Kenshiro Teraji (right) in his rematch with Masamichi Yabuki. (Photo by Naoki Fukuda)
Ring first introduced its phase measurements in 1925. Almost a century later, it is no exaggeration to say that these independent ranks are the most respected and talked about in world boxing.
The Ring Ratings Panel is made up of twelve experts from around the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the final decision of who should be placed on the spot is decided democratically every week. It sounds simple, but this can be a difficult and time-consuming process.
Here I’ll be going through each division backwards and moving up from strawweight to heavyweight and looking at each fighter’s relative success and looking in my crystal ball to see what might be next.
After a busy first half of 2024 to consolidate another classification.
Next is the junior flyweight (108 pounds), which has caused both Ring, WBC and WBA ruler Kenshiro Teraji and his WBO partner Jonathan Gonzalez to vacate their titles (although they were suspended until they were officially drafted at flyweight) leaving this division in a state of flux. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.
SURE – KENSHIRO TERAJI
RECORD: 23-1 (14 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: Teraji won the Japanese and OPBF titles in eight fights. Soon after, “Wonder Boy” rose to the world rankings and claimed the WBC title, in May 2017, defeating Ganigan Lopez (MD 12). Teraji improved dramatically with the world title, making eight defenses against the likes of Lopez (KO 2), Milan Melindo (TKO 7), Jonathan Taconing (TKO 4) and Randy Petalcorin (TKO 4). However, overconfidence saw him bounce back from COVID-19 too quickly and lose his unbeaten record and title to Masamichi Yabuki (TKO 10) in September 2021. Much to his credit, Teraji, now 32, once again showed his class and more. I’ve never seen before by blasting Yabuki (KO 3) to regain the title. He then elevated his game and earned a career-best knockout win over undefeated Hiroto Kyoguchi (TKO 7) to claim The Ring and WBA titles. He has stopped late Anthony Olascuaga (TKO 9), Hekkie Budler (TKO 9) and, most recently, knocked out Carlos Canizales (MD 12).
FUTURE: Teraji is headed to flyweight where he could face Cristofer Rosales for the vacant WBC title in Japan in October.
Number 1 – JONATHAN GONZALEZ
RECORD: 28-3-1 (14 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: Gonzalez was an outstanding novice who claimed three national titles and gold at the Central American & Caribbean Games and the World Youth Championships. He turned pro in 2011 amid high expectations in Puerto Rico. After winning his first 13 fights, he was unstoppable against the struggling former world champion Giovani Segura (KO 4). After righting the ship, he was surprisingly beaten by Jobert Alvarez (TKO 6). The 33-year-old southpaw was stopped by Kosei Tanaka in his attempt to win the WBO 108-pound title and it looked like he might not reach his level until he shocked Elwin Soto (SD 12). He made two defenses, impressively defeating rising Japanese fighter Shokichi Iwata (UD 12) but then saw the planned unification against Teraji fall apart at the 11th hour due to a bout with mycoplasma. That leads to a 16-month suspension before returning in March against Rene Santiago (UD 12).
FUTURE: Gonzalez vacated his WBO title and will have the opportunity to fight for the WBO flyweight belt Anthony Olascuaga who may be in Japan in October in the same match as Teraji-Rosales.
No. 2 – SIVENATHI AND TSHINGA
RECORD: 13-1 (10 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: The South African player won the country’s title in his fifth fight. The 25-year-old defeated compatriot Siyabonga Siyo (TKO 9) and tough Filipino Ivan Soriano (KO 5). Nontshinga held on after being knocked down in the final round against Christian Araneta (UD 12) in the IBF final. He knocked out Hector Flores (SD 12) to take the vacant IBF title in Mexico and retained his title by outboxing Regie Suganob (UD 12). He surprisingly lost his title to Adrian Curiel (KO 2) but bounced back with a straight fight to come from behind to stop the Mexican in 10 rounds to regain his title.
FUTURE: He will likely face his obligatory Masamichi Yabuki next.
Adrian Curiel (left) and Sivenathi Nontshinga (right) in their IBF title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico – Photo by Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
No. 3 – ADRIAN CURIEL
RECORD: 24-6-1 (5 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: Curiel became champion in 2016. The Mexican won his first 11 fights before withdrawing from a highly contested fight with future IBF strawweight champion Daniel Valladares (UD 10). After returning to winning ways he was knocked out by rookie Sergio Meija (MD 6). “Gatito” fought but was unsuccessful against the undefeated Joselito Velazquez (UD 10) and future world title challenger Cristian Gonzalez (MD 10). The 25-year-old has won seven of his eight bouts, the only blemish coming in a draw to fight IBF-ranked Sivenathi Nontshinga, who suffered a stunning upset in the second round. He lost his second straight stoppage in 10 rounds and, most recently, lost to Sunny Edwards (Tech Dec. 9).
FUTURE: After losing his last two, he needs to get back into the win column.
Number 4 – ELWIN SOTO
RECORD: 21-3 (13 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: Soto emerged as a WBO title contender under Angel Acosta (KO 12). The 27-year-old Mexican made three successful defenses, notably beating Edward Heno (UD 12) and Katsunari Takayama (TKO 9) before losing his title to Gonzalez (SD 12). “La Pulga” had a good home when he fought Hekkie Budler who was in charge of two divisions (L UD 12) but lost. He has since defeated Brian Mosinos (SD 10) and Jose Armenta (UD 10).
FUTURE: Soto injured his left hand in sparring and had to undergo surgery. He returned to training in the second week of July with the hope of returning to the field later this year.
No. 5 – CARLOS CANIZALES
RECORD: 26-2-1 (19 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: The talented Venezuelan started to attract attention when he left his home country to face WBA title holder Ryoichi Taguchi (D 12). He returned home and won three times before traveling overseas and making a name for himself in Asia defeating Reiya Konisha (UD 12), Bin Lu (TKO 12) and Sho Kimura (UD 12). The 31-year-old was surprisingly stopped by unheralded Esteban Bermudez (TKO 6) but bounced back with four wins, stopping former WBC champion Ganigan Lopez (KO 4) and a WBA qualifier against Daniel Matellon (TD 8). He gave Teraji everything he could handle but ended up losing his Ring/WBA/WBC title challenge via a 12 round majority decision. He is back with a win.
FUTURE: Tabbed to face Petchmanee CP Freshmart for the vacant WBC 108-pound title.
No. 6 – YABUKI MASAMICHI
RECORD: 16-4 (15 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: Yabuki had a rough start to his professional career, losing three of his first 10 fights. He has been beaten by Junto Nakatani (UD 4) who has won the WBA flyweight title, Seigo Yuri Akui (TKO 1) and the talented Cuban Daniel Matellon (SD 8). The 32-year-old striker won three fights before winning the national title. As an outsider he upset Teraji (TKO 10) but was forced out in three rounds in a straight rematch. Since then, he has scored impressive victories over Thanongsak Simsri (TKO 7) and Ronald Chacon (TKO 11). He tore his Achilles tendon and spent 14 months on the sidelines before beating Kevin Vivas (TKO 4) in March.
FUTURE: He will be hoping to become a two-time world champion when he challenges Nontshinga for the IBF title later this year.
Carlos Cañizales (left) fights through gruesome injury to defeat Daniel Matellon (left) – Photo by Nelson Quispe – Boxeo de Primera
No. 7 – SHOKICHI IWATA
RECORD: 13-1 (10 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: Iwata, who holds ateur victories over Takuma Inoue and Kosei Tanaka, turned pro in America in December 2018. The 28-year-old has won the Japanese and OPBF titles in just nine fights. Iwata beat Toshimasa Ouchi (UD 8) before knocking him out in one round. He gained valuable experience by defeating former world title challenger Kenichi Horikawa (UD 12). He lost against the brilliant Puerto Rican Jonathan Gonzalez (UD 12) for the WBO title but has returned with four fights, including stopping former strawweight champion Rene Mark Cuarto (TKO 6) and, most recently, Jahzeel Trinidad (TKO 6). .
FUTURE: He could face Jairo Noriega for the vacant WBO title in Japan in October.
No. 8 – CHRISTIAN ARANETA
RECORD: 24-2 (19 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: Araneta has been the champion since 2013 and won his first 17 fights at home in the Philippines. The 29-year-old southpaw suffered his first loss in the IBF against Daniel Valladares (RTD 4) in Mexico. After winning twice, he lost in a close battle with Nontshinga (UD 12) in another final, this time in South Africa. He has won five fights as, most recently, he stopped Arvin Magmo (TKO 1).
FUTURE: He is the 1st in the IBF, and he will be looking for another shot at Nontshinga.
No. 9 – THANONGSAK SIMSRI
RECORD: 35-1 (32 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: The hard-hitting Thai went through his first 24 opponents before coming up short against Yabuki (TKO 7). The 24-year-old bounced back to defeat upset Miel Fajardo (UD 12) for the OPBF title. He recently defended his regional title by stopping John Paul Gabunilas (TKO 5).
FUTURE: He is ranked in the top 5 by the IBF and WBO and will continue to look at what opportunities exist once the vacancies in three of the four judging centers are closed.
No. 10 – REGIE SUGANOB
RECORD: 15-1 (5 KOs)
PREVIOUSLY: The Filipino scored victories over fellow heavyweights Jake Amparo (UD 8), Jerome Baloro (UD 10) and Mark Vicelles (TD 8) to claim the IBF title. He had to leave his home country and go to South Africa to face Nontshinga and was selected in 12 rounds. The 26-year-old has already won twice and looks ready to take his place again.
FUTURE: I am hoping for a second world title fight and it seems he is looking at the winner of Iwata-Noriega, who will fight for the vacant WBO title.
On the Cusp: Miel Fajardo, Jairo Noriega, Erick Rosa, Kyosuke Takami and Jayson Vayson
YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Ring Ratings Updated 2024: Pound For Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Ring Ratings Updated 2024: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected].
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