The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Lightweight
09/05/2024 11:21 AM
The Ring first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. Almost a century later, it's no exaggeration to claim that these independent ratings are the most respected and talked-about in world boxing.
The Ring Ratings Panel is made up of a dozen experts from around the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the final decision on who should be ranked where is decided democratically every week. It sounds easy, but this can be an arduous and time-consuming process.
I will be going through each division in reverse order and work my way up from strawweight to heavyweight. I will then look at each rated fighter's respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what may lay ahead.
Next up is lightweight (135-pounds), which is one of the strongest divisions in boxing, stacked with stars and with an excellent supporting cast. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.
No. 1 – GERVONTA DAVIS
RECORD: 30-0 (28 KOs)
THE PAST: Davis dominated his opposition on the way up before impressively ripping the IBF 130-pound title from Jose Pedraza (TKO 7). Since then, his star has risen and he is one of the most popular attractions in America, regularly selling out arenas across the country. The 29-year-old power-punching southpaw owns a highlight-reel knockout over Leo Santa Cruz (KO 6) and showed that his vaunted power carries up in weight by coming on strong to stop the much larger future WBC welterweight titlist Mario Barrios (TKO 11) at 140 pounds. "Tank" also won when not at his best against Isaac Cruz (UD 12), took care of Rolando Romero (TKO 6), WBA 130-pound titlist Hector Luis Garcia (TKO 9), shone against Ryan Garcia (KO 7) and, most recently, stopped Frank Martin (KO 8).
THE FUTURE: He is likely to return in November though who will be in the opposite corner isn’t known as yet.
Target acquired, Target down. #TankMartin#TheOnepic.twitter.com/jVfcTnu9C9
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) June 18, 2024
No. 2 – VASILIY LOMACHENKO
RECORD: 18-3 (12 KOs)
THE PAST: The supremely gifted Ukrainian southpaw was one of the most decorated amateurs ever, claiming Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016. An early setback to Orlando Salido (SD 12), in his second professional outing, was followed by a rapid ascent. Loma claimed the vacant WBO featherweight title at the expense of Gary Russell Jr. (MD 12) and he has won further titles at 130 and 135. He owns solid victories over Roman Martinez (KO 5), Nicholas Walters (RTD 7), Guillermo Rigondeaux (RTD 6) and Jorge Linares (TKO 10). He lost to Teofimo Lopez (UD 12) but has bounced back with comprehensive wins over Masayoshi Nakatani (TKO 9) and Richard Commey (UD 12). In the eyes of most he did enough to beat Devin Haney (UD 12) but the three people whose opinion mattered most saw the American as the winner. The 36-year-old returned and won the vacant IBF title with a dominant display against George Kambosos Jr. (TKO 11) in Australia.
THE FUTURE: He had been in talks to face Davis but ultimately decided against it and will sit out the rest of the year.
No. 3 – WILLIAM ZEPEDA
RECORD: 31-0 (27 KOs)
THE PAST: The hard-hitting Mexican southpaw punching machine won his first 20 fights in Mexico before signing with Golden Boy Promotions. Since then, the 28-year-old has continued to impress, notably bludgeoning previously unbeaten Hector Tanajara (RTD 6) into defeat. He then gained quality rounds with seasoned veteran Rene Alvarado (UD 10), further legitimized himself scoring a dominant win over former 130-pound titlist Joseph Diaz (UD 12), as well as Mercito Gesta (KO 6), Maxi Hughes (RTD 4) and, most recently, Giovanni Cabrera (KO 3).
THE FUTURE: Tabbed to face Stevenson if the precociously talented American beats Joe Cordina.
No. 4 – SHAKUR STEVENSON
RECORD: 22-0 (10 KOs)
THE PAST: The 2016 Olympic silver medalist adapted to the professional game and his star quickly ascended. Stevenson shut down the previously unbeaten Joet Gonzalez (UD 12) to claim the vacant WBO featherweight title. He immediately moved up to 130 pounds and was awarded The Ring Performance of the Year for dominating and stopping WBO titlist Jamel Herring (TKO 10). He added The Ring championship and WBC title by outclassing the previously unbeaten Oscar Valdez (UD 12). He missed weight against Robson Conceicao (UD 12) and lost his titles on the scales. The 27-year-old southpaw elected to head to 135 pounds where he was punch-perfect against Shuichiro Yoshino (TKO 6). However, he failed to impress when he won the WBC title against Edwin De Los Santos (UD 12) and defended it against Artem Harutyunyan (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: He’ll embark on the next chapter of his career under the Matchroom banner when he defends his WBC belt against former IBF junior lightweight titlist Joe Cordina in Riyadh on October 12.
Just met with my brother @ShakurStevenson. I have given him the nickname Shakur 'Outlaw' Stevenson…
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) August 12, 2024
I'm waiting for someone to respond that I'm bad for boxing pic.twitter.com/GzRhRiAwYA
No. 5 – DENYS BERINCHYK
RECORD: 19-0 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Berinchyk was a part of the 2012 Ukrainian boxing dream team that also featured Oleksandr Usyk, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko. Berinchyk won silver and then turned professional. However, while his illustrious countrymen quickly gained acclaim he was forced to take a slower path. He picked up the European title on the undercard of Usyk-Joshua by beating Yvan Mendy (UD 12) and successfully defended it against Anthony Yigit (UD 12). The 36-year-old, who has actively fought for Ukraine in their ongoing war against Russia, finally got his big chance and went to San Diego where he defeated Emanuel Navarrete (UD 12) for the vacant WBO title in May.
THE FUTURE: Currently on the frontline helping his country. Whether he fights again this year is up in the air.
No. 6 – RAYMOND MURATALLA
RECORD: 21-0 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: Muratalla turned professional in September 2016. After winning his first three fights in Mexico, the California native moved through the ranks. He holds wins over Jeremy Hill (KO 3), Jair Valtierra (UD 8), and Humberto Galindo (KO 9). He stepped up against Jeremiah Nakathila and showed he was ready for the opportunity stopping the Namibian in two rounds. He took Diego Torres' unbeaten record by eighth-round stoppage and has since followed up with wins over Xolisani Ndongeni (UD 10) and tricky former junior lightweight titlist Tevin Farmer (UD 10).
THE FUTURE: He has said he’d like to face Berinchyk, which could be next.
No. 7 – KEYSHAWN DAVIS
RECORD: 11-0 (7 KOs)
THE PAST: Davis was a decorated amateur claiming silver at the 2019 Pan-Am games, World Championships and 2020 Olympics losing in the final to Andy Cruz each time. He turned professional in February 2021. Since then he has moved quickly and caught the eye with wins over Anthony Yigit (TKO 9), former two-division titleholder Jose Pedraza (TKO 6) and, most recently, Miguel Madueño (UD 10).
THE FUTURE: He will headline at home against once-beaten Gustavo Lemos on November 8.
No. 8 – FRANK MARTIN
RECORD: 18-1 (12 KOs)
THE PAST: He won his first 11 fights and started working with then-unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. and his trainer Derrick James. The leg-up has benefited Martin, who has gone from strength to strength, taking the unbeaten record of Jerry Perez (KO 7), stopping one-time contender Romero Duno (TKO 4) and Jackson Marinez (TKO 10). He was hugely impressive dominating Michel Rivera (UD 12) in a matchup of unbeaten prospects. The 29-year-old southpaw had a harder time than expected and had to come on late to edge out Artem Harutyunyan (UD 12). He was the WBC mandatory but ultimately walked away from a fight with Stevenson and ended up facing WBA ruler Davis (KO by 8) in an in-house PBC fight in June.
THE FUTURE: Still licking his wounds from the Davis loss but could look to return late this year or early next year.
No. 9 – MARK CHAMBERLAIN
RECORD: 16-0 (12 KOs)
THE PAST: Chamberlain turned professional in 2018 with Frank Warren’s Queensberry and moved through the ranks. He notably impressed Turki Alalshikh, who has said Chamberlain is his favorite fighter. This year, the power-puncher has made the most of the opportunities afforded to him scoring early stoppage wins over Gavin Gwynne (TKO 4) and Joshua Wahab (TKO 1).
THE FUTURE: The Brit will appear on the huge Riyadh Season show at Wembley against Josh Padley on September 21.
War ready @markyboy118#RiyadhSeasonCard: Wembley Edition #JoshuaDubois | Sep 21 | Live on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 | @Turki_alalshikhpic.twitter.com/RAsTeG14XX
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 3, 2024
No. 10 – ANDY CRUZ
RECORD: 4-0 (2 KOs)
THE PAST: The Cuban was one of the best amateurs in recent history. He claimed gold at the 2020 Olympics, won gold at the 2017, 2019 and 2021 World Championships as well as a slew of other gold medals at various tournaments. He holds a 4-0 edge over Davis from their time in the unpaid ranks. The 29-year-old decided to make the transition and jumped to the pros in July 2023. Since then, he has moved quickly and most recently caught the eye stopping seasoned Antonio Moran (TKO 7) in his most recent outing.
THE FUTURE: Could return in December.
On the Cusp: Zaur Abdullaev, Edwin De Los Santos, George Kambosos Jr., Gustavo Lemos and Sam Noakes.
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Pound for Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior lightweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk.
The post The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Lightweight appeared first on The Ring.
