The Ring first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. Almost a century later, it’s no exaggeration to claim that these independent rankings are the most respected and talked-about in world boxing.
The Ring Ratings Panel is made up of a dozen experts from around the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the final decision on who should be rated is decided democratically every week. It sounds easy, but this can be an arduous and time-consuming process.
I will be going through each division in reverse order and work my way up from strawweight to heavyweight. I will then look at each ranked fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what may lay ahead.
Next up is junior welterweight (140 pounds), which is one of the strongest divisions top-to-bottom in boxing and has several fighters jostling for position outside the top 10.
As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.
CHAMPION: TEOFIMO LOPEZ
RECORD: 21-1 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Lopez represented Honduras at the 2016 Olympics. Since turning professional, the big puncher went about his business in devastating fashion, scoring highlight-reel knockouts against Mason Menard (KO 1), Diego Magdaleno (KO 7) and Edis Tatli (KO 5). After a learning experience win over Masayoshi Nakatani (UD 12), Lopez was back to his brilliant best, demolishing IBF titleholder Richard Commey (TKO 2). The 27-year-old became undisputed lightweight king when he edged past Vasiliy Lomachenko (UD 12). An often-postponed bout and outside-the-ring drama meant Lopez didn’t face IBF mandatory George Kambosos for 13 months. And when he did, he shockingly dropped a 12-round split decision. Lopez promptly moved up to 140 pounds and looked less than stellar, winning two fights before returning to his best as he impressively outboxed Josh Taylor (UD 12) to become Ring and WBO titlist. However, has gone through the motions against Jamaine Ortiz (UD 12) and Steve Claggett (UD 12) in subsequent title defenses.
THE FUTURE: Balked at a September 27 date and will now sit for the rest of the year. Even though he is staying sharp in the gym with Canelo. Could remain at 140 but also likely to head to 147 pounds in the not too distant future and potentially face WBO ruler Brian Norman Jr.
Escuela de Boxeo @Canelo #Boxing #Champions #NoBoxingNoLife pic.twitter.com/3v0wrdFs5u
— Teofimo Lopez (@TeofimoLopez) August 31, 2024
No. 1 – DEVIN HANEY
RECORD: 31-0 (15 KOs)
THE PAST: Haney turned professional at 17 in Mexico. This super talent has scored wins over Mason Menard (RTD 9), Juan Carlos Burgos (UD 10) and Antonio Moran (KO 7). After being upgraded to full WBC titleholder, following his dominant win over Zaur Abdullaev (RTD 4), he defended his title, notably beating former three-division titlist Jorge Linares (UD 12) and former 130-pound titlist Joseph Diaz Jr. (UD 12). The 25-year-old scored a dominant win over Ring champion and IBF/WBA/WBO titleholder George Kambosos Jr. (UD 12) to become undisputed champion and repeated the win in a rematch. Haney then edged past Vasiliy Lomachenko (UD 12) in controversial fashion. That lead to him heading to junior welterweight where he dominated Regis Prograis (UD 12) to claim the WBC title. He lost to an overweight Ryan Garcia but saw the result amended to a no-contest when Garcia tested positive for Ostarine.
THE FUTURE: Taking time off after the Garcia debacle. Hasn’t said much about a possible return though has teased us with a potential fight with Liam Paro in Australia. Likely to head to welterweight within a couple of fights, and could rematch Garcia next year.
Devin Haney’s jab was one point throughout his challenge to now-former WBC 140-pound beltholder Regis Prograis. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
No. 2 – JOSE RAMIREZ
RECORD: 29-1 (18 KOs)
THE PAST: The 2012 U.S Olympian moved steadily in the pro ranks before hitting world level. Ramirez won the vacant WBC title against Amir Imam (UD 12) and defended his title against Antonio Orozco (UD 12) and Jose Zepeda (MD 12) before unifying with WBO titlist Maurice Hooker (TKO 6). He then turned back the tricky challenge of Viktor Postol (MD 12). The 32-year-old lost his titles when he faced fellow unified champion Josh Taylor (UD 12) when they contested the undisputed championship. Has rebounded to beat former two-division beltholder Jose Pedraza (UD 12), former lightweight titlist Richard Commey (KO 11) and snapped a 13-month spell of inactivity beating former two-division titleholder Rances Barthelemy (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: He has long been linked with a fight with Arnold Barboza, but as of today that fight doesn’t have a venue or date.
No. 3 – LIAM PARO
RECORD: 25-0 (15 KOs)
THE PAST: Paro turned professional in 2016. He moved through the ranks initially winning the Australian national title and then various sanctioning body regional titles. He beat the likes of Steve Gago (UD 10), previously unbeaten fighters such as Yomar Alamo (SD 10) and Brock Jarvis (KO 1). He stepped up by beating Montana Love (KO 6). However, the 28-year-old southpaw caused one of the upsets of the year by going to Puerto Rico and unseating the fearsome IBF titlist Subriel Matias (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: His reward for besting Matias in Puerto Rico looks likely to be a homecoming of his own, possibly again Haney, when he defends his title in December.
The Champ @ParoLiam
@nthqldcowboys pic.twitter.com/EQPb7SoeRy
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) August 29, 2024
No. 4 – JACK CATTERALL
RECORD: 29-1 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: After turning professional, he learned on the job and scored several impressive wins over the likes of Tom Stalker (TKO 8) and Joe Hughes (UD 12), and moved on to win the British title against Tyrone Nurse (UD 12). However, despite staying unbeaten his career seemed to have stalled. He was the WBO No. 1 ranked contender and finally got his big chance when he met then Ring/ undisputed champion Josh Taylor. Catterall fought the fight of his life, dropping Taylor before holding off the defending champion’s late charge. Most believed he had done enough, but he lost a highly contentious 12-round split decision. When the rematch never came to pass, the 31-year-old craftsman returned and beat Darragh Foley (UD 10) and wily veteran former three-weight titleholder Jorge Linares (UD 12). Finally got the Taylor rematch and went his way by 12-round unanimous decision.
THE FUTURE: He’ll face former titleholder Regis Prograis in Manchester on October 26.
No. 5 – ALBERTO PUELLO
RECORD: 23-0 (10 KOs)
THE PAST: Puello worked his way up through the ranks in his native Dominican Republic and holds wins over experienced campaigner Patrick Lopez (TKO 7), previously unbeaten Jonathan Alonso (UD 12) and big-punching Ve Shawn Owens (UD 10). When Josh Taylor was forced to vacate the WBA title, Puello was matched with Batyr Akhmedov to fill the vacancy in June 2021. The now 30-year-old used his tricky southpaw skills to edge past Akhmedov by split decision. He tested positive for clomiphene and was stripped of his title. He returned late last year and then edged past Gary Antuanne Russell (SD 12) to pick up the WBC Interim title.
THE FUTURE: Puello will face WBC mandatory challenger Sandor Martin in the fall on a PBC show.
No. 6 – SUBRIEL MATIAS
RECORD: 20-2 (20 KOs)
THE PAST: Matias turned professional in 2015. He won his first 13 all inside the distance and stopped unbeaten Maxim Dadashev in 11-rounds. Tragically the Russian passed away after the fight. That may have affected Matias, who was surprisingly listless against Petros Ananyan and lost a close 10-round unanimous decision. The 32-year-old has bounced back to take the unbeaten records of Malik Hawkins (RTD 6), Batyrzhan Jukembayev (RTD 8) and stopped Ananyan (RTD 9) in a rematch. Th heavy-handed Puerto Rican wrecking ball bludgeoned previously unbeaten Jeremias Ponce (RTD 5) to claim the vacant IBF title and made one successful defense against Shohjahon Ergashev (RTD 6) before surprisingly losing his title in a homecoming defense against Liam Paro (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: Nothing has been mentioned but hopefully he can look to return before the end of the year and get back in the title picture.
Jack Catterall had the look of a top-five junior welterweight vs. Josh Taylor, who didn’t look like an elite boxer. Photo by Lawrence Lustig
No. 7 – JOSH TAYLOR
RECORD: 19-2 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Taylor was a decorated amateur before turning professional in 2015. He claimed wins over former world titleholders Miguel Vazquez (KO 9) and Viktor Postol (UD 12) before entering the World Boxing Super Series. In a terrific run, the talented Scotsman beat the previously undefeated Ryan Martin (TKO 7), wrenched the IBF title from Ivan Baranchyk (UD 12) and unified against WBA beltholder Regis Prograis (MD 12). The latter victory saw the 33-year-old southpaw claim the Ring championship. “The Tartan Tornado” went on to become undisputed 140-pound champion by beating WBC and WBO titlist Jose Ramirez (UD 12). Taylor struggled with Jack Catterall before being awarded a highly controversial 12-round split decision. Looked like he’d face Catterall in a rematch before settling on Teofimo Lopez, who outboxed him to win a 12-round unanimous decision. He put up a spirited effort losing to Catterall (UD 12) in a rematch.
THE FUTURE: His career has fallen off a cliff in recent times and needs to get back in the win column, whether that be at 140 or a long-talked about move to 147 pounds.
No. 8 – REGIS PROGRAIS
RECORD: 29-2 (24 KOs)
THE PAST: The southpaw boxer-puncher earned a reputation with some impressive performances on ShoBox against Amos Cowart (UD 8), Abel Ramos (RTD 8) and Joel Diaz Jr. (TKO 2). Built on those wins by stopping former unified 140-pound titleholder Julius Indongo (TKO 2) and dominating former lightweight titleholder Terry Flanagan (UD 12). Won the WBA title by taking apart Kiryl Relikh (TKO 6). He lost for the first time in an action-packed encounter with Taylor. The 35-year-old old bounced back with three wins and stopped tough Mexican Jose Zepeda (TKO 11) to win the vacant WBC title. Has defended it in a homecoming though wasn’t impressive against Danielito Zorrilla (SD 12). He lost his title when he was dropped and dominated by Haney (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: Prograis will face Catterall in Manchester, England on October 26 in a fight he can ill-afford to lose if he has future title aspirations.
Back to the basics
October 26th
Manchester,UK #rougarou#standonbusiness pic.twitter.com/GbgxJAFm10— Rougarou (@RPrograis) September 5, 2024
No. 9 – ANDY HIRAOKA
RECORD: 24-0 (19 KOs)
THE PAST: Hiraoka was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Ghanaian father. He wasn’t a noted amateur but had boxed from the age of four. He turned professional at 17 and after six fights spent time honing his craft in Las Vegas under the watchful eye of Roger Mayweather and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. After returning to Japan the 28-year-old has landed the vacant national title by stopping Jin Sasaki (TKO 11) in October 2021, which has aged well and, most recently, picked up the WBA interim title by impressing against veteran warhorse Ismael Barroso (TKO 9).
THE FUTURE: He has mentioned he’d like to face Jose Valenzuela, however, the American is also in the running to face Gervonta Davis. Either way, I’d expect Ohashi Promotions to try to main his momentum and place him on the undercard of Naoya Inoue’s next fight on December 24.
No. 10 – RICHARDSON HITCHINS
RECORD: 18-0 (7 KOs)
THE PAST: Hitchins represented his ancestral home of Haiti at the 2016 losing to Gary Antuanne Russell in the Round of 16. He signed professional forms with Mayweather Promotions before switching later to Matchroom in late 2022. Since then, he has impressively beaten Yomar Alomar (RTD 6), shut out then-unbeaten John Bauza (UD 10) and bested former title challenger Jose Zepeda (UD 12). However, last time out he struggled with the aggressive Argentine fighter Gustavo Lemos (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: As the IBF mandatory, he’s likely to get a shot at Paro either next or the first half of 2025.
On the Cusp: Lindolfo Delgado, Sandor Martin, Gary Russell Jr., Dalton Smith and Jose Valenzuela.
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Pound for Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Rings Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Rings Ratings Reviewed 2024: Featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Rings Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior lightweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Rings Ratings Reviewed 2024: Lightweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk.
The post The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior welterweight appeared first on The Ring.
