The Ring first introduced divisional classifications in 1925. Nearly a century later, it would be no exaggeration to say that these independent rankings are the most respected and most talked about in the boxing world.

The Ring Ratings Panel is comprised of a dozen or so experts from around the world. Opinions are exchanged, debates are held, and the final decision on who should be ranked is made democratically every week. It sounds basic, but it can be a tedious and time-consuming process.

In this article, I’ll be going through each division in reverse order, moving from strawweight to heavyweight. I’ll be looking at each fighter’s accomplishments and looking into my crystal ball to predict what lies ahead.

After a busy first half of 2024, it’s time to put together the next division split.

Next up is the junior flyweight (108lbs), which saw both Ring, WBC and WBA Kenshiro Teraji and WBO equivalent Jonathan Gonzalez vacate their titles (although they remain on the books until they officially fight at flyweight), leaving the division in a state of uncertainty. As always, enjoy the debate and respect the opinions of others.

CHAMPION – KENSHIRO TERAJI

RECORD: 23-1 (14 KOs)

PAST: Teraji won the Japanese and OPBF titles in eight fights. “The Amazing Boy” burst onto the world stage shortly after, winning the WBC title in May 2017 by defeating Ganigan Lopez (MD 12). Teraji improved immensely after winning the world title, defending it eight times against the likes of Lopez (KO 2), Milan Melindo (TKO 7), Jonathan Taconing (TKO 4), and Randy Petalcorin (TKO 4). However, overconfidence caused him to come back from COVID-19 too quickly, and he lost his undefeated record and title to Masamichi Yabuki (TKO 10) in September 2021. To his credit, the 32-year-old Teraji doubled down and showed his class and an extra edge we hadn’t seen before, quickly dispatching Yabuki (KO 3) to regain his title. He then picked up the pace again with a career-best win over previously undefeated Hiroto Kyoguchi (TKO 7), winning The Ring and WBA titles. Since then, he has stopped the rematched Anthony Olascuaga (TKO 9), Hekki Budler (TKO 9) and most recently defeated Carlos Canizales (MD 12).

FUTURE: Teraji is moving up to flyweight, where he will likely face Cristofer Rosales for the vacant WBC title in Japan in October.

No. 1 – JONATHAN GONZALEZ

RECORD: 28-3-1 (14 KOs)

PAST: Gonzalez was a standout amateur who won three national titles, as well as gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Junior World Championships. He turned pro in 2011 amidst great expectations in Puerto Rico. After winning his first 13 fights, he fell miniature against the aggressive former world champion Giovani Segura (KO 4). After righting the ship, he was unexpectedly defeated by Jobert Alvarez (TKO 6). The 33-year-old, agile left-hander, was stopped by Kosei Tanaka while trying to win the WBO 108-pound title and looked like he would never reach his potential until he shocked Elwin Soto (SD 12). He defended twice, impressively defeating rising Japanese fighter Shokichi Iwata (UD 12), but then saw a planned unification bout against Teraji fall apart at the last minute due to a mycoplasma attack. This led to a 16-month layoff before returning in March to face Rene Santiago (UD 12).

FUTURE: Gonzalez is vacating his WBO title and will fight recently named Anthony Olascuaga for the WBO flyweight title, likely in October in Japan on the same card as Teraji-Rosales.

NO. 2 – SIVENATHI AND TSHINGA

RECORD: 13-1 (10 KOs)

PAST: The South African won the national title in his fifth fight. The 25-year-old defeated fellow countryman Siyabonga Siyo (TKO 9) and tough Filipino Ivan Soriano (KO 5). Nontshinga held on after being knocked down in the final round by Christian Araneta (UD 12) in an IBF eliminator. He defeated Hector Flores (SD 12) to win the vacant IBF title in Mexico and defended his title by defeating Regie Suganoba (UD 12). He surprisingly lost the title to Adrian Curiel (KO 2) but made up for lost time in the direct rematch and stopped the Mexican in 10 rounds to regain the title.

FUTURE: He will likely next face mandatory opponent Masamichi Yabuki.

No. 3 – ADRIAN CURIEL

RECORD: 24-6-1 (5 KOs)

PAST: Curiel turned pro in 2016. The Mexican won his first 11 fights before losing a close fight to future IBF strawweight champion Daniel Valladares (UD 10). After getting back on track, he was overtaken by newcomer Sergio Meija (MD 6). “Gatito” kept fighting but was unable to defeat then-unbeaten Joselito Velazquez (UD 10) and future world title challenger Cristian Gonzalez (MD 10). The 25-year-old has bounced back nicely, winning seven of eight, with his only blemish being a technical draw that allowed him to fight IBF champion Sivenathi Nontshinga, whom he knocked out in the second round. He lost a direct rematch when he was stopped in 10 rounds, and most recently lost to Bright Edwards (Tech on December 9).

FUTURE: After losing their last two matches, they need to get back on track.

NO. 4 – ELWIN SOTO

RECORD: 21-3 (13 KOs)

PAST: Soto came out of nowhere to win the WBO title from Angel Acosta (KO 12). The 27-year-old Mexican defended his title three times, most notably defeating Edward Heno (UD 12) and Katsunari Takayama (TKO 9), before losing the title to Gonzalez (SD 12). “La Pulga” had home field advantage when he fought former two-division champion Hekkie Budler (L UD 12), but was outdone. Since then, he has defeated Brian Mosinos (SD 10) and Jose Armenta (UD 10).

FUTURE: Soto injured his left hand during sparring and had to undergo surgery. He returned to training the second week of July with hopes of returning to action by the end of the year.

No. 5 – CARLOS CANIZALES

RECORD: 26-2-1 (19 KOs)

PAST: The talented Venezuelan first caught the eye when he left his homeland to face WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi (D 12). He returned home and racked up three wins before heading overseas again and making a name for himself in Asia, defeating Reiya Konisha (UD 12), Bin Lu (TKO 12) and Sho Kimura (UD 12). The 31-year-old was unexpectedly stopped by an unheralded Esteban Bermudez (TKO 6), but returned with four wins, most notably stopping faded former WBC champion Ganigan Lopez (KO 4) and a WBA eliminator against Daniel Matellon (TD 8). He gave Teraji everything he had, but ultimately lost his Ring/WBA/WBC title fight via a 12-round majority decision. He has since returned with a win.

FUTURE: A fight is scheduled against Petchmanee CP Freshmart for the vacant WBC 108-pound title.

No. 6 – MASAMICHI YABUKI

RECORD: 16-4 (15 KOs)

PAST: Yabuki had a rocky start to his pro career, losing three of his first 10 fights. He was defeated by future three-weight champion Junto Nakatani (UD 4), current WBA flyweight titleholder Seigo Yuri Akui (TKO 1) and talented Cuban Daniel Matellon (SD 8). The 32-year-old power puncher won three fights before winning the national title. As an underdog, he defeated Teraji (TKO 10) but was soundly defeated in three rounds in a direct rematch. Since then, he has had impressive victories over Thanongsak Simsri (TKO 7) and Ronald Chacon (TKO 11). He tore his Achilles tendon and spent 14 months on the sidelines before defeating Kevin Vivas (TKO 4) in March.

FUTURE: He will be hoping to become a two-time world champion when he faces Nottingham for the IBF title later this year.

No. 7 – SHOKICHI IWATA

RECORD: 13-1 (10 KOs)

PAST: Iwata, who has amateur wins over Takuma Inoue and Kosei Tanaka, turned professional in America in December 2018. The 28-year-old has won Japanese and OPBF titles in just nine fights. Iwata defeated Toshimasa Ouchi (UD 8) before crushing him in a single round in a rematch. He gained invaluable experience by defeating former world title challenger Kenichi Horikawa (UD 12). He lost to the wily Puerto Rican Jonathan Gonzalez (UD 12) in a WBO title fight, but has returned with four wins, including stopping former strawweight champion Rene Marc Cuarto (TKO 6) and most recently Jahzeel Trinidad (TKO 6).

FUTURE: He could face Jairo Noriega for the vacant WBO title in Japan in October.

No. 8 – CHRISTIAN ARANETA

RECORD: 24-2 (19 knockouts)

PAST: Araneta has been a professional since 2013 and has won his first 17 fights back home in the Philippines. The 29-year-old left-hander lost his first IBF eliminator to Daniel Valladares (RTD 4) in Mexico. After two wins, he lost a close fight to Nontshinga (UD 12) in another eliminator, this time in South Africa. He has won five fights since then, most recently defeating Arvin Magramo (TKO 1).

FUTURE: He is number one in the IBF, so he will fight for another fight in Nottingham.

NO. 9 – FOREVER SIMSRI

RECORD: 35-1 (32 KOs)

PAST: The hard-hitting Thai defeated his first 24 opponents before coming up miniature against Yabuki (TKO 7). The 24-year-old returned to winning ways with a win over Miel Fajardo (UD 12) to win the OPBF title. He recently defended his regional title by stopping John Paul Gabunilas (TKO 5).

FUTURE: He is ranked in the top five of the IBF and WBO rankings and his ambition will be to continue to develop and seek opportunities once vacancies are filled in three of the four sanctioning bodies.

No. 10 – SUGANOB REGION

RECORD: 15-1 (5 KOs)

PAST: The Filipino picked up wins over compatriots Jake Amparo (UD 8), Jerome Baloro (UD 10) and Marc Vicelles (TD 8) to earn a shot at the IBF title. He had to leave his homeland for South Africa to face Nontshinga and was defeated on points in 12 rounds. The 26-year-old has since won twice and looks ready to get going again.

FUTURE: We are hoping for a second world title fight and are clearly considering the winner of the Iwata-Noriega fight to fight for the vacant WBO title.

At the bend: Miel Fajardo, Jairo Noriega, Erick Rosa, Kyosuke Takami and Jayson Vayson

YOU MAY MISS:

The Ring 2024 Ratings: Pound for Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring 2024 Ratings: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

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