Teofimo Lopez flexes on the dimensions throughout the weigh in forward of his Ring Journal/WBO junior welterweight championship battle in opposition to Josh Taylor.
Many Ring-rated fighters have been in motion throughout the previous three weeks (Could 27-June 10), producing a number of highlights, together with Teofimo Lopez’s upset victory over reigning Ring Journal junior welterweight champ Josh Taylor, a fight-of-the-year candidate waged by Jaime Munguia and Sergey Derevyanchenko at tremendous middleweight, and a critical shakeup of the featherweight rankings.
And, sadly, extra top-level fighters exited resulting from inactivity.
However first, let’s have a look at the optimistic modifications beginning with the place to rank Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs), who scored a unanimous resolution over the chances and media favourite. He received the Ring Journal 140-pound title (together with the WBO belt), so he robotically superior from No. 9 to the highest of the junior welterweight rankings.
There was some debate as to the place Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs), who owns wins over Nos. 1 and a pair of contenders Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez. Some panelists imagine the Scotsman has declined to a degree the place he ought to fall beneath Prograis regardless of his 2019 victory.
“On present kind in his final two fights, Taylor is nowhere close to one of the best man at 140,” mentioned Adam Abramowitz. “I’m an enormous resume man, however Taylor simply hasn’t regarded like the identical man. The sharpness is gone. The depth isn’t there. He’s getting beat to the punches. His reflexes aren’t what they have been. And I’m somebody who had Taylor edging Catterall.
“Taylor did beat Prograis in a detailed battle, however Prograis has maintained his degree and even improved on it in a masterful efficiency in opposition to Zepeda. Taylor has slipped, noticeably.
“I’d go Lopez C, Prograis 1, Taylor 2.”
Anson Wainwright, Tom Grey and Diego Morilla favored Taylor at No. 1.
“Taylor has wins over Regis and Jose,” mentioned Grey. “You’ll get sturdy arguments that he’s dipped since then, however these wins have been respectable throughout a outstanding run.”
Added Wainwright: “My considering behind Taylor at No. 1 is partly on his wins over Prograis and Ramirez. I get the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately argument but additionally let’s let Regis battle this weekend and see how he seems to be. I do know (Danielito) Zorrilla isn’t Ring ranked but when he seems to be actually good it makes extra sense. I’m an even bigger fan of letting a fighter earn it.”
Nearly all of the panel voted in favor of Lopez re-entering the pound-for-pound rankings. There was one vote for Juan Francisco Estrada to re-enter at No. 10 (Abramowitz), however everybody else who weighed in on the dialogue thought Lopez, who was a unified Ring champ at light-weight, ought to come again in at both No. 9 or 10.
This weekend of June 2-4 was a quiet one for males’s boxing as pound-for-pound queen Claressa Shields took heart stage in Detroit, defending the undisputed middleweight championship in opposition to Maricela Cornejo.
Nonetheless, whereas the Ring-rated males took a break, Wainwright took a have a look at those that had been on break for too lengthy. The senior Ring Rankings panelist observed that two high contenders – Brian Castano and Yordenis Ugas – have been out of the ring for greater than a yr.
Castano, who was No. 2 within the junior middleweight rankings, had been stopped by Jermell Charlo within the tenth spherical of their rematch for the undisputed championship final Could. The rugged Argentine hasn’t fought since and doesn’t have a battle scheduled.
Ugas, who was No. 4 within the welterweight rankings, was stopped by Errol Spence within the tenth spherical of their title-unification bout final April. The Cuban veteran has not fought since and doesn’t have a battle scheduled.
It must be famous that Charlo, who has not fought for the reason that Castano rematch, stays the 154-pound champion as a result of The Ring’s championship coverage permits 18 months of inactivity for Ring titleholders. Nonetheless, the Houston native was dropped from the pound-for-pound rankings three weeks in the past, which was not properly acquired by some members of the Boxing Twitter group (together with an influential community government).
“On the threat of catching Stephen Espinoza’s ire, there are two extra guys who battle on PBC which were inactive for a yr and don’t have something scheduled,” famous Wainwright.
“Brian Castano has been inactive for a yr, he doesn’t seem to have something scheduled so sadly can come out. I feel Charles Conwell may are available in at No. 10.
“Yordenis Ugas has additionally been inactive for a yr. Take him out and herald Roiman Villa at No. 10.”
Wainwright’s ideas have been seconded by panelists Abramowitz and Abraham Gonzalez.
On Could 27, two featherweight world titles have been on the road. One was defended – by Luis Alberto Lopez, who stopped Michael Conlan within the fifth spherical – and the opposite modified palms when Leigh Wooden avenged his February stoppage loss to Mauricio Lara by outboxing the harmful Mexican slugger over 12 rounds. The unanimous resolution victory made Wooden a two-time WBA beltholder.
Leigh Wooden was in command all through his rematch with Mauricio Lara.
Lopez, who defended the IBF belt for the primary time, prolonged his win streak to 11-0 since dropping a call to then-prospect Ruben Villa in Could 2019.
“Wooden exacted a measure of revenge by successful a large 12-round unanimous resolution over a slightly listless Lara,” famous Wainwright. “Full credit score to Wooden however Lara lacking weight after which laying an egg within the battle was a disappointment.
“Lopez made good on the previous adage successful a world title makes you a greater fighter by drilling Conlan in 5 rounds. Lopez considerably made up for the disappointing efficiency of his countryman Lara. Nick Ball stopped Ludumo Lamati within the twelfth spherical. Ball seems to be an actual handful. Lamati is within the hospital. Hope he’s doing OK. Featherweight is stacked (recommended lineup):
- Lopez, 2. Vargas, 3. Figueroa, 4. Ramirez, 5. Wooden, 6. Magsayo, 7. Lara 8. Warrington, 9. Abe, 10. Ball.”
Grey disagreed with Wainwright’s recommended new 126-pound rankings.
“I’m not shopping for the featherweight rankings,” mentioned Grey. “A fighter’s job begins once they settle for a battle. What Lara did when it comes to preparation is nothing to do with Wooden. It’s the exact same cause why I NEVER settle for the ‘woe is me’ argument from Duran followers once they cry over the Leonard rematch.
“As I mentioned on Twitter final night time, this was a victory for professionalism, self-discipline, and self-belief. Wooden has a greater resume than most guys on this High-10. Certain, he’d begin as underdog in opposition to a few of them, however he’s the one successful the large fights. He handed Xu Can his first loss in seven years; he took Conlan’s unbeaten document; and now he’s knocked off The Ring’s No. 1 featherweight. I don’t assume you’ll be able to put him at No. 5 with a straight face. (Grey’s recommended lineup:)
- Lopez, 2. Vargas, 3. Wooden, 4. Figueroa, 5. Ramirez, 6. Magsayo, 7. Lara, 8. Warrington, 9. Abe, 10. Ball.
“And though Vargas sits above Wooden, I’d additionally endorse a Lopez vs. Wooden battle for The Ring title.”
Abramowitz recommended Wooden climb to No. 3 and Lara drop to No. 6.
Your favourite Editor-In-Chief opened the ground to the No. 10 spot that Wainwright recommended for Ball.
“I agree with Tom and Adam’s featherweight rating for Wooden. No. 3 is sensible to me. I’m fantastic with Lara dropping wherever between Nos. 6-8. Does anybody else have an opinion on Lara’s rating?
“Is everybody good with Anson’s selection of Nick Ball getting into the featherweight rankings at No. 10? I’ve no drawback with it, however there could be different 126-pound fringe contenders/up-and-comers worthy of that spot, comparable to Ruben Villa and Victor Morales.”
Wainwright defined his selection of Ball.
“I did take into consideration different choices at 126, together with Villa and Morales,” he mentioned. “I’d most likely decide Villa over Ball if not for the very fact he had been off so lengthy and continues to be discovering his means again. Additionally value mentioning are Joet Gonzalez and Otabek Kholmotov, whereas Raymond Ford and Jazza Dickens are slightly additional again however add depth. It’s not light-weight however is fairly strong.”
Abramowitz recommended Villa at No. 10 and Lara to drop to No. 6.
Grey seconded Abramowitz.
“I’ll go for Adam’s selection right here,” he mentioned. “Lara to No. 6 (he holds stoppage wins over Wooden and Warrington). Villa at No. 10 is sensible.”
Wainwright added: “I do desire Villa however he hasn’t executed a lot recently, he’s on his means again up. Whereas Ball is in good kind.”
Corey Erdman gave a nod to the aforementioned Ford.
“To not elongate this debate, however I really feel like Ray Ford deserves consideration for the No. 10 spot. He seems like an even bigger risk to the highest names at featherweight than Villa is, to me, however that’s after all just one means of evaluating who belongs within the rankings.”
All of which left Yours Actually answerable for tallying up the votes.
“Thanks for the addition, Corey. And no must apologize. I’d slightly delay the method than overlook any worthy new blood to the rankings, and Ray Ford seems to be like a future participant within the 126-pound division. He’s been matched powerful not too long ago and he simply grabbed the scalp of his first former world titleholder (Jessie Magdaleno) in his fifteenth bout.
“To this point, it’s two for Ball (Anson and Abe) and two for Villa (Adam and Tom). One for Ford. I’m leaning towards Villa.”
Daisuke Sugiura had the ultimate say within the featherweight shakeup.
“I’d like to go along with Ford, as a result of his newest win was spectacular, however Villa for now. And Lara to No. 6 is ok to me too. Thanks.”