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Boxer Rankings Without Weight Classes: How Far Has ‘Bam’ Rodriguez Climbed?

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6 months ago

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The juvenile fighter has been making waves over the past few years, taking over various weight classes and rising through the ranks. And with a performance against future Hall of Famer Juan Francisco Estrada on June 29th, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez earned high marks from our expert panel.

Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) dominated Estrada en route to a seventh-round KO victory to capture the WBC junior bantamweight title. Rodriguez is only 24 years ancient, but has already won titles in two weight classes. He is also ESPN’s top under-25 fighter.

Rodriguez’s win over Estrada was impressive and prompted most of our panelists to move him higher on their P4P lists.

“Bam” Rodriguez has quickly become an elite mandatory. He doesn’t just outbox his opponents; he dismantles them at the highest level,” ESPN boxing writer Mike Coppinger said of Rodriguez’s move up three spots to No. 5 on his list. “The latest illustration of his greatness: the way he dismantled Estrada. Rodriguez joins the likes of Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, Canelo Alvarez and Naoya Inoue as all-around contenders who are favorites no matter who they fight.”

ESPN boxing analyst Timothy Bradley Jr. agrees, saying Rodriguez’s skill set, versatility and performances against top fighters in his weight class make him a must-watch fighter on TV.

“Bam” Rodriguez is arguably one of the top five boxers in the world, regardless of weight class,” said Bradley, who ranked Rodriguez No. 5 on his list. “Greatness is measured by consistency in bringing out the best in you, and “Bam” has certainly proven that.”

Rodriguez moved up two spots to No. 7.

Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez also won their fights, but both had to go the distance against opponents they were favorites to beat. Stevenson was -3,500 against Artem Harutyunyan, whom he defeated by unanimous decision on July 6. Lopez entered his June 29 fight with Steve Claggett as a -1,200 favorite. He also won by unanimous decision, but neither Stevenson nor Lopez were able to score a knockdown or cause any real trouble for their opponents.

They occupy the last two places and close the top ten.

Our panel of Coppinger, Bradley, Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas, Nick Parkinson, Eric Raskin, Michelle Joy Phelps, Claudia Trejos, Bernardo Osuna, Crystina Poncher, Eric Woodyard, Bernardo Pilatti, Charles Moynihan, Salvador Rodriguez, Jim Zirolli, Michael Mascaro, Aladdin Freeman, Victor Lopez, and Damian Delgado Averhoff shared their votes.

1. OLEKSANDR USYKPrevious Ranking: No. 1

RECORD: 22-0, 14 KO
DEPARTMENT: Heavyweight (Undisputed Champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (SD12) Tyson Fury, May 18
NEXT FIGHT: December 21st vs Tyson Fury

2. TERENCE CRAWFORDPrevious Ranking: No. 2

RECORD: 40-0, 31 KO
DEPARTMENT: Welterweight (unified champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Errol Spence Jr., July 29
NEXT FIGHT: August 3 vs. Israil Madrimov

3. INOUE NAOYAPrevious Ranking: No. 3

RECORD: 27-0, 24 KO
DEPARTMENT: Junior featherweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (KO6) Luis Nery, May 6
NEXT FIGHT: TBA vs. TJ Doheny

4. DMITRY BIVOLPrevious Ranking: No. 4

RECORD: 23-0, 12 KO
DEPARTMENT: Featherlight Heavyweight (Champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (TKO6) Malik Zinad, June 1
NEXT FIGHT: Oct. 12 vs. Artur Beterbiew

5. CANELO ALVAREZPrevious Ranking: No. 5

RECORD: 61-2-2, 39 KO
DEPARTMENT: Super Middleweight (Undisputed Champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (UD12) Jaime Munguia, May 4
NEXT FIGHT: To determine

6. ARTHUR BETERBIEWPrevious Ranking: No. 6

RECORD: 20-0, 20 KO
DEPARTMENT: Featherlight Heavyweight (Unified Champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Callum Smith, January 13
NEXT FIGHT: October 12 vs. Dmitry Bivol

7. JESSE “BAM” RODRIGUEZPrevious Ranking: No. 9

RECORD: 20-0, 13 KO
DEPARTMENT: Junior bantam (champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (KO7) Juan Francisco Estrada, June 29
NEXT FIGHT: To determine

8. GERVONTA DAVISPrevious Ranking: No. 7

RECORD: 30-0, 28 KO
DEPARTMENT: Lightweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (KO8) Frank Martin, June 15
NEXT FIGHT: To determine

9. SHAKUR STEVENSONPrevious Ranking: No. 8

RECORD: 22-0, 10 KO
DEPARTMENT: Lightweight (champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (UD12) Artem Harutyunyan, July 6
NEXT FIGHT: To determine

10. TEOFIMO LOPEZPrevious Ranking: No. 10

RECORD: 21-1, 13 KO
DEPARTMENT: Junior Welterweight (Champion)
LAST FIGHT: In (UD12) Steve Claggett, June 29th
NEXT FIGHT: To determine

Formula

The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first place vote awarding 10 points, a second place vote awarding 9 points, etc. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest rank wins, followed by the player with the most votes at that rank.

Others receiving votes: Vasiliy Lomachenko (10), Tyson Fury (9), David Benavidez (6), Junto Nakatani (4), Errol Spence Jr. (2), Devin Haney (1).

How our writers voted

Atlas: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Buffalo, 5. Davis, 6. Lomachenko, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Alvarez, 9. Fury, 10. Rodriguez

Bradley: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3: Inoue, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Rodriguez, 6. Davis, 7. Buffalo, 8. Alvarez, 9. Lopez, 10. Stevenson

Copper: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Alvarez, 5. Rodriguez, 6. Buffalo, 7. Davis, 8. Beterbiev, 9. Nakatani, 10. Hanej

Weaver: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Buffalo, 6. Stevenson, 7. Alvarez, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Lopez, 10. Davis

Parkinson’s: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Lomachenko, 9. Davis, 10. Nakatani

Raskin: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Davis, 8. Stevenson, 9. Beterbiev, 10. Benavides

Punch: 1. Crawford, 2. Usyk, 3. Inoue, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Davis, 9. Stevenson, 10. Lopez

Osuna: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Stevenson, 9. Davis, 10. Lopez

Phelps: 1. Usyk, 2. Alvarez, 3. Inoue, 4. Crawford, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Buffalo, 7. Fury, 8. Lopez, 9. Davis, 10. Stevenson

Rodriguez: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Davis, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Beterbiev, 9. Stevenson, 10. Lopez

Three: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Davis, 8. Stevenson, 9. Rodriguez, 10. Lopez

Wood composition: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Davis, 6. Lopez, 7. Stevenson, 8. Buffalo, 9. Beterbiev, 10. Fury

Moynihan: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Alvarez, 5. Beterbiev, 6. Buffalo, 7. Davis, 8. Stevenson, 9. Spence, 10. Benavides

Pilate: 1. Usyk, 2. Inoue, 3. Crawford, 4. Buffalo, 5. Davis, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Beterbiev, 8. Benavides, 9. Lomachenko, 10. Fury

Zirolli: 1. Usyk, 2. Crawford, 3. Inoue, 4. Stevenson, 5. Alvarez, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Buffalo, 8. Rodriguez, 9. Lopez, 10. Benavides

Hood: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Rodriguez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Beterbiev, 7. Alvarez, 8. Lopez, 9. Davis, 10. Stevenson

Citizen: 1. Crawford, 2. Inoue, 3. Usyk, 4. Beterbiev, 5. Buffalo, 6. Alvarez, 7. Rodriguez, 8. Davis, 9. Stevenson, 10. Nakatani

Lopez: 1. Crawford, 2. Usyk, 3. Inoue, 4. Alvarez, 5. Buffalo, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Davis, 8. Beterbiev, 9. Stevenson, 10. Lopez

Delgado Averhof: 1. Inoue, 2. Usyk, 3. Crawford, 4. Buffalo, 5. Alvarez, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Davis, 8. Beterbiev, 9. Stevenson, 10. Fury

ESPN Expert Poll

First place: Usyk (12) Crawford (6), Inoue (1)

Second place: Inoue (8), Crawford (7), Usyk (3), Alvarez (1)

Third place: Inoue (10), Crawford (5), Usyk (4)

Fourth place: Alvarez (7), Bivol (6), Beterbiev (3), Crawford (1), Rodriguez (1), Stevenson (1)

Fifth place: Bivol (6), Alvarez (5), Beterbiev (3), Davis (3), Rodriguez (2)

Sixth place: Rodriguez (6), Bivol (4), Beterbiev (3), Davis (2), Alvarez (1), Stevenson (1), Lopez (1), Lomachenko (1)

Seventh place: Davis (6), Beterbiev (4), Rodriguez (3), Bivol (2), Alvarez (2), Stevenson (1), Fury (1)

Eighth place: Beterbiev (4), Stevenson (4), Alvarez (2), Rodriguez (2), Davis (2), Lopez (2), Bivol (1), Lomachenko (1), Benavidez (1)

Ninth place: Stevenson (5), Davis (4), Lopez (3), Beterbiev (2), Rodriguez (1), Lomachenko (1), Fury (1), Nakatani (1), Spence (1)

10th place: Lopez (5), Stevenson (3), Fury (3), Benavidez (3), Nakatani (2), Rodriguez (1), Davis (1), Haney (1)

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Boxing

Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

Published

2 days ago

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January 13, 2025

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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Boxing

Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years

Published

3 days ago

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January 12, 2025

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Floyd Mayweather 50-0

Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.

This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.

In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.

“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.

“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.

Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.

Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.

Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.

However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.

In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.

It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.

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Boxing

Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios

Published

1 week ago

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January 6, 2025

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Manny Pacquiao vs Barrios

WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.

Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”

WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.

Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.

As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.

However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.

Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.

Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.

Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.

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