Emanuel Navarrete nails Eduardo Baez during his final defense of the WBO featherweight title in August 2022. (Photo by Mikey Williams/ Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
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 to rate is democratically decided each week. It sounds easy, but it can be a laborious and time-consuming process.
I will go through each division in reverse order, working my way up from strawweight to heavyweight. I will look at each rated fighter’s respective achievements and look into my crystal ball to see what lies ahead.
Next up is junior featherweight (130 pounds), which is a division that has several excellent fighters, but will gain additional depth with the imminent arrival of a number of featherweights in the near future.
As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.
no 1 – EMANUEL NAVARRETE
RECORD: 38-2-1 (31 KOs)
THE PAST: Navarrete burst onto the scene to claim the WBO junior featherweight title at the expense of Isaac Dogboe (UD 12) in December 2018. The heavy-handed Mexican stopped Dogboe (TKO 12) in the first of five defenses before moving up in weight. The 29-year-old defeated previously unbeaten Ruben Villa (UD 12) to win the WBO title and went on to make three defences, most notably Joet Gonzalez (UD 12) before moving up in weight again. He came off the canvas to stop Liam Wilson (TKO 9) to claim the vacant WBO junior lightweight title and then defended it to a draw against Oscar Valdez (UD 12) and Robson Conceicao (D 12). He jumped to lightweight in an attempt to win the vacant WBO title, but was beaten by Ivan Baranchyk (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: Tab to reconsider Valdez on December 7th.
No. 2 – O’SHAQUIE FOSTER
RECORD: 22-3 (12 KOs)
THE PAST: Foster lost twice early in his career at lightweight to Samuel Teah (UD 8) and Rolando Chinea (SD 8). However, the 30-year-old Houston native has found his stride at 130 and is undefeated in 10 fights over the past seven years. During that span, Foster ruined the undefeated record of Jon Fernandez (UD 10), stopped former world title challenger Miguel Roman (KO 9) and dominated Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (UD 12). Those wins earned him a fight for the vacant WBC title against Rey Vargas and he put on a clinic to win a 12 round unanimous decision. He scored a thrilling last-round knockout over Eduardo Hernandez (TKO 12) in Mexico to retain the title and was then pinned by Abraham Nova (SD 12), but lost his belt in controversial fashion against Robson Conceicao (SD 12) lose.
THE FUTURE: He will get his rematch with Conceicao on November 2nd.
Conceicao (left) was the aggressor against Foster (right), but it was rarely effective. (Photo by Mikey WIliams Top Ranking)
No. 3 – OSCAR VALDEZ
RECORD: 32-2 (24 KOs)
THE PAST: Valdez was an outstanding amateur, appearing at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and winning bronze at the 2009 World Championships. The Mexican star claimed the vacant WBO featherweight title by knocking out Matias Rueda (TKO 2) in July 2016 and making six defenses. Notable wins came against Miguel Marriaga (UD 12) and Scott Quigg (UD 12) before moving up to 130. Valdez posted a career-best win when he knocked out Miguel Berchelt (KO 10) for the WBC title. The 33-year-old made one successful save and struggled to get past Robson Conceicao (UD 12) before losing to Stevenson (UD 12). An injury sidelined him for more than a year, and after defeating Adam Lopez (UD 10), he lost a shootout with Navarrete (UD 12). He looked pretty good though and beat Liam Wilson (TKO 7) on his return.
THE FUTURE: He will face Navarrete for the second time on December 7.
No. 4 – LAMONT ROACH JR.
RECORD: 25-1-1 (10 KOs)
THE PAST: After success in the amateur ranks domestically, the American turned his attention to professional boxing in 2014. He was held to a draw by former two-time world title challenger Orlando Cruz, but went on to earn a shot at then-WBO titlist Jamel Herring (L UD 12) in 2019. The 29-year-old recalibrated with four wins before beating Hector Luis Garcia (SD 12) for the WBA title. He has since defended it by beating Feargal McCrory (TKO 8).
THE FUTURE: Might try to make another optional defense or maybe have to face Albert Batyrgaziev in what looks a dangerous proposition.
No. 5 – ANTHONY CACACE
RECORD: 22-1 (8 KOs)
THE PAST: Cacace made his professional debut in 2012. After going 15 fights unbeaten, he lost a British and Commonwealth title fight to Martin J. Ward (UD 12). Two fights later he claimed the British title beating Sam Bowen (SD 12). After one defense, he won a thriller against Michael Magnesi (SD 12) and followed it up against Damian Wrzesinski (UD 12). However, the tall 35-year-old’s big opportunity came after a year off when he faced previously unbeaten IBF boss Joe Cordina in May. Cacace knew opportunities like this don’t come around that often, and he stunned Cordina with a stoppage in the eighth round.
THE FUTURE: The Irishman will meet former three-time featherweight titleholder Josh Warrington in London on September 21.
Anthony Cacace’s homecoming party 🥳
Congratulations to Ireland’s new champion! #CordinaCacace
pic.twitter.com/UBbAzabWGU— HotBoxingMinute (@HotBoxingMinute) May 20, 2024
No. 6 – JOE CORDINA
RECORD: 17-1 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Cordina had an extensive amateur career and competed in the 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships. The Welshman claimed gold at the 2015 European Championships and represented Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics before turning professional. Cordina captured Commonwealth and British lightweight titles before dropping down in weight. Came of age when he spectacularly knocked out IBF titleholder Kenichi Ogawa (KO 2). A hand injury meant the fierce 32-year-old was stripped of the title and returned after a few months to edge past the teak-tough Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (SD 12) to reclaim his old title. He battled past Edward Vazquez (MD 12) before weight issues caught up with him when he was surprisingly beaten by Cacace (TKO 8).
THE FUTURE: Armed with a new training team, Cordina will face seemingly insurmountable odds when he moves up to lightweight to face WBC reigning Shakur Stevenson in Riyadh on October 12.
no 7 – HECTOR LUIS GARCIA
RECORD: 16-2 (10 KOs)
THE PAST: The native of the Dominican Republic represented his country at the 2016 Olympics. Fought largely at home as a pro before upsetting popular Chris Colbert (UD 12) in Las Vegas. The 32-year-old southpaw defeated Roger Gutierrez (UD 12) to win the WBA title. He rolled the dice by moving up to lightweight where he lost to Gervonta Davis (TKO 9). He returned to 130 pounds to defend his title against Lamont Roach Jr. to defend, but a last-round knockdown cost him the fight, and he lost a 12-round split decision.
THE FUTURE: Needs to get back in the win column, may return later this year, but right now things are quiet.
Joe Cordina (right) lands a hard right on Edward Vazquez – Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
No. 8 – ROBSON CONCEICAO
RECORD: 19-2-1 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: The Brazilian competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics before winning gold at the 2016 Rio Games. Worked his way through the ranks as a professional, giving then WBC titlist Oscar Valdez fits before losing a controversial 12-round unanimous decision. He recovered strongly and took Xavier Martinez’s unbeaten record by a lopsided 10-round decision, but lost a second world title fight to then-WBC/WBO king Shakur Stevenson (UD 12). He got off the canvas twice to hold WBO titlist Emanuel Navarrete to a draw. He finally got over the hump when he won a world title at the fourth time of asking, edging past Foster (SD 12) to win the WBC title in controversial fashion.
THE FUTURE: The Brazilian will meet Foster in a rematch in November.
No. 9 – EDUARDO NUÑEZ
RECORD: 27-1 (27 KOs)
THE PAST: The Los Mochis native toiled in near anonymity in Mexico for several years, winning all but one of his fights – a loss to Hiram Gallardo (UD 6) – inside the distance with only three opponents getting past the sixth round. The 27-year-old puncher’s big breakthrough came when he went to Tajikistan and stopped Shavkatzhon Rakhimov (TKO 11) with the iron jaw. Knocked out and stopped faded but still serviceable former title challenger Miguel Marriaga (TKO 6) this weekend.
THE FUTURE: He is the IBF mandatory and will likely push for the Cacace-Warrington winner.
Sugar Nunez is a beast. It’s as simple as that 🤷♂️@IBFUSBAbox 🔜 pic.twitter.com/2WDwgfMga6
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 1, 2024
No. 10 – ALBERT BATYRGAZIEV
RECORD: 10-0 (7 KOs)
THE PAST: The extremely talented Dagestan-born fighter won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). Because of his amateur credentials and background, he was able to move quickly and beat the likes of former WBA champion Jezreel Corrales (TKO 9) and previously undefeated Francis Frometa (UD 10) and Ender Luces (KO 5). More recently, he captured the WBA title by beating Jono Carroll (TKO 9) to win an interim title.
THE FUTURE: As the WBA interim titleholder, he will have designs on Roach for the full title. Whether it is next or not remains to be seen.
On the Cusp: Albert Bell, Andrew Cortes, Edward Hernandez, Mark Magsayo and Masanori Rikishi.
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 Checked 2024: Junior Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Checked 2024: Junior Featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at (email protected).
