The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Cruiserweight

October 19, 2024

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Jai Opetaia (right) unloads a hook on Mairis Briedis – Photo by Mikey Williams,/Top Rank

The Presbytery first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. Almost a century later, it is no exaggeration to claim that these independent ratings are 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 will 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 to see what lies ahead.

Next up is cruiserweight (200 pounds), who lacks the all-around top-to-bottom talent he had several years ago, but is nonetheless a clear no. 1 and pretty solid top 10.

As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

CHAMPION – JAI OPETAIA

RECORD: 26-0 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: Opetaia was a top amateur in Australia and represented his country at the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games before turning pro in 2015. The 29-year-old southpaw claimed the national and OPBF cruiserweight titles. He got his big break when his team was able to bring The Ring and IBF titlist Mairis Briedis to Australia. It was an opportunity that Opetaia did not pass up. Boxing very well early on, he held off the Latvian’s late surge to claim a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision. However, the victory came at a price. He suffered a badly broken jaw and took 14 months to recover, but when he did he looked as good as ever taking out Jordan Thompson (TKO 4) and Ellis Zorro (KO 1). The IBF stripped him but he regained his old belt when he again defeated Briedis (UD 12) who took an early lead and halted the seasoned veteran’s recent rally. He beat Jack Massey (TKO 6) last weekend.

THE FUTURE: He will have undefeated, but wholly undeserved compulsory Huseyin Cinkara forced upon him following.

Glory to God. 26-0. #AND STILL #TeamOpetaia 🩸🇦🇺🇼🇸 pic.twitter.com/iNlLDjrkmy

— Jai Opetaia (@jaiopetaia1) 13 October 2024

No. 1 – CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH

RECORD: 20-1 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: Billam-Smith won his first nine fights before suffering defeat against fellow countryman Richard Riakporhe (SD 10). The Englishman recovered strongly and collected the Commonwealth title before claiming the British and European titles by beating Tommy McCarthy (SD 12). Due to the closeness of the first fight, they met in a rematch, and Billam-Smith left no doubt, stopping McCarthy in eight rounds. He followed that by defeating Isaac Chamberlain (UD 12) and then vacated the EBU title rather than go over old ground against Dylan Bregeon, who he had already defeated by a lopsided decision. The 34-year-old defeated Armend Xhoxhaj (KO 5) before claiming the WBO title by beating Okolie (MD 12) in an ugly fight. He has since retained that belt twice, first stopping teak-tough Mateusz Masternak (RTD 8) and most recently disarming the only man to beat him in Riakporhe (UD 12).

THE FUTURE: He will look to unify WBA counterpart Gilberto Ramirez in the main event of “Latino Night” in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 16.

No 2 – NOEL GEVOR MIKAELYAN

RECORD: 27-2 (12 KOs)

THE PAST: Mikaelyan is the stepson of former world title challenger Noel Gevor. He turned professional in 2011 and won several regional sanctioning bodies before dropping a close decision to Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (SD 12) and giving a good account of himself against Mairis Briedis (L UD 12). The 34-year-old Armenian-born fighter got back into the win column before dominating Youri Kalenga (UD 12) and then claiming the vacant WBC belt by stopping IIunga Makabu (TKO 3).

THE FUTURE: After seeing his mandatory Ryan Rozicki fall in two fights in Miami, he will now face him away from home in Sydney, Nova Scotia on December 7th.

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (right) lands a right hook against Arsen Goulamirian. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images)

No. 3 – GILBERTO RAMIREZ

RECORD: 46-1 (30 KOs)

THE PAST: Ramirez won the WBO super middleweight title by knocking out two-weight world champion Arthur Abraham (UD 12). “Zurdo” went on to make five successful saves, notably twice on Jesse Hart (UD 12/ MD 12). However, the stress of making 168 pounds forced him to vacate and move up in weight. Settled well with five wins, all inside the distance, including a pair of victories over experienced Cuban Sullivan Barrera (KO 4) and Yunieski Gonzalez (TKO 10) to become the WBA mandatory, but had his undefeated record against razor-sharp Dmitry Bivol ( UD 12). Since moving to cruiserweight, he has defeated Joe Smith Jr. (UD 10) and won the WBA title by beating Arsen Goulamirian (UD 12).

THE FUTURE: The Mexican will meet Billam-Smith on November 16.

A battle card you don’t want to miss 🔥🔥🔥#RiyadhSeasonLatinoNight | #ZurdoBillamSmith | November 16, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/zihFOmR2D2

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 2, 2024

Well. 4 – ALEXEI PAPIN

RECORD: 18-1 (17 KOs)

THE PAST: The former kickboxing champion switched to professional boxing in 2015. Papin impressively beat Ismail Sillakh (KO 1) and Alexandru Jur (KO 1). He was dropped in the final round, costing the Russian his undefeated record against future WBC titlist Makabu (MD 12). The 37-year-old has since won seven consecutive fights inside the distance, most notably against skilled but faded veteran Isaac Chilemba (KO 2) and Felix Valera (TKO 5).

THE FUTURE: May return in Russia in fall or early 2025.

No. 5 – RICHARD RIAKPORHE

RECORD: 17-1 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: The big hitting Englishman showed off his legendary power by stopping unbeaten Sam Hyde (TKO 8) and future European champion Tommy McCarthy (TKO 4). He beat domestic rival Billam-Smith (SD 12) and then beat Jack Massey (UD 12). After a nearly two-break, he returned with four wins in less than a year, most notably Deion Jumah (KO 8) and, most recently, Fabio Turchi (TKO 2). The 34-year-old stopped former titleholder Krzysztof Glowacki (TKO 4) but for reasons unknown decided to pull out of a purse to face Ring champion and IBF titleholder Opetaia. He stopped Dylan Bregeon (TKO 2) but was hugely disappointing losing to WBO titlist Billam-Smith (UD 12).

THE FUTURE: Quiet since the loss to Billam-Smith. He said he was tight at the weight, but I wonder if he will jump to bridge weight in search of a title.

No. 6 – ARSEN GOULAMIRIAN

RECORD: 27-1 (18 KOs)

THE PAST: The Armenian-born fighter settled in France and set foot in Europe early in his career. He won the French national title and then stopped Ryad Merhy (TKO 11) for the WBA “interim” title. He was subsequently upgraded to full champion, but his career has been plagued by inactivity with just two fights since 2019. He beat Aleksei Egorov (UD 12) in November 2022, but lost his title to Ramirez (UD 12) in March.

THE FUTURE: His team is working on a comeback for him soon.

Well. 7 – MICHAL CIESLAK

RECORD: 26-2 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: Cieslak turned professional in 2013. He won his first 19 fights before heading to Congo where he lost a spirited fight with WBC titlist IIunga Makabu (UD 12). After picking up two wins, he headed to England and was dropped en route to losing to WBO belt holder Lawrence Okolie (UD 12). The 35-year-old is on a five-fight streak that includes winning the European title. He had to vacate when injury prevented him from facing Isaac Chamberlain in June.

THE FUTURE: He has recovered and is now in line to fight for his old title against Leonardo Mosquea.

Michal Cieslak. Photo credit: Przemek Kaminski

No. 8 – RYAN ROSICKI

RECORD: 20-1 (19 KOs)

THE PAST: Rozicki has won 13 straight inside the distance. He was given the opportunity to take on the much bigger Oscar Rivas for the inaugural WBC flyweight title and showed plenty of heart but dropped a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision. He returned to cruiserweight and is on a seven-fight winning streak, although he looked lucky against tough Argentine fighter Yamil Peralta (SD 12), but is coming off a first-round stoppage over former title challenger Olanrewaju Durodola.

THE FUTURE: Rozicki will have home advantage against Mikaelyan when he challenges for the WBC title on December 7.

No. 9 – YAMIL PERALTA

RECORD: 17-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Peralta was a great amateur who represented his country at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and reached the quarter-final stage. He also fought at the 2015 World Championships, losing again in the quarterfinals. As a professional, he won his first 13 claimed WBC regional and South American titles. When the Argentinian fighter traveled to Canada, he lost a highly controversial fight with Ryan Rozicki (SD 10). He bounced back with four wins, the later coming when he beat Thabiso Mchunu (SD 10) in South Africa in March.

THE FUTURE: He has been waiting for a shot at the WBC title and must wait patiently for Mikaelyan and Rozicki to meet. Since it is taking longer than expected, he may choose to stay busy before the year is out.

No. 10 – CHEAVON CLARKE

RECORD: 10-0 (7 KOs)

THE PAST: Clarke was an outstanding amateur who represented his native Jamaica at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He switched to British nationality and won bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and also competed at the 2019 World Championships and 2020 (postponed to 2021) Olympics. He turned professional in early 2022 and moved quickly. The 33-year-old owns wins over the durable Vasil Ducar (UD 10), stopped former European titleholder Tommy McCarthy (TKO 4), claimed the British title by stopping Ellis Zorro (KO 8) and, most recently, waged war with Efetobar Apochi (MD 10).

THE FUTURE: If he takes some time off, he might return later this year or early next year as he aims for a world title.

On the Cusp: Efetobar Apochi, Yuniel Dorticos, Thabiso Mchunu, Jack Massey and Mateusz Masternak.

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