ESPN.com's divisional rankings
Dan Rafael reveals his new world standings for boxing's weight classes
Originally Published: April 9, 2013
By
Dan Rafael | ESPN.com
DIVISIONAL RANKINGS
Check out my rankings within each division by clicking on the links below.
Who is the best fighter regardless of weight class? See ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings.
Note: Results through May 13. In an effort to provide the most up-to-date rankings, ESPN.com's division-by-division boxing rankings will be updated every Tuesday.
HEAVYWEIGHTS (201 and up)
1. Wladimir Klitschko (60-3)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Vitali Klitschko (45-2)
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Although Klitschko, with nine title defenses under his belt, still has not said definitively that he will continue to fight instead of retiring to focus full time on his political career in Ukraine. He did make it seem as if he will fight on by having his team actively negotiate with mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1), who beat Cristobal Arreola in an April 27 title eliminator. The camps are free to negotiate until June 3, after which a purse bid will be ordered if there is no deal. Next: TBA. |
3. Alexander Povetkin (25-0)
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Russia's Povetkin is due to defend his secondary belt against untested and undeserving Andrzej Wawrzyk (27-0) in Moscow. Povetkin knows that a victory means he'll have the chance to face real champion Wladimir Klitschko in a mandatory fight that Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov won at a purse bid for an insane $23,333,330. Povetkin's take is 25 percent, or a career-best $5,833,333. Next: May 17 vs. Wawrzyk. |
4. Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1)
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In a mild upset, the big-punching Stiverne scored a hard knockdown against Cristobal Arreola at the end of the third round of their bout April 27, breaking his nose and changing the course of the fight. Stiverne went on to pound Arreola to win a clear unanimous decision in an eliminator to earn a mandatory shot against Vitali Klitschko, assuming Klitschko doesn't retire. Next: TBA. |
5. Tomasz Adamek (48-2)
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Adamek, who was lucky to escape with a split decision against Steve Cunningham in their December rematch, could have moved on to a title eliminator against Kubrat Pulev (17-0) but decided to pass for an unidentified easier fight for more money in Poland. Well, it turned out the money in the deal was not real and now Adamek is looking for his next fight after giving up his spot in the eliminator. Next: TBA. |
6. David Haye (26-2)
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With his fantasy of landing a fight against Vitali Klitschko nowhere near happening, England's Haye took his career in another direction by signing a four-fight deal with Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn and agreeing to face Manuel Charr (23-1), who was stopped by Klitschko in the fourth round in September. They were scheduled to fight June 29 -- Haye's first appearance in 11 months since his knockout win against Dereck Chisora -- but Haye suffered a left hand injury and postponed the fight.
Next: TBA vs. Charr. |
7. Ruslan Chagaev (31-2-1)
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Former titlist Chagaev, whose only losses were by knockout to Wladimir Klitschko and by decision to Alexander Povetkin in world title bouts, won his fourth bout in a row since the defeat to Povetkin in August 2011. Chagaev fought on an undercard in Berlin on March 22 and blew out soft touch Mike Sheppard in the first round. Next: TBA. |
8. Cristobal Arreola (35-3)
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Arreola was the favorite to beat Bermane Stiverne in their April 27 title eliminator and looked good early. But at the end of the third round, Stiverne dropped him with a big right hand and broke his nose. Although Arreola showed a huge heart to fight for nine more rounds and make it to the final bell, he was never the same after the knockdown and injury; his nose bled badly the entire fight and he had a hard time breathing. Next: TBA. |
9. Kubrat Pulev (17-0)
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Bulgaria's Pulev, a 6-foot-4˝, 249-pounder, looked very good in a dominant 11th-round knockout of previously unbeaten 6-7, 305-pound Alexander Ustinov on Sept. 29 on the Alexander Povetkin-Hasim Rahman undercard in Germany. Pulev was due to face Tomasz Adamek (48-2) in a final eliminator to determine one of Wladimir Klitschko's mandatory challengers, but Adamek declined the fight. Next: TBA. |
10. Tony Thompson (37-3)
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The 41-year-old Thompson was coming off a sixth-round knockout loss to champion Wladimir Klitschko in July and was a big underdog, but he came up with a major upset when he knocked out rising British star David Price in the second round on Feb. 23 to keep his career alive. His most lucrative option was to give Price (15-1) an immediate rematch, so Thompson will return to Price's hometown of Liverpool, England to face him again. Next: July 6 vs. Price. |
CRUISERWEIGHTS (200 POUNDS)
1. Marco Huck (35-2-1)
Next: June 8 vs. Afolabi. |
2. Yoan Pablo Hernandez (27-1)
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Hernandez was due to make his third title defense on Feb. 2 in Germany against untested American Eric Fields (21-1), whose lone loss came by knockout the only time he faced a good opponent (contender Ola Afolabi). However, Hernandez broke his left hand in a sparring session and the fight was called off.
Next:TBA. |
3. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (47-2-1)
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Poland's Wlodarczyk will make his fifth title defense on the road when he meets 2008 Olympic gold medalist Rakhim Chakhkiev (16-0) in Moscow. Next: June 22 vs. Chakhkiev. |
4. Ola Afolabi (19-2-4)
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The first time Afolabi challenged titlist Marco Huck in December 2009, Huck won a close decision. In the May 2012 rematch, interim titlist Afolabi got another shot and nearly pulled it out in an excellent fight, but had to settle for a draw. Maybe the third time will be the charm as they are set to meet again in Huck's hometown of Berlin. Next: June 8 vs. Huck. |
5. Denis Lebedev (25-1)
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In his first defense since being elevated from an interim titlist to a full titleholder when the inactive Guillermo Jones was stripped, Russia's Lebedev knocked out untested Colombia native Santander Silgado in the fourth round on Dec. 17. Lebedev's next defense will be against Jones, whose promoter, Don King, won a purse bid for the fight for $712,000. Next: May 17 vs. Jones. |
6. Firat Arslan (33-6-2)
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Germany's 42-year-old Arslan, a former titleholder, fought like he was 20 years younger in a tremendous performance against Marco Huck in their excellent November fight, and Arslan came awfully close to pulling the upset. Arslan, who deserves a rematch, signed with Sauerland Event (which also promotes Huck) and returned to action April 27 to pound out a unanimous 10-round decision against countryman Varol Vekiloglu. Next: TBA. |
7. Antonio Tarver (29-6)
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The former light heavyweight champ struggled to a draw against Lateef Kayode on June 2 and later tested positive for a steroid as a result of a pre-fight urine test. Tarver's license was suspended for a year by the California State Athletic Commission and, at age 43, it could mean the end of his career, especially since the commission has upheld the suspension after Tarver's unsuccessful appeal. The result of the fight with Kayode also was changed to a no decision. Next: TBA. |
8. Guillermo Jones (38-3-2)
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Finally, sanity prevailed with a sanctioning body, which stripped the chronically inactive Jones, who won a belt in September 2008 but defended it just twice. When he bailed from a fight yet again with a mystery injury, this time an Oct. 27 defense against Andres Taylor, Jones was at last relieved of his belt. That Jones was allowed to keep it as long as he did was a joke. Next, he will get a chance to regain the belt against Denis Lebedev in a mandatory fight. Next: May 17 vs. Lebedev. |
9. Lateef Kayode (18-0)
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The Los Angeles-based Nigerian puncher was easily beating 43-year-old Antonio Tarver through the first half of their June 2 fight but then Kayode did almost nothing for the rest of the fight and wound up with a draw before detonating his career with a ridiculous rant against Showtime in a post-fight interview that got him banned from the network. The result of the fight has been changed to a no decision because of Tarver's positive test for a steroid after the bout. Kayode has announced he is moving up to heavyweight. Next: TBA. |
10. Rakhim Chakhkiev (16-0)
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The 2008 Russian Olympic heavyweight gold medalist won five fights in 2012 and will open 2013 at home in Moscow with a world title shot against Poland's Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (47-2-1). Next: June 22 vs. Wlodarczyk. |
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (175 POUNDS)
1. Chad Dawson (31-2)
Next: June 8 vs. Stevenson. |
2. Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2)
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In yet another historic performance, B-Hop whipped Tavoris Cloud on March 9 to claim another world title. By winning another belt at age 48, Hopkins became the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title, breaking the record he previously broke in 2011 at age 46 when he beat Jean Pascal. Hopkins is simply one of the most remarkable athletes in sports history. He will fight on by making his mandatory defense against Germany's Karo Murat (25-1-1) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., the same venue where Hopkins defeated Cloud. Next: July 13 vs. Murat. |
3. Nathan Cleverly (26-0)
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Wales' Cleverly made his fifth title defense on April 20 in London, easily outpointing German mandatory challenger Robin Krasniqi in a near shutout. Cleverly, who was way too busy for the slower Krasniqi, hopes to face Bernard Hopkins in a title unification fight before the end of the year. But next up for Cleverly may be former world titlist and reigning European champion Juergen Brahmer (40-2). Next: TBA. |
4. Tavoris Cloud (24-1)
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Despite being 17 years younger than Bernard Hopkins and in his prime, Cloud lost a clear unanimous decision and his world title to "The Executioner" on March 9 by allowing Hopkins to dictate the pace of the fight. For Cloud to win, he needed to apply constant pressure to the 48-year-old but failed to do so and it cost him the fight. Next: TBA. |
5. Jean Pascal (27-2-1)
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Former champion Pascal was due to face former super middleweight titlist and fellow Montreal star Lucian Bute (31-1) on May 25 in the biggest fight in Canadian history, but the bout was postponed on May 7 because Bute suffered a left hand injury. The fight will be rescheduled, but it will be a while. The two dates in play are Dec. 7 or Jan. 25, depending on how HBO's schedule shakes out. Next: TBA vs. Bute. |
6. Beibut Shumenov (13-1)
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Shumenov, of Kazakhstan, made his fourth title defense in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas on June 2, rolling to a shutout decision against the game but totally overmatched Enrique Ornelas. Shumenov's sporadic fighting schedule is very frustrating. Next: TBA. |
7. Sergey Kovalev (20-0-1)
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Russia's Kovalev took a huge step up in competition on Jan. 19 and crushed dangerous former titleholder Gabriel Campillo by scoring three knockdowns in the third round to get the stunning knockout. Kovalev could become a serious factor at 175 pounds, especially if he defeats Cornelius White (21-1, 16 KOs) in a title eliminator in his next fight on NBC Sports Network's "Fight Night." Next: June 14 vs. White. |
8. Karo Murat (25-1-1)
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The former European champion, whose only loss was in a world title eliminator to current titlist Nathan Cleverly in 2010, is the mandatory challenger for titleholder Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2) and will venture to the United States to face him this summer. Next: July 13 vs. Hopkins. |
9. Denis Grachev (13-1-1)
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On March 30, Grachev, a San Diego-based Russian, won a split decision to hand former light heavyweight and cruiserweight titlist Zsolt Erdei (33-1) his first defeat in the semifinals of the "Monaco Million Dollar Super Four." Grachev advances to the final to face Edwin Rodriguez (23-0) back in Monaco. Next: July 13 vs. Rodriguez. |
10. Tony Bellew (19-1-1)
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Bellew had the home-field advantage in England when he faced South Africa's Isaac Chilemba on March 30 in a title eliminator for the right to become champion Chad Dawson's mandatory challenger. But Bellew-Chilemba, which was a pretty bad fight, ended in a split draw. Unfortunately, they're going to meet again in a rematch on the Mikkel Kessler-Carl Froch II undercard in London. Next: May 25 vs. Chilemba. |
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (168 POUNDS)
1. Andre Ward (26-0)
Next: TBA. |
2. Carl Froch (30-2)
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In an encore to his upset, fifth-round knockout of Lucian Bute on May 26 to win a 168-pound world title for the third time, Froch once again thrilled his hometown fans in Nottingham, England by crushing journeyman Yusaf Mack on Nov. 17. Froch rolled through him, finally knocking him out with a body shot in the third round. Froch was obligated to a March rematch with Bute in his hometown of Montreal, but Bute is bypassing the sequel, leaving Froch to face Mikkel Kessler in a rematch of their terrific Super Six fight, which Kessler won via close decision. Next: May 25 vs. Kessler. |
3. Mikkel Kessler (46-2)
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Kessler claimed a version of the title for the fourth time on Dec. 8, outclassing Brian Magee in a third-round knockout victory. In front of his home fans in Denmark, Kessler brutalized Northern Ireland's Magee with body shots, dropping him twice with body blows in the second round and finishing him with another shot to the gut in the third. Next up he will face Carl Froch (30-2) in a much-anticipated rematch. Next: May 25 vs. Froch. |
4. Robert Stieglitz (44-3)
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In August, Germany's Stieglitz lost his belt via highly competitive unanimous decision to countryman Arthur Abraham in a good fight. After both won interim bouts, they met again March 23 and Stieglitz regained the title as he manhandled Abraham in a dominant performance. He ultimately stopped Abraham in the fourth round because Abraham's left eye was completely swollen shut from eating so many of Stieglitz's clean shots. Both sides professed interest in a rubber match after the fight. Next: TBA. |
5. Lucian Bute (31-1)
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Bute, a former titleholder, was scheduled for the biggest fight in Canadian history on May 25 when he was going to move up in weight to face fellow Montreal star and former light heavyweight champ Jean Pascal (27-2-1). However, the fight was postponed when Bute suffered a left hand injury and needed surgery to remove bone fragments. The fight will be rescheduled but not until Dec. 7 or Jan. 25, depending on HBO's winter schedule. Next: TBA vs. Pascal. |
6. Adonis Stevenson (20-1)
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Stevenson, a huge puncher, exacted revenge for his only loss by spectacularly knocking out journeyman Darnell Boone in the sixth round on March 22 in Montreal. The win paved the way for Stevenson to move up to light heavyweight, where he will challenge champion Chad Dawson (31-2) on HBO. Next: June 8 vs. Dawson. |
7. Arthur Abraham (36-4)
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Abraham, a former middleweight titlist, rebounded from a disastrous performance in the Super Six World Boxing Classic to win a super middleweight title via competitive decision against Robert Stieglitz in August 2012. But in his second defense, Abraham met Stieglitz in a March 23 rematch and was dominated in a fourth-round TKO loss. Stieglitz battered him in the second and third rounds and slammed his left eye completely shut, which led to the stoppage. Next: TBA. |
8. Sakio Bika (31-5-2)
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Bika will face tough Mexican up-and-comer Marco Antonio Periban (20-0) for a vacant belt, which was absurdly stripped from Andre Ward, who already easily outpointed Bika in a 2010 title fight, on the Paulie Malignaggi-Adrien Broner Showtime undercard at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Next: June 22 vs. Periban. |
9. George Groves (18-0)
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England's Groves has been awfully busy since dumping promoter Frank Warren and signing with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport. On March 9, Groves stopped Argentina's Dario German Balmaceda in the third round and then got right back to work March 23 with a second-round knockout of Germany's Baker Barakat on the Robert Stieglitz-Arthur Abraham II undercard. Groves returns on the Mikkel Kessler-Carl Froch II undercard to face former world title challenger Noe Gonzalez Alcoba (30-2) before Hearn has promised him a "big fight" in September. Groves is close to a title shot. Next: May 25 vs. Alcoba. |
10. Thomas Oosthuizen (21-0-1)
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South Africa's "Tommy Gun," a tall southpaw with good power and a fan-friendly style, easily outpointed former four-time title challenger Fulgencio Zuniga on Nov. 10 in a near-shutout. Oosthuizen is not too far away from challenging for a world title but will first appear on an HBO undercard against Brandon Gonzalez (17-0). Next: June 29 vs. Gonzalez. |
MIDDLEWEIGHTS (160 POUNDS)
1. Sergio Martinez (51-2-2)
Next: TBA. |
2. Daniel Geale (29-1)
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Geale followed up his September unification victory against Felix Sturm in Germany with sweet revenge for his only loss as he dominated Australian countryman Anthony Mundine in a clear decision victory on Jan. 30 to retain his remaining belt. Next: TBA. |
3. Gennady Golovkin (26-0)
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In his second fight of 2013, Golovkin made the seventh defense of his title with a sick one-punch knockout of Nobuhiro Ishida of Japan on March 30 in Monte Carlo. Ishida, who had never been stopped previously, including in fights with quality opponents such as Dmitry Pirog and Paul Williams, went to sleep courtesy of a sick overhand right in the third round. Golovkin's fight with Ishida was merely so he could stay busy before his next HBO fight, which will be against former title challenger Matthew Macklin (29-4). Next: June 29 vs. Macklin. |
4. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1)
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Chavez, who lost a lopsided decision and his belt to Sergio Martinez in September, tested positive for marijuana after the fight, his second failed drug test in Nevada since 2009. In a punishment handed down by the Nevada commission on Feb. 28, Chavez was suspended for nine months (from the date of the fight) and fined a massive $900,000, the second-biggest fine in Nevada combat sports history. Chavez plans to sue the commission and also to return this summer to headline an HBO card at the new $300 million Mexico City Arena. Next: Aug. 3 vs. TBA. |
5. "Kid Chocolate" Peter Quillin (29-0)
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In a dominant performance on April 27 in front of hometown fans at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Quillin made his first title defense by scoring four knockdowns en route to a seventh-round knockout of Fernando Guerrero. Amazingly, Quillin has scored 10 total knockdowns in his past two fights, four against Guerrero and six in his title win against Hassan N'Dam in October. Next: TBA. |
6. Matthew Macklin (29-4)
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In his first fight since being stopped by Sergio Martinez in the 11th round of a competitive March 2012 championship fight, Macklin returned in September on the Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. undercard and looked sensational in a first-round knockout of former junior middleweight titlist Joachim Alcine. Next up, Macklin will get a shot at a title when he faces Gennady Golovkin (26-0) on HBO in what should be a tremendous action fight. Next: June 29 vs. Golovkin. |
7. Sam Soliman (42-11)
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Australia's Soliman went to Germany for a title eliminator and pulled an upset decision win against home favorite and former titlist Felix Sturm on Feb. 1. This was Soliman's biggest career win and would have set him up to be the mandatory challenger for countryman Daniel Geale. However, Soliman tested positive for a banned substance after the fight, so the result was changed to a no contest and Soliman was suspended by German regulators for nine months. Next: TBA. |
8. Felix Sturm (37-3-2)
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Sturm dropped a decision at home in Germany to Australia's Sam Soliman on Feb. 1, but the loss has been removed from his record because it was changed to a no contest after Soliman tested positive for a banned substance following the fight. Next: TBA. |
9. Martin Murray (25-1-1)
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England's Murray traveled to Argentina to challenge hometown hero Sergio Martinez for the real middleweight championship on April 27 and put up a great fight. Many think he deserved the decision, although he lost 115-112 on all three scorecards. Whatever the scores were, Murray is a quality fighter who scored a knockdown against Martinez and probably should have been credited with a second one, but that was ruled a slip. Next: TBA. |
10. Darren Barker (25-1)
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Since England's Barker was stopped in the 11th round of a competitive fight against champion Sergio Martinez in October 2010, he has rebounded with a pair of fourth-round knockout wins against solid opponents. Next: TBA. |
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (154 POUNDS)
1. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-0-1)
Next: TBA. |
2. Austin Trout (26-1)
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Trout fought well in a competitive title unification fight with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on April 20 in front of 40,000 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, but just did not do quite enough as Alvarez won the unanimous decision in one of the year's biggest fights. Despite the loss, Trout is a tough customer and probably would beat any other 154-pounder in the world. He ought to be back in a big fight sooner than later. Next: TBA. |
3. Miguel Cotto (37-4)
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Folks from Golden Boy and from Top Rank begged Cotto not to fight Trout because of his slick, defensive style that was all wrong for Cotto. But Cotto, now his own promoter, didn't listen, picked Trout and paid the price, losing a clear decision in a Dec. 1 title challenge in front of Cotto's fans at New York's Madison Square Garden. Cotto is expected back in the fall. Next: TBA. |
4. Erislandy Lara (17-1-2)
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Lara is not a fighter many top opponents want to face because of his tough style, but Mexican brawler Alfredo Angulo (22-2) is up for the challenge and will face Lara on Showtime on a tripleheader headlined by the Marcos Maidana-Josesito Lopez showdown. Next: June 8 vs. Angulo. |
5. Vanes Martirosyan (32-0-1)
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Martirosyan was due to face Argentina's Javier Francisco Maciel (24-2) on Top Rank's April 6 card in Macau, China, but Martirosyan fractured his right thumb in a sparring session and was forced to pull out of the fight. Next: TBA. |
6. Carlos Molina (21-5-2)
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Molina dropped Cory Spinks twice and thoroughly dominated the shot former titlist in a unanimous decision victory Feb. 1 on "Friday Night Fights." The one-sided win made Molina the mandatory challenger for titleholder Ishe Smith. Next: July 19 vs. Smith. |
7. Ishe Smith (25-5)
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In an ugly fight on Feb. 23, Smith became the first fighter born in Las Vegas to win a world title when he outpointed Cornelius "K9" Bundrage in Detroit, Bundrage's hometown. Smith will be in his hometown to make his first title defense, a mandatory against Carlos Molina (21-5-2). Next: July 19 vs. Molina. |
8. Cornelius "K9" Bundrage (32-5)
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Making his third title defense and in his first fight since signing with Golden Boy, Bundrage returned home to Detroit to headline a Showtime card against Ishe Smith on Feb. 23 and was utterly outboxed in a decision loss in a terrible fight. At 39, it's hard to see where Bundrage goes next. Next: TBA. |
9. Zaurbek Baysangurov (28-1)
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Russia's Baysangurov will make his third title defense against Demetrius Andrade (19-0), a 2008 U.S. Olympian. Baysangurov's promoter, K2 Promotions Ukraine, won the purse bid with an offer of $501,200 to beat the only other bid, which was $401,000 made by Star Boxing and Banner Promotions, Andrade's co-promoters. The fight is due to take place sometime this summer. Next: TBA vs. Andrade. |
10. Willie Nelson (20-1-1)
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Since a majority decision eight-round loss in April 2011, the tall and lanky Nelson has won four fights in a row and looked good in all of them, including solid wins against previously unbeaten Yudel Jhonson and John Jackson and a first-round knockout of veteran Michael Medina. It's earned him a fight on HBO on the Gennady Golovkin-Matthew Macklin undercard. He'll face Argentina native Luciano Cuello (32-2), whose losses have come to Julio Cesar Chavez and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Next: June 29 vs. Cuello. |
WELTERWEIGHTS (147 POUNDS)
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0)
Next: TBA. |
2. Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1)
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Marquez was 0-2-1 in three controversial decisions against Manny Pacquiao and both vowed to go for a definitive result when they met in fight No. 4 on Dec. 8. In one of the best fights in recent years, Marquez and Pacquiao traded knockdowns before Marquez ended the slugfest with one massive right hand at the end of the sixth round to knock Pacquiao out cold and claim his greatest victory. But rather than the fifth fight between the rivals that many expected, Marquez instead will square off with titleholder Timothy Bradley Jr. (30-0) and try to become the first Mexican fighter to win a world title in five divisions when they meet on HBO PPV at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Next: Sept. 14. vs. Bradley. |
3. Timothy Bradley Jr. (30-0)
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Bradley put the gift decision he received against Manny Pacquiao in June behind him by retaining his title March 16 against Russia's Ruslan Provodnikov in an unforgettable fight. Showing enormous heart, Bradley survived nearly being knocked out in the first and seconds rounds and a knockdown in the final 15 seconds of a very close slugfest to eke out the decision in a legitimate fight of the year candidate. Bravo. The performance helped Bradley entice Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1) into fighting him in the fall in what should be a good fight. Next: Sept. 14 vs. Marquez. |
4. Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2)
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Looking to rebound from his devastating knockout loss to rival Juan Manuel Marquez in December, Pacquiao will return to action to face brawling junior welterweight Brandon Rios (31-1-1), who will move up in weight. The fight will take place in Macau on HBO PPV. Although both fighters are coming off losses it's pretty much written in stone that this will be an all-action fight. Next: Nov. 23 vs. Rios. |
5. Paulie Malignaggi (32-4)
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Malignaggi will make his second title defense at home at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in the main event of a Showtime card when he faces lightweight titlist Adrien Broner (26-0), who is jumping up to weight classes for the fight that pits two of boxing's best trash talkers. The press conferences should just as entertaining as the fight. Next: June 22 vs. Broner. |
6. Devon Alexander (24-1)
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Alexander's mandatory defense against England's Kell Brook was scheduled three times but fell out each time because of injuries to both fighters. Most recently it was scheduled for May 18 in Atlantic City, N.J., on Showtime, but Brook suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and dropped out for good. He was replaced by Matchroom Sport stablemate Lee Purdy (20-3-1) of England, who is taking a big step up in class.
Next: May 18 vs. Purdy. |
7. Robert Guerrero (31-2-1)
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"The Ghost" talked a good game for the almost two years he called out Floyd Mayweather Jr., but when he got his shot May 4, he did almost nothing, ate a ton of right hands and lost a lopsided decision. Guerrero is a very good fighter, but Mayweather is a great one. Next up, Guerrero heads to court to answer the gun charges against him in New York. Next: TBA. |
8. Andre Berto (28-2)
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In his first bout since getting dropped and beaten up by interim titlist Robert Guerrero in November in a decision loss, two-time titlist Berto will return this summer to headline a Showtime card against rugged gatekeeper Jesus Soto Karass (27-8-3), who, win or lose, always makes a good fight. Next: July 27 vs. Soto Karass. |
9. Kell Brook (29-0)
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Fighting at home in Sheffield, England, Brook destroyed no-chin Hector Saldivia of Argentina in the third round Oct. 20 to become the mandatory challenger for titleholder Devon Alexander. They were supposed to fight Jan. 19, but Brook injured an ankle. The fight was rescheduled for Feb. 23 but was postponed again because Alexander suffered a strained biceps. Then it was rescheduled for May 18 but ultimately was canceled because Brook suffered a stress fracture in his right foot. It's really a shame the fight went down the drain. Next: TBA. |
10. Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2)
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Russian brawler Provodnikov moved up in weight for the opportunity to challenge for welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley's Jr.'s title on March 16 and lost a very close decision. But it was an epic fight a true fight of the year candidate -- and Provodnikov put himself on the map in an excellent performance in which he nearly knocked Bradley out in the first and second rounds and dropped him in the final 15 seconds of the bout. Next: TBA. |
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (140 POUNDS)
1. Danny Garcia (26-0)
Next: TBA. |
2. Lucas Matthysse (33-2)
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Argentina's Matthysse is on a tear lately and has emerged as one of the most dynamic and feared fighters in boxing. His latest victim, Michael Dallas Jr., didn't make it out of the first round as Matthysse scored a sensational knockout on Jan. 26 to retain his interim title. Next up, Matthysse will take on titleholder Lamont Peterson -- in a nontitle fight at 141 pounds for silly reasons -- in one of the best bouts that can be made in boxing. It will headline a dynamite Showtime card that will also include welterweight titlist Devon Alexander's defense against late replacement Lee Purdy. Next: May 18 vs. Peterson. |
3. Lamont Peterson (31-1-1)
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Out of action since his controversial title win against Amir Khan in December 2011 because of a failed drug test that killed the rematch, Peterson returned to the ring Feb. 22 at home in Washington, D.C. Headlining ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," Peterson dropped former titlist Kendall Holt twice and stopped him in the eighth round of a fan-friendly fight. Afterward, Peterson said what few others would dare say that he wanted to fight dangerous puncher Lucas Matthysse. And now that outstanding fight has been set to headline on Showtime in Atlantic City, N.J. Tremendous fight. Next: May 18 vs. Matthysse. |
4. Amir Khan (28-3)
|
Khan returned home to fight in England for the first time in two years when he faced former two-time lightweight titlist Julio Diaz on April 27. It was expected to be nothing more than a showcase fight for Khan, who nonetheless struggled badly. Khan got dropped in the fourth round and wobbled several times in the late going, although he pulled out the deserved decision in a fight contested at a contract weight of 143 pounds.
Next: TBA. |
5. Mike Alvarado (34-1)
|
In October, Alvarado got stopped on his feet in a classic slugfest with Brandon Rios in one of the best fights of 2012. They met again on March 30 and produced another epic war, but this time it was Alvarado who came out on top as he won a unanimous decision and a vacant interim title in the fight of the year front runner. Count on a trilogy, although the rubber match won't be next. Next: TBA. |
6. Brandon Rios (31-1-1)
|
Former lightweight titlist Rios and Mike Alvarado engaged in a barn burner in October, a bout Rios won via seventh-round knockout. That victory put Rios at the front of the line to face Manny Pacquiao in 2013, but getting knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in December meant a change of plans for Rios. Instead, he faced Alvarado in a March 30 rematch for a vacant interim title and lost a unanimous decision in a great action fight. Despite the loss, this time Rios landed the fight with Pacquiao and will move up in weight to face him in Macau. Next: Nov. 23 vs. Pacquiao. |
7. Zab Judah (42-8)
|
Judah, a three-time titlist, was bidding to become the first four-time 140-pound titleholder when he squared off with Danny Garcia on April 27. Although Judah, fighting in front of his Brooklyn hometown fans, put on a strong performance, he gave away too many early rounds and got knocked down in losing a decision in an excellent fight. Next: TBA. |
8. Khabib Allakhverdiev (18-0)
|
Russia's Allakhverdiev claimed a vacant title by winning a seventh-round technical split decision against former featherweight and junior lightweight titlist Joan Guzman in November. Allakhverdiev then signed with Top Rank and was due to make his first defense against Breidis Prescott on HBO in the Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado II co-feature on March 30. However, Allakhverdiev injured his elbow and pulled out of the fight. He'll be back to make a mandatory defense against undeserving challenger Souleymane M'baye (40-4-1) in Monte Carlo. Next: July 13 vs. M'baye. |
9. Olusegun Ajose (31-1)
|
In his first bout since being stopped in the 10th round of an interim title fight against Lucas Matthysse in September, Ajose returned for a low-profile eight-round decision win against sub-.500 Rynell Griffin on April 20 in Chicago. Next: TBA. |
10. Joan Guzman (33-1-1)
|
Guzman, a former junior featherweight and junior lightweight titleholder, challenged Khabib Allakhverdiev for a vacant junior welterweight belt in November and lost an eight-round technical decision. Guzman is slated to return against Vicente Mosquera (32-2-1) for a vacant interim belt. Next: TBA vs. Mosquera. |
LIGHTWEIGHTS (135 POUNDS)
1. Adrien Broner (26-0)
Next: June 22 vs. Malignaggi. |
2. Ricky Burns (36-2)
|
Burns, making his third title defense in a very poor performance on May 11, was losing badly to unknown mandatory challenger Jose Gonzalez and on his way to a clear decision loss through nine rounds when Gonzalez suddenly quit on his stool, citing some sort of hand injury. This was more of a case of Gonzalez losing than of Burns winning, but Burns kept his title and will be back in September, according to promoter Eddie Hearn. Next: TBA. |
3. Miguel Vazquez (33-3)
|
Mexico's Vazquez made his fifth title defense on Dec. 8, easily outpointing the overrated Mercito Gesta in a horrible fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV HBO PPV undercard. He was supposed to go to London to face Ricky Burns (35-2) in a title unification bout, but the card was postponed, supposedly because Vazquez was ill. But rumors had swirled for weeks that fight would be postponed or canceled. Next: TBA. |
4. Richard Abril (18-3-1)
|
In a hideous fight on March 2, Abril made the first defense of his belt in an ugly affair against Sharif Bogere, who spent more time head-butting than punching. Although Abril clearly was the rightful decision winner, he did little to entertain as he jabbed, ran and held in his first fight since getting ripped off in a split decision loss to Brandon Rios in April 2012. Next: TBA. |
5. Antonio DeMarco (28-3-1)
|
Mexico's DeMarco had no answers against Adrien Broner, who knocked him out in the eighth round and took his title in their one-sided showdown on Nov. 17. DeMarco looked like he had no idea what to do against Broner, who was way faster, more skilled, showed better defense and hit harder. DeMarco, so gracious in defeat, vowed to return to the top. Next: TBA. |
6. Kevin Mitchell (33-2)
|
On Sept. 22, England's Mitchell challenged good pal Ricky Burns on his home turf in Scotland and was soundly beaten. After a competitive first round, it was all Burns, who dropped Mitchell twice in the fourth round before stopping him later in the frame. Back to the drawing board. Mitchell is finally set for his return from that beating. Next: April 20 vs. TBA. |
7. Raymundo Beltran (28-6)
|
Beltran, known for his work as a Manny Pacquiao sparring partner, cruised to a unanimous decision against Alejandro Rodriguez on April 27 on a UniMas card in Austin, Texas. Beltran was being considered for a fight with hot prospect Terence Crawford on a June 15 HBO undercard, but Crawford's team went in another direction. Next: TBA. |
8. Sharif Bogere (23-1)
|
Bogere, who left Uganda and now lives in Las Vegas, lost a competitive decision in a horrible fight to titleholder Richard Abril on March 2. While Abril spent most of the fight running or holding, Bogere spent more time head-butting than punching. Ugly all the way around. Next: TBA. |
9. Gavin Rees (37-2-1)
|
Rees, a former junior welterweight titlist from Wales, got whipped by lightweight titlist Adrien Broner on Feb. 16 in a fifth-round knockout loss. Rees will be back to face England's Anthony Crolla (25-4-1) on the David Haye-Manuel Charr undercard. Next: June 29 vs. Crolla. |
10. Denis Shafikov (32-0-1)
|
Shafikov, a Russian southpaw, moved down from junior welterweight to beat Alisher Rahimov by 11th-round disqualification March 16 in a fight Shafikov was easily winning on the scorecards at the time of the DQ. Next: TBA. |
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (130 POUNDS)
1. Takashi Uchiyama (20-0-1)
Next: TBA. |
2. Argenis Mendez (21-2)
|
In 2011, Mendez scored a 12th-round knockdown but lost a decision to Juan Carlos Salgado in a fight for a vacant title. After two wins in a row since, Mendez became Salgado's mandatory challenger and destroyed him in the March 9 rematch. Mendez dropped him twice, including once on a huge left hook that led to a spectacular fourth-round knockout win. Next: TBA. |
3. Roman "Rocky" Martinez (27-1-2)
|
Making the first defense of his second title reign, Puerto Rico's Martinez fought to a draw against Mexico's Juan Carlos Burgos (30-1-1) on Jan. 19. Martinez was lucky to escape with the draw because most thought that Burgos had clearly won the fight. In his second defense -- on April 6 in Macau -- Martinez looked much better, dropping Diego Magdaleno in the fourth and winning a split decision. Next up, Martinez could be headed to Puerto Rico in June to defend against former featherweight titlist Orlando Salido. Next: April 6 vs. Magdaleno. |
4. Juan Carlos Burgos (30-1-1)
|
Burgos got a much-deserved mandatory title shot against Roman Martinez on Jan. 19 and battered him to the body throughout the fight, which most ringside observers thought he had clearly won. However, the bout was ruled a split draw. Burgos and his team pushed for a rematch, but the sanctioning body declined to order one, even though Burgos deserved it. Now he is the leading candidate to land a summer HBO fight with Yuriorkis Gamboa. Next: TBA. |
5. Juan Carlos Salgado (26-2-1)
|
Salgado outpointed Argenis Mendez to win a vacant title in September 2011 but got obliterated in the rematch on March 9, losing his title by massive fourth-round knockout. Next: TBA. |
6. Yuriorkis Gamboa (22-0)
|
Gamboa, a former unified featherweight titleholder, moved up in weight to face Michael Farenas for a vacant interim belt on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV HBO PPV undercard in December. It was Gamboa first fight in 15 months, and his first since signing with promoter/rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. Gamboa is moving up to lightweight to face hard-punching Colombian Darley Perez (28-0) in Montreal on the Chad Dawson-Adonis Stevenson HBO undercard. Next: June 8 vs. Perez. |
7. Sergio Thompson (26-2)
|
Mexico's unheralded Thompson won all four of his 2012 fights, including the major upset of Jorge Linares, and kicked off his 2013 campaign on Jan. 19 with a lopsided fifth-round knockout of journeyman Moises Castro. He next will fight Colombia's Gustavo Sandoval (12-3-1) on the undercard of Shane Mosley's unretirement fight in Mexico against Pablo Cesar Cano. If Thompson wins, he is expected to challenge Japan's Takashi Miura for his world title in August.
Next: May 18 vs. Sandoval. |
8. Takashi Miura (25-2-2)
|
Miura, a Japanese southpaw, claimed a world title on April 8 when he battered and bloodied Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz, who was making his first defense. Miura scored four knockdowns before getting the ninth-round knockout. Next: TBA |
9. Gamaliel Diaz (37-10-2)
|
Mexico's Diaz, who handed interim welterweight titlist Robert Guerrero his lone loss in a 2005 featherweight fight, went to Japan and outpointed Takahiro Ao in October in a major upset to claim a title in his third opportunity to win a world or interim belt. But Diaz did not hold the title for long, getting knocked down four times and battered in a ninth-round knockout loss to Takashi Miura (25-2-2) in his first title defense April 8 in Japan. Next: TBA. |
10. Takahiro Ao (23-3-1)
|
Japan's Ao was a heavy favorite to retain his title for the fourth time on Oct. 27 against Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz but lost a surprising unanimous decision in a big upset. With the loss, Ao's hopes for a unification fight with countryman Takashi Uchiyama bit the dust. Next: TBA. |
FEATHERWEIGHTS (126 POUNDS)
1. Chris John (48-0-3)
Next: TBA. |
2. Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia (31-0)
|
In by far the best performance of his career, Garcia fought a masterpiece Jan. 19 in the HBO main event as he took apart Orlando Salido, dropping him four times in a shutout before an accidental head-butt badly broke Garcia's nose, forcing the fight to be stopped and sent to the scorecards for a technical decision, which Garcia won going away. Garcia's first title defense will take place in Dallas in the main event of an HBO card against former titlist Juan Manuel Lopez (33-2) in a Mexico versus Puerto Rico showdown. Next: June 15 vs. Lopez. |
3. Abner Mares (26-0-1)
|
After being unable to finalize a much-anticipated fight with fellow titlist Nonito Donaire (despite a Golden Boy offer to Top Rank for a whopping $3 million to make the match this spring), Mares vacated his title and moved to featherweight, where he dominated Daniel Ponce De Leon in a ninth-round knockout win to claim a world title -- Mares' third in three weight classes in three years -- in the co-feature on the May 4 Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Robert Guerrero Showtime PPV card. Next: TBA. |
4. Daniel Ponce De Leon (44-5)
|
In the first defense of his belt, Ponce De Leon faced pal, former training partner and stablemate Abner Mares in the co-feature slot on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Robert Guerrero Showtime PPV card on May 4 and had his head handed to him, getting knocked down twice in a one-sided ninth-round knockout loss. Next: TBA. |
5. Jhonny Gonzalez (54-8)
|
In his first fight since losing his world title to Mexican countryman Daniel Ponce De Leon in September in Las Vegas, Gonzalez returned in February to outpoint Eusebio Osejo, despite being knocked down in the fourth round. Gonzalez fought again on April 27 in Mexico City and scored two knockdowns of Japan's Akihiko Katagiri en route to a powerful fourth-round knockout. Next: TBA. |
6. Orlando Salido (39-12-2)
|
All of the tough fights he has had, combined with the youth, precision punching and skills of Mikey Garcia, meant that Jan. 19 was a very, very bad night for Salido, who got knocked down four times and lost his title via one-sided eight-round technical decision (after Salido busted Garcia's nose with a head butt). Salido suffered a broken orbital bone in his right eye during the fight, but tentatively is expected to return in his Mexican hometown of Ciudad Obregon this summer. Next: Aug. 30 vs. TBA. |
7. Juan Manuel Lopez (33-2)
|
After being knocked out by Orlando Salido in a featherweight title rematch in March 2012 and a subsequent suspension for accusing the referee of gambling on the fight, Lopez has won both of his comeback fights against lesser opponents. The wins set him up for a real fight a shot at titleholder Mikey Garcia (31-0) on HBO. Should be an action fight, but Lopez had better watch that chin. Next: June 15 vs. Garcia. |
8. Evgeny Gradovich (16-0)
|
Known as "The Mexican-Russian," Gradovich turned in an excellent performance on short notice to take the fight to Billy Dib on March 1 and win a split decision he deserved a unanimous nod -- to claim a world title on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights." Gradovich is a well-conditioned crowd-pleaser who looks as if he could go 20 rounds on a given night. His first defense will be a mandatory against Argentina's Mauricio Munoz (26-3) in Macau. Next: July 27 vs. Munoz. |
9. Billy Dib (35-2)
|
Australia's Dib, who is with rapper/promoter 50 Cent, returned to America with a far more crowd-pleasing style than he used to show but lost a rough, tough fight and his title to Evgeny Gradovich in a grueling battle on March 1. Dib has a rematch clause, but Gradovich is entitled to an interim bout first. Next: TBA |
10. Hozumi Hasegawa (32-4)
|
In his third fight since losing his title to Mexico's Jhonny Gonzalez in April 2011, Japan's Hasegawa scored a third-round knockout of Thailand's inexperienced Veerapol Sor Chandrasith (now 8-3) on April 26. Next: TBA |
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS (122 POUNDS)
1. Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0)
Next: TBA. |
2. Nonito Donaire (31-2)
|
Donaire was the consensus 2012 fighter of the year and perhaps that all went to his head because he was not in top condition and admitted after losing a unanimous decision to Guillermo Rigondeaux in their April 27 unification fight that he had taken Rigondeaux too lightly. Taking a two-time Olympic gold medalist and fellow world titleholder lightly? Really? That's inexcusable. Donaire turned in perhaps the worst performance of his career and wound up having right should surgery following the fight. Next: TBA. |
3. Victor Terrazas (37-2-1)
|
Mexico's Terrazas was the mandatory challenger for Abner Mares, but rather than face him, Mares vacated the belt and moved up in weight for a bigger fight. So Terrazas faced quality contender and former junior bantamweight champ Cristian Mijares for the vacant belt on April 20 and took a split decision from his countryman. Next: TBA. |
4. Leo Santa Cruz (24-0-1)
|
Santa Cruz, a former bantamweight titlist, vacated his belt and moved up in weight to face former two-time junior bantamweight titlist Alexander Munoz on May 4 on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Robert Guerrero Showtime PPV undercard. Munoz could not hang with younger, more active Santa Cruz, who hammered him en route to a fifth-round knockout. Santa Cruz figures to get a title shot before the end of the year. Next: TBA. |
5. Jeffrey Mathebula (27-4-2)
|
The former titleholder from South Africa got knocked down, suffered a broken jaw and lost his belt in a one-sided points loss to Nonito Donaire in a July 2012 unification bout. But Mathebula bounced back on March 23 to outpoint countryman and former titlist Takalani Ndlovu in a title eliminator. The win also gave Mathebula a 2-1 edge in his series with Ndlovu. Next: TBA |
BANTAMWEIGHTS (118 POUNDS)
1. Anselmo Moreno (33-2-1)
Next: TBA. |
2. Koki Kameda (30-1)
| Japan's Kameda eked out a split decision victory to retain his title for the sixth time on April 7 in a tougher-than-expected fight against fellow southpaw Panomroonglek Kaiyanghadaogym of Thailand. br> Next: TBA |
3. Shinsuke Yamanaka (18-0-2)
|
Yamanaka, a Japanese southpaw, has looked very good in his past four fights. He claimed a vacant title with an 11th-round knockout of Christian Esquivel, outpointed former flyweight and junior bantamweight titlist Vic Darchinyan, knocked out former junior bantamweight titleholder Tomas Rojas and disposed of Japan-based Filipino and former flyweight titlist Malcolm Tunacao in the 12th round on April 8. Next: TBA. |
4. Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko (28-4)
|
Ghana native and former titlist Agbeko, out of action because of promotional issues since losing in a title fight rematch to Abner Mares in December 2011, returned to Ghana to outpoint Luis Melendez of Colombia on March 22. Next: TBA. |
5. Hugo Ruiz (31-2)
|
Ruiz, a former interim titlist from Mexico, went to Japan to face full titlist Koki Kameda (30-1) in December and lost a highly competitive split decision. Next: TBA. |
JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHTS (115 POUNDS)
1. Omar Narvaez (38-1-2)
Next: May 25 vs. Orucuta. |
2. Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. (15-1-1)
|
Sanchez, who has had all of his fights in his native Mexico, is going to Las Vegas to make his third defense when he faces mandatory challenger Roberto Sosa (24-0) of Argentina in the main event of a "Solo Boxeo Tecate" card on UniMas. Next: June 8 vs. Sosa. |
3. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (19-3-1)
|
Thailand's Sor Rungvisai, unbeaten since starting his pro career 1-3-1 in 2009, looked good in a ninth-round knockout of Japan's Yota Sato on May 3 in Thailand to win a world title. Next: TBA. |
4. Liborio Solis (15-3-1)
|
In an upset, interim titlist Solis, of Venezuela, traveled to Tokyo and took a majority decision against titleholder Kohei Kono on May 6 in a slugfest in which both men were knocked down. Next: TBA. |
5. Kohei Kono (28-8)
|
Japan's Kono claimed a world title Dec. 31 when he upset Thailand's Tepparith Kokietgym, knocking him down three times in a fourth-round knockout victory. But, in Kono's first defense, May 6 in Tokyo, he lost his belt by way of majority decision in a slugfest with interim titlist Liborio Solis in an upset. Next: TBA. |
FLYWEIGHTS (112 POUNDS)
1. Juan Francisco Estrada (23-2)
Next: July 27 vs. Melindo. |
2. Brian Viloria (32-4)
|
In November, Viloria unified titles by stopping Mexico's Hernan "Tyson" Marquez in the 10th round of a fantastic brawl. But in his first defense of the unified belts on April 6, Viloria ran into young, hungry 22-year-old Juan Francisco Estrada and could not keep pace with him. Viloria wore down late in the fight and ultimately dropped a split decision in an action-packed fight in Macau. Next: TBA. |
3. Hernan "Tyson" Marquez (35-3)
|
Marquez had plenty of moments in his tremendously exciting title unification battle with Brian Viloria on Nov. 17, but Viloria scored three knockdowns (in the first, fifth and 10th rounds) in a 10th-round knockout victory in one of the best fights of 2012. In his first fight since the loss, Marquez returned April 19 and scored a third-round knockout of Edgar Jimenez. Next: TBA. |
4. Akira Yaegashi (17-3)
|
In June 2012, Japan's Yaegashi lost a decision and his strawweight title to Kazuto Ioka. Yaegashi moved up to flyweight, won a comeback fight, then challenged countryman Toshiyuki Igarashi for his title and, on April 8, pulled the upset. It was a bloody fight with multiple head-butts, but Yaegashi won a clear unanimous decision. Next: TBA. |
5. Edgar Sosa (48-7)
|
Sosa had twice lost years ago to Mexican countryman and fellow former junior flyweight titlist Ulises "Archie" Solis but he exacted revenge in brutal fashion on March 9. Sosa went to Solis' hometown of Guadalajara and destroyed Solis in the second round of a title eliminator. Sosa will next face big hitter and former junior flyweight champ Giovani Segura (29-2-1) in a fight that can't possibly be bad. Next: May 18 vs. Segura. |
JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS AND STRAWWEIGHTS (108 AND 105 POUNDS)
1. Roman Gonzalez (34-0)
Next: TBA. |
2. Adrian Hernandez (27-2-1)
|
Hernandez made the first defense of his second title reign Jan. 12 and rolled to a lopsided unanimous decision victory against overmatched soft touch Dirceu Cabarca of Panama. For defense No. 2, Hernandez took a hard-fought unanimous decision from Yader Cardoza of Nicaragua on May 11. Next: TBA. |
3. Kazuto Ioka (12-0)
|
Japan's Ioka, a former unified strawweight titleholder, moved up to junior flyweight and scored three knockdowns to stop Mexico's Jose Rodriguez in the sixth round to win a vacant title Dec. 31. Ioka made his first title defense on May 8 in Japan and knocked out Thailand southpaw Wisanu Kokietgym in the ninth round with a body shot. Next: TBA. |
4. Kompayak Porpramook (50-4)
|
In a tremendous battle in December 2011, Porpramook claimed a 108-pound belt in his native Thailand, stopping Adrian Hernandez in the 10th round. But in the Oct. 6 rematch, Porpramook went to Hernandez's native Mexico and was knocked out in the sixth round of an action fight. Porpramook has been busy, reeling off four wins in a row since then. Next: TBA. |
5. Moises Fuentes (16-1-1)
|
Mexico's Fuentes owns a strawweight title but moved up to junior flyweight and challenged the Philippines' Donnie Nietes on March 2. It was an excellent fight and closely contested, but Fuentes was denied the belt in a majority draw. A rematch could be coming. Next: TBA. |
- ESPN.com boxing writer since 2005
- Writes pound-for-pound rankings
- Five years at USA Today
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- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Lot of #FIghtFreaks wanna know why no titles are at stake in #PetersonMatthysse when they both have belts. My column: http://t.co/unEElgmzxr
about 4 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
And here's my feature from Thursday on #AlexanderPurdy even though Purdy didnt make weight Friday: http://t.co/PFdDag4dkv @SHOsports #boxing
about 4 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Big fight tonight. Here's my Friday feature on #PetersonMatthysse: http://t.co/bXHdmLWxm7 #boxing @SHOsports @OscarDeLaHoya @GoldenBoyBoxing
about 4 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
RT @MatchroomBoxing: Lee Purdy inside the 10 pound limit at this morning's weigh in - the fight is on. Ringwalk at 9.10pm US time (2:10am U…
about 5 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
IT IS FIGHT DAY!!!! #PetersonMatthysse
about 5 hours ago
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RT @TQuevedoNews: Con la fiebre del #Powerball con mas d 600millones d dlls. acumulados. Que haria? No se todavia, pero si no me ven el lun…
about 13 hours ago
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So ... what happens if Shane Mosley wins this thing?
about 15 hours ago
- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
I'm trying hard to imagine a scenario where Peterson-Matthysse disappoints. Can't do it.
about 16 hours ago
- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
10 years ago tonight was 1 of most underrated fights of past decade, the Paul Spadafora-Leonard Dorin lightweight unification bloodbath.
about 16 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Did a whole bunch of blog posts this week. Catch up on everything right here: http://t.co/37WIhqLxkl #boxing
about 16 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
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Laugh all you want about his bizarre inactivity, but Guillermo Jones can fight. Always could.
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RT @BarryHearn: Gutted for LeePurdy in 4 weeks he did his best but fell .8 of a pound short. Too dangerous to do more and the fight goes a…
about 19 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
RT @iamKokoD: @danrafaelespn According to Duane Ford not only did Purdy make weight, he was even under the limit !
about 19 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Purdy is losing 10% of his $150K purse. $7,500 goes to Alexander and $7,500 goes to the NJ commission. #boxing @SHOsports
about 19 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
By the way -- 2nd fight in a row Purdy failed to make weight. He was also over by nearly 2 pounds for an IBF regional title fight in March.
about 19 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Weights from Cancun, Mexico: @SugarShaneM 146.8, Pablo Cesar Cano 146. #boxing
about 20 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Weight from AC, Lee Purdy fails to make weight. He came back to scale at 147.8 pounds. He cannot win IBF title and Alexander cannot lose it.
about 20 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
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Matt Harvey is so nasty.
about 21 hours ago
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- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Got my $600M Powerball tix. I'll win this time and then drinks are on me in AC tomorrow night for all the #FightFreaks!!!!!!!!
about 21 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
RT @DodgerJam10: @danrafaelespn Duane Ford thought Lebedev's eye was just fine
about 22 hours ago
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