped Aston Palicte (TKO 10) for the exact same belt after Nietes vacated. The four-weight world titleholder made six profitable defenses, notably stopped Kosei Tanaka (TKO 8) earlier than dominating Nietes (UD 12) in a rematch. Regarded to unify with WBA titlist Joshua Franco however needed to accept a draw. Ioka, 35, determined to vacate his title as an alternative of going through his obligatory to pursue a rematch with Franco and impressively gained a 12-round unanimous resolution. Unable to safe a unification with Estrada, Ioka needed to accept a routine protection earlier than dropping his title to the hard-charging Martinez (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: Ioka usually fights on the year-end present in Japan – 13 instances in his profession – and figures to return then, the place he might meet Pedro Guevara.
No. 4 – KOSEI TANAKA
RECORD: 20-1 (11 KOs)
THE PAST: Tanaka gained the WBO strawweight title from Julian Yedras (UD 12) in his fifth combat and made one protection. He then moved as much as junior flyweight and gained the vacant WBO title and made two defenses. The Japanese star outgrew that division and edged Sho Kimura (MD 12) to win the WBO flyweight title. He made three defenses of that one, notably outboxing former unified junior flyweight titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi (UD 12) and stopping present WBO 108-pound titlist Jonathan Gonzalez (TKO 7). The now 29-year-old jumped to 115 kilos however was brutally stopped by Ioka (TKO 8). The three-weight world champion regained his confidence with 4 wins and bested Christian Bacasegua (UD 12) for the vacant WBO crown. He had been tabbed to defend his belt towards Jonathan Rodriguez final month, just for the Mexican to overlook weight and the combat being cancelled.
THE FUTURE: A mouthwatering combat with residing legend Roman Gonzalez has been teased.
No. 5 – CARLOS CUADRAS
RECORD: 42-5-1 (28 KOs)
THE PAST: Cuadras was a proficient newbie earlier than turning skilled in 2008. “El Principe” gained his first 29 fights after which claimed the WBC title towards Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TD 8). He made six title defenses earlier than shedding to Roman Gonzalez (UD 12). Since then he has misplaced two fights towards Juan Francisco Estrada (UD 12/ TKO 11), the latter coming in a Ring/ WBC title combat. He additionally misplaced a WBC title combat to Jesse Rodriguez (UD 12). The 35-year-old Mexican warhorse gained two fights earlier than respiratory new life into his profession edging previous compatriot Pedro Guevara (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: He tore his Achilles tendon in March and is recovering earlier than returning.
No. 6 – PEDRO GUEVARA
RECORD: 42-4-1 (22 KOs)
THE PAST: Guevara started his profession with 14 wins earlier than drawing with Mario Rodriguez (D 12). He righted the ship with 4 wins to earn a shot at IBF 108-pound titleholder John Riel Casimero, narrowly shedding a 12-round cut up resolution. He scored wins over former two-time world champion Raul Garcia (SD 12) and Rodriguez (UD 12) in a rematch. These wins noticed him get a second tilt on the world title towards Akira Yaegashi. This time, Guevara bought the win stopping Yaegashi in seven rounds. He made two defenses at residence in Mazatlan earlier than shedding in Japan to Yu Kimura (SD 12). He later misplaced a combat with WBC 108-pound ruler Kenshiro Teraji (MD 12). Guevara jumped from 108 to 115 and reeled off 10 wins earlier than narrowly shedding to Cuadras (SD 12). The 35-year-old has gained twice since, together with edging previous Moloney (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: Linked with a rematch with Moloney however might additionally go to Japan to face Ioka.
Andrew Moloney (left) lands a hook on Pedro Guevara – Picture by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank
No. 7 – ANDREW MOLONEY
RECORD: 26-4 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: Moloney was a seasoned newbie and gained gold on the 2014 Commonwealth video games. Has scored stable wins over Luis Concepcion (TKO 10), Miguel Gonzalez (TKO 8) and Elton Dharry (RTD 8). The Australian got here up quick in a three-fight sequence with then-WBA titlist Franco (UD 12/ ND 2/ UD 12). 4 wins noticed him nicely positioned to face Junto Nakatani for the vacant WBO title however was knocked out in 11 rounds. He returned with a win over Judy Flores (UD 10) however misplaced a heartbreaking resolution to Pedro Guevara (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: Hopes to exorcise a couple of demons in a return with Guevara within the ultimate quarter of the 12 months.
No. 8 – SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI
RECORD: 56-6-1 (46 KOs)
THE PAST: Unseated WBC junior bantamweight titleholder Yota Sato (TKO 8) in Might 2013 however misplaced it to Carlos Cuadras (TD 8) after one protection. Reeled off 15 consecutive wins to earn a shot at his previous title towards then-pound-for-pound No. 1 Roman Gonzalez. Srisaket upset big odds to win a controversial majority resolution however left little doubt within the rematch, which he gained through brutal fourth-round knockout. He went 1-1 with the aforementioned Estrada. He stayed within the title image with three wins whereas awaiting the rubber match, however settled on going through rising star Jesse Rodriguez for his previous title and was stopped in eight rounds. The 37-year-old bought again within the win column with 4 lower-level wins.
THE FUTURE: Rungvisai has seen higher days however stays within the hunt whereas ready for one thing larger to current itself.
No. 9 – DAVID JIMENEZ
RECORD: 16-1 (11 KOs)
THE PAST: Jimenez fought internationally for Costa Rica as an newbie earlier than turning skilled in early 2019. The 32-year-old has been capable of transfer comparatively shortly. Nonetheless, it was his win over Ricardo Sandoval (MD 12) in a WBA title eliminator, wherein he scored an eleventh spherical knockdown that made the distinction, that he drew approval for. Misplaced to Dalakian (UD 12) however has since returned to successful methods with 4 wins, notably towards the normally sturdy Rosendo Hugo Guarneros (RTD 7) and, most not too long ago, jumped as much as 115-pounds and bested John Ramirez (UD 12) for the WBA Interim title.
THE FUTURE: He’s but to determine whether or not his future lays at 112 or 115, and will combat in Costa Rica in December.
No. 10 – KJ CATARAJA
RECORD: 17-0 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Cataraja was a proficient newbie domestically within the Philippines earlier than embarking on the subsequent chapter as an expert in 2015. His profession since has been one thing of a sluggish burn preventing solely at residence. The 29-year-old gained the OPBF title final 12 months when he bested Edward Heno (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: The unbeaten Filipino will face Kenbyn Torres in Japan on Saturday. All being nicely will hope to parlay his WBO No. 1 place right into a combat with Tanaka for the title.
On the Cusp: Rene Calixto Bibiano, Argi Cortes, Ricardo Malajika, Jayr Raquinel and Suzumi Takayama.
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:
The Ring Scores Reviewed 2024: Pound for Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Scores Reviewed 2024: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Scores Reviewed 2024: Junior flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Scores Reviewed 2024: Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
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