Ring Ratings Update: A September to remember

The month of September featured Ring champions, titleholders, surging contenders and scorching prospects in vital bouts that resulted in a variety of modifications to the divisional rankings.

The pound-for-pound high 10 was unaffected, though spectacular performances from Ring champions Canelo Alvarez and Kenshiro Teraji prompted the Ring Scores Panel to contemplate their placement among the many elites. Nonetheless, they determined that Alvarez’s close to shutout over Jermell Charlo didn’t advantage an advance from his No. 4 spot and Teraji’s ninth-round stoppage of Hekkie Budler was not sufficient to permit the Japanese veteran to crack the legendary high 10.

Different standouts through the month embrace cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia, heavyweight banger Zhilei Zhang, junior bantamweight titleholder Junto Nakatani, tremendous middleweight contender Christian Mbilli, light-weight buzzsaw William Zepeda, middleweight veteran Chris Eubank Jr. and beforehand unrated junior welterweight Richardson Hitchins, who crashed the rankings with a 10-round resolution over Jose Zepeda.

Learn on to see the place they – and lots of others – rank inside their weight courses.

RING RATINGS UPDATE (as of Sept. 30)

POUND-FOR-POUND – Oleksandr Usyk, who defended the unified Ring Journal heavyweight championship in opposition to Daniel Dubois, stays at No. 3. Canelo Alvarez stays at No. 4.

HEAVYWEIGHT – Usyk stays champ. Anthony Joshua stays at No. 3 following a seventh-round KO of late-substitute Robert Helenius. Zhilei Zhang stays at No. 4 after a repeat stoppage of Joe Joyce (KO 3), who drops to No. 8. Filip Hrgovic stays at No. 9 after a Twelfth-round stoppage of Demsey McKean. Dillian Whyte, who had been scheduled to face Joshua, exits as a result of his newest PED optimistic take a look at, which made room for Jared Anderson to enter at No. 10. Andy Ruiz and Luis Ortiz exited as a result of inactivity, which made room for Frank Sanchez and Martin Bakole to enter at Nos. 9 and 10 (pushing Anderson to No. 7 together with Joyce’s fall). Sanchez stays at No. 9 following a four-round stoppage of Scott Alexander. Nonetheless, Otto Wallin changed Bakole at No. 10 on the power of his cut up nod over Murat Gassiev. 

Zhilei Zhang’s left arms softened Joe Joyce up however the precise hook ended issues. Picture / @Queensberry

CRUISERWEIGHT – Jai Opetaia stays champion.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT – Anthony Yarde stays at No. 5 following a second-round stoppage of Jorge Silva. Oleksandr Gvozdyk stays at No. 8 after a second-round KO of Isaac Rodrigues.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT – Alvarez stays champion. Christian Mbilli advances to No. 2 following a four-round KO of Demond Nicholson.

MIDDLEWEIGHT – Chris Eubank Jr. advances to No. 6 following his Tenth-round stoppage of Liam Smith, who drops to No. 10. Elijah Garcia advances to No. 8 following his eighth-round stoppage of Jose Resendiz. 

“Eubank Jr. gained revenge with a complete Tenth-round stoppage over Liam Smith,” famous Anson Wainwright. “Transfer Eubank Jr. to No. 6 (it was spectacular and dominant however I don’t wish to go too excessive due to what occurred within the first battle) and Smith to drop to No. 10. Undecided if he’ll battle at 160 once more.”

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT – Erickson Lubin stays at No. 5 following a controversial resolution over Jesus Ramos, who advances to No. 6 regardless of the official loss.

Given the disputed nature of Lubin’s resolution victory, Wainwright proposed holding the contenders the place they had been ranked earlier than their battle (Lubin at No. 5 and Ramos at No. 7). “Or preserve Lubin at No. 5 and transfer Ramos to No. 6?”

Adam Abramowitz and Diego Morilla favored advancing Ramos to No. 6. Abraham Gonzalez was high-quality with leaving them the place they had been.

Erickson Lubin shocked Jesus Ramos (Picture by Esther Lin/Showtime).

Tom Grey had a extra passionate opinion.

“We must always cross a rule the place the ‘official’ loser of a battle can go above the winner when the judges have embarrassed themselves. That call was a shame and Ramos was the higher fighter arms down. Us placing Lubin above Ramos makes us a part of the issue.

“I haven’t come throughout one single one who thinks Lubin deserved that call. Put your self in Ramos’ footwear and picture that occuring to you.”

Replied Abramowitz: “I had Ramos profitable shut. I did see a couple of on my timeline who had Lubin, however that was clearly not a majority opinion. I’ve no difficulty with the 115-113 card for Lubin. I didn’t like the opposite two playing cards. They had been dangerous playing cards however I’d not name it a theft in that I believe I might see a situation the place Lubin might have eked it out.”

Added Daisuke Sugiura: “I used to be within the enviornment and comparatively near the ring and I additionally thought 7-5 Lubin was attainable. I’ve to admit that I misplaced my curiosity within the battle after a couple of rounds (none of them deserved to win, to be sincere) however watching casually I assumed Lubin swept the ultimate 4-5 rounds, and I would be capable of discover 1 or 2 rounds to provide Lublin within the first 7 rounds too. Sure two of three playing cards had been dangerous however not ‘theft’ in my ebook. 

The underside line is that I wasn’t impressed by Ramos – or Lublin. It occurs typically with a aggressive matchup on paper. I’d preserve them the place they’re.” 

Added Tris Dixon: “I used to be there and I didn’t have it a theft. Sure, I felt Ramos edged it, however I didn’t rating for him strolling Lubin to the ropes after which doing nothing. 

“Ramos must be extra mad at himself than the officers.”

WELTERWEIGHT – Mario Barrios enters at No. 9 after scoring a lopsided resolution over former titleholder Yordenis Ugas.

Mario Barrios has his hand raised after upsetting Yordenis Ugas on the Canelo-Charlo undercard. Picture by German Villasenor

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT – Richardson Hitchins enters at No. 5 after outpointing Jose Zepeda, who exits the rankings. Gary Antuanne Russell stays at No. 8 following a first-round stoppage of Kent Cruz. Kenneth Sims Jr. (20-2-1, 7 KOs) enters at No. 10. 

LIGHTWEIGHT – William Zepeda advances to No. 6 following his brutal sixth-round stoppage of veteran Mercito Gesta.

“Zepeda is a nightmare for guys, continuous strain,” stated Wainwright. “Transfer him up one place. Jamaine Ortiz received a 10-round unanimous resolution over Antonio Moran. Ortiz is within the 11-15 vary, if – and this can be a large if – he can get to 135.”

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT – Emanuel Navarrete enters at No. 1 following his thrilling resolution over Oscar Valdez, who drops to No. 4. Otar Eranosyan (14-0, 7 KOs) enters at No. 8. Albert Bell stays at No. 10 after a fifth-round stoppage of Presco Carcosia.

FEATHERWEIGHT – Luis Alberto Lopez stays No. 1 following a hard-fought resolution over powerful Joet Gonzalez. Ruben Villa stays at No. 10 after an eight-round resolution over rugged Brandon Valdes.

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT – Elijah Pierce (18-2, 15 KOs) enters at No. 9 following a third-round KO of former contender Mike Plania.

BANTAMWEIGHT – Emmanuel Rodriguez regained the IBF title and superior to No. 2 following a shutout resolution over Melvin Lopez. Vincent Astrolabio advances to No. 5 after an Eleventh-round stoppage of Nawaphon Kaikanha. Ryosuke Nishida advances to No. 8 after a choice over Christian Medina Jimenez.

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT – Junto Nakatani stays at No. 3 (and WBO titleholder) after a choice over former title challenger Argi Cortes. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai stays at No. 7 following a third-round TKO of Anan Pongkhet. David Cuellar stays at No. 9 after a third-round stoppage of Marlon Rios Sarinana.

Junto Nakatani landed his finest photographs in opposition to powerful Argi Cortes, who suffered three knockdowns however lasted the 12-round distance. Picture by Naoki Fukuda

FLYWEIGHT – Cristofer Rosales stays at No. 9 following a second-round TKO of Abraham Medina.

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT – Kenshiro Teraji stays champ following his ninth-round stoppage of former champ Hekkie Budler, who drops to No. 3. Shokichi Iwata remained at No. 8 after his sixth-round stoppage of Jayson Brillo, however was changed by Miel Fajardo, who scored a first-round stoppage of John Paul Gabunilas.

STRAWWEIGHT – Wanheng Menayothin exits as a result of inactivity. Oscar Collazo stays WBA titleholder and at No. 3 following his sixth-round stoppage of Garen Diagan. Jake Amparo (14-4-1, 3 KOs) enters at No. 10 following a aggressive resolution over unbeaten prospect Goki Kobayashi. 

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