ESPN.com's divisional rankings
Dan Rafael reveals his new world standings for boxing's weight classes
Originally Published: September 24, 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 Sept. 30. 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: Oct. 5 vs. Povetkin. |
2. Vitali Klitschko (45-2)
| Klitschko, with nine title defenses under his belt, has not fought since stopping Manuel Charr in September 2012 and has an overdue mandatory to deal with against Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1). The sides have been negotiating, but Klitschko has announced that he has a right-hand injury and will not fight until at least the first quarter of 2014, angering Stiverne, who believes Klitschko should be stripped (or, at the least, Stiverne thinks he should be allowed to fight for an interim title). Next: TBA. |
3. Alexander Povetkin (26-0)
| Russia's Povetkin routed horrifically undeserving Andrzej Wawrzyk on May 17, stopping him after three one-sided rounds to set up the long-awaited showdown against the real champion, Wladimir Klitschko, in Moscow, where Povetkin will be the crowd favorite. Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov won the fight at a purse bid for an insane $23,333,330, meaning Povetkin's 25 percent take is a career-best (by millions) $5,833,333. Next: Oct. 5 vs. W. Klitschko. |
4. Tomasz Adamek (49-2)
| Adamek, a former light heavyweight and cruiserweight titlist, faced late replacement (and former contender) Dominick Guinn on Aug. 3 and rolled to a near-shutout decision victory in his first fight in eight months. There has been discussion of a possible fight with up-and-coming Bryant Jennings (17-0), but Jennings declined the fight. Instead, Adamek will face 2008 Ukrainian Olympic bronze medalist Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov (15-0-1) in an interesting match that will mark the return of Saturday afternoon boxing on NBC. Next: Nov. 16 vs. Glazkov. |
5. Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1)
| In a mild upset, the big-punching Stiverne scored a hard knockdown against Cristobal Arreola at the end of the third round of their April 27 fight, breaking his nose and changing the course of the bout. Stiverne went on to pound Arreola to win a clear unanimous decision in an eliminator to earn a mandatory shot against Vitali Klitschko, but Klitschko is out for the rest of 2013 because of a hand injury. The situation has understandably angered Stiverne, who believes Klitschko should be stripped -- or, at the least, Stiverne thinks he should be allowed to fight for an interim title. Next: TBA. |
6. David Haye (26-2)
| Former titlist Haye is one of the biggest trash-talkers in boxing and so is British countryman Tyson Fury (21-0). So when they began talking smack with each other, it seemed like it was only a matter of time until the fight would be made. It was set for Sept. 28, but Haye suffered a cut over his left eye during his final sparring session, forcing the bout to be postponed. Next: Feb. 8 vs. Fury. |
7. Kubrat Pulev (18-0)
| Bulgaria's Pulev, a 6-foot-4˝, 249-pounder, earned a mandatory shot at the Wladimir Klitschko-Alexander Povetkin winner by outpointing Tony Thompson in a final eliminator on Aug. 24. Next: TBA. |
8. Ruslan Chagaev (31-2-1)
| Former titlist Chagaev, whose only losses were by knockout to Wladimir Klitschko and decision to Alexander Povetkin in world title bouts, has won four in a row since his 2011 loss to Povetkin. Chagaev's next fight will come on the Klitschko-Povetkin undercard against 42-year-old journeyman Jovo Pudar (30-3). Next: Oct. 5 vs. Pudar. |
9. Cristobal Arreola (36-3)
| Arreola bounced back from his lopsided decision loss to Bermane Stiverne in their April title eliminator to lay waste to Seth Mitchell. Arreola, in top condition for a fight for the first time in a long time, cut through Mitchell with ease, brutally stopping him in the first round on Sept. 7 to get back into the title hunt. Next: TBA. |
10. Tony Thompson (38-4)
| The 41-year-old Thompson, who has already had two title shots against Wladimir Klitschko and been knocked out both times, parlayed back-to-back knockout victories against heralded prospect David Price in February and July into a title eliminator with Kubrat Pulev, but lost a decision to him on Aug. 24. Next: TBA. |
CRUISERWEIGHTS (200 POUNDS)
1. Marco Huck (36-2-1)
 Next: Jan. 25 vs. Arslan. |
2. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (48-2-1)
| Poland's Wlodarczyk next will make a mandatory defense against former titlist Giacobbe Fragomeni (30-3-2) of Italy, whom he has already fought twice (a disputed draw in 2009 and a knockout win in 2010). The fight will take place in Chicago, where there is a large Polish community, and be available in the United States on ESPN3.com. Next: Dec. 6 vs. Fragomeni. |
3. Yoan Pablo Hernandez (27-1)
| Hernandez, cleared to resume training in mid-August after having surgery on his broken left hand earlier in the year, will be back in late November or December to make a mandatory defense against Alexander Alekseev (24-2-1). Next: TBA vs. Alekseev. |
4. Guillermo Jones (39-3-2)
| Fighting for the first time in 18 months, 41-year-old Jones, of Panama, reclaimed the belt that had been stripped from him when he went to Denis Lebedev's turf in Moscow on May 17 and, trailing on the scorecards, knocked him out in the 11th round after inflicting a gruesome right eye injury. Next: TBA. |
5. Firat Arslan (33-6-2)
| Germany's 42-year-old Arslan, a former titleholder, fought like he was 20 years younger in a tremendous performance against titleholder Marco Huck (36-2-1) in their excellent November fight, and Arslan came awfully close to pulling the upset. Arslan returned to action April 27 to pound out a unanimous 10-round decision against countryman Varol Vekiloglu, setting up a rematch with Huck. However, that Sept. 14 bout was postponed when Huck suffered a fractured elbow in his final sparring session. Next: Jan. 25 vs. Huck. |
6. Ola Afolabi (19-3-4)
| After finishing a trilogy with titleholder Marco Huck in June and going 0-2-1, England's Afolabi is moving on. His first fight since the second loss to Huck will come on the Gennady Golovkin-Curtis Stevens undercard in New York against Lukasz Janik (26-1) of Poland. Next: Nov. 2 vs. Janik. |
7. Denis Lebedev (25-2)
| On May 17 in Moscow, Russia's Lebedev suffered a severely injured right eye in the first round of a mandatory defense against Guillermo Jones and fought bravely until getting knocked out in the 11th round of a fight that should have been stopped way sooner because of the eye. It was so damaged that Lebedev probably will never be the same. Next: TBA. |
8. Rakhim Chakhkiev (16-1)
| The 2008 Russian Olympic heavyweight gold medalist got a title shot at home in Moscow when he faced Poland's Krzysztof Wlodarczyk on June 21, and he started off great. Chakhkiev scored a third-round knockdown and was ahead on points before Wlodarczyk rallied for four knockdowns and an eighth-round knockout victory in a terrific fight. Chakhkiev returns on the Wladimir Klitschko-Alexander Povetkin undercard against Giulian Ilie (20-6-2) of Romania. Next: Oct. 5 vs. Ilie. |
9. Alexander Alekseev (24-2-1)
| Alekseev, a southpaw from Uzbekistan who is based in Germany, fought to a draw with Firat Arslan in a European title defense in May 2012 and has fought once since, a decision win against American Garrett Wilson in February. Alekseev is the mandatory challenger for titlist Yoan Pablo Hernandez (27-1) and will get his shot before the end of the year, now that a purse bid has been held for the bout. Next: TBA vs. Hernandez. |
10. Thabiso Mchunu (14-1)
| Mchunu, a southpaw from South Africa, scored the best win of his career when he came to the United States and won a shockingly easy lopsided decision against Eddie Chambers, a longtime heavyweight contender who dropped down in weight, on Aug. 3. Next: TBA. |
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (175 POUNDS)
1. Adonis Stevenson (22-1)
 Next: Nov. 30 vs. Bellew. |
2. Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2)
| In March, Hopkins became the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title (at age 48, surpassing his own record of 46) by outpointing Tavoris Cloud. Hopkins was due to make a mandatory defense against Germany's Karo Murat (25-1-1) on July 13. However, Murat was denied a visa to enter the United States and was dropped from the mandatory position, which then went to Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1). But Kovalev took another fight instead and then Murat, after receiving his visa, was reinstated as Hopkins' mandatory. Next: Oct. 26 vs. Murat. |
3. Sergey Kovalev (22-0-1)
| Kovalev, a punching machine from Russia, went to Nathan Cleverly's home turf in Wales to challenge for his title on Aug. 17 and destroyed him in scary fashion. In Kovalev's HBO debut, he dominated the fight, dropping Cleverly twice in the third round before stopping him in the fourth round with a violent series of blows. Kovalev's power and precision are scary. There's a good chance he will make his first defense Nov. 30 on the undercard of champion Adonis Stevenson's mandatory defense against Tony Bellew as a prelude to an eventual Stevenson-Kovalev showdown. Next: TBA. |
4. Jean Pascal (28-2-1)
| 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 when Bute suffered a left-hand injury. With the fight on hold until early 2014, Pascal took a stay-busy fight on Sept. 28 and dominated journeyman George Blades en route to a fifth-round knockout victory on the Adonis Stevenson-Tavoris Cloud undercard. Next: Jan. 18 vs. Bute. |
5. Chad Dawson (31-3)
|
When Dawson dropped down in weight to challenge super middleweight champ Andre Ward for his title in September and got whacked around, knocked down three times and stopped in the 10th round, Dawson had the built-in excuse of having badly drained himself to make weight. But he returned to light heavyweight to defend his title against Adonis Stevenson on June 8 and could make no such excuse after Stevenson iced him with one left hand in just 76 seconds for a spectacular knockout that sent Dawson's future into serious doubt after he suffered his second knockout loss in a row. Next: TBA. |
6. Tavoris Cloud (24-2)
| In March, Cloud lost his belt via clear decision when he was outboxed by masterful, 48-year-old legend Bernard Hopkins. But when Cloud returned on Sept. 28 to challenge world champ Adonis Stevenson, he got pummeled in a one-sided thrashing that ended with the corner of a busted-up Cloud stopping the fight after the seventh round. It was a brutal defeat. Next: TBA. |
7. Nathan Cleverly (26-1)
| Give Cleverly credit for his willingness to defend his title against Sergey Kovalev on Aug. 17, but the outcome was a nightmare. Kovalev annihilated Cleverly to take his title, dropping him twice in the third round and stopping the Wales native/resident in the fourth in a one-sided destruction . Next: TBA. |
8. Karo Murat (25-1-1)
| The former European champion, whose only loss was in a world title eliminator to current titlist Nathan Cleverly in 2010, was the mandatory challenger for titleholder Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2) and was scheduled to fight him at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 13. However, Murat was denied a visa to enter the United States, the fight was canceled, and Murat was dropped from the mandatory position -- until a week later when he got his paperwork squared away. But by that time it was too late to reclaim the July 13 date, so the fight has been rescheduled for the fall. Next: Oct. 26 vs. Hopkins. |
9. Tony Bellew (20-1-1)
| In March, Bellew fought to a woefully boring draw with Isaac Chilemba in a title eliminator. They met again on May 25 on the Carl Froch-Mikkel Kessler undercard in London and, in a marginally better fight, Bellew won a clear decision to become the mandatory challenger for champion Adonis Stevenson (22-1). Bellew will go on the road for the shot and will face Stevenson in Quebec. Next: Nov. 30 vs. Stevenson. |
10. Juergen Braehmer (41-2)
| Germany's Braehmer, a former world titleholder, retained his European title for the second time by soundly outpointing Italy's Stefano Abatangelo on Aug. 24 in a one-sided fight filled with fouls. Next: TBA. |
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (168 POUNDS)
1. Andre Ward (26-0)
 Next: Nov. 16 vs. Rodriguez. |
2. Carl Froch (31-2)
| In a tremendous fight on May 25, Froch exacted revenge on old foe Mikkel Kessler, winning a clear decision and unifying two alphabet belts in front of a raucous sellout crowd at London's O2 Arena. The spectacle of the fight was about as good as it gets in boxing. Next up, Froch will face countryman George Groves (19-0) in a fight that is about as big as it gets for Great Britain. Next: Nov. 23 vs. Groves. |
3. Robert Stieglitz (45-3)
| Coming off a March 23 fourth-round knockout of Arthur Abraham in a rematch, in which Stieglitz regained his title, he signed a four-fight deal with German network SAT.1. Stieglitz commenced with an easy title defense on July 13 against Japan's undeserving Yuzo Kiyota, who had no credentials and was dominated in a 10th-round technical decision loss that was later changed to a knockout after a video review. Stieglitz returns to face another obscure and untested opponent, Isaac Ekpo (22-1) of Nigeria. Next: Oct. 19 vs. Ekpo. |
4. Mikkel Kessler (46-3)
| The first time Kessler met Carl Froch, it was during the Super Six in 2010 and Kessler, fighting on home soil in Denmark, won a competitive decision in a tremendous fight to claim an alphabet belt. Three years later, Kessler traveled to Froch's British turf for a title unification fight on May 25. This time, in another terrific fight, Froch got the better of the action and won the clear decision. Kessler said before the fight that a loss might push him into retirement, so we will see what happens. Next: TBA. |
5. Lucian Bute (31-1)
| 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 has been rescheduled, but not until early next year to give Bute ample time to recover. Next: Jan. 18 vs. Pascal. |
6. Arthur Abraham (37-4)
| In Abraham's second title defense, on March 23, he was dominated in a fourth-round knockout loss to Robert Stieglitz in their rematch. In Abraham's first fight since the defeat, he struggled badly and looked terrible outpointing Willbeforce Shihepo, a hand-picked and obscure opponent, on Aug. 24. Despite the woeful performance, Abraham was ridiculously installed as Stieglitz's mandatory challenger, meaning a probable trilogy, although he will take a stay-busy fight against Italy's Giovanni De Carolis (20-4) first. Next: Oct. 26 vs. De Carolis. |
7. Sakio Bika (32-5-2)
| In his fourth shot at a world title, Bika finally came through, taking a well-deserved decision against Marco Antonio Periban on June 22 on the Adrien Broner-Paulie Malignaggi undercard to win the vacant belt, which had unceremoniously been stripped from Andre Ward, the division's real champion. Bika and Periban put on a brutal slugfest that had the crowd on its feet and cheering. Bika's first defense was due to come against Anthony Dirrell (26-0) on Oct. 26 on the Bernard Hopkins-Karo Murat Showtime undercard, but Bika injured his shoulder and the fight will be delayed until early 2014. Next: TBA. |
8. Edwin Rodriguez (24-0)
| In the most impressive performance of his career, Rodriguez blew out light heavyweight contender Denis Grachev at a catchweight of 171½ pounds in the first round on July 13 to win the Monaco Million Dollar Super Four tournament. It was the kind of statement fight that Rodriguez had been looking for, and he got it in style. The tournament victory paved the way for him to challenge champion Andre Ward (26-0) on HBO. Next: Nov. 16 vs. Ward. |
9. George Groves (19-0)
| England's Groves won his third fight since March on May 25 when he scored a highlight-reel fifth-round knockout of former middleweight title challenger Noe Gonzalez Alcoba on the Mikkel Kessler-Carl Froch II undercard. He'll be on the same card as Froch (31-2) again for his next fight -- except this time he will be challenging him for his world title on a date to be determined in November or December in a big-time fight, especially for Great Britain. Next: Nov. 23 vs. Froch. |
10. James DeGale (16-1)
| DeGale, a 2008 British Olympic gold medalist, has won six fights in a row since his tight decision loss to George Groves in 2011, picking up the European title along the way and moving closer to a world title opportunity. Next: TBA. |
MIDDLEWEIGHTS (160 POUNDS)
1. Sergio Martinez (51-2-2)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Gennady Golovkin (27-0)
| Golovkin turned in a sensational performance on June 29, knocking out Matthew Macklin with a devastating left hook to the body in the third round of a dominant performance. It is Golovkin's biggest fight to date. He will be back in action in New York to headline another HBO card when he faces New Yorker Curtis Stevens (25-3), a big puncher, in a fight that should be action-packed -- for as long as it lasts. Next: Nov. 2 vs. Stevens. |
3. Darren Barker (26-1)
| England's Barker showed immense heart to get off the deck in the sixth round after taking a wicked body shot from Australia's Daniel Geale on Aug. 17 in Atlantic City, N.J. Barker went on to win a split decision and a world title in a rock 'em, sock 'em bout. It was a fantastic fight and an inspired victory for a good guy. Barker is obligated to make his first defense against former titlist and mandatory challenger Felix Sturm (38-3-2). Next: TBA. |
4. Daniel Geale (29-2)
| You win some, you lose some, as Australia's Geale found out on Aug. 17, when he dropped a split decision and lost his title to Darren Barker in an all-action fight. Twice previously in world title fights, Geale had been on the winning side of split decisions. Despite the loss, Geale showed a lot in an exciting fight and figures to be back in another title fight sooner rather than later. Next: TBA. |
5. "Kid Chocolate" Peter Quillin (29-0)
| 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. Quillin's second defense will come against Gabriel Rosado (21-6) on the Bernard Hopkins-Karo Murat undercard. Next: Oct. 26. vs. Rosado. |
6. Martin Murray (25-1-1)
| 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. |
7. Sam Soliman (42-11)
| 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 (38-3-2)
| In February, Sturm dropped a decision at home in Germany to Australia's Sam Soliman, but the loss was later changed to a no contest after Soliman tested positive for a banned substance following the fight. In Sturm's first fight since that bout, he routed the undefeated but untested Predrag Radosevic of Montenegro, dropping him three times overall in a fourth-round knockout on July 6. Next up, Sturm is likely to get a mandatory title shot at Darren Barker (26-1) in a fight that could take place in London in December. Next: TBA. |
9. Matthew Macklin (29-5)
| In his third shot at a world title, Macklin was cut down by Gennady Golovkin with a sick left hook to the body in the third round of their June 29 showdown. Macklin went down immediately and was in agony as he suffered easily his worst loss in a title fight, having previously been robbed against Felix Sturm in 2011 and giving Sergio Martinez a very tough fight before being stopped in the 11th round in 2012. Next: TBA. |
10. Marco Antonio Rubio (58-6-1)
| Mexico's Rubio, who lost a title bout by unanimous decision to then-titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in February 2012, has won five in a row (four by knockout) since and could wind up fighting for a vacant interim belt while champion Sergio Martinez is on the sideline recovering from an injury. Next: TBA. |
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (154 POUNDS)
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (45-0)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-1-1)
| Although Alvarez, the 23-year-old Mexican hero, was routed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sept. 14 in the biggest fight in years, suffering his first career defeat and losing both of his belts, he would probably beat any other junior middleweight out there. At least Alvarez admitted he had been schooled by Mayweather. He's still young and can certainly rebound for big fights in the future. When he does come back, it's possible he could challenge titleholder Carlos Molina, who won a slice of the title on the undercard. Here's one fight that would be fun and is something Golden Boy could easily make: Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo in what would be an all-Mexican brawl. Next: TBA. |
3. Austin Trout (26-1)
| Trout fought well in a competitive title unification fight with 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. Trout, although he lost, 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. |
4. Miguel Cotto (37-4)
| Cotto, the Puerto Rican star and former three-division titleholder, has lost two decisions in a row (to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout) and is making some major changes for his return. He has hired Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach to replace Pedro Diaz and is returning to longtime promoter Top Rank for a fight that will take place in Orlando, Fla., on HBO. Cotto will face former two-time title challenger Delvin Rodriguez (28-6-3) in a fight that has action written all over it. Next: Oct. 5 vs. Rodriguez. |
5. Erislandy Lara (18-1-2)
| In a grueling fight on June 8, Lara got dropped for the first two times in his career by two power left hooks from Alfredo Angulo but was still leading on two of the scorecards when Angulo turned away and quit in the 10th round because of a suspected broken orbital bone over his left eye. With the win, Lara won a vacant interim belt and set himself up for bigger business. Next: TBA. |
6. Carlos Molina (22-5-2)
| Although it was an absolutely horrible fight filled with clinches, little clean punching, and awkward styles, Molina, the mandatory challenger, outfought Ishe Smith to win a decision and a world title on Sept. 14 on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Canelo Alvarez undercard. It's possible Molina could parlay the victory into a money fight with Alvarez. Next: TBA. |
7. Vanes Martirosyan (33-0-1)
| Martirosyan's long-awaited title shot against fellow undefeated U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade (19-0) for a vacant belt was due to come Sept. 7 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on the HBO undercard of the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Brian Vera super middleweight bout. However, Chavez suffered a cut, forcing the card to be postponed and Andrade-Martirosyan to be shifted to a different HBO undercard. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Andrade. |
8. Ishe Smith (25-6)
| Smith won his version of the title in an ugly fight on Feb. 23, when he outpointed Cornelius "K9" Bundrage in Bundrage's hometown of Detroit. And then Smith lost the title in his first defense, yet another ugly fight in his hometown of Las Vegas when Carlos Molina outpointed him on Sept. 14. Next: TBA. |
9. Cornelius "K9" Bundrage (32-5)
| 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 40, it's hard to see where Bundrage goes next. Next: TBA. |
10. Zaurbek Baysangurov (28-1)
| Russia's Baysangurov was supposed to make his third title defense against Demetrius Andrade (19-0), a 2008 U.S. Olympian, on July 6 in Ukraine. However, Baysangurov suffered a back injury, and the fight was called off on June 18. Because Baysangurov will be out for an extended period and unable to defend the belt, he has been stripped. Next: TBA. |
WELTERWEIGHTS (147 POUNDS)
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (45-0)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1)
| 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 face Pacquiao again in a fifth fight, as many expected, Marquez will instead 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: Oct. 12 vs. Bradley. |
3. Timothy Bradley Jr. (30-0)
| Bradley put the gift decision he received against Manny Pacquiao last June behind him by retaining his title on March 16 against Russia's Ruslan Provodnikov in an unforgettable fight. Showing enormous heart, Bradley survived nearly being knocked out in the first and second 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: Oct. 12 vs. Marquez. |
4. Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2)
| 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. Adrien Broner (27-0)
| "The Problem" holds a lightweight title but moved up two weight classes and went to Paulie Malignaggi's hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y., to challenge for his welterweight title June 22. It was a good fight, and Broner won a split decision -- he deserved a unanimous verdict -- to become only the fourth fighter in history to win titles at 130, 135 and 147 pounds. Broner is likely to remain at welterweight and defend his belt against dangerous mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana (34-3) on Dec. 14 on Showtime pay-per-view. Next: TBA. |
6. Devon Alexander (25-1)
| Alexander's mandatory title defense against England's Kell Brook was scheduled three times but fell out each time because of injuries to both fighters, most recently May 18, when Brook suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and dropped out for good. So instead, Alexander faced the woeful Lee Purdy, who took the fight on a month's notice, failed to make weight and got smashed up for seven rounds before his corner called off the fight. How bad was Purdy? Alexander broke his left hand in the first round and beat Purdy with one hand. The win could set up a Dec. 7 defense against Amir Khan. Next: TBA. |
7. Paulie Malignaggi (32-5)
| Although Malignaggi lost his title to Adrien Broner in his second defense June 22 in his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y., he fought very well in the split decision defeat. Malignaggi cried robbery and corruption afterward, but let's chalk up that crazy talk to the understandable emotion of losing a tough fight. Malignaggi certainly performed well enough to keep his name in the mix for another significant fight. Next: TBA. |
8. Robert Guerrero (31-2-1)
| "The Ghost" talked a good game for the nearly 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. Ten days after the fight, Guerrero pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in New York, a violation that resulted in a $250 fine and 50 hours of community service. A November fight with interim titlist Keith Thurman (21-0) was on the table, but Guerrero turned it down. Next: TBA. |
9. Marcos Maidana (34-3)
| Maidana, a crowd-pleasing slugger from Argentina and a former junior welterweight titlist, is consistently in tremendous fights, and he was in another one on June 8 against solid contender Josesito Lopez. Although Maidana was in some trouble in the fourth and fifth rounds, he rallied to post a sixth-round knockout. Maidana has signed with powerful adviser Al Haymon and could challenge titlist Adrien Broner (27-0) in the main event of a Showtime pay-per-view card that is in the works for Dec. 14. Next: TBA. |
10. Keith Thurman (21-0)
| The hard-hitting and exciting Thurman scored his biggest win and claimed an interim belt on July 27 by dropping Diego Chaves twice en route to an impressive 10th-round knockout. A November fight with Robert Guerrero (31-2-1) was on the table, but Guerrero turned it down so Thurman could instead face rejuvenated Jesus Soto Karass (28-8-3) in what would surely be an action-packed fight. Next: TBA. |
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (140 POUNDS)
1. Danny Garcia (27-0)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Lucas Matthysse (34-3)
|
Argentina's Matthysse dominated Danny Garcia for much of the first half of their high-profile Sept. 14 showdown, but then "The Machine" began to break down. Garcia badly swelled his right eye, dropped him for the first time in his career in the 11th round and won the close but deserved unanimous decision. The fight changed dramatically once Matthysse's eye swelled. An interesting note: Matthysse never dropped Garcia, who became the first opponent to ever face Matthysse who did not taste the canvas at least once. |
3. 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. Alvarado will return to HBO for a hometown fight in Denver in another can't-miss action fight against Russian brawler Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2). This one could be a classic. Next: Oct. 19 vs. Provodnikov. |
4. 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. |
5. Lamont Peterson (31-2-1)
| Although Peterson got smashed in three rounds by Lucas Matthysse on May 18, he still has his belt because they fought a nontitle fight at 141 pounds. So Peterson is next due to make a mandatory defense against Montreal's Dierry Jean (25-0). The fight likely will happen before the end of the year. Next: TBA vs. Jean. |
6. 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. Now Khan is moving up full time to 147 pounds and likely will challenge titlist Devon Alexander (25-1) on Dec. 7. Next: TBA. |
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 hometown Brooklyn 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. He has signed with Golden Boy Promotions, meaning you can count on seeing him in another high-profile fight given the company's deep stable of fighters at 140 and 147 pounds. Next: TBA. |
8. Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-0)
| 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 returned on July 13 to abuse undeserving mandatory challenger Souleymane M'baye en route to an 11th-round knockout. Next: TBA. |
9. Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2)
| Russian brawler Provodnikov moved up in weight for a shot at welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley's Jr.'s title on March 16 and lost a close decision. But it was an epic fight and Provodnikov put himself on the map in an excellent performance in which he nearly knocked Bradley multiple times. Provodnikov fought so well in the loss, and it was such a great fight, that he is getting a crack at interim titleholder Mike Alvarado in a fight that many expect to be in the fight of the year conversation when it's over. Next: Oct. 19 vs. Alvarado. |
10. Hank Lundy (23-3-1)
| In a career-best performance, Lundy outclassed well-regarded contender Olusegun Ajose for a lopsided 10-round decision on July 19 to put himself into the 140-pound picture in impressive fashion. Next: TBA. |
LIGHTWEIGHTS (135 POUNDS)
1. Miguel Vazquez (33-3)
 Next: Oct. 26 vs. Diaz. |
2. Raymundo Beltran (28-6-1)
| Beltran, known mostly for his work as a Manny Pacquiao sparring partner, went to Ricky Burns' home turf in Scotland to challenge for a title on Sept. 7 and turned in the best performance of his career. He broke Burn's jaw in the second round, dropped him in the eighth round, and beat him up only to be robbed in an unforgivable split draw. Beltran deserved better. A lot better. Next: TBA. |
3. Ricky Burns (36-2-1)
| Burns turned in his second poor performance in a row on Sept. 7. Raymundo Beltran imposed his will, broke Burns' jaw and dropped him in what should have been a clear-cut loss for Burns. But Burns got the hometown gift of a split draw to retain his belt for the fourth time. It was one of the worst decisions of the year. Next: TBA. |
4. Richar 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. Abril's second defense will come in Tokyo against former two-division titlist Jorge Linares (34-3), who calls Japan a second home. Next: Nov. 10 vs. Linares. |
5. Antonio DeMarco (29-3-1)
| In November, Mexico's DeMarco lost his title when he was dominated by Adrien Broner in an eighth-round knockout loss. DeMarco made his return on Aug. 10 in a junior welterweight bout and knocked out former lightweight title challenger Fidel Monterrosa in the fifth round. Next: TBA. |
6. Kevin Mitchell (34-2)
| Out of action since being stopped in the fourth round by good pal Ricky Burns in a world title fight in September 2012, England's Mitchell returned to action on July 6. He dropped late replacement Sebastien Benito of France and rolled to a shutout eight-round decision. Mitchell will be back to face Marco Lopez (23-2) on the undercard of 2012 Olympic super heavyweight Anthony Joshua's professional debut. Next: Oct. 5 vs. Lopez. |
7. Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-0)
| Gamboa, a former unified featherweight titleholder and interim junior lightweight titlist, moved up to lightweight on June 8 and outpointed powerful Darley Perez, handing him his first defeat, on the Adonis Stevenson-Chad Dawson undercard in Montreal. Gamboa-Perez was a horrible fight and Gamboa once again fought with little passion, making one wonder if he is really all that interested in fighting anymore. Next: TBA. |
8. Terence Crawford (21-0)
| In his two most recent fights, Crawford took huge advantage of the HBO exposure by easily outboxing junior welterweight banger Breidis Prescott in March as a late substitute, then returned to lightweight on June 15 and routed unknown Alejandro Sanabria for a sixth-round knockout. He will be back on HBO against Andrey Klimov (16-0) in the co-feature of Miguel Cotto's fall return. Next: Oct. 5 vs. Klimov. |
9. 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. |
10. Denis Shafikov (33-0-1)
| In his first fight since signing with Top Rank, Shafikov, a Russian southpaw who moved down in weight from junior welterweight, battered Santos Benavides into a seventh-round stoppage on Aug. 17 in Laredo, Texas. Next: TBA. |
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (130 POUNDS)
1. Takashi Uchiyama (20-0-1)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Argenis Mendez (21-2-1)
| 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 fourth round of their March 9 rematch. Mendez's first title defense came against Arash Usmanee on Aug. 23 on the season finale of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" on a card promoted by Mike Tyson, and Mendez got ripped off in a draw. Next: TBA. |
3. Roman "Rocky" Martinez (27-1-2)
| In the second defense of his second title reign, Puerto Rico's Martinez dropped Diego Magdaleno and won a split decision to retain his belt on April 6 in Macau. Martinez's next fight will be a mandatory defense against former featherweight titlist Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia (32-0) in the main event of an HBO card. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Garcia. |
4. Juan Carlos Burgos (30-1-2)
| In January, Burgos was robbed in a draw in a title fight against Roman Martinez. Making his return on July 26 to headline ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," Burgos stepped up to lightweight to accommodate short-notice replacement Yakubu Amidu and they put on a helluva fight. It was competitive all the way and ultimately ruled a split draw, which was much more legitimate than what happened to Burgos in January. Next: TBA. |
5. Takashi Miura (26-2-2)
| Miura, a Japanese southpaw, claimed a world title on April 8 when he battered and bloodied Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz in a ninth-round knockout in Tokyo. Miura made his first defense on the road on Aug. 17, going to mandatory challenger Sergio Thompson's hometown of Cancun, Mexico, and winning a unanimous decision in an all-action fight in which both fighters were knocked down. Next: TBA. |
6. 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. |
7. Sergio Thompson (27-3)
| Mexico's Thompson got a mandatory title shot in his hometown of Cancun, Mexico, on Aug. 17 when he challenged Japan's Takashi Miura. Although Thompson scored a knockdown in the eighth round, he was dropped in the second and sixth rounds of a terrific fight and lost a close unanimous decision. Next: TBA. |
8. Takahiro Ao (24-3-1)
| In a big upset, Japan's Ao lost his world title via unanimous decision on his home turf to Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz in October. In his first bout since the loss, Ao made his American debut on July 13 and, fighting as a lightweight, blasted out journeyman Hardy Paredes in the second round. Next: Nov. 10 vs. TBA. |
9. Diego Magdaleno (24-1)
| On April 6, Magdaleno lost a tight split decision to Roman Martinez in a world title fight in Macau. Magdaleno fought well but suffered a fourth-round knockdown. After the fight, he split with longtime manager/trainer Pat Barry, signed with manager Frank Espinoza and hired trainer Joel Diaz. Magdaleno's return came Sept. 28, and he rolled to a shutout 10-round decision against journeyman Edgar Riovalle on the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Bryan Vera undercard. Next: TBA. |
10. Dante Jardon (24-3)
| On Aug. 10 in Mexico City, Jardon pulled an upset by knocking out former titleholder Gamaliel Diaz in the eighth-round of a wild fight. Diaz was knocked down three times and Jardon also hit the deck. Next: TBA. |
FEATHERWEIGHTS (126 POUNDS)
1. Chris John (48-0-3)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia (32-0)
| Garcia was due to make his first title defense on June 15 against former titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez, but Garcia failed to make weight. He was 128 pounds and was stripped of the belt. But the fight went on anyway and Garcia walked through the shot Lopez. Garcia dominated the entire fight, dropped Lopez in the second round and stopped him in the fourth round. Garcia, installed as the mandatory challenger for junior lightweight titlist Roman "Rocky" Martinez (27-1-2), is headed up in weight and will challenge Martinez in an HBO main event. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Martinez. |
3. Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8)
| Gonzalez lost a featherweight title to Mexican countryman Daniel Ponce De Leon in September 2012 and when he got another opportunity to fight for a world title, against Abner Mares on Aug. 24, he was a huge underdog. But Gonzalez pulled the big upset, scoring two knockdowns and taking Mares out in the first round in a shocker. Gonzalez's first defense, however, will be against Mares (26-1-1), who has exercised his contractual right to a rematch. Next: TBA vs. Mares. |
4. Abner Mares (26-1-1)
| Mares, who won world titles in three weight classes in a 21-month span, made the first defense of his featherweight belt against former titleholder Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8) on Aug. 24. Although a significant favorite, Mares got creamed. Gonzalez dropped him twice and stopped him in the first round in one of the biggest upsets of 2013. Mares had the right to an immediate rematch and immediately picked up the option. They could meet again in December. Next: TBA vs. Gonzalez. |
5. 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. Ponce De Leon is now headed up to junior lightweight, according to his manager, Frank Espinoza. Next: TBA. |
6. Orlando Salido (39-12-2)
| In January, Salido got dropped four times and lost a lopsided eighth-round technical decision and his title to Mikey Garcia. But when Garcia was stripped for failing to make weight for a June 15 defense, Salido got the chance to face Orlando Cruz (20-2-1) for the vacant belt. They will fight on the Timothy Bradley Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez HBO PPV undercard. Next: Oct. 12 vs. Cruz. |
7. Evgeny Gradovich (17-0)
| 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." In his first defense, against mandatory challenger Mauricio Munoz of Argentina on July 27 in Macau, Gradovich rolled to a lopsided unanimous decision in an entertaining scrap in which Gradovich overwhelmed Munoz with his punch output. A contractual rematch with Dib (36-2) is up next on the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios HBO PPV undercard. Next: Nov. 23 vs. Dib. |
8. Billy Dib (36-2)
| In his first fight since losing a split decision and his world title to Evgeny Gradovich on March 1, Australia's Dib returned to win a harder-than-expected 10-round decision against Mike Oliver in Oliver's hometown of Hartford, Conn., on July 5. With Gradovich safely through a July 27 defense, Dib, who had a rematch clause, will face him again in Macau on the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios card. Next: Nov. 23 vs. Gradovich. |
9. Hozumi Hasegawa (33-4)
| Since losing his title to Jhonny Gonzalez by fourth-round knockout in April 2011, Japan's Hasegawa has won four fights in a row, including a first-round knockout of Mexican journeyman Genaro Camargo on Aug. 12 in Tokyo. Next: TBA. |
10. Javier Fortuna (22-0-1)
| The super-fast Dominican Republic native drilled Miguel Zamudio in the first round on April 19 in what was supposed to be Fortuna's first defense of his interim title. However, Fortuna blew weight and was stripped. He returned on Aug. 2 and, in a terrible fight, was saddled with a draw against Luis Franco in a fight Fortuna deserved to win. Next up will be a fight in the Dominican against Colombia's Jose Carmona (22-3). Next: Oct. 19 vs. Carmona. |
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. Donaire turned in perhaps the worst performance of his career and wound up having surgery on both shoulders following the fight. Moving up to featherweight, Donaire will be back in an HBO fight in a rematch with Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1), the man he drilled to win a flyweight title in 2007. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Darchinyan. |
3. Leo Santa Cruz (25-0-1)
| Santa Cruz, a former bantamweight titlist, vacated his belt, moved up in weight and blitzed former two-time junior bantamweight titlist Alexander Munoz for a fifth-round knockout May 4 on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Robert Guerrero undercard. That win set up Santa Cruz for a mandatory shot at titleholder Victor Terrazas, whom he dominated en route to a third-round knockout on Aug. 24. Next: TBA. |
4. 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 |
5. Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1)
| A former flyweight and junior bantamweight titleholder, Darchinyan has had a rough go at bantamweight and junior featherweight, but he has won two 122-pound fights in a row, including an upset of Luis Orlando Del Valle. But now Darchinyan is moving up in weight again, to featherweight for a rematch with Nonito Donaire, who knocked him out in a 2007 flyweight title fight. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Donaire. |
Other contenders: Victor Terrazas, Cristian Mijares, Carl Frampton, Kiko Martinez, Yasutaka Ishimoto.
BANTAMWEIGHTS (118 POUNDS)
1. Anselmo Moreno (34-2-1)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Koki Kameda (31-1)
| Japan's Kameda made a successful seventh defense of his title on July 23 in Tokyo, scoring two knockdowns and rolling to a unanimous decision -- 119-107, 118-108, 117-109 -- against the Philippines' John Mark Apolinario, who dropped to 1-1-3 in his last five fights and never warranted a title shot in the first place. Next: TBA. |
3. Shinsuke Yamanaka (19-0-2)
| Yamanaka, a Japanese southpaw, retained his title for the fourth time on Aug. 12 in Tokyo, scoring a big first-round knockout on a left hand against Jose Nieves of Puerto Rico. Yamanaka's fifth defense also will take place in Tokyo, where he will face former title challenger Alberto Guevara (18-1) of Mexico. Next: Nov. 10 vs. Guevara. |
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. Agbeko is planning to move up in weight, where he hopes to land another title opportunity. Next: TBA. |
5. Hugo Ruiz (33-2)
| 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. In Ruiz's first bout since on June 1, he stormed to a second-round knockout of countryman Giovanni Caro. On Sept. 7, Ruiz won again, outpointing countryman and former flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Miranda. Next: TBA. |
Other contenders: Tomoki Kameda, Jamie McDonnell, Paulus Ambunda, Julio Ceja, Malcolm Tunacao.
JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHTS (115 POUNDS)
1. Omar Narvaez (40-1-2)
 Next: TBA. |
2. Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. (17-1-1)
| Mexico's Sanchez was stripped of his title for weighing 115.2 pounds for a June 8 mandatory defense against Roberto Sosa of Argentina. The fight went ahead anyway, with only Sosa eligible to win the title, but Sanchez took a clear decision in an action fight. Sanchez returned Sept. 21 and drilled Darwin Zamora in the seventh round of a bantamweight bout in preparation for an eliminator against South Africa's Zolani Tete (17-3). The winner will get a shot at the belt stripped from Sanchez and won by Japan's Daiki Kameda on Sept. 3. Next: TBA vs. Tete. |
3. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (21-3-1)
| 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. He has won two nontitle bouts since to stay busy, including a seemingly pointless six-round decision against sub-.500 Roque Lauro on Sept. 6. 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. |
Other contenders: Tepparith Kokietgym, Daiki Kameda, Carlos Cuadras, Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, Oleydong Sithsamerchai.
FLYWEIGHTS (112 POUNDS)
1. Juan Francisco Estrada (24-2)
 Next: TBA. |
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 (36-3)
| Former titleholder Marquez is almost always in exciting fights and so too is Mexican countryman and former junior flyweight champion Giovani Segura (30-3-1), which is why it's so exciting to know they are scheduled to face each other in a title elimination bout that will earn the winner a shot at unified titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada. Next: Nov. 2 vs. Segura. |
4. Edgar Sosa (49-7)
| On May 18, Sosa won a hard-fought decision against Mexican countryman (and fellow former junior flyweight titleholder) Giovani Segura. Sosa turned in an excellent performance in a very good fight. The win earned him a shot at titlist Akira Yaegashi (17-3), which will likely take place Dec. 7 in Japan. Next: TBA. |
5. Akira Yaegashi (18-3)
| 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. On April 8, he pulled off the upset. It was a bloody fight with multiple head-butts, but Yaegashi won a clear unanimous decision. He made his first title defense against Mexico's unheralded Oscar Blanquet on Aug. 12 in Tokyo, scoring an eighth-round knockdown and winning a unanimous decision. Next: TBA. |
Other contenders: Toshiyuki Igarashi, Moruti Mthalane, Juan Carlos Reveco, Giovani Segura, Luis Concepcion.
JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS AND STRAWWEIGHTS (108 AND 105 POUNDS)
1. Roman Gonzalez (36-0)
 Next: Nov. 10 vs. TBA. |
2. Adrian Hernandez (28-2-1)
| In a slugfest, Mexico's Hernandez made his second title defense against Japan's Atsushi Kakutani on Aug. 31 in Mexico City, retaining the belt via fourth-round knockout. Hernandez survived a first-round knockdown and dropped Kakutani three times in the fourth round for the stoppage. Next: TBA. |
3. Kazuto Ioka (13-0)
| 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 on Japan and knocked out Thailand southpaw Wisanu Kokietgym in the ninth round with a body shot. In his second defense on Sept. 11, Ioka drilled Thailand's Kwanthai Sithmorseng in the seventh round. Next: TBA. |
4. Moises Fuentes (18-1-1)
| Mexico's Fuentes, a former strawweight titlist, 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 is likely, but with Nietes getting injured and then being allowed an interim defense in November, Fuentes faced Colombia's Luis De La Rosa for a vacant interim title and knocked him out in the first round on Sept. 7 in a very impressive performance. Next: TBA. |
5. Donnie Nietes (31-1-4)
| After four strawweight title defenses, the Philippines' Nietes vacated his belt and moved up to junior flyweight, where he won another title and has made three defenses, including barely hanging on to his belt in a draw with Moises Fuentes in March. Nietes was sidelined with an injury but is due to return for a likely defense in November before he has to face Fuentes in the mandatory. Next: TBA. |
Other contenders: Johnriel Casimero, Katsunari Takayama, Xiong Zhao Zhong, Denver Cuello, Merlito Sabillo.
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- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
38 years ago today was perhaps the greatest, most epic fight in #boxing history, Ali-Frazier 3, the Thrilla in Manila http://t.co/o6B2oy812h
about 4 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Heavyweight @BronzeBomber vs. Nicolai Firtha added to the @THEREALBHOP-Murat @SHOsports card. My story: http://t.co/BESLOCqlrr
about 5 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
RT @DD_TribLive: @danrafaelespn boxing is dead though, lol.
about 5 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
The opener, Stevenson-Cloud, drew1.177M viewers, a 15% increase over Stevenon's 1st @HBOboxing fight vs Dawson (1.024M). @yvonmichelGYM
about 5 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
Big numbers for @HBOboxing's card Saturday, according to Nielsen. Chavez-Vera drew 1. 416M viewers, cable's most viewed fight of 2013 so far
about 5 hours ago
- danrafaelespn Dan Rafael
- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
The Tuesday Boxing Chat, where even low blows are legal. 2 p.m. ET. I'll save you a seat. http://t.co/BDQ0m7Ckig
about 7 hours ago
- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
If boxing's promotional Cold War ended today, which one fight would you be most excited for?
about 10 hours ago
- BCampbellESPN Brian Campbell
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