CHAPTER 2:
CONTENTS DECEMBER 2024
72 UNDISPUTED IN DISPUTE BETERBIEV VS. BIVOL WAS A GREAT FIGHT TAINTED BY
22 BACK INTO THE FIRE USYK-FURY II ADDS EVEN MORE DRAMA TO AN ALREADY EPIC RIVALRY By Nigel Collins 26 THE SHADOWBOXER OLEKSANDR USYK’S TOUGHEST OPPONENT ISN’T “THE GYPSY KING” By Brin-Jonathan Butler 34 THE CHALLENGER TYSON FURY SAYS NO JUDGES WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE REMATCH By Tom Gray 40 USYK VS. THE GREATS WOULD CHAMPIONS OF THE PAST TAKE THE UKRAINIAN PHENOM TO SCHOOL? By Anson Wainwright 50 REPEAT OR REVENGE BREAKING DOWN THE KEYS TO VICTORY FOR 56 CHAMPIONS CORNER HEAVYWEIGHT BOSSES PREDICT THE WINNER OF USYK-FURY II By The Ring 64 EVERYBODY WINS LOSSES BE DAMNED – ISRAIL MADRIMOV VS. SERHII BOHACHUK IS PURE GOLD By Steve Kim 68 READY TO RE-ROLL AFTER A DEVASTATING DEFEAT, ANTHONY JOSHUA IS AS CONFIDENT AS EVER By John Evans BOTH FIGHTERS By Michael Montero
CONTROVERSY By Jake Donovan
78 GREAT KNOWS GREAT JAMES EARL JONES’ PORTRAYAL OF JACK JOHNSON CREATED TWO STARS By Don Stradley 82 A FIGHTER’S DEBUT JOSH POPPER WENT THROUGH A LOT TO REACH HIS FIRST PRO FIGHT By Thomas Hauser 86 GET A GRIP CLINCHING: A FOUL TO SOME, A TACTIC TO OTHERS By Anthony Cocks DEPARTMENTS 2 OPENING SHOT 6 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 10 NEW FACES 12 BY THE NUMBERS 14 RING RATINGS PACKAGE
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76 THE FACE OF BOXING 90 WORLD BEAT 94 FROM THE ARCHIVES 97 FIGHTLINE
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY TWELVESKETCHES
OPENING SHOTS
Sandy Ryan (left) played the bull to Mikaela Mayer’s matador during their 10-round battle at Madison Square Garden, but the veteran Californian’s bullfighting skills – aided by banderilla- like jabs and a right-hand sword – carried her to a hotly contested majority decision victory and the WBO welterweight title.
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OPENING SHOTS
Face-distorting right hands like this one led to the biggest victory of Daniel Dubois’ pro career. Dubois knocked out the heavily favored Anthony Joshua in front of a British-record crowd of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium in London.
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RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer
WE’RE BACK! (PRINT IS NOT DEAD)
SPECIAL ISSUE DECEMBER 2024
FOUNDER Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972)
HIS EXCELLENCY Turki Alalshikh
W elcome to a new era of The Ring. This special issue previewing the heavyweight championship rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury is also a preview of things to come with our venerable publication. We’ve got a new owner and a new logo, as well as a new website, app and YouTube channel in the works, but what’s most exciting to me is that we’re back in print starting with the issue you now hold in your hands (feels good, doesn’t it?). The magazine has a new format, new ongoing features and departments to debut; new artists, photographers and writers to introduce to you as we welcome back our regular contributors. It’s all brought to you by the same team that produced 58 issues between 2018-2022. Did I mention that we’re returning as a monthly magazine? We will produce a 96- page collector’s edition printed on high- quality heavyweight stock every month of 2025, plus at least one special issue outside of the monthly schedule. I should also mention that the magazine will be on sale at select retailers in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and London. It’s kind of a big deal. And we’re up for it! “Reignited” is the official title for Usyk- Fury II, and it fits for The Ring’s relaunch as well. Speaking of the big December 21 rematch, after reading Usyk’s and Fury’s exclusive Q&A interviews in this issue, there’s no doubt in my mind that the two future hall of famers will exceed the action and drama of their first fight. It could go down as one of the most significant heavyweight championship rematches in history.
Anticipated world title return bouts in boxing’s glamor division stretch back more than 100 years – James J. Jeffries’ rematch against the man he defeated to become heavyweight champ, Bob Fitzsimmons, in San Francisco on July 25, 1902, made headlines in every major newspaper in the country – so Usyk and Fury will have to produce something truly special to join the pantheon. To get an idea of the rich history that Usyk-Fury II might join, here are my choices for the 10 most significant heavyweight championship rematches of all time (listed in chronological order with the defending champion’s name first, followed by the result in parentheses):
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Douglass Fischer
SENIOR EDITOR Brian Harty
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lamar Clark
CONTROLLER Deborah L. Harrison
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Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey September 22, 1927 (UD 10)
Phone: 818-286-3101 rngcs@magserv.com
The infamous “Long Count” bout was a blockbuster event. More than 100,000 fans gathered at Soldier Field in Chicago to witness Dempsey’s attempt to regain the title from the man who ended his legendary reign one year prior. He came close in Round 7 but some neutral corner confusion and Tunney’s amazing resolve prevented him from making history. However, the rematch made financial history as the official gross receipts of the event totalled $2,658,660 (a record at the time). Tunney’s share from the live gate almost totalled $1 million ($990,445), a nice raise from his challenger’s guarantee of $200,000 from their first encounter. Dempsey took home $425,000 (plus $25,000 from the film rights). Not bad for an underdog challenger (although promoter Tex Rickard still made more with his share of the profits, which exceeded $550,000).
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THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410), Special Issue (DECEMBER 2024), is published 12 times per year by Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11209 and additional post offices. Postmasters: Send change of address notices to: The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept., PO Box 16027, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6027, Phone: 818-286-3101; rngcs@magserv.com. Single copy price $8.95 in U.S.A. and Canada (£5.99 in the U.K.). Subscription price U.S. and possession $39.99 for 12 issues including Canada. Mexico add $5. All remaining countries add $10 for 12 issues per year. Not responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope bearing the proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2024 Sports and Entertainment Publications, 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@sepublications.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 Canada.
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Marciano epitomized “blood and guts” during his rematch with the great Ezzard Charles.
Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling June 22, 1938 (KO 1)
The title wasn’t on the line in their first fight, when a young Louis was taken to school by the former champ from Germany, but it was in the rematch. America held its collective breath as the Brown Bomber, by then the defending champ, sought revenge in front of more than 70,000 fans at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The rise of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich in Europe cast an ominous and foreboding shadow over the U.S., while the Nazi leader’s designation of Schmeling as an Aryan figurehead added to Louis’ motivation and his role – backed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt – as an American hero.
he was revered as the toughest son of a gun in boxing. His two bouts with Charles proved it. The first fight was a grueling 15-round battle that took a toll on both heavyweights. The rematch, which took place at Yankee Stadium before 34,000 fans just three months later, wasn’t as competitive early on as Marciano bossed the aging former champ around the ring. However, the fight took a turn in favor of Charles when Marciano suffered a vertical cut on his nose in Round 6. The cut worsened in Round 7, and began to look like Marciano’s nose would split in half if the bout continued, but the champ was given one more round by referee Al Beri, because, hey, he’s Rocky! Marciano did what great fighters (and great punchers) do in Round 8 – he closed the show. The bout, The Ring’s Fight of the Year, was broadcast on radio, TV and in closed-circuit theaters. Both fighters took home significant shares from the gate as well as the TV money. Ingemar Johansson vs. Floyd Patterson June 20, 1960 (L-KO 5) Patterson was absolutely crushed by the hard-punching Johansson in their
first fight, downed seven times in three rounds. However, the popular New Yorker struck first in the rematch, which took place in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in NYC, and Patterson made history as the first former heavyweight champion to regain the title. The bout, which was The Ring’s choice for Fight of the Year, was a profile in modern boxing economics. The bulk of revenue came not so much from the gate (which grossed a respectable $824,814), but rather radio and TV (both domestic and foreign), and from movie and closed-circuit theater rights. The gross closed-circuit revenue totalled more than $2.2 million.
The bout lasted less than a round but grossed a little over $1 million. However, this fight wasn’t about money. Louis’ victory came to symbolize courage and hope in the face of tyranny and the coming World War. Joe Louis vs. Jersey Joe Walcott June 25, 1948 (KO 11) Louis’ last hurrah. After being thoroughly outboxed, dropped twice and embarrassed en route to an undeserved 15-round split decision in their first meeting, Louis set out to redeem himself in front of 42,000-plus at Yankee Stadium. The aging American hero suffered an early flash knockdown and was once again troubled by the challenger’s unorthodox ring brilliance, but Louis kept the pressure on until he caught Walcott in the 11th, ending the fight in his brutal inimitable fashion. It was Louis’ 25th and final title defense. Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles September 17, 1954 (KO 8) Marciano is remembered for retiring undefeated and dying in a tragic airplane crash, but during his reign
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston May 25, 1965 (KO 1)
This is the one rematch on this list that wasn’t a big event yielding substantial ticket receipts, which isn’t to say that it wasn’t anticipated. However, for a number of reasons – Liston’s reputed mob ties, Ali’s involvement with the Nation of Islam, death threats, rumors of fight fixing, etc. – the rematch of the 1964 Upset of the Year couldn’t find a major city or venue in the U.S. to host it. The bout took place in an auditorium
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It was a snake- bitten event with a controversial ending, but Ali-Liston II produced one of the indelible sports images of the 20th century.
Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson June 28, 1997 (DQ 3)
“The Bite Fight.” What else can be said about this surreal rematch, the catalyst to Tyson’s turning full heel? Let’s talk money. The event, which took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, broke revenue records, grossing more than $17 million from the gate and garnering almost 2 million PPV buys (amounting to close to $100 million). Holyfield was paid $35 million (a record). Tyson was paid $30 million (a record for a title challenger, although he had to pay a $3 million fine for nibbling Holyfield’s ear).
Lennox Lewis vs. Holyfield November 13, 1999 (UD 12)
usually reserved for high school sports (St. Dom’s Youth Center) in Lewiston, Maine. The result: one chaotic and controversial round. It was too weird for referee Jersey Joe Walcott, who needed Ring Magazine editor Nat Fleischer to call it off from ringside. Liston’s reputation never recovered from what many believed was a dive. At least the fight generated one of the most famous moments ever captured on film.
this classic post-fight comment: “... the judges, the referees and promoters can kiss me where the sun don’t shine, and because we’re on HBO, that’s my big, black behind.”
Lewis’ back was against the wall after having to settle for an absolutely corrupt split-draw with the celebrated American veteran in March. Holyfield brought his A-game (or as much as his aging body could muster) to the immediate rematch, held at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, but the Englishman was up to the task, battling it out to the final bell. The clear unanimous decision for Lewis delighted the 5,000 British fans in attendance, who loudly celebrated their newly crowned undisputed champion. The gate generated $16.8 million, while the PPV broadcast brought in 850,000 buys. (Side note: This was the first heavyweight championship that I covered and I can’t believe it was 25 years ago!) Honorable Mentions (same deal as the previous 10: chronological order, defending champ’s name first, result in parentheses):
Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield November 6, 1993 (L-MD 12)
The bizarre Fan Man incident aside, this rematch equaled the fast-paced, high-volume action of their first bout, an instant classic won by a young and inspired 235-pound Bowe. The version of Big Daddy that entered the ring for the rematch was just as formidable but not as well-conditioned, weighing in at 246 pounds. Holyfield also put on some weight (going from 205 for the first bout to 217), and unlike Bowe, it was all muscle. The Real Deal put it to good use, took the fight to the bigger man (at the behest of new trainer Emanuel Steward) and gutted out a razor-thin majority decision to the delight of the 14,000 assembled outside of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The bout generated a $5.8 million gate and 950,000 pay-per-view buys, which helped make it The Ring’s Event of the Year (and yeah, Fan Man was part of the entertainment value that led to that award).
Michael Spinks vs. Larry Holmes April 19, 1986 (SD 15)
History was on the line in their first showdown: Holmes was set to equal Marciano’s mythic 49-0 mark and Spinks aspired to be the first light heavyweight champ to win the heavyweight crown. Father Time, fitness guru Mackie Shilstone and Spinks’ herky-jerky rhythm led to the razor- thin unanimous decision upset, which led to the rematch. Pride was on the line in this one, most of it belonging to Holmes, who was mad and motivated to fight like the bigger man. He did, and won in the eyes of most observers, but still lost a narrow split decision on the official scorecards, which prompted the now thoroughly jaded Holmes to provide HBO’s Larry Merchant with
Schmeling vs. Jack Sharkey June 21, 1932 (L-SD 15)
Their first bout ended in controversy as Schmeling won the title on a foul (a low blow he couldn’t recover from), the first time in history the biggest prize in
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RINGSIDE
bird’s-eye view of Rahman splayed out on the canvas only made Lewis’ KO more memorable.
sports was won via DQ. The rematch, held at the Garden Bowl in Long Island City, New York, before 61,000, was equally controversial – this time because nobody apart from two of the judges thought Sharkey deserved to have his hand raised after 15 rounds. Louis vs. Billy Conn June 19, 1946 (KO 8) Their first bout was an all-time classic. The return bout, which took place five years later, was an all-time letdown. Both fighters were diminished following their four-year USO service during World War II, but the naturally bigger man had more left in the tank, and the punch is the last thing to go on an aging fighter. The fight, staged in front of more than 45,000 at Yankee Stadium, is notable as the first time a heavyweight title bout was broadcast live on TV (NBC).
Shavers, one of the great heavyweight punchers, delivered arguably the hardest punch ever landed on a champion that didn’t knock him out. Hall-of-fame sportswriter Doug Krikorian says it’s the LOUDEST punch he ever witnessed from ringside. But Holmes did what great boxers do in those situations: He got off his ass and got back to work en route to a late stoppage.
Holyfield vs. Ruiz March 3, 2001 (L-UD 12)
I was ringside for this one, too, also held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It wasn’t the most interesting contest, but Ruiz’s points victory (punctuated by an 11th-round knockdown) made him the first Latino heavyweight world titleholder. It also spelled the end of Holyfield as a legit title threat, although he’d stick around for another decade.
Frank Bruno vs. Tyson March 16, 1996 (L-TKO 3)
A deer-in-the-headlights Bruno (who was hyperventilating BEFORE the bout began) was no match for even the faded, post-prison version of Iron Mike, who regained the same green WBC belt he won at the record age of 20. The bout, held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, did a $10.6 million gate and garnered 1.37 million PPV buys (generating $58.3 million).
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Chris Byrd April 22, 2006 (L-TKO 7)
Two years after being written off following his KO loss to Lamon Brewster, Klitschko began his hall-of- fame-clinching second reign against his undersized familiar foe. He went on to make 18 defenses of the IBF title he lifted from Byrd, adding the WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine belts to his collection during a 9½-year unbeaten streak.
Leon Spinks vs. Ali September 15, 1978 (L-UD 15)
Holyfield vs. Michael Moorer November 8, 1997 (RTD 8)
Ali was an old 36 when Leon Spinks outhustled him over 15 rounds to take the heavyweight crown in February 1978. Spinks was a 1976 Olympic champ but also a 10-1 underdog due to his inexperience (seven pro bouts). Ali, a shell of his former greatness, couldn’t keep up with the 24 year old. However, his pride and spirit – along with a jab- and-grab strategy – was enough to regain the title an unprecedented third time in front of 63,352 inside the Superdome in New Orleans. The indoor record crowd produced a $4.8 million gate (another record), while an estimated U.S. audience of 90 million watched the bout live on ABC (yet another record). Ali’s last hurrah was seen by an estimated worldwide audience of 2 billion.
This stoppage, which avenged a 1994 points loss to the sullen southpaw, unified the IBF and WBA belts and enabled Holyfield to win The Ring’s Fighter of the Year award for the third time (in back-to-back years).
Wilder vs. Fury February 22, 2020 (L-TKO 7)
Like Lewis-Holyfield, this rematch followed a controversial draw verdict (although not as egregious). Unlike Lewis-Holyfield II, this one was not competitive as Fury steamrolled Wilder, dropping the unbeaten WBC beltholder twice before the American’s corner waved it off midway through Round 7. The emphatic victory earned Fury his second Ring Magazine title and co- Fighter of the Year honors. So, there’s 20 heavyweight title rematches for you. Some are great, some are not so great, but all are significant in my view. If you disagree with any of my choices or think I left out an important rematch, please let me – and Ring Magazine readers – know via email at comeoutwriting@gmail.com. If you have strong opinions on anything boxing related, share them with us. Your words will be immortalized in print!
Hasim Rahman vs. Lewis November 17, 2001 (L-KO 4)
Man, was I wrong about this matchup. I figured the Baltimore-bred American, who shocked Lewis seven months earlier in South Africa, had the Englishman’s number as well as his heart (after out- grappling him during an ESPN studio scuffle). But Lewis reminded all of us American haters that he’s arguably an all-time great with the manner he dispatched Rahman. The internet was still “new media” at this time, so only newspaper guys were on the floor. MaxBoxing.com colleague Steve Kim and I witnessed the fight from an auxiliary media sky box inside the Mandalay Bay Event Center, but the
Holmes vs. Earnie Shavers September 28, 1979 (TKO 11)
Their first bout was an uneventful 12-round WBC title eliminator won by Holmes, but the belt he earned with his epic battle vs. Ken Norton the previous year was on the line in the rematch and it almost changed hands in Round 7.
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NEW FACES By Anson Wainwright David Nyika
“It was more an accumulation of punches, but it was a left rip to the body that put him down,” Nyika told The Ring. “We had expected to break him down in Rounds 4, 5 and 6 as opposed to 2, 3 and finishing him in 4. That was kind of a light bulb moment for me, where I felt like I did exactly what I was supposed to do, given the quality of opponent in front of me.” WORST NIGHT: The 29-year- old was overconfident in his third fight (UD 5 Karim Maatalla) in June 2022. “The Karim Maatalla fight was a bit more of a test than I expected,” he admitted. “Karim had a pretty ordinary record (2-1, 2 KOs) and I was starting to believe my own hype a little bit, coming from [training alongside Tyson Fury], putting a few dents in some big characters in the U.K. and coming back and expecting to do well. “I was trying to punch holes in Karim, not knowing him very well. I found out pretty quickly that he was super tough.” Despite the miscalculation, Nyika says working with pro boxer-turned- trainer Noel Thornberry has been crucial to his own transition from the amateurs. “Starting to work with Noel, I realized I was developing a style that was going to take me all the way.” WHAT’S NEXT: It should be noted that Nyika’s most recent fight (in mid-September) was a step up against former light heavyweight title challenger Tommy Karpency (31-9-1, 19 KOs). Yes, the American is now 38, past his prime and has been relatively inactive, but he’s an experienced southpaw who has shared the ring with five world titleholders. The tantalizing question for the distant future is whether the 6-foot-6 New Zealander could take a shot at heavyweight. At the time of publication, however, he had nothing scheduled. WHY HE’S A PROSPECT: As a standout amateur, Nyika won gold at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and lost to the eventual silver and gold medalists at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, respectively. He won a bronze medal at the
BEST NIGHT: Nyika shined on the big stage while bludgeoning the previously unbeaten Michael Seitz to a fourth-round knockout on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk- Tyson Fury I. He had his chin tested early on while holding off a bullish Seitz, but he stamped his authority on the fight once he realized his German opponent couldn’t hurt him. Despite Nyika’s substantial height and reach – things that would allow him to fight from a safer distance – he was eager to get in close and do damage.
Age: 29 Birthplace: Hamilton, New Zealand Weight class: Cruiserweight Height/reach: 6-foot-6 (198 cm)/79 inches (201 cm) Amateur record: 85-13 Turned pro: 2021 Pro record: 10-0 (9 knockouts) Trainer: Noel Thornberry Manager: Noel Thornberry Promoter: Duco Events and Thornberry Promotions Instagram: @davidnyika
SCOUTING REPORT CARD: Boxing Skills: B Nyika has good skills and solid fundamentals, which come from his amateur pedigree, but he needs to make the most of his size and jab to reach the “A” level. Power: B+ He gets good leverage and snap on his punches, but we have yet to see how that translates at a higher level. Speed: B He is a good athlete with fluid punch flow and movement. Potential: A He ticks all the boxes as a fighter and definitely looks like he could make the step to becoming a cruiserweight attraction in his home region. From there, the world opens up. Ring IQ: A He’s smart, and you can see that by talking to him and understanding that while many would blindly follow the Fury camp, he knew it wasn’t for him and went his own way. In the ring, that self-awareness shows as an ability to acknowledge and learn quickly from his mistakes. Overall Package: B+ He’s a well-rounded, good boxer with solid power for a cruiserweight. He appears to take a good shot and is one of if not the brightest hope in the cruiserweight division coming through.
country’s favorite pastime – rugby – but it wasn’t for him. “I was just too small,” he said with a tinge of irony, given the specimen he has become. “I’d always had a fascination with martial arts. My dad was a bit of an encyclopedia when it comes to boxing. He grew up watching all the greats, but his dad would never let him take part in a combat sport, so when I started showing interest, he was really excited to be a part of that process of finding a gym and getting to know a coach.” With that in mind, he began his journey at 14. “I always felt like I had a point to prove, having an older brother to chase around and always compete against,” he said. “If we were at the dining table, I was trying to eat more. If we were running around the block, I was trying to beat him. Having that chaser’s mentality, I think that’s what drove me to be the competitive athlete I am today.” After turning professional in February 2021, he quickly headed to the UK and joined Tyson Fury’s training camp. His six-month stay was a turning point. “Going there and training like the world champ, it was helpful, but it wasn’t for me,” he said. “I love to run. I love the heat; I need the heat. The cold over there got to my bones. Being in the warm Queensland Australia weather under the sun, on the roads, I run about 40 kilometers a week. I can run and I get so much from it. ... Running with bigger guys, I didn’t feel I was maximizing that special attribute. “Having the available sparring, the body sparring, the whole mentality in that camp was they are fighting men. I felt like I was more of a competitor. Training with the Furys, I realized right away this is the fight game. This is the hurt game. Tyson pulled me up really, really early and let me know where I was lacking, and a lot of it was my intent around fighting and how and why you do what you do. I’m starting to realize this is not tiddlywinks. I’m not trying to outscore guys, I’m trying to out-man them and break them down.” Nyika has relocated to Gatton, a rural town in northeast Queensland. His partner is his coach’s daughter, Lexi. He works part-time as a caretaker at an apartment complex, which keeps him grounded. He enjoys the quiet country life and enjoys spending time outside in the warm weather tending to his garden.
2020 Tokyo Olympics. Nyika has had excellent sparring with Chris Billam-Smith, Lawrence Okolie and Joshua Buatsi, among others, and has been in camp with Tyson Fury, stablemate Joseph Parker and rising force Martin Bakole. He has also spent a lot of time with Ring and IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who he first met at the 2011 Junior World Championships. “I think the next year he went to the London Olympics,” Nyika said. “I was a late bloomer. I was still a child back then. He’s been a unit since a very young age. I’ve matured like a fine wine, if I don’t say so myself. (laughs) “I definitely see him as a future opponent. We don’t spar anymore. I think I’ve got enough intel and insight to know where his strengths and weaknesses are. I believe Jai is without doubt the best cruiserweight in the world today, and I’m on my way to disrupt the party.” Similar to others who fought at cruiserweight before going on to success at heavyweight, Nyika is able to fight at a high pace. He is an avid runner and uses that to build his endurance. He has the height and frame to easily match the men in boxing’s top division, but he still has much to do and achieve at 200 pounds. WHY HE’S A SUSPECT: The most apparent issue is that Nyika gives up space and allows his opponent inside, where he trades with them. While that makes for more exciting fights, he should perhaps temper the urge and explore keeping his opponents honest behind a strong jab. We’ve seen it, and it could be a very, very difficult tool for his opponents to get past, if honed. “I think the biggest challenge moving forward is believing in myself, understanding and truly believing in the hard work I’m putting in,” said Nyika. “I think it’s a Kiwi thing. We don’t like to stick our head above others, and at some point you have to actually recognize your own strength and power to change the world, and I think recognizing that will be the difference. Moving forward, I want to keep building on my own belief.” STORYLINES: Nyika hails from Hamilton in New Zealand’s North Island. In his first year of high school, he tried his
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BY THE NUMBERS: Abe Attell by Don Stradley When Abe Attell died in 1970, Edwin Pope of the Miami Herald claimed the 87-year-old “never missed a drink or a party. He was the worst kind of advertisement for clean living.” Indeed, Attell was a little man who lived large. Here’s his story by the numbers…
21 title defenses »
Sources differ over Attell’s exact number of title defenses, but there is no denying that he was a fighting champion. The
11 years as America’s top featherweight » Attell won a 20-round decision over Johnny Reagan in a bout that was, again, for the vacant title, but the featherweight picture was still muddled. A loss to Tommy Sullivan ended whatever claim he had on the title in 1904. Attell finally won legitimate recognition as champion by beating Jimmy Walsh in 1906. With the crown now firmly on his head, Attell seemed unbeatable for the next six years. • Along with being a master boxer, Attell could brawl and slug with anybody. He could also be a first-class cheater, never meeting a rule he couldn’t bend. International Boxing Hall of Fame credits him with 21 defenses during his second reign. Some bouts during his somewhat less official first term were also billed as title fights, so his exact total of successful defenses may always be a subject for debate. Some of the fighters who tried and failed to take Attell’s crown include Benny “Kid” Solomon, Eddie Kelly and Owen Moran. • Johnny Kilbane, whom Attell had defeated in 1910, eventually beat Attell for the title in 1912. From 1901 to 1912, there was hardly a better man at featherweight than Abraham Washington Attell of San Francisco. He was only 18 when he scored a 15-round decision over the highly regarded George “Little Chocolate” Dixon in 1901. The bout was billed as being for the vacant featherweight title, though Attell’s status as champion was tenuous. In 1903, Attell was so dominant at featherweight that he occasionally stepped up in weight to take on bigger challenges. He twice fought Oscar “Battling” Nelson, a vicious lightweight described by one writer as “shovelhead,” which gives an idea of both his appearance and fighting style. Their first bout was a no-decision contest in 1905, which the press gave to Attell. Their second fight took place at the San Francisco Coliseum in 1908 and was declared a 15-round draw. The verdict seemed fair to most observers. • “Where Nelson was the aggressor throughout the sensational struggle, Attell showed the greater skill as a boxer,” reported the San Francisco Call and Post. • Attell, of course, thought he won handily. • “I was never in danger during any stage of the contest,” Attell boasted, “and I finished up fresh.” 1 draw with Battling Nelson »
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1 World Series scandal » Attell was accused in 1920 of helping fix the infamous 1919 World Series. He was said to have worked behind the scenes with gangster Arnold Rothstein to pay members of the Chicago White Sox to lose the series against Cincinnati. • Could he have been involved? It is possible. As great as he’d been in the ring, Attell was crooked in spirit, known for occasionally throwing a fight to gain a more lucrative rematch. He also admitted to having bet on certain opponents to go the distance in a fight, and then carrying them to the finish. He knew all the angles and he played them. Moreover, Attell was a notorious gambler. There was even a time where he served as Rothstein’s bodyguard. • When Attell was indicted along with several members of the White Sox, he denied being part of such a big operation. He claimed he was accused solely because he was friendly with the team and happened to know some gamblers. In a startling example of legal brio, Attell’s attorney argued that there was no proof that his client was the same man identified by the players as “Abe Attell.” • He never appeared in court and the state’s attorney allowed his case to lapse, but Attell was forever linked with perhaps the biggest scandal in professional sports history. At one point, Attell vowed to reveal the names of all who were involved, but he never did. For the remainder of his life, he’d artfully duck any questions about the 1919 series. If it was brought up, he’d change the subject immediately. Though he had a long and colorful life, there was always a cloud of dishonor hanging over boxing’s not-so-honest Abe. 171 total bouts » Or was it 154? The old Ring record books gave his record as 91- 9-13, with 53 KOs, 51 no-decision bouts and two no-contests. In recent years, however, researchers have whittled away at those totals. Historians claim Attell’s earliest recorded bouts were amateur contests and shouldn’t be counted. The truth was always malleable where Attell was concerned. 5 bouts with Jimmy Walsh » Walsh was not Attell’s most famous opponent, but their rivalry was deep. They met for the first time in Chelsea, Massachusetts, for the vacant featherweight title in February 1906. Attell won the fight, and the title, by 15-round decision. A rematch later that year in Los Angeles saw Attell win by knockout in the ninth. Attell made it three in a row the next year in Indianapolis, beating Walsh by 10-round decision. • Their fourth bout, held in Walsh’s hometown of Boston after Attell’s title reign, was a debacle. Attell couldn’t make weight and at the last minute asked for the fight to be at a catchweight. Walsh’s camp agreed, but only if the rounds were shortened to two minutes. With fans jeering the quick rounds and a gang of hoodlums running amok through the arena and smashing windows, the two old rivals boxed to a drab 10-round draw. “Attell is far from being the Attell of old,” reported the Boston Globe, “although he showed flashes of his old cleverness.” • Their final clash was a 10-round “newspaper decision” contest in 1913. The observer from the Globe noted that Attell abandoned his usual scientific style and instead “turned his attention to planting a stiff wallop.” He was aggressive throughout and had Walsh on the verge of a knockout at least twice.
2 fighting brothers » bouts and was briefly recognized as the bantamweight champion, making him and Abe the first brother duo to hold titles simultaneously. A third brother, Caesar, had 29 professional bouts. Two of Attell’s brothers were also reputable fighters. Monte Attell had a reported 137 total following any script, he had no choice but to start fighting back in earnest. Even though he was out of shape, Attell managed to turn the fight his way for several rounds. • A rematch held in August of that year ended in a 20-round draw. By the end of this seesaw battle, both men were covered in blood. Referee Jim Griffin called it “as even a match as I ever saw.” 20 rounds with Attell fought Murphy twice in 1912, each time for 20 rounds. They already knew each other well, having fought three newspaper decision contests in previous years. Their first 20-rounder took place on March 10, shortly after Attell lost the featherweight title. For the first five rounds, Murphy gave Attell a beating, though Attell started to fire back in the sixth and managed to take most of the next 10 rounds. Attell tired, however, allowing Murphy to finish strong. The result after 20 rounds was a victory for Murphy. The story, however, was just beginning. • Murphy’s camp alleged that Attell Harlem Tommy Murphy (twice!) » had approached their fighter prior to the bout with an offer of $4,000 (approximately $130,000 today) to “foul out” in the fifth and get himself disqualified. It was so the ex-champion could get a win and perhaps a rematch with Kilbane for the title. Murphy refused the offer, but no one told Attell. • Thinking the fight was in the bag for him, Attell barely trained. When the fifth round passed and Attell realized Murphy wasn’t
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Ring Ratings Analysis Through fights of October 26, 2024 • By Diego Morilla
vacant everyone was moved up one spot to make room for the return of Bakhram Murtazaliev at No. 10. But the Russian fighter would not stay there for long, riding his terrific win over Tim Tszyu on October 19 all the way to the No. 3 position while Tszyu (formerly No. 5) dropped to No. 7. JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT: Andy Hiraoka entered the top 10 at No. 9 after a stoppage win over Ismael Barroso, which crowded out No. 10-rated Gary Antuanne Russell. Hiraoka then gained another rank after Jack Catterall’s dominant win over Regis Prograis in their long-awaited matchup kicked New Orleans’ “Rougarou” out of the ratings from his No. 8 position. “El Gato” Catterall rose from No. 4 to No. 2 and Jose Valenzuela took the vacancy at No. 10. LIGHTWEIGHT: Mark Chamberlain (No. 9) exited the ratings following his loss to Josh Padley, but U.K. countryman Sam Noakes picked up the flag and planted it at No. 10 on the strength of a recent win over Gianluca Ceglia. The shift also gave former amateur standout Andy Cruz, still just 4-0, a further foothold in the division with a promotion to No. 9.
POUND-FOR-POUND: Finally it happened. The most anticipated light heavyweight showdown in years took place when Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev put
slipped from No. 9 to No. 10 as a result, while Buatsi stayed put at No. 4. Then the Beterbiev- Bivol clash happened. With No. 1-rated
Beterbiev claiming the vacant Ring belt and moving into the champion slot, everyone on the list moved up one spot, allowing room for Russia’s Ali Izmailov to enter at No. 10.
it all on the line for pride and country. And the vacant Ring Magazine belt. And depending on their performance, an
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT: Canelo Alvarez held on to his Ring championship in his traditional Mexican Independence Day weekend appearance by taking care of Edgar Berlanga in a one-sided affair. Berlanga would’ve held his position at No. 7, but then Caleb Plant re-entered the top 10 at No. 5 after beating Trevor McCumby, and everyone below him dropped down one spot. But that was just the beginning of a serious reshuffle in the division. Jaime Munguia’s stoppage win over Erik Bazinyan earned the Tijuana native a jump over Christian Mbilli into the No. 1 position, with Bazinyan slipping from No. 7 to No. 8. Later, Cuba’s William Scull defeated Vladimir Shishkin to crash into the party at No. 6, pushing Shishkin down to No. 7 and Bazinyan down another notch. Bektemir Melikuziev, sitting at No. 10, was pushed off the list entirely.
upgrade in their positions in the mythical pound-for- pound ratings.
The showdown was expected to be a 50-50 matchup, and that was reflected in the result. In the end, it was the 39-year-old Beterbiev who earned a majority decision and the undisputed championship. It was a great fight with an equally expected dose of controversy in the result. But it was more than enough to shake the rust off the dormant list of the best fighters in the world regardless of weight, with Beterbiev riding his victory to a career-best No. 4 position (rising from No. 6). After a terrific performance of his own, Bivol followed suit and climbed from No. 7 all the way up to No. 5, leapfrogging Canelo Alvarez and Jesse Rodriguez. HEAVYWEIGHT : A crossroads bout was promised, and the fighters delivered. Daniel Dubois was surely aiming to reignite his career, but he might’ve even surprised himself when he knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round. Dubois rose from No. 6 to take Joshua’s No. 2 position in the ratings, while Joshua’s four visits to the canvas in a career-threatening performance were more than enough to send him tumbling to No. 7, below Martin Bakole. Later in the month, Fabio Wardley scored a one-round demolition of Frazer Clarke in a rematch to claim the No. 10 position.
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT: Anthony Cacace outpointed Josh Warrington in a
MIDDLEWEIGHT: One of boxing’s showcase divisions is currently undergoing a transition period, and several changes took place in mid- September. Hamzah Sheeraz’s win over Tyler Denny propelled
non-title bout, but the win was more than enough for the IBF beltholder from Northern Ireland to move up one spot
to No. 4, jumping over
Sheeraz to No. 2 and pushed Denny out of the top 10, and No. 7-rated Liam Smith also lost his position due to inactivity. Newcomers Troy Isley and Shane Mosley Jr. were brought in to replace him and Denny at the bottom of the list. Among the mainstays, Erislandy Lara held onto his No. 4 spot with a stoppage win over Danny Garcia, and Kazakh powerhouse Zhanibek Alimkhanuly secured his No. 1 position with a demolition of Andrei Mikhailovich. JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT: Erickson Lubin dropped out due to inactivity after 294 weeks in our ratings, and with his No. 7 position left
Lamont Roach.
FEATHERWEIGHT: Nick Ball landed at No. 3 after his 10-round demolition job on Ronny Rios in Liverpool, with former foe Rey Vargas moving down to No. 4 seven months after their fight that ended in a draw. Argentine Olympian and blue-chip prospect Mirco Cuello finally broke in at No. 10 after Warrington (the previous No. 10) moved up in weight. Everybody on the list then got a one-spot bump after No. 1-rated Leigh Wood was dropped for inactivity, elevating Angelo Leo to the top position and allowing Bruce Carrington to enter at No. 10.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: Willy Hutchinson dropped a split decision to Joshua Buatsi and
Canelo Alvarez remained in the pound- for-pound rankings and retained the 168-pound championship with a unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga.
15
RING RATINGS ANALYSIS THROUGH FIGHTS OF OCTOBER 26, 2024
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT: Stephen Fulton (No. 1) returned to action more than one year after his loss to Naoya Inoue. Fulton’s win over Carlos Castro was at featherweight, however, so he exited and left the division needing a new boss and a new No. 10. Marlon Tapales moved up to the top position while newly crowned European champion Dennis McCann came in at No. 10. BANTAMWEIGHT: Seiya Tsutsumi’s unanimous decision win over Takuma Inoue was rewarded with a leap all the way from No. 9 to No. 3, with Inoue dropping from No. 3 to No. 5. JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT: By far the most unexpected irruption into any top 10 took place after South Africa’s Phumelele Cafu came from nowhere to No. 4 after scoring a huge upset with a razor-thin points win over the incumbent No. 4, Kosei Tanaka, in Japan. The result dropped the local legend down one spot and kicked Kenbun Torres out of the ratings. FLYWEIGHT: Former 108-pound titlist Kenshiro Teraji made his debut in the division at No. 3 with his win over No. 9-rated Cristofer Rosales, also picking up a vacant title in the process. Rosales exited the top 10, as did David Jimenez, who
now fights at 115 pounds. The latter departure opened the door for Mexico’s Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez to break back into the mix at the bottom of the list. JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT: Teraji’s move up in weight left the division’s Ring championship vacant and coincided with an overhaul of the division that was driven by a few fight outcomes. Jonathan Gonzalez abandoned his lofty No. 1 position to compete at flyweight, and Masamichi Yabuki’s concurrent win over Sivenathi Nontshinga was enough for him to pick up the mantle, rising from No. 6 to No. 1. Fighting on the same card as Teraji’s flyweight debut, Shokichi Iwata earned a jump from No. 7 to No. 2 with his third-round stoppage win over Jairo Noriega. The void left by Gonzalez’s departure was filled by fellow Caribbean boxer-puncher Erick Rosa at No. 10. STRAWWEIGHT: Knockout CP Freshmart advanced to No. 2 after an impressive 12-round majority decision over Alex Winwood. Melvin Jerusalem’s one-sided decision over Luis Castillo lifted him up one position to No. 3. Castillo exited the top 10 after the defeat, allowing for China’s DianXing Zhu to come in at the bottom of the list.
POUND FOR POUND LIST 1 OLEKSANDR USYK Ukraine • 22-0-0 (14 KOs) 2 NAOYA INOUE Japan • 28-0-0 (25 KOs) 3 TERENCE CRAWFORD U.S. • 41-0-0 (31 KOs) 4 ARTUR BETERBIEV Russia • 21-0-0 (20 KOs) 5 DMITRY BIVOL Russia • 23-1-0 (12 KOs) 6 CANELO ALVAREZ Mexico • 62-2-2 (39 KOs) 7 JESSE RODRIGUEZ U.S. • 20-0-0 (13 KOs) 8 GERVONTA DAVIS U.S. • 30-0-0 (28 KOs) 9 JUNTO NAKATANI Japan • 29-0-0 (22 KOs) 10 DEVIN HANEY U.S. • 31-0-0 (15 KOs)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 175 POUNDS
HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT UNLIMITED
CRUISERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 200 POUNDS
C CANELO ALVAREZ RING, WBA, WBC,WBO Mexico • 62-2-2 (39 KOs) 1 JAIME MUNGUIA Mexico • 44-1-0 (35 KOs) 2 CHRISTIAN MBILLI France • 28-0-0 (23 KOs) 3 OSLEYS IGLESIAS Cuba • 12-0-0 (11 KOs) 4 DIEGO PACHECO U.S. • 22-0-0 (18 KOs) 5 CALEB PLANT U.S. • 23-2-0 (14 KOs) 6 WILLIAM SCULL IBF Cuba • 23-0-0 (9 KOs) 7 VLADIMIR SHISHKIN Russia • 16-1-0 (10 KOs) 8 EDGAR BERLANGA U.S. • 22-1-0 (17 KOs) 9 ERIK BAZINYAN Canada • 32-1-1 (23 KOs) 10 LESTER MARTINEZ Guatemala • 18-0-0 (15 KOs) SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 168 POUNDS
C OLEKSANDR USYK RING, WBA, WBC, WBO Ukraine • 22-0-0 (14 KOs) 1 TYSON FURY U.K. • 34-1-1 (24 KOs) 2 DANIEL DUBOIS IBF U.K. • 22-2-0 (21 KOs) 3 JOSEPH PARKER New Zealand • 35-3-0 (23 KOs) 4 ZHILEI ZHANG China • 27-2-1 (22 KOs) 5 AGIT KABAYEL Germany • 25-0-0 (17 KOs) 6 MARTIN BAKOLE Congo • 21-1-0 (16 KOs) 7 ANTHONY JOSHUA U.K. • 28-4-0 (25 KOs) 8 FILIP HRGOVIC Croatia • 17-1-0 (14 KOs) 9 FABIO WARDLEY U.K. • 18-0-1 (17 KOs) 10 EFE AJAGBA Nigeria • 20-1-0 (14 KOs)
C JAI OPETAIA RING, IBF
C ARTUR BETERBIEV RING, IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO Russia • 21-0-0 (20 KOs) 1 DMITRY BIVOL Russia • 23-1-0 (12 KOs) 2 DAVID BENAVIDEZ U.S. • 29-0-0 (24 KOs) 3 JOSHUA BUATSI U.K. • 19-0-0 (13 KOs) 4 ANTHONY YARDE U.K. • 26-3-0 (24 KOs) 5 ALBERT RAMIREZ Venezuela • 19-0-0 (16 KOs) 6 CALLUM SMITH U.K. • 29-2-0 (21 KOs) 7 OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK Ukraine • 20-2-0 (16 KOs) 8 DAVID MORRELL Cuba • 11-0-0 (9 KOs) 9 WILLY HUTCHINSON U.K. • 18-2-0 (13 KOs) 10 ALI IZMAILOV Russia • 12-0-0 (8 KOs)
Australia • 26-0-0 (20 KOs) 1 CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH WBO U.K. • 20-1-0 (13 KOs) 2 NOEL GEVOR MIKAELYAN WBC Armenia • 27-2-0 (12 KOs) 3 GILBERTO RAMIREZ WBA Mexico • 46-1-0 (30 KOs) 4 ALEKSEI PAPIN Russia • 18-1-0 (17 KOs) 5 RICHARD RIAKPORHE U.K. • 17-1-0 (13 KOs) 6 ARSEN GOULAMIRIAN France • 27-1-0 (19 KOs) 7 MICHAL CIESLAK Poland • 27-2-0 (21 KOs) 8 RYAN ROZICKI Canada • 20-1-0 (19 KOs) 9 YAMIL PERALTA Argentina • 17-1-0 (9 KOs) 10 CHEAVON CLARKE U.K. • 10-0-0 (7 KOs)
JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 154 POUNDS
WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 147 POUNDS
JR. WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 140 POUNDS
MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 160 POUNDS
C (VACANT) 1 ZHANIBEK ALIMKHANULY IBF, WBO Kazakhstan • 16-0-0 (11 KOs) 2 HAMZAH SHEERAZ U.K. • 21-0-0 (17 KOs) 3 CARLOS ADAMES WBC Dom. Rep. • 24-1-0 (18 KOs) 4 ERISLANDY LARA WBA Cuba • 31-3-3 (19 KOs) 5 CHRIS EUBANK JR. U.K. • 34-3-0 (25 KOs) 6 MEIIRIM NURSULTANOV Kazakhstan • 20-0-0 (11 KOs) 7 ETINOSA OLIHA Italy • 21-0-0 (9 KOs) 8 KYRONE DAVIS U.S. • 19-3-1 (6 KOs) 9 TROY ISLEY U.S. • 13-0-0 (5 KOs) 10 SHANE MOSLEY JR . U.S. • 22-4-0 (12 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 TERENCE CRAWFORD WBA U.S. • 41-0-0 (31 KOs) 2 ISRAIL MADRIMOV Uzbekistan • 10-1-1 (7 KOs) 3 BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV IBF Russia • 23-0-0 (17 KOs) 4 SEBASTIAN FUNDORA WBC, WBO U.S. • 21-1-1 (13 KOs) 5 VERGIL ORTIZ U.S. • 22-0-0 (21 KOs) 6 SERHII BOHACHUK Ukraine • 24-2-0 (23 KOs) 7 TIM TSZYU Australia • 24-2-0 (17 KOs) 8 JESUS RAMOS U.S. • 21-1-0 (17 KOs) 9 CHARLES CONWELL U.S. • 20-0-0 (15 KOs) 10 BRIAN MENDOZA U.S. • 22-4-0 (16 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 JARON ENNIS IBF
C TEOFIMO LOPEZ RING, WBO U.S. • 21-1-0 (13 KOs) 1 DEVIN HANEY U.S. • 31-0-0 (15 KOs) 2 JACK CATTERALL U.K. • 30-1-0 (13 KOs) 3 JOSE RAMIREZ U.S. • 29-1-0 (18 KOs) 4 LIAM PARO IBF Australia • 25-0-0 (15 KOs) 5 ALBERTO PUELLO WBC Dom. Rep. • 23-0-0 (10 KOs) 6 SUBRIEL MATIAS Puerto Rico • 20-2-0 (20 KOs) 7 JOSH TAYLOR U.K. • 19-2-0 (13 KOs) 8 ANDY HIRAOKA Japan • 24-0-0 (19 KOs) 9 RICHARDSON HITCHINS U.S. • 18-0-0 (7 KOs) 10 JOSE VALENZUELA WBA U.S. • 14-2-0 (9 KOs)
U.S. • 32-0-0 (29 KOs) 2 EIMANTAS STANIONIS WBA Lithuania • 15-0-0 (9 KOs) 3 MARIO BARRIOS WBC U.S. • 29-2-0 (18 KOs) 4 DAVID AVANESYAN Russia • 30-5-1 (18 KOs) 5 BRIAN NORMAN JR. WBO U.S. • 26-0-0 (20 KOs) 6 GIOVANI SANTILLAN U.S. • 32-1-0 (17 KOs) 7 SHAKHRAM GIYASOV Uzbekistan • 16-0-0 (9 KOs) 8 ALEXIS ROCHA U.S. • 25-2-0 (16 KOs) 9 JIN SASAKI Japan • 18-1-1 (17 KOs) 10 RAUL CURIEL Mexico • 15-0-0 (13 KOs)
FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 126 POUNDS
LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 135 POUNDS
JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 130 POUNDS
JR. FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 122 POUNDS
C (VACANT) 1 GERVONTA DAVIS WBA U.S. • 30-0-0 (28 KOs) 2 VASILIY LOMACHENKO IBF Ukraine • 18-3-0 (12 KOs) 3 WILLIAM ZEPEDA Mexico • 31-0-0 (27 KOs) 4 SHAKUR STEVENSON WBC U.S. • 22-0-0 (10 KOs) 5 DENYS BERINCHYK WBO Ukraine • 19-0-0 (9 KOs) 6 RAYMOND MURATALLA U.S. • 21-0-0 (16 KOs) 7 KEYSHAWN DAVIS U.S. • 11-0-0 (7 KOs) 8 FRANK MARTIN U.S. • 18-1-0 (12 KOs) 9 ANDY CRUZ Cuba • 4-0-0 (2 KOs) 10 SAM NOAKES U.K. • 15-0-0 (14 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 EMANUEL NAVARRETE WBO Mexico • 38-2-1 (31 KOs) 2 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER U.S. • 22-3-0 (12 KOs) 3 OSCAR VALDEZ Mexico • 32-2-0 (24 KOs) 4 ANTHONY CACACE IBF Ireland • 23-1-0 (8 KOs) 5 LAMONT ROACH WBA U.S. • 25-1-1 (10 KOs) 6 JOE CORDINA U.K. • 17-1-0 (9 KOs) 7 HECTOR LUIS GARCIA Dom. Rep. • 16-2-0 (10 KOs) 8 ROBSON CONCEICAO WBC Brazil • 19-2-1 (9 KOs) 9 EDUARDO NUNEZ Mexico • 27-1-0 (27 KOs) 10 ALBERT BATYRGAZIEV Russia • 12-0-0 (8 KOs)
C (VACANT) 1 ANGELO LEO IBF
C NAOYA INOUE RING, IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO Japan • 28-0-0 (25 KOs) 1 MARLON TAPALES Philippines • 39-4-0 (20 KOs) 2 MURODJON AKHMADALIEV Uzbekistan • 12-1-0 (9 KOs) 3 SAM GOODMAN Australia • 19-0-0 (8 KOs) 4 LUIS NERY Mexico • 35-2-0 (27 KOs) 5 LIAM DAVIES U.K. • 16-0-0 (8 KOs) 6 ALAN PICASSO Mexico • 30-0-1 (16 KOs) 7 TJ DOHENY Ireland • 26-5-0 (20 KOs) 8 ELIJAH PIERCE U.S. • 20-2-0 (16 KOs) 9 RAMON CARDENAS U.S. • 25-1-0 (14 KOs) 10 DENNIS MCCANN U.K. • 16-0-1 (8 KOs)
U.S. • 25-1-0 (12 KOs)
2 NICK BALL WBA
U.K. • 21-0-1 (12 KOs)
3 REY VARGAS
Mexico • 36-1-1 (22 KOs)
4 LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ Mexico • 30-3-0 (17 KOs) 5 RAFAEL ESPINOZA WBO Mexico • 25-0-0 (21 KOs) 6 BRANDON FIGUEROA WBC U.S. • 25-1-1 (19 KOs) 7 RAYMOND FORD U.S. • 15-1-1 (8 KOs) 8 ROBEISY RAMIREZ Cuba • 14-2-0 (9 KOs) 9 MIRCO CUELLO Argentina • 14-0-0 (11 KOs) 10 BRUCE CARRINGTON U.S. • 13-0-0 (8 KOs)
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