Ring Magazine Ratings

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

ABOUT THE RING MAGAZINE RATINGS:

 

The Ring's weekly ratings have been cited by boxing insiders as an essential tool in determining the best boxers in each class without the smoke and mirrors employed by the sport's sanctioning bodies. Fighters recognized as champions by The Ring are rated at the top of their division, with the top 10 contenders listed below. Championship vacancies can be filled in one of two ways: by unifying all three alphabet titles in a division; or by winning a box-off between The Ring's number-one and number-two contenders, or, in certain instances, a box-off between our number-one and number-three contenders. The only three occasions when a fighter will lose his championship status are when he retires, moves to another weight division, or is defeated in a championship bout

 

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Weight Unlimited

Champ: Vacant

 

1. VITALI KLITSCHKO

Ukraine 33-2 (32)

2. CHRIS BYRD

Flint, MI 37-2 (20)

3. CORRIE SANDERS

South Africa 39-2 (29)

4. ROY JONES

Pensacola, FL 49-1 (38)

5. JAMES TONEY

Ann Arbor, MI 67-4-2 (43)

6. DAVID TUA

New Zealand 42-3-1 (37)

7. JOHN RUIZ

Methuen, MA 39-5-1 (27)

8. WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

Ukraine 42-2 (39)

9. FRES OQUENDO

Puerto Rico 24-2 (15)

10. MIKE TYSON

Catskill, NY 50-4 (44)

 

CRUISERWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 200 pounds

Champ: Vacant

 

1. VASSILIY JIROV

Kazakhstan 33-1 (29)

2. WAYNE BRAITHWAITE

Guyana 20-0 (17)

3. JEAN-MARC MORMECK

France 29-2 (21)

4. JOHNNY NELSON

England 43-12-2 (28)

5. O'NEIL BELL

Atlanta, GA 22-1-1 (21)

6. EZRA SELLERS

Washington, D.C. 26-5 (24)

7. CARL THOMPSON

England 32-6 (24)

8. SEBASTIAN ROTHMAN

South Africa 17-2-2 (12)

9. VIRGIL HILL

Bismarck, ND 49-4 (23)

10. DALE BROWN

Canada 30-3-1 (20)

 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 175 pounds

Champ: ROY JONES

Pensacola, FL 49-1 (38)

 

1. ANTONIO TARVER

Orlando, FL 21-2 (17)

2. ZSOLT ERDEI

Hungary 19-0 (13)

3. GLENCOFFE JOHNSON

Miami, FL 40-9-2 (27)

4. JULIO GONZALEZ

Huntington Beach, CA 35-2 (22)

5. DARIUSZ MICHALCZEWSKI

Germany 48-1 (38)

6. ERIC HARDING

Philadelphia, PA 21-3-1 (7)

7. CLINTON WOODS

England 35-3-1 (21)

8. SILVIO BRANCO

Italy 49-6-2 (30)

9. MONTELL GRIFFIN

Chicago, IL 44-4 (29)

10. RICHARD HALL

Winter Haven, FL 27-4 (25)

 

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 168 pounds

Champ: Vacant

 

1. JOE CALZAGHE

Wales 36-0 (29)

2. SVEN OTTKE

Germany 33-0 (6)

3. ANTHONY MUNDINE

Australia 20-1 (15)

4. ANTWUN ECHOLS

Davenport, IA 29-5-1 (26)

5. DANNY GREEN

Australia 17-1 (17)

6. BYRON MITCHELL

Ozark, AL 25-3-1 (18)

7. MARKUS BEYER

Germany 28-1 (11)

8. CHARLES BREWER

Philadelphia, PA 40-9 (28)

9. MADS LARSEN

Denmark 45-2 (37)

10. ROBIN REID

England 36-4-1 (27)

 

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 160 pounds

Champ: BERNARD HOPKINS

Philadelphia, PA 43-2-1 (31)

 

1. HOWARD EASTMAN

England 39-1 (35)

2. ROBERT ALLEN

Atlanta, GA 36-4 (27)

3. RODNEY JONES

Lafayette, LA 31-3 (20)

4. WILLIAM JOPPY

Washington, D.C. 34-3-1 (25)

5. SERGEY TATEVOSYAN

Russia 19-4 (13)

6. JERMAIN TAYLOR

Little Rock, AK 19-0 (14)

7. EVANS OURE ASHIRA

Denmark 23-0 (13)

8. FELIX STURM

Germany 20-0 (9)

9. KINGSLEY IKEKE

Canada 18-1 (10)

10. RAYMOND JOVAL

Netherlands 32-2 (14)

 

JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 154 pounds

Champ: SHANE MOSLEY

Pomona, CA 39-2 (35)

 

1. OSCAR DE LA HOYA

Los Angeles, CA 36-3 (29)

2. WINKY WRIGHT

St. Petersburg, FL 46-3 (25)

3. FERNANDO VARGAS

Oxnard, CA 24-2 (22)

4. KASSIM OUMA

W. Palm Beach, FL 19-1-1 (13)

5. JAVIER CASTILLEJO

Spain 56-5 (38)

6. DANIEL SANTOS

Puerto Rico 27-2-1 (20)

7. VERNO PHILLIPS

Aurora, CO 36-9-1 (18)

8. TRAVIS SIMMS

Norwalk, CT 23-0 (18)

9. J.C. CANDELO

Colombia 27-6-3 (19)

10. BRONCO McKART

Monroe, MI 46-5 (30)

 

WELTERWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 147 pounds

Champ: CORY SPINKS

St. Louis, MO 32-2 (11)

 

1. RICARDO MAYORGA

Nicaragua 25-4-1 (22)

2. ANTONIO MARGARITO

Mexico 30-3 (21)

3. VERNON FORREST

Atlanta, GA 35-2 (26)

4. THOMAS DAMGAARD

Denmark 33-0 (26)

5. MICHELE PICCIRILLO

Italy 40-2 (25)

6. MANUEL GOMEZ

Mexico 25-10 (18)

7. TEDDY REID

Adelphi, MD 22-5-1 (16)

8. JAWAID KHALIQ

England 23-1-1 (13)

9. JOSE RIVERA

Worcester, MA 37-3-1 (24)

10. CARLOS BALDOMIR

Argentina 39-9-6 (11)

 

JR. WELTERWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 140 pounds

Champ: KOSTYA TSZYU

Australia 30-1 (24)

 

1. SHARMBA MITCHELL

Washington, D.C. 53-3 (30)

2. ZAB JUDAH

Brooklyn, NY 30-1 (22)

3. ARTURO GATTI

Jersey City, NJ 37-6 (28)

4. VIVIAN HARRIS

Brooklyn, NY 23-1-1 (16)

5. RICKY HATTON

England 34-0 (25)

6. DeMARCUS CORLEY

Washington, D.C. 28-2-1 (16)

7. OKTAY URKAL

Germany 34-1 (10)

8. LOVEMORE NDOU

Australia 36-6-1 (22)

9. MIGUEL COTTO

Puerto Rico 18-0 (15)

10. JUNIOR WITTER

England 27-1-2 (16)

 

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 135 pounds

Champ: FLOYD MAYWEATHER

Grand Rapids, MI 31-0 (21)

 

1. JUAN LAZCANO

El Paso, TX 33-2-1 (25)

2. JOSE LUIS CASTILLO

Mexico 49-6-1 (45)

3. STEVE JOHNSTON

Denver, CO 35-3-1 (17)

4. ACELINO FREITAS

Brazil 35-0 (31)

5. JAVIER JAUREGUI

Mexico 47-10-2 (34)

6. COURTNEY BURTON

Benton Harbor, MI 20-1 (11)

7. ARTUR GRIGORIAN

Uzbekistan 36-1 (22)

8. JULIEN LORCY

France 56-3-2 (41)

9. VICTORIANO SOSA

Dominican Republic 36-3-2 (26)

10. ALEX TRUJILLO

Puerto Rico 23-1 (17)

 

JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 130 pounds

Champ: Vacant

 

1. JOEL CASAMAYOR

Miami, FL 30-1 (19)

2. JESUS CHAVEZ

Mexico 40-2 (28)

3. CARLOS HERNANDEZ

Bellflower, CA 40-3-1 (24)

4. ERIK MORALES

Mexico 45-1 (34)

5. DIEGO CORRALES

Sacramento, CA 37-2 (31)

6. STEVE FORBES

Las Vegas, NV 23-2 (6)

7. YODSANAN NANTHACHAI

Thailand 42-2-1 (35)

8. JORGE BARRIOS

Argentina 40-2-1 (29)

9. ORLANDO SALIDO

Mexico 19-8-1 (12)

10. MIKE ANCHONDO

Los Angeles, CA 23-0 (18)

 

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 126 pounds

Champ: MANNY PACQUIAO

Philippines 38-2-1 (29)

1. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

Mexico 42-2 (33)

2. MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA

Mexico 57-4 (40)

3. SCOTT HARRISON

Scotland 20-2-1 (10)

4. MANUEL MEDINA

Mexico 62-14 (28)

5. JOHNNY TAPIA

Albuquerque, NM 53-3-2 (28)

6. DERRICK GAINER

Pensacola, FL 39-6-1 (24)

7. INJIN CHI

South Korea 27-2-1 (16)

8. MICHAEL BRODIE

England 35-1-1 (23)

9. WILLIAM ABELYAN

Glendale, CA 23-4-1 (12)

10. ROCKY JUAREZ

Houston, TX 19-0 (14)

 

JR. FEATHERWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 122 pounds

Champ: PAULIE AYALA

Ft. Worth, TX 35-2 (12)

1. OSCAR LARIOS

Mexico 50-3-1 (35)

2. MAHYAR MONSHIPOUR

France 24-2-2 (15)

3. JOSE LUIS VALBUENA

Venezuela 23-2-1 (13)

4. ISRAEL VAZQUEZ

Mexico 35-3 (26)

5. SALIM MEDJKOUNE

France 42-4-1 (21)

6. JOAN GUZMAN

Dominican Republic 20-0 (16)

7. OSAMU SATO

Japan 27-2-3 (16)

8. YODDAMRONG SITHYODTHONG

Thailand 35-1-1 (19)

9. NEDAL HUSSEIN

Australia 31-1 (18)

10. JORGE LACIERVA

Mexico 24-5-4 (16)

 

BANTAMWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 118 pounds

Champ: Vacant

 

1. RAFAEL MARQUEZ

Mexico 31-3 (28)

2. VEERAPOL SAHAPROM

Thailand 41-1-2 (29)

3. CRUZ CARBAJAL

Mexico 24-11-1 (20)

4. JOHNNY BREDAHL

Denmark 54-2 (26)

5. TOSHIAKI NISHIOKA

Japan 23-3-3 (14)

6. GENARO GARCIA

Mexico 30-4 (18)

7. SILENCE MABUZA

South Africa 15-0 (14)

8. HERIBERTO RUIZ

Mexico 28-2-2 (13)

9. RICARDO VARGAS

Mexico 36-9-3 (11)

10. MAURICIO MARTINEZ

Panama 23-5-1 (16)

 

JR. BANTAMWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 115 pounds

Champ: Vacant

 

1. MASAMORI TOKUYAMA

North Korea 30-2-1 (8)

2. ALEXANDER MUNOZ

Venezuela 25-0 (24)

3. MARK JOHNSON

Washington, D.C. 42-3 (27)

4. LUIS PEREZ

Nicaragua 22-1 (14)

5. FERNANDO MONTIEL

Mexico 27-1-1 (21)

6. MARTIN CASTILLO

Mexico 25-1 (15)

7. FELIX MACHADO

Venezuela 22-5-1 (11)

8. MAURICIO PASTRANA

Colombia 30-4-1 (20)

9. LUIS BOLANO

Colombia 38-0 (28)

10. JOSE NAVARRO

Los Angeles, CA 19-0 (7)

 

FLYWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 112 pounds

Champ: Vacant

 

1. PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM

Thailand 50-2 (26)

2. LORENZO PARRA

Venezuela 22-0 (17)

3. IRENE PACHECO

Colombia 28-0 (21)

4. ERIC MOREL

Madison, WI 33-1 (18)

5. MZUKISI SIKALI

South Africa 28-4-2 (17)

6. MALCOLM TUNACAO

Philippines 14-1-2 (10)

7. PETER CULSHAW

England 23-1-1 (12)

8. OMAR NARVAEZ

Argentina 15-0-2 (9)

9. VIC DARCHINYAN

Australia 20-0 (15)

10. BRAHIM ASLOUM

France 14-0 (6)

 

JR. FLYWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 108 pounds

Champ: ROSENDO ALVAREZ

Nicaragua 32-2-2 (21)

1. JORGE ARCE

Mexico 35-3-1 (26)

2. BEIBIS MENDOZA

Colombia 29-2 (23)

3. VICTOR BURGOS

Mexico 36-13-3 (21)

4. PICHIT SIRIWAT

Thailand 28-2 (13)

5. NELSON DIEPPA

Puerto Rico 19-2-2 (11)

6. MELCHOR COB-CASTRO

Mexico 66-9-4 (30)

7. MHIKIZA MYEKENI

South Africa 17-1 (6)

8. KERMIN GUARDIA

Colombia 35-2 (21)

9. YOSAM CHOI

South Korea 25-3 (14)

10. FAHLAN SAKKREERIN

Thailand 50-3-2 (20)

 

STRAWWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 105 pounds

Champ: Vacant

 

1. NOEL ARAMBULET

Venezuela 20-2-1 (10)

2. EAGLE AKAKURA

Japan 12-0 (5)

3. DANIEL REYES

Colombia 33-1-1 (28)

4. JOSE AGUIRRE

Mexico 30-2-1 (19)

5. YUTAKA NIIDA

Japan 15-1-3 (8)

6. JUAN LANDAETA

Venezuela 15-2 (13)

7. CHANA PORPAOIN

Thailand 50-2-2 (17)

8. KEITARO HOSHINO

Japan 23-10 (6)

9. ROBERTO LEYVA

Mexico 22-2-1 (19)

10. IVAN CALDERON

Puerto Rico 18-0 (3).

[MrRant 0]

Hmm... Roy Jones ranked #4.

[razazteca 0]

I did not know the weight classes went as low as 105.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Why does the Ring recognize Roy Jones Jr when the linear champion is Julio Gonzalez? (who beat Dariusz, who beat Virgil Hill, who beat Henry Maske)

 

because the bodies played BS and stripped Dariusz of his belts within months of his victory?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Because Julio Gonzalez is not the linear champion. Prior to Jones, the last undisputed champion was Michael Spinks. He relinquished the crown when he won the heavyweight title. So the three titles bounced around. Virgil Hill beat Henry Maske to unify TWO of the titles in 1996. Prior to that, Maske was only IBF champion, NOT the linear champion by any means of the imagination. Then Michalczewski beat Hill for the two titles. Ring Magazine recognizes Jones because he unified all three belts, and more importantly, he clearly established himself as the premier light heavyweight in the world. On top of that, Jones beat Julio Gonzalez a couple years ago.

 

And here's the kicker. Even if you follow your logic, Julio Gonzalez LOST last month to #2, Zsolt Erdei, via unanimous decision.

[NoCalMike 0]

dunno if anyone cares, but the trash talking between Vitali and Corrie Sanders has started. Corrie says he is gonna whack Vitali like he has never been whacked before, and Vitali said Lennox(who is Sanders's promoter now) is hiding behind Corrie Sanders because he knew he couldn't beat Vitali in a rematch.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Boxing promoting is run too much like wrestling promoting these days. I start paying attention when they get in the ring.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Oh yeah.. I did forget that Julio dropped the belt.

 

the reasoning i've heard that made Maske/Hill for the linear title is that there was no actual WBC LH champ at the time of that fight. RJJ was the interim champion though.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Fabrice Tiozzo was the WBC LH champion. Jones won the interim belt by beating Mike McCallum the day before.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Bronco McKart is STILL ranked?

 

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 126 pounds

Champ: MANNY PACQUIAO

Philippines 38-2-1 (29)

 

Here's one of my favorite guys in the world of boxing. What a firecracker. just INSANELY fast, he took it to Barerra and beat his ass, which I have NEVER seen done.

[Guest Choken One]

I still believe the Boxing World NEEDS to create an 8 Man Tournament for the Heavyweight title (V. Klitschko, Byrd, Sanders, Jones, Toney, Tua, Wladmir Klitschko and Tyson). America LOVES tournaments and it would be unique…and it would draw a lot of interest and make the title MEAN something for once.

[snuffbox 0]

Bronco McKart is STILL ranked?

 

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Weight Limit: 126 pounds

Champ: MANNY PACQUIAO

Philippines 38-2-1 (29)

 

Here's one of my favorite guys in the world of boxing. What a firecracker. just INSANELY fast, he took it to Barerra and beat his ass, which I have NEVER seen done.

...and he just signed a multimillion dollar deal with HBO. They signed him when he said he wanted to fight Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales next.

 

credit fightnews.com

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Excellent...

 

Morales should provide a nice heartfelt bloodbath. Marquez I'm not too familiar with.

[Vern Gagne 0]

By chance does anyone have an overall Top 10. Not by weight, but just overall?

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

ooooooh, p4p rankings. Those are pretty much totally subjective, though.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

By chance does anyone have an overall Top 10. Not by weight, but just overall?

 

THE RING MAGAZINE

TOP TEN POUND FOR POUND

1. Roy Jones, Jr.

2. Bernard Hopkins

3. Shane Mosley

4. Oscar De La Hoya

5. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

6. Manny Pacquiao

7. Kostya Tszyu

8. Erik Morales

9. James Toney

10. Antonio Tarver

Last Updated 2/19/04

 

 

USA TODAY

SUPER SIX FIGHTER RANKINGS

1. Roy Jones, Jr.

2. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

3. Bernard Hopkins

4. Kostya Tszyu

5. Shane Mosley

6. Oscar De La Hoya

Last Updated 2/13/04

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Looking at the upcoming schedule, we've got #1 Vitali Klitschko facing #3 Corrie Sanders on April 24th, for the undisputed heavyweight crown. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with this fight being for all the marbles, but its the best we've got at this point.

 

John Ruiz will face Fres Oquendo on April 17th for the WBA Heavyweight "Title". According to many onlookers, Oquendo deserved to win his last fight against Chris Byrd. Here's hoping Oquendo can finally put the Great White Dope firmly among the class of mediocre fighters where he belongs (yeah, Ruiz is latino, but Great White Dope sounds good).

 

We've got Bernard Hopkins facing Oscar De La Hoya for the World Middleweight Crown on September 18. Here's hoping for a Hopkins victory, and it would be a nice note to retire on, as Hopkins is 39. In any case, it should be a good fight.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Chris Byrd v Andrew Golota, likely April 17th.