Naoya Inoue (right) hits around Tapales’ high guard. Photo by Naoki Fukuda
The Presbytery first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. Almost a century later, it is no exaggeration to claim that this independent ranking is the most respected and discussed in world boxing.
The Ring rating panel consists of a dozen experts from around the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place and the final decision on who should be assigned where is democratically decided each week. It sounds easy, but it can be a laborious and time-consuming process.
I go through each division in reverse order, working my way up from strawweight to heavyweight. I will then look at each rated fighter’s respective achievements and look into my crystal ball at what may lie ahead.
Next up is junior featherweight (122 pounds), which has a very dominant Ring champion in Naoya Inoue.
As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.
CHAMPION – NAOYA INOUE
RECORD: 27-0 (24 KOs)
THE PAST: Inoue destroyed every fighter they put in front of him en route to claiming world titles at 108, 115, 118 and 122 pounds. The Japanese “Monster” lived up to his name by destroying the likes of Omar Narvaez (KO 2), Jamie McDonnell (TKO 1), Juan Carlos Payano (KO 1) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (KO 2). However, it is his victories over the four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire that earned Inoue great praise. He battered Donaire (UD 12) in an instant classic that was later named 2019 Fight of the Year by The Ring, stopping him in the second round of their rematch. The 31-year-old became the undisputed bantamweight champion when he dominated Paul Butler, stopping the Brit in 11 one-sided rounds. With nothing left to conquer at 118, Inoue decided to move up in weight and looked as impressive as ever, defeating Stephen Fulton (TKO 8), the consensus no. titles on his growing list of accolades. He claimed the vacant Ring junior featherweight championship and the IBF/WBA titles against Marlon Tapales (KO 10) to become undisputed champion. Inoue came off the floor for the first time in his career to knock out former two-weight world champion Luis Nery (TKO 6) in front of a huge crowd of 40,000+ in his final bout.
THE FUTURE: Inoue will face TJ Doheny on September 3 at the Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan.
Next game announced
Tuesday September 3 Ariake Arena
World Super Bantamweight Four Tag Team Title Defense Match
Naoya Inoue vs TJ Doheny#InoueDoheny#Lemino pic.twitter.com/FWms5qg0Cx— Naoya Inoue (@naoyainoue_410) July 16, 2024
No. 1 – STEPHEN FULTON
RECORD: 21-1 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: Fulton worked his way to title contention by besting former titleholder Paulus Ambunda (UD 12). He also stopped previously undefeated Mexican Isaac Avelar (KO 6) and used his skills to tame another undefeated opponent in Arnold Khegai (UD 12). The slick boxing skills of the Philadelphia native helped him beat Angelo Leo (UD 12) to claim the WBO title, and he added the WBC title by defeating Brandon Figueroa (MD 12) in a unification bout. He shined when he defended his titles against former titlist Daniel Roman (UD 12). However, the 30-year-old American lost his undefeated record and titles to Inoue (TKO 8).
THE FUTURE: Fulton will return for the first time since losing to Inoue 14 months ago when he moves up to featherweight to take on Carlos Castro on the undercard of Canelo-Edgar Berlanga on September 14.
As. 2 – BROWN TAPALES
RECORD: 38-4 (20 KOs)
THE PAST: Tapales worked his way up through the ranks in the Philippines before narrowly losing to David Sanchez (MD 12) in Mexico. He bounced back to upset undefeated Shohei Omari (TKO 2) in a WBO bantamweight title eliminator in Japan. He went to Thailand and got off the canvas twice to stop Pungluang Sor Singyu (TKO 11) to win the WBO 118-pound title. In his first defense, Tapales returned to Japan to face Omari in a rematch. Although he missed weight and was stripped of his title, he was able to stop Omari in the 11th round. More than a year of inactivity followed, but Tapales bounced back with two wins before losing to Ryosuke Iwasa (TKO 11) in an IBF 122-pound title eliminator. He bounced back with three wins, including an impressive stoppage over Hiroaki Teshigawara (TKO 2) in an IBF eliminator. He pulled off an upset over IBF/WBA titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev by winning a 12-round split decision, but lost his belts to Inoue (KO 10). He returned with an easy win over Nattapong Jankaew (KO 1).
THE FUTURE: Tapales will face the uncapped Saurabh Kumar in Cambodia in a bid to stay active on September 7.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev (left) takes it to Ronny Rios during their IBF/WBA 122-pound title fight at Tech Port Arena, in San Antonio, Texas – Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing
No. 3 – MURODJON AKHMADALIEV
RECORD: 12-1 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Akhmadaliev was a standout amateur, winning bronze at the 2016 Olympics before transitioning seamlessly to the pros. The dynamic Uzbekistan southpaw upset the more experienced Daniel Roman (SD 12) early in 2020 to become the IBF/WBA 122-pound titleholder, in just his eighth professional fight. The 29-year-old Uzbek has made three successful defenses, including a submission against former IBF titlist Ryosuke Iwasa (TKO 5) and a stoppage over Ronny Rios (TKO 12). However, he lost his titles in controversial fashion to Tapales (SD 12) and had to try to bounce back by defeating Kevin Gonzalez (TKO 8).
THE FUTURE: He would love to have a fight with the Ring champion Inoue, but it may not be next and he may have to stay busy in the meantime.
No. 4 – SAM GOODMAN
RECORD: 19-0 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: Goodman worked his way through the domestic scene in Australia before claiming regional belts, notably Richie Mepranum (TKO 6) and Juan Miguel Elorde (TKO 8). However, the 25-year-old came out on top when he bested former titlist TJ Doheny (UD 10) and took out previously unbeaten Ra’eese Aleem (SD 12) in an IBF title eliminator. He has since maintained his position with four wins over mediocre opposition.
THE FUTURE: He broke his left hand against previously undefeated Chainoi Worawut last month and is on the mend. He hopes that healing in time will seal a deal to face Inoue if the Monster beats Doheny next month, as he is favored to do.
No. 5 – LUIS NERY
RECORD: 35-2 (27 KOs)
THE PAST: Nery moved through the bantamweight ranks and became the WBC mandatory challenger for Shinsuke Yamanaka. The Mexican puncher traveled to Japan and shocked the long-reigning champion with a brutal fourth-round stoppage. However, in the aftermath, Nery was stripped of The Ring Championship he had won for taking a banned substance (zilpaterol). The WBC continued to recognize Nery, but then stripped him for not making weight for the rematch. Quite the pariah, Nery defeated Yamanaka by second-round stoppage, but received little credit. The now 29-year-old eventually moved up to win the vacant WBC 122-pound title by defeating Aaron Alameda (UD 12), but lost it to Brandon Figueroa (KO 7) in his first defense. Nery won four fights, including Ring Fight of the Year against Azat Hovhannisyan (KO 11). He managed to drop Ring champion Inoue, but was later stopped in six rounds.
THE FUTURE: Still deciding on his next move which could lead him to 126 pounds in search of a third world title in as many weight classes.
No. 6 – LIAM DAVIES
RECORD: 16-0 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: The 28-year-old Brit caught the eye winning British, European and WBC regional titles. He has impressed with wins over Ionut Baluta (UD 12), Jason Cunningham (TKO 1) and, most recently, Erick Robles (TKO 2). Davies was due to face Shabaz Masoud last month but withdrew due to illness.
THE FUTURE: Will probably rearrange the fight with Masoud sometime in the last quarter of the year.
After his recent illness, @Liamdavies_2 can’t wait to get his hands on it @ShabazMasoud
pic.twitter.com/mXAKQuLA2K
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) July 12, 2024
No. 7 – TJ DOHENY
RECORD: 26-4 (20 KOs)
THE PAST: The Irish-born Australian resident turned professional in April 2012. Doheny won his first 12 and started fighting in America for a while. When his opportunity presented itself, he went to Japan and upset Ryosuke Iwasa (UD 12) for the IBF title. After one defense, he attempted to unify with then-WBA reigning champion Danny Roman, but lost a 12-round majority decision. Doheny seemed to fall into the gatekeeper role as he lost three of his next five fights against Ionut Baluta (UD 8), Michael Conlan (UD 12) and Sam Goodman (UD 10). However, the 37-year-old veteran is on a three-fight winning streak, which has breathed new life into his career with upset wins over Kazuki Nakajima (TKO 4) and Japhethlee Llamido (TKO 1).
THE FUTURE: Doheny will face Inoue for The Ring 122-pound championship on Sept. 3.
No. 8 – ALAN PICASSO
RECORD: 29-0-1 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: Picasso turned professional at 16 in 2017. He made the necessary strides early in his career, scoring wins over Sabelo Ngebinyana (TKO 6) to claim a WBC regional title, Erick Ruiz (UD 10) on his US debut earlier this year win, and he followed by stopping Damien Vazquez (TKO 5) on the undercard of Canelo-Jaime Munguia. Most recently, he defeated experienced former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan (UD 12). The 23-year-old majored in neuroscience at university but is currently focused on his boxing career.
THE FUTURE: Fresh off a career-best win. It will be interesting to see what his promoter Zanfer does with him next.
Luis Nery (left) gets Azat Hovhannisyan (right) at Fox Theater on February 18, 2023 in Pomona, California – Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Golden Boy Promotions via Getty Images
No. 9 – ELIJAH PIERCE
RECORD: 19-2 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: Much of the tall southpaw’s early career was not helped by fighting significantly above his natural weight, which is how he suffered defeats to Giovanni Cabrera (UD 10) and Sulaiman Segawa (MD 8). However, after a change in management, he has worked his way up in weight and is on a 10-fight winning streak that includes an impressive points win over Tramaine Williams (UD 10), a one-punch knockout over Mike Plania (KO 3) and, most recently , stopped Arthur Villanueva (TKO 4).
THE FUTURE: The 27-year-old American will face Jose Sanmartin on Saturday in Atlanta.
No. 10 – RAMON CARDENAS
RECORD: 26-1 (14 KOs)
THE PAST: Cardenas turned professional in 2015 as a teenager. His career was somewhat of a slow burn. He won his first 12 fights before being upset by Danny Flores (MD 10). Since then, the now 28-year-old San Antonio native has remained undefeated against the likes of faded former IBF junior bantamweight titleholder Rodrigo Guerrero (RTD 2), previously undefeated Rafael Pedroza (KO 2) and this year he has Israel Rodriguez (RTD 6) and Jesus Ramirez (KO 9).
THE FUTURE: His last two wins have come on ProBox, so perhaps his next fight will be on the same platform as he looks to move towards a world title.
On the Cusp: Sebastian Hernandez, Dennis McCann, Bryan Mercado, Tito Sanchez and Toshiki Shimomachi.
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 Checked 2024: Junior Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Checked 2024: Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Review 2024: Junior bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at (email protected).
