August 2026

AUGUST 2026

The Ring Magazine - The Bible of Boxing, August 2026 • Volume 103, No. 8

30 THE NONCONFORMIST OF COMBAT NOBODY BELIEVED RICO VERHOEVEN’S BACKGROUND WOULD MEAN MUCH AGAINST OLEKSANDR USYK – NOW MANY SAY RICO DESERVES A REMATCH By Tom Gray 38 DON’T MISS NEIL LEIFER’S PASSION, HARD WORK, ARTIST’S EYE AND A BIT OF LUCK HAVE LED TO SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS IN SPORTS HISTORY By Brian Harty 52 THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT NICKNAMES HAVE BEEN AN INTRINSIC PART OF BOXING SINCE THE BEGINNING, BUT ONE MONIKER STANDS ABOVE THEM ALL By Don “Kid” Stradley 58 TALES OF UNCLE BILL BELOVED PUBLICIST BILL CAPLAN WAS MORE THAN A BOXING BUSINESS COLLEAGUE – HE JUST MADE LIFE MORE FUN By Michael Rosenthal 64 DYNAMITE RELIT DANIEL DUBOIS WALKED THROUGH FABIO WARDLEY’S FIRE TO RECLAIM HIS POSITION IN THE HEAVYWEIGHT HUNT By Gareth A Davies 70 THE KING OF L.A. FRANKIE DUARTE NEVER BECAME A WORLD CHAMPION, BUT HE WON THE HEARTS OF TINSELTOWN WITH CINEMATIC FLAIR By Gene Aguilera 74 A BIG DEAL OSCAR COLLAZO IS IN BOXING’S SMALLEST DIVISION, BUT THE STRAWWEIGHT CHAMPION IS FORGING A LEGACY OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS By Carlos Narváez Rosario 80 CATCHING UP WITH KRONK KRONK BOXING HAS BEEN KNOCKED DOWN A FEW TIMES, BUT THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHTER THAN EVER FOR THE ICONIC DETROIT BRAND By Michael Montero

That’s the PIF Effect ELEVATING EXPERIENCES

DEPARTMENTS 4 OPENING SHOTS 7 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 12 BERNSTEIN ON BOXING By Al Bernstein 15 STEVE’S SOAPBOX By Steve Kim 18 BY THE NUMBERS By Don Stradley 21 RING RATINGS 48 PROMOTER SNAPSHOT By Adam Abramowitz 84 FUNDAMENTALS By Dom Farrell 86 FIGHT OF FANTASY By Anson Wainwright 88 SLICE OF BOXING By Thomas Hauser 90 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER By Randy Gordon 92 THE FIGHT DOCTOR By Dr. Margaret Goodman 94 FINISHING SHOTS 96 FIGHTLINE

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THE RING (ISSN: 0035‐5410) Issue 8 August 2026, is published monthly by The Ring Magazine FZ, LLC, 475 Heffernan Drive, West Haven, CT 06516. Application to mail at Periodicals postage is pending at Milford, CT 06460. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept., PO Box 103, Cambey West Congers NY 10920‐0103 Phone 845‐719‐3120 subscriptions@ringmagazine.com RINGMAGAZINE.COM 1

In Your Corner: stc Brings Access to a New Era of Boxing in Saudi Arabia through Netflix

The early years of sports broadcasting were a trying period for fans vying to seek the action of the game far from the ring. Amid the technical difficulties, grainy screens, and time lags, every fan’s commitment to the game was clear, even if the broadcast was not. Today, boxing fans are well accustomed to having a seamless viewing experience, no matter where they may be. Behind these ongoing advancements in technology, stc group has been in each boxing fan’s corner, working tirelessly to ensure that everyone can experience the action live from the ring, no matter where they may be. From deploying advanced network infrastructure around the region, to establishing stc tv, its own content broadcast platform and master aggregator in 2017, stc group has been making strides to ensure that all fans across a range of sports have access to the best possible broadcast. After signing a ten-year contract for TV and digital broadcasting and marketing sponsorships with the General Sport Authority and the Saudi Football Federation, stc tv took the position as the region’s most expansive sports broadcasters. When stc extended its partnership with Netflix in April 2026, it brought together two of the most powerful forces in connectivity and streaming. The move was a natural one. Netflix has become one of boxing’s most important broadcast partners, delivering some of the sport’s biggest nights to audiences that dwarf traditional pay-per- view numbers. Paul v. Tyson drew over 125 million viewers. Crawford v. Canelo pulled in 41 million. Paul v. Joshua attracted 33 million. The numbers speak for themselves: boxing fans have found their ringside seat on Netflix. And in every fan’s corner, stc group is ready to take that experience further.

The group’s partnership with Netflix reflects stc’s broader vision for what connectivity and content can deliver; a seamless, immersive experience build around the people watching. Whether it is a world title fight streamed live in 4K, or a documentary series that gives fans exclusive insights to the sport they love, stc is ensuring that Saudi boxing fans have access to the full experience. For stc’s Baity fiber customers, the partnership brings consolidated access to Netflix, built directly into their subscription; no extra steps, no separate sign-ups. The biggest fights in the world, delivered through one of the fastest home fiber networks in the Kingdom. The group’s investment in connectivity has been the foundation of this ambition. stc’s world-class fiber and 5G networks mean that witnessing all the action of a championship bout is no longer a luxury reserved for those with ringside tickets. With cutting-edge connectivity, a robust digital ecosystem, and strategic partnerships constantly raising the bar, stc has made that experience the standard. With more showstopping fights planned, Saudi Arabia’s position as a leader in boxing is only growing. As the Kingdom continues to attract the sport’s biggest names and most anticipated matchups, stc will be in the corner — making sure every fan feels ringside, wherever they are.

OPENING SHOT

CLOSER TO THE MONSTER: Jesse Rodriguez took a bold step toward an anticipated superfight with Naoya Inoue with a sixth- round KO of bantamweight beltholder Antonio Vargas on June 13 in Glendale, Arizona. Rodriguez’s latest victory, which made him a three-division titleholder, didn’t come easy. Vargas stood his ground in the early rounds, piercing Rodriguez’s high guard with multi-punch combinations. However, “Bam” remained calm in the pocket, using his vaunted pivots and angles to set up harder, cleaner shots. He turned the tide in Round 5, dropping Vargas with a left cross, before ending their shootout with another (shorter) left in the sixth. Rodriguez is expected to fight again at 118 pounds before the end of the year, while Inoue’s promoter teased on Yahoo! Japan of a “big fight … already in motion” for February.

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Photo by Danielle Cortez

RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer FIGHTER OF THE YEAR FRUSTRATION

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August 2026 Volume 103, No. 8

Founder Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972) Owner His Excellency Turki Alalshikh

Editor-in-Chief Douglass Fischer Managing Editor Tom Gray Senior Editor Brian Harty Creative Director Lamar Clark Controller Deborah L. Harrison

THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410) August 2026, is published 12 times per year by The Ring Magazine FZ, LLC P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Postmasters: Send change of address Notices to: The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept., PO Box 103 Camby West Congers NY 10920-0103 Phone: 845- 719-3120 subscriptions@ringmagazine.com Single copy price $9.99 in U.S.A. ,10.99 Canada (£10.99 in the U.K.). Global Subscription price $60.00 for 12 issues plus S&H. Not responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope bearing the proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2026 The Ring Magazine FZ-LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of advertisements appearing in this magazine, nor the delivery or quality of merchandise or services offered. No endorsement of any such advertisement is intended or implied. Advertisers and agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their advertisements. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES AND RATES: advertising@ ringmagazine.com. U.S. / Canadian and International distribution by Comag Marketing Group LLC, 155 Village Blvd #200, Princeton, NJ 08540. UK distribution by Seymour Distribution Ltd., 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, England, EC1A 9PT. Printed In USA Subscription Inquiries Back Issues Inquiries Digital Orders Inquiries The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept. PO Box 103 Camby West Congers NY 10920-0103 Phone: 845-719-3120 subscriptions@ringmagazine.com Send Editorial Comments To: comeoutwriting@gmail.com or P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209

W elcome to our August issue and the halfway point of 2026. I penned this column in June – six months into a year of boxing that has been both compelling and frustrating. Over the first half of the year, we were treated to a couple virtuoso performances (most notably Shakur Stevenson’s master class against Teofimo Lopez and David Benavidez’s brutal beatdown of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez), some chilling knockouts (Frank Sanchez’s one-hitter- quitter of Richard Torrez is still fresh on my mind), a few slugfests (heavyweights on British soil in particular) and one monster event in Japan (Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani, excuse the pun). But sadly, there’s more news about big fights not happening than of significant matchups scheduled for the second half of the year. The sport’s brightest talents (primarily American standouts) are not fighting often enough. And their inactivity makes it difficult to separate the best from the

Since beating Teofimo Lopez, Shakur Stevenson only fights on X.

rest, which is what The Ring’s Editorial Board and Ratings Panel must do over the next five months. By November, we’ll need to determine who the leaders are for our 2026 awards in order to select the winners by the end of December. It wasn’t difficult to identify my early favorites to win Fight, Round, Knockout, Upset, Prospect and Trainer of the Year, but I couldn’t select a clear frontrunner for Fighter of the Year. Part of the reason is the smaller pool of candidates to pull from for the oldest and most coveted of The Ring’s annual awards, which generally goes to pound-for-pound-level boxers. Unless they achieve something monumental, like Terence Crawford’s victory over Canelo Alvarez, it’s tough rating one above the other. Compiling candidates for the other

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RINGSIDE card that featured Haney’s last bout). Rodriguez has been on a two-bout-per- year schedule since 2023. It’s worse for his elite American peers. Stevenson and Haney have been on a one- or two-bout- per-year schedule since 2020. Benavidez has been fighting once or twice a year since 2017, which is criminal. These young guns are in their primes. Barring serious injury, there’s no reason for more than six months to elapse between their ring appearances. With that said, here are my thoughts on the aforementioned foursome’s current situations, as well as a few additional candidates for the 2026 Fighter of the Year award. Frontrunner(s) – Nobody. Inoue/Rodriguez – The winner of this much-talked about showdown would be a slam-dunk selection for Fighter of the Year, but I doubt we get this battle for pound-for-pound supremacy in 2026. I think Bam’s trainer/manager Robert Garcia knows his star pupil isn’t quite ready for the Japanese superstar (or junior featherweight), so it looks like Rodriguez will return in October or November, possibly in a 118-pound title unification bout with Christian Medina. Inoue, who outpointed Nakatani in May, doesn’t have a fight scheduled. He and his father/trainer, Shingo, have gone on record about “needing a rest” (understandable, given The Monster’s four bouts in 2025). Benavidez – The three-division world titleholder was in an excellent position to separate himself from his peers after winning two cruiserweight belts with his six-round demolition of Ramirez in May. The 29-year-old buzz saw, who also holds a 175-pound strap, had his choice of two Ring champs to go after – Dmitry Bivol (at light heavyweight) or Jai Opetaia (at cruiserweight).

award categories is easier because they can be won by fighters of all levels. Prospects are promising but unproven newcomers. By definition, Upset and Comeback of the Year awards go to often unrated underdogs and past-prime veterans. Two relatively unskilled fighters can deliver the Round of the Year. A leading candidate for 2026 Fight of the Year is William Crolla’s up-from- the-canvas (four times) seventh-round stoppage of Glenn Byrne, a battle between two British domestic-level junior middleweight prospects. (Check it out on YouTube if you haven’t seen it.) But Fighter of the Year is reserved for the cream of the crop. From January to June, the cream that’s risen above other standouts consists of Stevenson, Inoue, Benavidez and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. All four shone brightly in their one fight so far, but none stands clearly above the other, and, as we went to press, none had finalized a second bout for 2026. Stevenson’s situation is particularly frustrating. The southpaw maestro has the ability to compete in three weight classes – lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight – and significant bouts can be made in each division, but he seems content to bide his time with verbal spats. Over the past six months, Stevenson has jawed back and forth with Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and O’Shaquie Foster, among others – sometimes to their faces right after their fights, but mostly on social media – and nothing has come of the chatter. Meanwhile, the buzz created with his near-shutout of Lopez in January has dissipated into exasperation among hardcore fans. Those same diehards aren’t irritated with the soft-spoken Rodriguez, the most humble of America’s headliners. They just want to see more of the former Ring junior bantamweight champ, who exhibited his usual brilliance en route to stopping Antonio Vargas for a bantamweight strap on June 13. Prior to this latest triumph, which made Rodriguez a three-division world titleholder, we hadn’t seen him since November (on the same Riyadh Season

Naoya Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani in May, but what’s next?

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every round. every fight. live now the ring step into the man who beat the man

RINGSIDE

Disappointingly, as we went to press, Benavidez – who talked about dropping back down to light heavyweight to battle Bivol or former champ Artur Beterbiev before and after the Zurdo fight – was closing in on fellow cruiserweight beltholder Noel Mikaelian. There’s nothing wrong with fighting Mikaelian in a title-unification bout, but beating the rugged veteran won’t help Benavidez clinch Fighter of the Year (or attract more fans). Stevenson – The 28-year-old Newark native appears to be in self-created limbo since lifting the Ring junior welterweight belt from Lopez. Stevenson claimed Raymond Muratalla would be “easy work” after the lightweight titleholder called him out following an upset decision over Andy Cruz in January, then immediately added, “but how lucrative is this fight? How much money are y’all gonna pay me for this fight?” during an interview on the Cigar Talk YouTube channel in February. Unless the owner of this publication wants to overpay Stevenson to fight Muratalla, this interesting matchup (which would be for the vacant Ring lightweight championship) is not happening. But make no mistake; unlike Gervonta Davis, Muratalla was serious about challenging Stevenson. Keyshawn Davis looms at junior welterweight, but Stevenson has vowed never to fight the marvelously talented former lightweight beltholder because of their friendship. Haney and Garcia, who both hold welterweight titles, are the highest-profile dance partners for Stevenson. However, the four-division world titleholder wants them to agree to a 144-pound catchweight as well as a rehydration clause limiting how many pounds they put on after the weigh-in. Garcia set his sights on Conor Benn, but Haney called Stevenson’s bluff and agreed to the catchweight via social media. Stevenson accepted the challenge

The Mexican Monster currently eats only once or twice per year.

later this year as planned). Comeback of the Year is probably the appropriate award for whoever wins the biggest all-British showdown ever, but their combined stature and the magnitude of the event (especially if the fight lives up to the hype) will likely inspire fans and media to nominate the winner for the most prestigious of The Ring’s annual honors. Xander Zayas/Jaron Ennis – If the winner of this junior middleweight clash for two world titles, which took place June 27 as we put this issue to bed, can come back in the winter and defeat a fellow 154-pound beltholder, such as Sebastian Fundora or Josh Kelly, he’d be a strong candidate. These are all of the potential nominees I can think of. Each comes with an “if” (or multiple “ifs”), and some have already chosen the path of least resistance. I don’t expect any to exceed two bouts this year, which is an indictment on the business and culture of the sport, but I’m hoping somebody’s next fight is significant enough to give us a legitimate Fighter of the Year frontrunner. Time is running out.

and even posted a pic of a scale reading “144.4” (presumably with him on it), but it looks like his good buddy’s got dibs on Haney. The WBO made Davis the mandatory challenger for their welterweight strap, which Haney holds (even though Keyshawn has never fought above 140 pounds). One potential option for Stevenson could be Lamont Roach, who is scheduled to face William Zepeda for a vacant lightweight belt on August 1. Roach, a straight shooter who doesn’t shy away from challenges, wants to test his skills against Stevenson if he wins. I’m into this matchup, but there’s no guarantee Roach will prevail against the relentless Zepeda, who gave Stevenson a tough fight last year. Stevenson’s situation sucks, but he’s played a part in it. Tyson Fury/Anthony Joshua – One longshot for the award is the winner of this heavyweight superfight (if it happens

on sale now

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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING

“The truth is there are fewer heavyweights in America in the gyms, and then the ones that are ever going to be contenders make up a much shorter list.”

European domination, along with fighters from African nations, Cuba and even China, has pretty much become a permanent state of affairs. In recent times, only Deontay Wilder’s WBC reign from 2015 to 2020 and Andy Ruiz’s very brief IBF, WBA and WBO reign kept a meaningful American presence in the top 10. There is probably no objective way to determine how much this situation bothers U.S. boxing fans, but I decided to pose this question on social media to American fans to at least get the temperature. Surprisingly (for any topic on social media), most of the responses were measured and even nuanced. It created more responses than any other question I have ever asked boxing fans on social media. I was deluged with comments. And perhaps the most fascinating thing to me is that it was split almost down the middle. Many fans longed for days gone by when Americans were champions and dominated the contenders list, and they felt the importance of it not just for them but for the sport as a whole. But an equally large contingent felt it was not important at all – great boxers and fights supersede national boundaries, and that is what really interests fans. I am sure that the reason I got so many of the latter responses is the fact that technology has made the world smaller. American fans who often never saw or really knew great fighters from around the world now see them regularly due to the internet. National boundaries are blurred. Whichever way people tilt on the question, I think it is interesting to examine exactly why this phenomenon has taken place. For some opinions, I went to two men who have a unique position in boxing. They have both been on the front lines of trying to develop American heavyweights, and they also chronicle the sport in general: Stephen “Breadman” Edwards is a trainer and columnist on boxing, and Hall Of Fame trainer Joe Goossen is a longtime television commentator. They both feel that an American presence in the division adds to its

appeal, and not only in the United States. Edwards said, “Certainly boxing in the United States is better when you have prominent American heavyweights, but I think when at least one of the best heavyweights is American, it helps elevate the sport.” Goossen added this: “I guess because we grew up in America with U.S fighters dominating the division, we were used to it and it seemed odd not to have Americans be a big part of things – you expected it. You often root for fighters of your own country, but like many people I appreciate seeing the great fighters from around the world get attention and succeed as heavyweights.” Their participation in trying to elevate Americans to prominence makes them important voices in understanding the “why” of this. They both agree that the popular idea that great American heavyweights are all tight ends or linebackers in football or power forwards in basketball is more than just a trite opinion. They feel it has validity on several levels. Both of them have trained heavyweights, and in every case they get them later in life, not at an age to mold them. Edwards on this topic: “From the grassroots level in the gyms, the bigger guys don’t come to you at age 13. You get them after they have played football or basketball in high school or college and figured out they won’t make a living at those sports. So now you have a 22- or 23-year-old. In other countries, they would have been in the gym at age 12 or 13 learning the sport and progressing as amateurs.” He has trained several heavyweights who tried football first. Goossen made his name with fighters whom he molded early in their careers, like Gabe and Rafael Ruelas, two brothers he got as teens and turned into world titleholders.

But he did not have that luxury with the heavyweights he’s worked with like Lance Whitaker and Lionel Butler. “We had success in winning a lot of fights, but it is not the same as having someone from almost the beginning.” Edwards says it plainly: “It makes a difference. You can start late and be successful, but it is just harder to do that.” Goossen points out, “The truth is there are fewer heavyweights in America in the gyms, and then the ones that are ever going to be contenders make up a much shorter list.” Another issue is the fact that the lure of football and basketball for some big American athletes has been enhanced with the NIL (name, image and likeness) money available to college athletes. There is now the possibility of life-changing wealth for players who may never even make it to the NFL or NBA. Several people have suggested to me that this has been luring high school students away from the boxing gym to play those other sports. To some, a whole column devoted to this issue will be a sign of American jingoism. I don’t think that is true. This question is of interest regardless of the importance placed on it by anyone. Will the many “late starters” that now exist in American heavyweight culture produce a champion or a significant number of genuine contenders? Even the folks trying to do it can’t really answer that. For my part, I appreciate great boxers and great boxing wherever it comes from, and I am thrilled that the world has shrunk with technology that allows us to see virtually all boxers from around the globe. Boxing, like all sports, evolves. Perhaps a steady diet of international quality will satiate the fans who long for more American involvement among the big guys. I hope so, because it might take a while for things to change.

THE QUIET AMERICANS By Al Bernstein

W hen Cuban boxer Frank Sanchez of an American boxer seeking the heavyweight world championship. That defeat erased the U.S. presence in the Ring Magazine’s top 10 heavyweight ratings and left few Americans on the lists of various sanctioning organizations. Furthermore, at the time of writing, the BoxRec rankings for the top 50 in the division contain only four American heavyweights: Jarrell Miller (17), Deontay Wilder (21), Nigerian-born Kingsley Ibeh (28) and Torrez (30). knocked out the previously undefeated Richard Torrez Jr. (pictured above) in two rounds back in May, it dealt yet another blow to the hopes American boxing fans have resigned themselves to the fact that the days of American heavyweight domination are long gone, but this latest situation drove home the fact that U.S. heavyweights are barely even relevant on the world stage. How important is this to American fans? Is it a problem to the sport, beyond perhaps some light jingoism? Why is it now an undeniable fact? To many fans around the world, these questions are not pressing ones, but to American

fans they carry some importance. History gives us a stark picture of just how much has changed in this regard and why it is a topic of concern to many. In early decades, non-American heavyweight champions came and went in the form of Bob Fitzsimmons, Tommy Burns, Max Schmeling and Ingemar Johansson, but Americans held virtually all of the slots in the top 10. Over the past six decades, that percentage has steadily plummeted.

American Presence in The Ring Magazine’s Heavyweight Top 10 Ratings

Time Period

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STEVE’S SOAPBOX OPEN RELATIONSHIP By Steve Kim

southpaw from D.C., going back to when he was promoted by Forum Boxing and I watched him from ringside during my earliest days on the boxing scene. On this night, he was boxing beautifully while still doing his fair share of punching. It was vintage Too Sharp, who was well on his way to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. But a funny thing happened in this fight, which happened to have open scorecards. As Johnson and everyone realized that he had built an insurmountable lead going into the championship rounds, he began to play keep-away and employed the “four corners offense.” Basically, he stunk it out. Afterward, he admitted that knowing the score impacted his strategy in the later stages of the contest, which he won by scores of 118-109, 117-110 and 116-110. It was a performance that began with a bang and ended with a whimper. Doug Fischer, our beloved editor-in- chief, has never been afraid to chide me a bit about this. Yeah, I had learned my lesson. For however flawed the practice of opaque scoring was, maybe the traditional way of announcing the final scores after a bout’s conclusion was the lesser of two evils. But that doesn’t mean that open scorecards have gone away. For years, the WBC has implemented a system where the cards would be revealed after the fourth and eighth rounds of 12-round championship contests. But the American commissions have usually barred this from their fights. When Oleksandr Usyk defended his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven on May 23

I have a love-hate relationship with open scoring in boxing. There was a time, long ago, when I was an ardent supporter of the idea. In my view, it was the panacea for the bad scorecards that had plagued the sport for years. It made sense. After all, with every other sport, everyone involved – especially the athletes – knows who’s winning as the games take place. Yeah, boxing has judges who score fights, but the boxers and their corners have no idea whether they’re winning or losing. I thought the people actually fighting should absolutely know how the judges are scoring the fight. And that, as it turns out, was the problem with open scoring. It actually could ruin fights, and fans were often the losers.

Mark Johnson’s win over Ratanachai Sor Vorapin featured open scoring.

After years of screaming that open scorecards were the solution, I had a bit of an epiphany as Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson faced Thailand’s rugged Ratanachai Sor Vorapin for the vacant IBF 115-pound title on April 24, 1999. This matchup was part of a Don King- promoted card at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., that was televised on Showtime. For those of you who don’t know me all that well, Johnson was one of my favorite boxers. I always considered it a treat to see this multiskilled quicksilver

the end of limits.

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STEVE’S SOAPBOX

in Egypt, it meant the open scorecard system would be in place. In a fight that was stunning in how it played out, Verhoeven was not only competitive versus Usyk in the eyes of many; he was actually winning the fight. Mike Coppinger on the DAZN broadcast had him up nine rounds to one going into the 10th. The consensus was that Verhoeven had won around six or seven frames by that juncture, but it felt like a huge upset was brewing. “I was winning. History was being made. I was so close to making the biggest upset – at least in combat sports – history,” Verhoeven said during an appearance on The 3 Knockdown Rule podcast a week after his fight. But in reality, he was not. Going into Round 9, the fight was even at 76-76 on the cards of Fabian Guggenheim, Manuel Oliver Palomo and Pasquale Procopio. After the 10th, Guggenheim and Palomo had it deadlocked at 95, while Procopio had Verhoeven up 96-94. So with this knowledge, Verhoeven had to keep fighting, because there was no lead to protect. He was asked if he liked having open scorecards. “Yeah … it’s hard to say, because as I think about it, I can say yes because I can change my tactics, my game plan,” he told Mario Lopez and I (cohosts of the podcast). “If I say no, then in the 11th round I probably wouldn’t have ran into that uppercut, because I kept on pushing. Because all the people back home, they were looking at the fight and they were like, ‘Why does he keep pushing like that? He’s so far ahead.’ But the reality was that I was not. We were leveled.” Chances are that if he didn’t know the scores, he might have employed a more defensive approach in the championship rounds. And if that sounds like a contradiction to my earlier position on Too Sharp, let’s be clear about this: There’s a difference between thinking you know the score and KNOWING the score. As a result, Usyk was finally able to hurt and then finish Verhoeven with a late barrage in the 11th round. “That’s why I walked into that

Rico Verhoeven says open scoring impacted his game plan vs. Usyk.

uppercut, because I was pushing it. Because if I wouldn’t be pushing it, I wouldn’t be walking into it,” continued the good-natured Verhoeven. “I’d just be boxing and walking around, because I was miles ahead.” But that begs the question: Was Verhoeven actually better off knowing the score, regardless of how things turned out? The flip side is that if the scores weren’t known and he believed he truly was “miles ahead” – but in reality wasn’t – and then employed a strategy to protect a lead that he really didn’t have, then loses a decision, well, now you have not only an angry boxer, but disgruntled fans. Perhaps the bigger issue here were the actual scores turned in by the trio of Guggenheim, Palomo and Procopio. They really were in the minority in their belief that the sluggish Usyk wasn’t behind in this bout. In the case of Johnson-Sor Vorapin, the fans lost because the entertainment value of this fight was sucked out of it. With Usyk-Verhoeven, you have a case where the challenger lost, but the fans won because of the dramatic nature of how this played out. I don’t know, I may have to rethink this whole thing all over – again. BAD STOPPAGE? In addition to the scores at the time of the stoppage, there was much debate over the call by referee Mark Lyson, who waved off the fight at the end of the 11th

round. But it really wasn’t until the bell had sounded to end the round that this decision was made. Some would argue that Lyson was in the process of halting the action but was unable to get in- between the two heavyweights. Others would argue that based on what had taken place prior to the knockdown, Verhoeven had earned the right to see Round 12. In the aftermath of this fight, Verhoeven said he was filing a protest. But he understands that the result is the result. “I’m not going to get a different result, ever,” he stated. “The only thing I’m looking for is an apology, because if we look at it, a mistake was made. We’re all humans. We can all make mistakes. It’s fine. But was this mistake made at a very bad and hurtful moment? A hundred percent. Because we were so close to writing boxing history.” As for what’s next, Verhoeven certainly welcomes another crack at Usyk, but he says offers are coming in “from all across the world.” He says he is conferring with Turki Alalshikh in regard to his future. “We’re just looking at all the options.” [Editor’s note: Verhoeven’s protest was dismissed.]

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BY THE NUMBERS: RON STANDER By Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt

fights undefeated to start his career » Beating Shavers was no fluke. Stander was a hungry young boxer at the time and

losses in his last 11 fights The second half of Stander’s career was disastrous. He’d become the division’s trial horse, losing to Ken Norton, Scott LeDoux, Gerrie Coetzee, James Tillis and others. Yet he plowed on, his weight ballooning. Omaha, where he’d once been a favorite, rarely hosted him anymore, so he took his career on the road, fighting in boxing backwaters like Salt Lake City and Milwaukee. “There is something gallant and courageous about the Ron Standers of this world,” wrote columnist Bill Lyon in 1976. “But also, something pathetic and sad. They remind you of Don Quixote, chasing the impossible dream, tilting with windmills of unreality. Only Ron Stander’s windmills hit back. Hard.” As the losses mounted, Stander’s only remaining boast was that he’d never been knocked down in his career, and that if he’d ever been off his feet, it was from being off-balance. “My footwork has never been my best asset,” he said. Stander’s final bout was in 1982, a TKO loss to Otis Bates in Little Rock, Arkansas. The fight ended at 0:31 of the fifth, with Stander on the ropes and hurt, but still on his feet. years old when he changed his life around After he quit the ring, Stander consumption,” as he put it, landed him at Alcoholics Anonymous. Though it had always been a source of humor, Stander’s love of beer was ruining him. At 42, he swore off drinking. Getting sober led to the next phase of Stander’s life. He married again and became a devoted family man. He worked a variety of jobs, everything from carpet layer to car salesman to machinist. He even enjoyed a long stint as a bodyguard in Las Vegas for such stars as Liza Minnelli and Tom Jones. He stayed around boxing, too, working as a referee in the Omaha area. He never lost his sense of fun and maintained his status as a kind of Midwestern cult figure. He was eternally the good-natured slugger who had once made Omaha fans roar. (1944-2022) endured a divorce and some health issues, while his “liquid As anniversaries of the Frazier fight came around, Stander was inevitably called on to reminisce about it. He talked about punches he threw that missed by a half inch and how luck just wasn’t with him that night. He sometimes seemed baffled by his only title shot and the way his career crumbled. “I was probably in kind of a depression, although I hate to use that word,” he said in 1992. “Later on, I just didn’t care. Win, lose or draw.”

defeated some other quality heavyweights, including Thad Spencer, Manuel Ramos and the gigantic Jack O’Halloran. Though Spencer and Ramos were past their primes and O’Halloran was on a losing streak, Stander was doing what young fighters are supposed to do, gaining experience by beating the old warhorses. The 6-foot-6 O’Halloran, a physically imposing Philadelphia fighter who would later work in Hollywood as a film villain, was supposed to present Stander with a proper challenge. At 5-foot-11 and weighing 230, Stander was a short-armed fireplug of a fighter. How would he do against an ogre like O’Halloran? As things turned out, Stander won a 10-round decision. According to the Omaha World-Herald, “Ron beat his man with a wicked body assault which left O’Halloran’s left side and back as red as a hunk of ham.” rounds with Smokin’ Joe Frazier » On May 25, 1972, Stander – a 10-to-1 underdog – challenged heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. The bout was held in Omaha, where Stander had become a bit of a folk hero, and drew nearly 10,000 fans to the Civic Auditorium. Though few outside of his friends and neighbors gave him a chance, Stander was his usual fearless self, happily trading bombs with Frazier during an intense first round. He even wobbled Frazier once or twice. Beyond that round, however, Frazier cut him to pieces. The ringside doctor examined Stander’s bloody face after the fourth and signaled referee Zach Clayton to stop the fight. The Bluffs Butcher had been butchered. He would need 17 stitches, though some sources put the number at 32. “He didn’t back up once,” said Frazier. “He’s a good puncher, a good fighter.” The fight drew the expected criticism, with many in the press chastising Frazier for taking on a relative unknown, while the usual dramatic types demanded the sport be abolished. Still, the most memorable quote about the fight came from Stander’s wife, Darlene: “You don’t enter a Volkswagen at the Indy 500 unless you know a helluva shortcut.” A few years later, Stander said the magnitude of the event, not Frazier, had psyched him out. The potential money and fame that would come with winning the title had played on his mind right up to the opening bell. “I was layin’ awake nights trying to think up things to say,” he said. Stander was never the same. Prior to fighting Frazier, he was 23-1-1. After the loss, he went on what seemed an endless downhill skid.

Providing plenty of thrills in a thrill-packed era, Ron Stander was a heavyweight contender of the 1970s, a rugged character known for the three Bs: brawling, bleeding and beer drinking. The heavy-handed “Bluffs Butcher” of Council Bluffs, Iowa, developed a reputation for taking on anybody. “Hell,” Stander said, “I’d fight any human being and most animals if the price was right.” Here is his story by the numbers.

professional fights » After a brief amateur career, Stander turned pro in 1969, entering one of the most talent- rich decades in heavyweight

history. Not intimidated by the abundance of great heavyweights emerging all around him, he stood in the center of the competition and took his best shot. Unfortunately, he took their best shots, too. By the time he retired, Stander posted a record of 37-21-3, with 28 knockouts. The numbers, however, don’t reflect the essence of Stander. True, he lost often, but he never stood in a ring that he didn’t control for at least part of a contest. If you fought Stander, you could bet he’d nail you good at least once. Along with his face-first style, Stander’s beer- swilling persona was hard to resist. With a floppy haircut and some muttonchop sideburns, Stander looked more like a roadie for Bachman-Turner Overdrive than a boxer. He joked easily, bragging that the only time he was ever knocked down was by a cop with a nightstick, and that he would be better off fighting in an alley than a ring. Yet he never turned down an opponent. He claimed the only time he said no was when a bartender asked if he’d had enough.

rounds to beat Earnie Shavers »

On May 11, 1970, before a lively Omaha fight crowd, a young and fresh Stander scored a fifth-round KO of the always frightening Shavers, who was also at the beginning

of his career. Shavers’ camp made light of their man losing, saying big, bad Earnie broke his right hand early in the fight and was handicapped. “He just panicked,” said Shavers’ manager of the time, Dean Chance. Chance claimed the loss was good for Shavers, as it made him more dedicated. But as Shavers’ reputation grew, Stander could always say he’d knocked the tough guy out. It was a nice calling card.

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RINGMAGAZINE.COM 19

Ring Ratings Through fights of June 13, 2026

Jeddad Knows Age Every Moment Matters Here Jeddah is Different

RECENT FIGHT RESULTS

122: Murodjon Akhmadaliev (No. 1) TKO 4 Hegly Mosqueda 118: Michael Angeletti (in at No. 9) SD 12 Kenneth Llover (No. 9, out) 118: Jesse Rodriguez (in at No. 3) KO 6 Antonio Vargas (No. 5, 3) 115: Andrew Moloney (No. 5, 1) MD 12 Willibaldo Garcia (No. 7, 1)

MEN

H: H:

Oleksandr Usyk (No. 2) TKO 11 Rico Verhoeven

Frank Sanchez (in at No. 7) KO 2 Richard Torrez Jr. (No. 8, out)

200: Robin Sirwan Safar (No. 10) SD 12 Yamil Peralta 200: Chris Billam-Smith (No. 3) TKO 7 Ryan Rozicki (No. 6, 200: Leonardo Mosquea (No. 9) KO 1 Francisco Rivas 175: Dmitry Bivol (C) UD 12 Michael Eifert 175: Albert Ramirez (No. 3,

112: Masamichi Yabuki (No. 2) UD 12 Rene Calixto 112: Seigo Yuri Akui (No. 4) out, moved up in weight WOMEN 154: Oshae Jones (No. 2,

6) SD 12 Lerrone Richards (in at No. 8)

175: Imam Khataev (No. 5, 168: Hamzah Sheeraz (No. 10,

1) TKO 1 Mickael Diallo

1) D 10 Elia Carranza (in at No. 5)

126: Amanda Serrano (C) TKO 2 Cheyenne Hanson 118: Francesca Hennessy (in at No. 5) TKO Aurora De Persio 115: Mizuki Hiruta (C) UD 10 Mai Soliman 112: Gabriela Alaniz (in at No. 2) UD 10 Lizeth Romero 108: Lourdes Juarez (No. 2, 1) SD 10 Yokasta Valle 108: Yesica Nery Plata (No. 5, 1) UD 10 Brook Sibrian 108: Estefany Osorio (No. 5, 3) UD 10 Evelin Bermudez (No. 2, 2) 105: Sol Baumstarh (No. 5, 1) SD 10 Yadira Bustillos

1) KO 2 Alem Begic

168: Caleb Plant (No. 10) out, inactivity 160: Amari Jones (No. 10, 3) KO 3 Vincenzo Gaultieri 154: Ermal Hadribeaj (in at No. 10) UD 12 Bakary Samake (No. 10, out) 147: Jack Catterall (No. 10, 7) UD 12 Shakhram Giyasov (No. 7, out) 147: Rolando Romero (No. 5) out, inactivity 140: Adam Azim (No. 9, 2) TKO 3 Steve Claggett 130: O’Shaquie Foster (No. 2) MD 12 Raymond Ford (No. 6)

RINGMAGAZINE.COM 21

MEN’S RING RATINGS Through June 13, 2026 CHAMPIONSHIPBELTS: RING IBF WBA WBC WBO | H NEW TO RATINGS

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 175 POUNDS

HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT UNLIMITED

CRUISERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 200 POUNDS

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 168 POUNDS

C OLEKSANDR USYK

C JAI OPETAIA

C DMITRY BIVOL

C (VACANT) 1 CANELO ALVAREZ

Ukraine • 25-0-0 (16 KOs)

Australia • 30-0-0 (23 KOs)

Russia • 25-1-0 (12 KOs)

1 DANIEL DUBOIS

1 DAVID BENAVIDEZ U.S. • 32-0-0 (26 KOs) 2 GILBERTO RAMIREZ Mexico • 48-2-0 (30 KOs) 3 CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH U.K. • 22-2-0 (14 KOs) 4 MICHAL CIESLAK Poland • 28-2-0 (22 KOs) 5 NOEL MIKAELIAN Armenia • 28-3-0 (12 KOs) 6 +1 BADOU JACK Sweden • 29-4-3 (17 KOs) 7 +1 VIDDAL RILEY U.K. • 14-0-0 (7 KOs) 8 -2 RYAN ROZICKI Canada • 21-2-1 (20 KOs) 9 LEONARDO MOSQUEA France • 19-0-0 (12 KOs) 10 ROBIN SIRWAN SAFAR Sweden • 20-0-0 (13 KOs)

1 DAVID BENAVIDEZ

Mexico • 63-3-2 (39 KOs)

U.K. • 23-3-0 (22 KOs)

U.S. • 32-0-0 (26 KOs)

2 OSLEYS IGLESIAS

2 AGIT KABAYEL

2 CALLUM SMITH

Cuba • 15-0-0 (14 KOs)

Germany • 27-0-0 (19 KOs)

U.K. • 31-2-0 (22 KOs) +1 ANTHONY YARDE U.K. • 27-4-0 (24 KOs) +1 IMAM KHATAEV Australia • 12-1-0 (11 KOs) +1 JOSHUA BUATSI U.K. • 20-1-0 (13 KOs)

3 CHRISTIAN MBILLI

3 TYSON FURY

France • 29-0-1 (24 KOs)

U.K. • 35-2-1 (24 KOs)

4 LESTER MARTINEZ

4 FABIO WARDLEY

Guatemala • 20-0-1 (16 KOs)

U.K. • 20-1-1 (19 KOs)

5 JAIME MUNGUIA

5 FILIP HRGOVIC

Mexico • 46-2-0 (35 KOs)

Croatia • 20-1-0 (15 KOs)

6 DIEGO PACHECO U.S. • 25-0-0 (18 KOs) 7 ARMANDO RESENDIZ

6 MOSES ITAUMA

+1 WILLY HUTCHINSON

U.K. • 14-0-0 (12 KOs) 7 H FRANK SANCHEZ Cuba • 26-1-0 (19 KOs) 8 -1 EFE AJAGBA Nigeria • 21-1-1 (15 KOs) 9 MURAT GASSIEV Russia • 33-2-0 (26 KOs) 10 JUSTIS HUNI Australia • 13-1-0 (7 KOs)

U.K. • 20-2-0 (14 KOs)

+1 NAJEE LOPEZ U.S. • 16-0-0 (13 KOs) 8 H LERRONE RICHARDS U.K. • 19-2-0 (4 KOs) 9 -6 ALBERT RAMIREZ

Mexico • 16-3-0 (11 KOs)

8 JACOB BANK

Denmark • 19-0-0 (11 KOs) +1 HAMZAH SHEERAZ

U.K. • 23-0-1 (19 KOs) 10 H BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV Uzbekistan • 17-1-0 (11 KOs)

Venezuela • 23-0-0 (19 KOs) -1 UMAR DZAMBEKOV Austria • 14-0-0 (10 KOs)

MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 160 POUNDS C (VACANT) 1 CARLOS ADAMES

JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 154 POUNDS

WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 147 POUNDS

JR. WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 140 POUNDS C SHAKUR STEVENSON U.S. • 25-0-0 (11 KOs) 1 DALTON SMITH U.K. • 19-0-0 (14 KOs) 2 KEYSHAWN DAVIS U.S. • 15-0-0 (10 KOs) 3 RICHARDSON HITCHINS U.S. • 20-0-0 (8 KOs) 4 TEOFIMO LOPEZ U.S. • 22-2-0 (13 KOs) 5 ALBERTO PUELLO 6 GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL U.S. • 19-1-0 (17 KOs) 7 +2 ADAM AZIM U.K. • 15-0-0 (12 KOs) 8 -1 SANDOR MARTIN Spain • 43-4-0 (15 KOs) 9 -1 SUBRIEL MATIAS

C (VACANT) 1 VERGIL ORTIZ

C (VACANT) 1 DEVIN HANEY

Dom. Rep. • 25-1-1 (18 KOs)

U.S. • 24-0-0 (22 KOs) 2 SEBASTIAN FUNDORA U.S. • 24-1-1 (16 KOs) 3 XANDER ZAYAS

U.S. • 33-0-0 (15 KOs) 2 BRIAN NORMAN JR. U.S. • 29-1-0 (23 KOs) 3 +7 JACK CATTERALL U.K. • 33-2-0 (14 KOs) 4

2 YOENLI HERNANDEZ Cuba • 10-0-0 (9 KOs) 3 ERISLANDY LARA U.S. • 32-3-3 (19 KOs) 4 TROY ISLEY U.S. • 15-0-0 (5 KOs) 5 ETINOSA OLIHA Italy • 22-0-0 (10 KOs) 6 AARON MCKENNA Ireland • 20-0-0 (10 KOs) 7 +3 AMARI JONES U.S. • 17-0-0 (15 KOs) 8 -1 CHRIS EUBANK JR. U.K. • 35-4-0 (25 KOs) 9 -1 JESUS RAMOS JR. U.S. • 24-1-0 (19 KOs) 10 -1 DENZEL BENTLEY U.K. • 22-3-1 (18 KOs)

Puerto Rico • 23-0-0 (13 KOs)

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-1 EIMANTAS STANIONIS

Uzbekistan • 11-2-1 (7 KOs)

Lithuania • 16-1-0 (9 KOs) -1 RYAN GARCIA U.S. • 25-2-0 (20 KOs) Dom. Rep. • 18-0-0 (10 KOs) -1 RAUL CURIEL Mexico • 17-0-1 (14 KOs)

5 JARON ENNIS

U.S. • 35-0-0 (31 KOs)

Dom. Rep. • 24-1-0 (10 KOs)

6 JOSH KELLY

6 ROHAN POLANCO

U.K. • 18-1-1 (9 KOs) 7 BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV Russia • 23-1-0 (17 KOs) 8 BRANDON ADAMS U.S. • 26-4-0 (16 KOs) 9 ABASS BARAOU Germany • 17-2-0 (9 KOs) 10 ERMAL HADRIBEAJ U.S. • 23-0-1 (8 KOs)

-1 ALEXIS ROCHA U.S. • 26-2-1 (16 KOs) 9 H LEWIS CROCKER U.K. • 22-0-0 (11 KOs) 10 H PADDY DONOVAN

Puerto Rico • 23-3-0 (22 KOs)

10 PIERCE O’LEARY

Ireland • 15-2-0 (11 KOs)

Ireland • 19-0-0 (11 KOs)

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22 RINGMAGAZINE.COM

MEN’S RING RATINGS Through June 13, 2026 CHAMPIONSHIPBELTS: RING IBF WBA WBC WBO | H NEW TO RATINGS

LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 135 POUNDS

JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 130 POUNDS

FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 126 POUNDS

JR. FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 122 POUNDS

C (VACANT) 1 SHAKUR STEVENSON U.S. • 25-0-0 (11 KOs) 2 RAYMOND MURATALLA U.S. • 24-0-0 (17 KOs) 3 WILLIAM ZEPEDA Mexico • 33-1-0 (27 KOs) 4 ANDY CRUZ Cuba • 6-1-0 (3 KOs) 5 ABDULLAH MASON U.S. • 20-0-0 (17 KOs) 6 FLOYD SCHOFIELD U.S. • 19-0-0 (13 KOs) 7 SAM NOAKES U.K. • 18-1-0 (16 KOs) 8 LUCAS BAHDI Canada • 20-0-0 (15 KOs) 9 JADIER HERRERA Cuba • 18-0-0 (16 KOs) 10 JOE CORDINA U.K. • 19-1-0 (9 KOs)

C (VACANT) 1 EMANUEL NAVARRETE Mexico • 40-2-1 (33 KOs) 2 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER U.S. • 25-3-0 (12 KOs) 3 ANTHONY CACACE Ireland • 25-1-0 (9 KOs) 4 ROBSON CONCEICAO Brazil • 21-3-1 (10 KOs) 5 CHARLY SUAREZ

C (VACANT) 1 RAFAEL ESPINOZA

C NAOYA INOUE

Japan • 33-0-0 (27 KOs) 1 MURODJON AKHMADALIEV Uzbekistan • 15-2-0 (12 KOs) 2 SAM GOODMAN Australia • 22-1-0 (8 KOs) 3 JUNTO NAKATANI Japan • 32-1-0 (24 KOs) 4 SEBASTIAN HERNANDEZ Mexico • 20-1-0 (18 KOs) 5 RAMON CARDENAS U.S. • 27-2-0 (15 KOs) 6 RYOSUKE NISHIDA Japan • 11-1-0 (2 KOs) 7 ALAN PICASSO Mexico • 32-1-1 (17 KOs) 8 SHABAZ MASOUD U.K. • 15-0-0 (4 KOs) 9 BRYAN MERCADO VAZQUEZ Mexico • 32-2-0 (26 KOs) 10 YUKINORI OGUNI Japan • 24-4-3 (9 KOs)

Mexico • 28-0-0 (24 KOs)

2 ANGELO LEO

U.S. • 26-1-0 (12 KOs) 3 BRUCE CARRINGTON U.S. • 17-0-0 (10 KOs) 4 STEPHEN FULTON U.S. • 23-2-0 (8 KOs) 5 BRANDON FIGUEROA U.S. • 27-2-1 (20 KOs) 6 NICK BALL U.K. • 23-1-1 (13 KOs) 7 LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ

Philippines • 18-0-0 (10 KOs)

6 RAYMOND FORD

U.S. • 18-2-1 (8 KOs)

7 EDUARDO NUNEZ

Mexico • 29-2-0 (27 KOs)

Mexico • 32-3-0 (19 KOs)

8 RYAN GARNER

8 MIRCO CUELLO

U.K. • 19-0-0 (10 KOs)

Argentina • 16-0-0 (13 KOs)

9 JAMES DICKENS

9 RA’EESE ALEEM U.S. • 23-1-0 (12 KOs) 10 CRISTOBAL LORENTE Spain • 21-0-3 (8 KOs)

U.K. • 36-6-0 (15 KOs)

10 HAYATO TSUTSUMI Japan • 8-0-0 (5 KOs)

BANTAMWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 118 POUNDS C (VACANT) 1 SEIYA TSUTSUMI Japan • 13-0-3 (8 KOs) 2 TAKUMA INOUE Japan • 22-2-0 (5 KOs) 3 H JESSE RODRIGUEZ U.S. • 24-0-0 (17 KOs) 4

JR. BANTAMWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 115 POUNDS

FLYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 112 POUNDS

JR. FLYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 108 POUNDS

C (VACANT) 1 FERNANDO MARTINEZ

C ( VACANT) 1 RICARDO SANDOVAL U.S. • 27-2-0 (18 KOs) 2 MASAMICHI YABUKI Japan • 20-4-0 (18 KOs) 3 ANTHONY OLASCUAGA U.S. • 12-1-0 (9 KOs) 4 +1 GALAL YAFAI U.K. • 9-0-0 (7 KOs) 5 +1 FELIX ALVARADO

C (VACANT) 1 RENE SANTIAGO

Argentina • 18-1-0 (9 KOs)

Puerto Rico • 16-4-0 (9 KOs)

2 DAVID JIMENEZ

2 THANONGSAK SIMSRI

Costa Rica • 18-1-0 (12 KOs)

Thailand • 40-1-0 (35 KOs)

3 PHUMELELA CAFU

3 CARLOS CANIZALES

S. Africa • 11-1-3 (8 KOs) +1 ANDREW MOLONEY Australia • 29-4-0 (18 KOs)

Venezuela • 28-3-1 (20 KOs)

4 KYOSUKE TAKAMI

-1 CHRISTIAN MEDINA Mexico • 27-4-0 (19 KOs) -1 DAIGO HIGA Japan • 21-3-3 (19 KOs)

Japan • 10-1-0 (8 KOs)

5 SHOKICHI IWATA

-1 TOMOYA TSUBOI Japan • 3-0-0 (2 KOs) 6 RICARDO MALAJIKA

Nicaragua • 42-5-0 (35 KOs) +1 MIEL FAJARDO Philippines • 14-3-2 (12 KOs) +1 JOSELITO VELAZQUEZ Mexico • 23-1-1 (15 KOs)

Japan • 16-2-0 (13 KOs)

6 RIKU MASUDA

6 REGIE SUGANOB

Japan • 10-1-0 (9 KOs)

S. Africa • 17-2-0 (12 KOs) +2 ISRAEL GONZALEZ Mexico • 32-5-2 (12 KOs) -1 WILLIBALDO GARCIA Mexico • 23-7-2 (13 KOs)

Philippines • 18-1-0 (7 KOs)

7 JOSE SALAS

7 CRISTIAN ARANETA

Mexico • 17-0-0 (11 KOs) -3 ANTONIO VARGAS U.S. • 19-2-1 (11 KOs)

Philippines • 25-3-0 (20 KOs)

8 ERIK BADILLO

+1 YOALI MEJIA MOSQUEDA

Mexico • 15-0-0 (12 KOs)

Mexico • 19-0-0 (8 KOs) 9 SIVENATHI NONTSHINGA S. Africa • 14-2-0 (11 KOs) 10 MASATAKA TANIGUCHI Japan • 21-6-0 (15 KOs)

-1 TENSHIN NASUKAWA

+1 THEOPHILOUS ALLOTEY

+1 ABRAHAM R. PEREZ

Japan • 8-1-0 (3 KOs) 10 H MICHAEL ANGELETTI U.S. • 15-0-0 (8 KOs)

Ghana • 14-0-0 (11 KOs)

U.S. • 14-0-0 (7 KOs) 10 ARVIN JHON PACIONES

10 H SIKHO NQOTHOLE

S. Africa • 22-3-0 (13 KOs)

Philippines • 13-0-0 (7 KOs)

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