January 2026

JANUARY 2026

The Ring Magazine - The Bible of Boxing, January 2026 • Volume 103, No. 1

66 ALL-OUT WAR NO FEELING-OUT PROCESS, NO TACTICAL APPROACH – GEORGE FOREMAN VS. RON LYLE WAS ALL ABOUT DOING DAMAGE By Tom Gray 72 HELLRAISER BATTLING SIKI WAS KNOWN AS A TROUBLEMAKER AND PROVOCATEUR – POSSIBLY TO THE POINT OF GETTING HIM KILLED By Don Stradley DEPARTMENTS 4 OPENING SHOTS 7 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 14 BERNSTEIN ON BOXING By Al Bernstein 17 STEVE’S SOAPBOX By Steve Kim 20 BY THE NUMBERS By Don Stradley 23 RING RATINGS 54 PROSPECT WATCH By Michael Rosenthal 76 PROMOTER SNAPSHOT By Adam Abramowitz 80 REMEMBERING ALEX WALLAU By Jim Lampley

RIYADH SEASON BOXING

32 QUARTER MASTERS RANKING THE TOP POUND-FOR- POUND FIGHTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY (SO FAR) By Brian Harty 46 WINNER IN PLAIN SIGHT HARD-HITTING ENGLISHMAN FABIO WARDLEY IS NOW POISED FOR HIS GREATEST-EVER CHALLENGE – AND WE’VE LEARNED TO NOT WRITE HIM OFF By Dom Farrell

56 JUNIOR MIDDLE GROUND A POTENTIALLY ERA-DEFINING FIGHT BETWEEN JARON ENNIS AND VERGIL ORTIZ JR. IS NEARING IGNITION IN THE 154-POUND DIVISION By Corey Erdman 62 SWEET SUCCESS WHEN OPPORTUNITY CALLED, CHERNEKA JOHNSON ANSWERED IN SPECTACULAR FASHION, ENSURING BIGGER NIGHTS TO COME By Anthony Cocks

82 FIGHT OF FANTASY By Anson Wainwright 84 COLLECTOR’S SHOWCASE By Dan Rafael 86 THE FIGHT DOCTOR By Dr. Margaret Goodman 89 A SLICE OF BOXING By Thomas Hauser 92 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER By Randy Gordon 94 FINISHING SHOTS 96 FIGHTLINE

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OPENING SHOT DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS: In November, Vergil Ortiz Jr. was in scintillating form when blasting out Erickson Lubin in two rounds at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Southpaw Lubin made the mistake of going to the ropes early in Round 2, which invited the home fighter to let his hands go with a devastatingly accurate assault, punctuated by a series of rights. Lubin was out on his feet when referee James Green jumped in to save the stricken fighter from further punishment.

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RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer WITNESSING GREATNESS

January 2026 Volume 103, No. 1

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

Subscription Inquiries Back Issues Inquiries Digital Orders Inquiries The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept. PO Box 16027 North Hollywood, CA 91615-6027

N ot long after I moved to Southern California, more than 30 years ago, I was honored to get to know two former contenders of boxing’s golden age – Ray Barnes and Paul Andrews – as I made my way through the many boxing gyms in the greater Los Angeles area. Barnes, a Ring-rated middleweight in the late 1940s and early ’50s, went 10 spirited rounds with Sugar Ray Robinson in 1950. Andrews, a Ring- rated light heavyweight and heavyweight during the mid-1950s, dropped Ezzard Charles in a hotly contested 10-round split-decision loss in 1955. They faced other future Hall of Famers – Barnes fought Cocoa Kid, while Andrews took on Harold Johnson (twice) and Joey Maxim – but I was most delighted by their tales of sharing the ring with two of the all-time pound- for-pound greats. Robinson carried an unfathomable 108-1-2 record into his fight with Barnes. Charles had taken

Lunch with Larry Merchant is always a boxing history lesson.

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Send Editorial Comments To: comeoutwriting@gmail.com or P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209

Rocky Marciano to the brink in back-to- back brutal title bouts the year before he fought Andrews. What was it like facing a living legend? I had to know, and they had no problem telling me. Barnes and Andrews are no longer with us and I miss our conversations. These days, the oral history of the golden age (and subsequent decades before my time) is passed on to me by those who witnessed it from outside of the ring – Larry Merchant, Doug Krikorian and Dave Schwartz. Merchant, who will be 95 in February, made a name for himself as a sports columnist during the 1950s and ’60s. He was ringside for legendary bouts involving Robinson, Kid Gavilan, Emile Griffith, Nino Benvenuti, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston and other Hall of Famers long before his 35-year stint

THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410) January 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 16027, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6027, Phone: 818- 286-3101; rngcs@magserv.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 self- addressed 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 and the UK.

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RINGSIDE

cover story. I’ve got Manny Pacquiao at No. 1, Bernard Hopkins a lot higher, and Gennadiy Golovkin made my top 10. But the order doesn’t really matter. The fact is there are several great fighters who shined during the past generation, too many to limit to a top 10. The fighters who didn’t make the cut are bona fide legends: Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Winky Wright, Joe Calzaghe, Wladimir Klitschko, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Nonito Donaire, Sergio Martinez. The criteria for pound-for-pound rankings varies. Natural talent, skill set, technique and dominance often factor in, but I focused entirely on accomplishments and quality of opposition with extra credit given to those who reached No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings and those who earned Ring and Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) awards, such as Fighter of the Year. Keep in mind I only took into account accomplishments from 2000 on. What they did in the 1990s, if they were active that decade, doesn’t count. Check out my top 10 list of the best boxers since 2000: 1. Manny Pacquiao – From 2001-2010, the PacMan won world titles in an unprecedented seven divisions – junior featherweight to junior middleweight. He earned Ring championships at featherweight, junior lightweight and junior welterweight by defeating fellow future Hall of Famers Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton. Other Hall of Famers that Pacquiao defeated include Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto (for his first title at welterweight), Erik Morales (twice) and Tim Bradley (twice). Other notable victories include Keith Thurman (setting the record for oldest welterweight titleholder in 2019), Adrien Broner,

with HBO. Krikorian, who is 82, is a former sportswriter for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and Long Beach Press-Telegram. The Southern California icon covered Larry Holmes’ championship reign and every bout between The Four Kings. Schwartz, a nonagenarian like Merchant, isn’t media. He’s the founder of Rent-A-Wreck car rental company and a good friend. His father took him to his first boxing card in 1946 and he’s been a hardcore fan ever since. Schwartz has seen Robinson, Carlos Ortiz, Jose Napoles, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and prime Mike Tyson from the arena seats. I see Schwartz at least once a week, usually at the Santa Monica College track where we talk about boxing’s current events before Dave quizzes me with historical trivia. (Feel free to join us via my Instagram on most Sundays.) Longtime friend and colleague Steve Kim coordinates monthly get-togethers with Merchant and Krikorian. It’s lunch with Larry at the Water Grill in Santa Monica and dinner with Doug at Phil Trani’s steakhouse in Long Beach. Veteran manager Gary Gittelsohn, noted author and commentator Mark Kriegel and film producer Alan Swyer often join us with Merchant. Respected trainer Rudy Hernandez, retired publicist John Beyrooty, former NBA player Mychal Thompson and a motley crew of boxing lifers and degenerates often congregate with us at Phil Trani’s. Trust me, each gathering would make for a fun and educational podcast, especially the recollections of the “great old days” from the three elder statesmen. However, this issue’s cover story on the pound-for-pound best of the past 25 years is a reminder that I’ve witnessed my fair share of greatness. I covered every fighter who made the cover story’s top 10, as well as most of the KO artists and fights of the 21st century listed in the sidebars. My top 10 is slightly different from the consensus ranking presented in the

Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, Jessie Vargas, Lucas Matthysse and Oscar Larios. Amazingly, Pacquiao reentered The Ring’s welterweight rankings following his draw with Mario Barrios in 2025 at age 46. He was the first Filipino boxer to reach No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings, The Ring’s 2006, 2008 and 2009 Fighter of the Year, and was selected as the Fighter of the Decade (2000s) by the BWAA. 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. – From 2002-2012, Mayweather won world titles in four divisions, including The Ring lightweight championship (by narrowly defeating Jose Luis Castillo). He added Ring welterweight and junior middleweight championships in 2013 by outpointing Robert Guerrero and Canelo Alvarez. Mayweather defeated fellow Hall of Famers Pacquiao, Shane

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RINGSIDE

for the longest middleweight title reign (10 years). From 2006-2014, Hopkins was an elite-level light heavyweight despite being in his 40s. He won The Ring light heavyweight championship by outclassing Antonio Tarver in 2006, set the record for oldest world titleholder in any weight class (46) by outpointing Jean Pascal in their 2011 rematch, then broke his own record by decisioning Tavoris Cloud at age 48 in 2013. Hopkins is also the oldest boxer to defend and unify world titles. He faced 21 Ring-rated fighters from 2000-2016, including five Hall of Famers (Trinidad, De La Hoya, Winky Wright, Joe Calzaghe and a faded Roy Jones Jr.) and 10 Ring champs (Jones, De La Hoya, Wright, Calzaghe, Tarver, Glen Johnson, Kelly Pavlik, Jermain Taylor, Jean Pascal and Chad Dawson). He was The Ring’s 2001 Fighter of the Year and reached No. 1 in the pound-for-pound rankings. 4. Naoya Inoue – The Monster won world titles in four weight classes from 2014-2023, including Ring championships at bantamweight and junior

from 2014-2025, including Ring championships at lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight and super middleweight. He’s the only male three- division undisputed champion of the four-belt era and the only four-division Ring champ in history. His signature victories include Canelo Alvarez, Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, Viktor Postol, Israil Madrimov and Ricky Burns. Crawford earned the BWAA’s 2014 Fighter of the Year award and is the frontrunner for The Ring’s 2025 honor. He’s currently No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings. 6. Roman Gonzalez – From 2007-2016, Chocolatito won world titles in four weight classes – strawweight, junior flyweight, flyweight and junior bantamweight. He was Ring

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Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Diego Corrales. Other notable victories include Zab Judah, Marcos Maidana (twice), Genaro Hernandez and Jesus Chavez. He was The Ring’s 2007 Fighter of the Year and was selected as the Fighter of the Decade (2010s) by the BWAA. 3. Bernard Hopkins – From 2000-2005, Hopkins solidified his status as the finest middleweight champion of his generation. In 2001, he defeated Felix Trinidad to become the first undisputed champ since Marvin Hagler. Three years later, he was crowned the first undisputed champ of the four- belt era (in any weight class) when he stopped Oscar De La Hoya. Hopkins set the middleweight title defense record (20) in 2005, as well as the record

featherweight. He’s a two-division undisputed champion (at 118 and 122 pounds) and will likely have made six defenses of the unified junior featherweight titles by the time this issue sees print. Inoue’s signature victories include Nonito Donaire (twice), Stephen Fulton, Omar Narvaez, Ryoichi Taguchi, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Luis Nery, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Marlon Tapales, Juan Carlos Payano and Adrian Hernandez. He’s won Ring awards for 2018 and 2019 KO of the Year, 2019 Fight of the Year and 2023 Fighter of the Year, and he is the first Japanese fighter to reach No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for- pound rankings.

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champ at flyweight and Ring-rated No. 1 in the other three divisions. He has faced 18 Ring-rated fighters since 2007, including Ring champs Juan Francisco Estrada, Akira Yaegashi and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and respected world titleholders such as Brian Viloria, Carlos Cuadras, Edgar Sosa, Julio Cesar Martinez, Francisco Rodriguez Jr., Katsunari Takayama and Kal Yafai. The only definitive loss of his career – in my humble opinion – is the KO he suffered in his rematch with Sor Rungvisai. He is the first Nicaraguan boxer to reach No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings. 7. Oleksandr Usyk – From 2013-2014, while fighting on the road and often in his opponent’s home country, Usyk collected every major world title (including Ring belts) at

both cruiserweight and heavyweight to become a two-division undisputed champion. His notable victories include Tyson Fury (twice), Anthony Joshua (twice), Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev, Daniel Dubois (twice), Tony Bellew, Marco Huck, Michael Hunter, Thabiso Mchunu and Krzysztof Glowacki. Usyk was The Ring’s 2018 and 2024 Fighter of the Year and twice reached No. 1 in The Ring’s pound- for-pound rankings. 8. Andre Ward – From 2004-2017, Ward climbed to the top of the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, unifying world titles and earning Ring championships in both weight classes. His notable victories include fellow Hall of Famer Carl Froch, Sergey Kovalev (twice), Mikkel Kessler, Chad Dawson and Arthur Abraham. Ward was The Ring’s 2011 Fighter of the Year, and he reached No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for- pound rankings. 9. Gennadiy Golovkin – From 2014-2022, Golovkin engaged in 14 world title bouts as The Ring’s No. 1-rated middleweight. He unified three major belts and only came up short against Canelo Alvarez – via controversial split draw and majority decision loss – in two hotly contested, high-profile

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10. Vasiliy Lomachenko – From 2014-2018, Lomachenko won world titles in three divisions – featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight. He won his first world title in his third pro bout. At lightweight, he earned the Ring championship and unified three major belts. Lomachenko faced 17 Ring-rated fighters (in just 21 pro bouts), including Jorge Linares, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, Gary Russell Jr., Orlando Salido, Jose Pedraza, Nicholas Walters and George Kambosos. He was The Ring’s 2017 Fighter of the Year and the first Ukrainian boxer to reach No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings. Well, that’s my top 10. Let me know what you think by emailing comeoutwriting@gmail.com, or you can hit me up anytime on X or Instagram @dougiefischer.

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showdowns before regaining two titles. Golovkin, who was in The Ring’s middleweight rankings for 11 years (2011-2022), faced 16 Ring- rated fighters, including Alvarez, Daniel Jacobs, Daniel Geale, David Lemieux, Ryota Murata, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Martin Murray, Matthew Macklin and Curtis Stevens. His rematch with Alvarez was The Ring’s 2018 Fight of the Year, and he was the first boxer from Kazakhstan to reach No. 1 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings.

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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING

Subriel Matias vs. Dalton Smith is a world title fight to savor.

for a title don’t come easily. A loss could set him back significantly. Matias victims like Jeremias Ponce, Shohjahon Ergashev and Batyr Jukembayev never quite regained their top contender status after losing in dramatic fashion to Matias. No one, however, will ever suggest that Smith lacks self-belief. A career of success fuels that. So he feels the scenario that befell those other fighters is unlikely for him. He calls himself a “nightmare matchup” for Matias. Matias was considered the boogeyman of the 140-pound division after he won the vacant IBF title against Ponce and defended it against Ergashev in violent, thrilling fights in 2023. Then the upset loss to Paro burst that bubble. Even his WBC title-winning effort against Alberto Puello did not put to rest the idea that the boogeyman label was no longer appropriate. He gave us a glimpse of that “old” Matias in a win over talented contender Gabriel Valenzuela in a thrilling match earlier in 2025. If defending a world title is not enough of a motivation for Matias, there is also an important marketing goal. To enhance his status and improve his commerce in boxing, he wants and perhaps needs to produce a winning effort that harkens back to his exciting past. Some wonder if, at age 33, after some hellacious wars, he is still a feared 140-pounder. 3. The Fight. About 75% of the reason I chose to write about this match as opposed to others is simply the delicious nature of this matchup. Usually when you really, really, really think a match will be very good, it ends up being very good. Most people who know boxing really, really, really think this one will be very good. I have announced six of the last nine fights of Matias. I love announcing his matches because I usually know exactly what will happen and it allows me to

be prepared. Yes, they are predictable, but in a wildly exciting way. First of all, he loses the first round – almost always. Oftentimes he loses the first round really badly. And sometimes, like in the Ponce and Ergashev fights, it looks like he might not make it to Round 2. But he always does. Then, in Round 2 or 3, no matter what kind of beating he took, he starts to take over the fight. Most fighters simply can’t resist battering Matias in the first round, luring themselves into a slugfest, which is what he wants. The men who have done well against Matias have done so with guile more than strength. Paro’s win and Puello’s close decision loss were fashioned from not taking the bait early. They both won the first round easily but did so while boxing and starting to create an off- tempo, in-and-out approach in which standing in the pocket for an extended period was not part of the plan. If you stand and trade with Matias, you will lose – at least it has been so to this point in his career. Smith is a power-puncher to be sure, but he has a measured offense until he feels he has a fighter hurt. Then he takes more risks. Now, that alone does not mean he will have success against Matias, because often fighters think they have him hurt and yet he ends up taking them out when they take too many risks. Smith’s previous work suggests he might have the discipline not to do that. The question will be whether Smith’s mobility allows him to employ lateral movement and change angles enough to keep the always forward-charging Matias off-balance – while Smith is providing offense of his own. Here is where things get really interesting. It is likely at some point this fight will reach a place where Smith is forced to trade. He is not a holder or a runner or an awkward boxer who creates an off-rhythm fight. He is the definition of a boxer-puncher. He has never faced a pressure fighter like Matias, not to mention a fighter on Matias’ level. He will at some point have do to battle. When that happens,

and depending how long it happens for, we will get the answer to two questions. First, is Smith the one who can do what other talented and dangerous fighters have not been able to do – hurt Matias enough in a firefight to win the match? That is quite possible. If it happened it would be partially due to Smith’s power and accuracy and partially due to the wear and tear on Matias from so many pitched battles. Second, should Smith have faced slightly better competition to prepare himself for this moment? Will the talent and power gulf between his previous opponents and Matias be too much? A couple of wild card strategy points: Smith often lunges in with his right hand, leaving himself open to a counter left hook. Matias has one of the best left hooks in boxing and can counter with it. Smith is such a good body puncher (as Jose Zepeda will attest to) that he could land something there against Matias that would materially change this fight. Perhaps my zeal for the Xs and Os of this fight come through to you. I hope so. This match is fascinating on many levels. Champions come and go quickly. Matias defended his IBF title once before losing it. He’ll try to better that with the WBC strap – which actually qualifies as a long title reign at 140. Consider this recent history: The WBA 140-pound title was won by Rolly Romero on May 15, 2023. He lost it in his first defense to Isaac Cruz, who lost it in HIS first defense to Jose Valenzuela, who promptly lost it in his very next fight to Gary Antuanne Russell. When Matias lost his IBF title after one defense to Liam Paro, the Australian fighter turned around and lost it in his first defense to Richardson Hitchins. Given all that, it is best for everyone to simply concentrate on the moment on January 10. Whether a successful title defense is made or yet another crown changes hands, we will see two quality fighters face each other in an almost can’t-miss battle. That is enough to give the first quarter of 2026 more than a fighting chance.

Commonwealth and European titles. He has the potential to be a world champion and a force in this division and maybe others for at least a half decade or more. Matchroom Boxing has carefully guided his career and he has in return done his part by winning impressively. It has been a straight line from amateur champ to prospect to contender – and now, they hope, champion. Only the machinations of boxing governing bodies have slowed the process. For the 33-year-old Matias, the path to this fight has been anything but a straight line. He is on his second go-around as a world titleholder. The career of this Puerto Rican whirlwind has been filled with drama inside and outside the ring. He has dealt with the death of a fighter he beat in the ring (Maxim Dadashev), an upset loss to Liam Paro in a match that his new promoter, Matchroom Boxing, set up as a homecoming coronation. Even getting to his boxing career was a difficult route, involving criminal activities as a youth that led to his suffering a gunshot wound and serving a prison term. But boxing changed that, and he now is a husband with three daughters and is a world titleholder who despite these ups and downs has dazzled boxing fans with his exciting style. 2. Smith’s mission statement in this fight is to show that he is THAT guy – the one that his steadfast promoter and legion of fans believe is destined to be a champion and one of Great Britain’s shining lights on the boxing stage. He goes into this match, however, untested by upper-echelon fighters in his weight class. In a division loaded with talent, these opportunities

EXPECT THE PREDICTABLE By Al Bernstein

T here are a number of solid matches on the docket for early in 2026. So it was a hard choice when I decided to do my column on a match that I see as kind of a North Star that would set boxing off in the right direction for its yearlong journey. It might be suggested that my neverending fascination (some might say obsession) with the junior welterweight division made my selection inevitable. I settled on the January 10 WBC 140-pound title match between beltholder Subriel Matias and challenger Dalton Smith. I think this fight embodies all of what we hope we will get more of in 2026. We look for a number of things in a match that makes us count down the days to the first bell. We want an interesting journey to the match, high

stakes for the winner and a fight that looks like it could be an all-action affair in the ring. And, let me throw in an additional enticement: While it is shown on a subscription platform, it is NOT a pay-per-view card. So it looks like the poster child of what boxing fans want more of in 2026. 1. The Journey. These fighters arrived at this match differently and find themselves at different points in their careers. For the 28-year-old Smith, this fight is his coming-out party on the world stage. The pride of Sheffield, England, has solid amateur credentials, then as a pro was unwavering in his march through the best that Europe can offer at 140 pounds – winning the British,

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RINGMAGAZINE.COM 15

STEVE’S SOAPBOX

A NOBLE MISTAKE By Steve Kim

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C oming into his October 25 bout versus Fabio Wardley, Joseph Parker held the WBO interim heavyweight title (along with being rated second in the division by Ring Magazine). By virtue of his interim status, he was theoretically in line to face undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. But those dreams were seemingly dashed after he was stopped in somewhat controversial fashion by the resilient Wardley in the 11th round. Some have criticized Parker’s decision to take this fight, especially against a dangerous up-and-comer like Wardley. If there’s one thing the relatively inexperienced Wardley can do, it’s bang. In his previous bout in June, he was down big against Australian Justis Huni, a highly touted prospect in his own right, before he brought out the eraser to score a dramatic 10th-round KO. It says here that Parker was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. It’s not certain just where the 33-year-

In an upset, Fabio Wardley (right) came from behind to finish Joseph Parker.

Wardley being upgraded to titleholder), he can just lean on his status as the Ring champion and target the biggest fight possible. I choose to credit Parker for being a fighter. What happened to him is nothing new. Back in 1993, Tommy Morrison was coming off a victory over George Foreman for the WBO belt (which at the time was not considered a major title at heavyweight). After a tune-up victory over Tim Tomashek, a deal was in place for “The Duke” to square off against respected WBC champ Lennox Lewis in the first quarter of 1994. All he had to do was get past the handpicked, supposedly light-hitting and “chinny” Michael Bentt. “We had an $8 million deal to face Lennox Lewis – and it was done,” Tony Holden, who worked in various capacities with Morrison throughout his career, told The Ring. “The problem was it was months down the road. You can’t hold Tommy that long, because he

old Kiwi goes from here. My view is that Parker should be given credit for actually getting out there and fighting, and beyond that for actually taking a risk. In a sport where risk mitigation is 98% of the business, this was actually refreshing to see. But it does leave you wondering: Was indiscretion the better part of valor? Was Parker better off just waiting around for Usyk, or at least taking a far less dangerous foe? Yeah, he might have been involved in a 2025 Fight of the Year contender, but is that plaque worth as much as the payday he would’ve been in line to receive for facing Usyk? But here’s the kicker: Given Usyk’s well-earned status, there really was no guarantee that Parker was ever going to get that bout. And now that Usyk has vacated the WBO strap (resulting in

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RINGMAGAZINE.COM 17

STEVE’S SOAPBOX would self-destruct. Tommy was great in camp when it started. He worked hard, but when that was over and the boxing was over, that meant he had time on his hands. “So that’s when the Bentt fight came into play.” Back in that era, boxers were much more active. Morrison fought five times in 1993, after performing six times the previous year. By this stage of his career, he was no longer a developing prospect but a highly marketable heavyweight contender who was making significant money. But he was not beyond taking stay-busy bouts to keep himself sharp and, as Holden noted, out of trouble. Bentt was known for having a solid amateur career but was thought to be a safe choice as cannon fodder for Morrison. Coming into that contest, Bentt’s record was a rather pedestrian 10-1 (5 KOs). “I didn’t pick Bentt, but I think the reason [for picking him] was Bentt had no power,” Holden recalled. Taking place in October 1993, the bout came just two months after the Tomashek fight. This was about keeping Morrison preoccupied before the Lewis showdown. “Money had nothing to do with it – I mean, even though there was a good payday,” said Holden, who now resides in Bali. “HBO picked it up. I put it in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bob Arum was the promoter, but I set up the fights.” Morrison, like Mike Tyson, was managed by Bill Cayton, who, during his association as Tyson’s co-manager alongside the late Jim Jacobs, believed that a busy boxer was one that stayed out of harm’s way. “[Cayton] never let anything go and never knew when to be cautious,” recalled Arum, whose company featured Morrison a multitude of times on ESPN on his way up the ladder. “He asked us to do a fight for Tommy prior to him doing this big, big fight with Lennox Lewis.” While it was a tune-up bout, this was still part of a high-profile event that also featured James Toney vs. Tony Thornton in front of a sizable throng that came

Morrison’s capitulation against Bentt cost him millions of dollars.

out to see Morrison. As the fight was being previewed by HBO, Larry Merchant said these rather ominous words to Jim Lampley: “[Lewis’] people can’t understand why this fight is happening. After all, this is the year in which two heavyweights who had a chance to make big money in title fights, Ray Mercer and Alex Garcia, both lost to potential ‘setups.’” Mercer was upset by Jesse Ferguson with a title shot looming versus Riddick Bowe, while Garcia squandered his opportunity to face George Foreman by getting stopped in two by Mike Dixon. “But Tommy Morrison himself wants this fight,” continued Merchant. “I think he thinks he has to beat a fighter like this to prove to himself he can take on a boxer like Lennox Lewis. But there are a lot of nervous people here, and we’ve seen stranger things happen.” As the fight began, Morrison marched forward and immediately backed up Bentt along the ropes, where he buzzed him early on. But to his credit, Michael bent but he did not break. It was a sharp right off the ropes that first stunned Morrison, eventually leading to the first knockdown. Morrison never truly recovered and he was sent down two more times. Referee Danny Campbell had no choice but to

wave off the fight. “I was completely stunned. It was a fight that we didn’t want to do,” stated Arum. “We vehemently opposed that fight taking place, because you never know. You had a huge payday – why jeopardize it? But Cayton was a ‘genius.’” Left to pick up the pieces was Holden. According to him, “Everybody left [Morrison]. It was just me and [trainer] Tom Vergets.” Instead of fighting for $8 million, Morrison’s next bout was for $60,000 in Biloxi, Mississippi, with Tui Toia. But the truth of the matter is that Morrison was never quite the same guy. Regardless, his career marched forward. “I learned to keep pushing on,” said Holden. “And guess what? We ended up getting the Lennox Lewis fight.” Morrison would get halted in six rounds by Lewis in October 1995, but for significantly less money than originally planned. Again, credit to Parker for getting out there, but the reality is that all losses have consequences.

18 RINGMAGAZINE.COM

BY THE NUMBERS:

controversial win over Chuck Davey » Unfortunately, no television cameras were on hand at the Olympic to record the 1954 bout between Aragon and Davey. By most accounts, it was an excellent fight, with the boyish Davey boxing smartly and Aragon slamming away with only his right hand, having injured his left early in the bout. The crowd, already prone to hating Aragon, felt Davey was ahead by the end of 10 rounds. When the split decision was announced in Aragon’s favor, the 10,400 in attendance erupted in what one reporter called “a scene of pandemonium never before equaled at a local arena.” The California Boxing Commission immediately suspended referee Mushy Callahan and ringside judge Joe Stone, both of whom scored the contest for Aragon. The L.A. Mirror, scholars in exaggeration, called Aragon’s win “the most disputed verdict in the history of California boxing.” In the same breath, the Mirror declared the “decision wasn’t that atrocious. It was a matter of differing between sporadic but convincing explosions and steady, sparkling science.” Convinced his sporadic explosions had been enough to win, Aragon was unapologetic, claiming Davey did nothing but run all night. As for the post-fight commotion, Aragon was surprised. “But something always happens when I’m involved in the fight,” he said. “We make front-page headlines every time.” The Mirror, by the way, had two writers on press row. One scored the bout a draw, the other saw it for Aragon. Meanwhile, the Valley Times had it for Davey by one point but added, “it was Art Aragon who made it. Without Aragon chasing Davey, it would’ve been a dull affair …”

total bouts » Aragon was a typical busy fighter of the post-war years, compiling a record of 90-20-6 with 62 KOs. Along with a willingness to brawl, he possessed the sort of charisma that can’t be taught, earning the nickname “Golden Boy” long before Oscar De La Hoya’s time. Fighting almost exclusively in Los Angeles, having grown up there after moving from New Mexico, he became a staple of both the Legion Stadium in Hollywood and the Olympic Auditorium. An all-action lightweight and welterweight, Aragon scored wins against the likes of Lauro Salas, Chico Vejar, Teddy “Redtop” Davis, Enrique Bolanos (twice) and future titleholder Don Jordan (twice). “He was so colorful,” boxing publicist Bill Caplan once said, “and his fights were so exciting. He was a kill-or-be-killed kind of guy.” Yet Aragon’s hell-bent style, which made him the top draw in Los Angeles for many years, wasn’t enough against stylists such as Vince Martinez and Billy Graham, to whom he lost decisions. Aragon also suffered a bruising TKO loss to Carmen Basilio. That was the night the referee approached a bloody Aragon between rounds and said he was close to stopping the fight, to which Aragon responded, “What are you waiting for?”

32 years old when he retired »

fixed fight scandals » Ugly accusations tarnished Aragon’s reputation. One involved Tommy Campbell, an Illinois lightweight who testified before a state probe that he was ordered to take a dive against Aragon in their 1950 bout. Before the same government committee, Carlos Chavez also claimed he purposely lost against Aragon when they’d fought that year, taking a 10-count on his knee in the first round. Chavez had

Aragon’s last bout, fittingly, was at the Olympic in January of 1960. A new decade was dawning, and Aragon, who had started his career in 1944 at age 16, was done. The message was made abundantly clear when journeyman Alvaro Gutierrez stopped him in the ninth. The crowd, down a couple thousand from Aragon’s golden heyday, knew they were seeing him for the last time. Aragon announced his retirement in the hallway outside his dressing room. “I’m glad it’s over,” he said. In his 16 years as a pro, Aragon had done enough for two men. To paraphrase L.A. sportswriter John Hall, Aragon may not have been a great fighter, but he’d acted like one. And everyone in the city went along for the trip. Even if they booed, there was always some affection behind it. He was the man they loved to hate. In between bouts, there’d been small parts in movies and affairs with some of Tinseltown’s prettiest ladies, including B-movie bombshell Mamie Van Doren. There were also four marriages, a bunch of children and grandchildren, a conversion to Judaism and a longstanding gig as a bail bondsman in Van Nuys. He would sometimes describe boxing as a miserable business that gave him brain damage, but he’d also tell you that he missed the money and the women and those unforgettable days when he’d owned the town. It had been an astounding life. Aragon died at age 80 in 2008. According to legend, the gathering at his memorial service in the Hollywood Hills gave him a unique sendoff: They booed him one last time. He would’ve loved it.

ART ARAGON by Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt “You ever get booed by 10,000 people? It’s exciting.” So said Art Aragon. And he would know, since few fighters have ever enjoyed irritating the customers as much as this free-swinging left-hooker who fought out of East Los Angeles. Aragon had the crowd- baiting instincts of a professional wrestler, complete with a closet full of gold-colored trunks and robes, and a bevy of beautiful women at his side. If you didn’t come to the arena to jeer Aragon, you’d certainly be doing it before the fight had ended. Get ready to boo, because here’s his story by the numbers.

fights with Jimmy Carter » Nowadays, Aragon would probably win a title or two, but in his own time he received only one title shot and failed. Aragon’s 15-round decision loss to lightweight champion Jimmy Carter in 1951 earmarked him as a game if less than elite slugger. He’d earned the opportunity by beating Carter in a non- title bout earlier that year, but when the belt was on the line and the mercurial Carter was motivated, Aragon flopped. Though Aragon was still standing at the finish, there was no doubt that Carter had won. The champ swept the scorecards, knocking Aragon down twice, cutting him badly around the eyes and smacking his mouthpiece out at least six times, including one moonshot that arced over the audience and landed in the sixth row. Aragon, it appeared, wasn’t championship material. Not at lightweight, anyway, where making weight was always a struggle for him. He once said, “I was the only fighter who had to be carried into the ring.” They’d meet again as welterweights in 1956, when Carter was an ex-champion on a downward skid. Aragon won on points over 10 rounds, turning in what the Los Angeles Mirror called “one of the truly great performances of his sensational career.” Carter had been masterful when a title was at stake, but Aragon could take some comfort in leading their series 2-1.

beaten Aragon easily in a previous contest but claimed he was ill with hemorrhoids for the rematch and saw “no use in getting hurt.” Later, Chavez told the Long Beach Independent, “I’d bet that 30% of Aragon’s fights were fixed for him.” It happens that 1950 was a time when Aragon was fighting a lot of “tomato cans” for L.A. promoter Babe McCoy, the focal point of the state’s investigation. Most reporters believed Aragon when he claimed to know nothing of any fixes. “It would be fair to accuse Aragon of mediocrity,” wrote Bob Panella of the L.A. Evening Citizen News, “but not dishonesty.” Carter was also rumored to have not tried in his first bout with Aragon, under orders from a Mafia figure. Aragon was later found guilty of fight-fixing charges in 1957, having allegedly bribed Dick Goldstein, an unranked fighter, to take a dive (though the bout itself was canceled on fight day). Aragon was sentenced to serve one to five years in prison. When Aragon successfully appealed, the charges were dropped.

20 RINGMAGAZINE.COM

RINGMAGAZINE.COM 21

Ring Ratings Through fights of November 15, 2025

Benn remained disciplined against a drained Eubank Jr. in their rematch.

Recent Fight Results MEN H: Fabio Wardley (No. 6,

105: Pedro Taduran (No. 2) UD 12 Christian Balunan 105: Melvin Jerusalem (No. 1) UD 12 Siyakholwa Kuse (No. 4,

105: Vic Saludar (No. 9) TKO 3 Suriya Puttaluksa

4) TKO 11 Joseph Parker (No. 2,

175: Joshua Buatsi (No. 5, 3) MD 10 Zach Parker 160: Conor Benn (in at No. 4) UD 12 Chris Eubank Jr. (No. 3,

WOMEN 160: Desley Robinson (No. 1) TKO 2 Logan Holler 154: Cecelia Braekhus (No. 1) retired

154: Vergil Ortiz (No. 1) KO 2 Erickson Lubin (No. 5, out) 147: Jack Catterall (in at No. 8) TKO 11 Ekow Essuman (No. 10, out) 147: Shakhram Giyasov (No. 5) TKO 4 Mark Urvanov 140: Lindolfo Delgado (No. 9) SD 12 Gabriel Gollaz 140: Adam Azim (No. 10, 2) TKO 12 Kurt Scoby 126: Rafael Espinoza (No. 1) TKO 10 Arnold Khegai 122: Luis Nery (No. 2) moved up 115: Andrew Moloney (No. 6) TKO 5 Pawan Kumar Arya 112: Tobias Reyes (No. 9) UD 10 Pedro Alarcon 108: Sivenathi Nontshinga (in at No. 10) KO 2 Sunday Kiwale

154: Mikaela Mayer (in at No. 1) UD 10 Mary Spencer (No. 4) 118: Shuretta Metcalf (No. 3) UD 8 Krystal Rosado-Ortiz 108: Gabriela Alaniz (No. 3) UD 10 Laura Wollenmann 105: Sarah Bormann (No. 2) SD 10 Yuko Kuroki (No. 3) 102: Tina Rupprecht (C) retired 102: Sumire Yamanaka (No. 1) UD 8 Megumi Watanabe 102: Camila Zamorano (No. 4, 2) UD 10 Sana Hazuki

RINGMAGAZINE.COM 23

MEN’S RING RATINGS Through Nov. 15, 2025 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 TERENCE CRAWFORD U.S. • 42-0-0 (31 KOs) 1 CANELO ALVAREZ

Ukraine • 24-0-0 (15 KOs)

Australia • 28-0-0 (22 KOs)

Russia • 24-1-0 (12 KOs)

1 TYSON FURY

1 GILBERTO RAMIREZ Mexico • 48-1-0 (30 KOs) 2 CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH U.K. • 21-2-0 (13 KOs) 3 MICHAL CIESLAK Poland • 28-2-0 (22 KOs) 4 RYAN ROZICKI Canada • 20-1-1 (19 KOs) 5 BADOU JACK Sweden • 29-3-3 (17 KOs) 6 NOEL MIKAELIAN Armenia • 27-3-0 (12 KOs) 7 YAMIL PERALTA Argentina • 17-1-1 (9 KOs) 8 LEONARDO MOSQUEA France • 17-0-0 (10 KOs) 9 ROBIN SIRWAN SAFAR Sweden • 19-0-0 (13 KOs) 10 VIDDAL RILEY U.K. • 13-0-0 (7 KOs)

1 ARTUR BETERBIEV

U.K. • 34-2-1 (24 KOs) +4 FABIO WARDLEY U.K. • 20-0-1 (19 KOs)

Russia • 21-1-0 (20 KOs)

Mexico • 63-3-2 (39 KOs)

2 DAVID BENAVIDEZ

2 OSLEYS IGLESIAS

U.S. • 30-0-0 (24 KOs)

Cuba • 14-0-0 (13 KOs)

3 AGIT KABAYEL

3 CALLUM SMITH

3 CHRISTIAN MBILLI

Germany • 26-0-0 (18 KOs) -2 JOSEPH PARKER New Zealand • 36-4-0 (24 KOs)

U.K. • 31-2-0 (22 KOs)

France • 29-0-1 (24 KOs)

4 ANTHONY YARDE

4 LESTER MARTINEZ

U.K. • 27-3-0 (24 KOs)

Guatemala • 19-0-1 (16 KOs)

5 DANIEL DUBOIS

5 DIEGO PACHECO

+1 ALBERT RAMIREZ Venezuela • 22-0-0 (19 KOs) +1 DAVID MORRELL Cuba • 12-1-0 (9 KOs) +1 IMAM KHATAEV Australia • 10-1-0 (9 KOs)

U.K. • 22-3-0 (21 KOs)

U.S. • 24-0-0 (18 KOs) 6 JOSE ARMANDO RESENDIZ Mexico • 16-2-0 (11 KOs) 7 CALEB PLANT U.S. • 23-3-0 (14 KOs) 8 HAMZAH SHEERAZ U.K. • 22-0-1 (18 KOs) 9 BRUNO SURACE France • 26-1-2 (5 KOs) 10 WILLIAM SCULL Cuba • 23-1-0 (9 KOs)

6 FILIP HRGOVIC

Croatia • 19-1-0 (14 KOs)

7 ZHILEI ZHANG

China • 27-3-1 (22 KOs)

8 MARTIN BAKOLE

-3 JOSHUA BUATSI U.K. • 20-1-0 (13 KOs) 9 OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK Ukraine • 21-2-0 (17 KOs) 10 WILLY HUTCHINSON U.K. • 19-2-0 (14 KOs)

Congo • 21-2-1 (16 KOs)

9 MOSES ITAUMA

U.K. • 13-0-0 (11 KOs)

10 EFE AJAGBA

Nigeria • 20-1-1 (14 KOs)

JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 154 POUNDS

C (VACANT) 1 BRIAN NORMAN JR. U.S. • 28-0-0 (22 KOs) 2 EIMANTAS STANIONIS 3 GIOVANI SANTILLAN U.S. • 34-1-0 (18 KOs) 4 ROHAN POLANCO WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 147 POUNDS

JR. WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 140 POUNDS C TEOFIMO LOPEZ U.S. • 22-1-0 (13 KOs) 1 RICHARDSON HITCHINS U.S. • 20-0-0 (8 KOs) 2 SUBRIEL MATIAS

MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 160 POUNDS

C (VACANT) 1 ZHANIBEK ALIMKHANULY Kazakhstan • 17-0-0 (12 KOs) 2 CARLOS ADAMES Dom. Rep. • 24-1-1 (18 KOs) 3 +1 YOENLI HERNANDEZ Cuba • 9-0-0 (8 KOs) 4 H CONOR BENN U.K. • 24-1-0 (14 KOs) 5 TROY ISLEY U.S. • 15-0-0 (5 KOs) 6 ETINOSA OLIHA Italy • 22-0-0 (10 KOs) 7 AARON MCKENNA Ireland • 20-0-0 (10 KOs) 8 AUSTIN WILLIAMS U.S. • 19-1-0 (13 KOs) 9 -6 CHRIS EUBANK JR. U.K. • 35-4-0 (25 KOs) 10 -1 DENZEL BENTLEY U.K. • 21-3-1 (17 KOs)

C (VACANT) 1 VERGIL ORTIZ

U.S. • 24-0-0 (22 KOs) 2 SEBASTIAN FUNDORA U.S. • 23-1-1 (15 KOs) 3 ISRAIL MADRIMOV Uzbekistan • 10-2-1 (7 KOs) 4 BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV Russia • 23-0-0 (17 KOs) 5 +1 XANDER ZAYAS Puerto Rico • 22-0-0 (13 KOs) 6 +1 JARON ENNIS U.S. • 35-0-0 (31 KOs) 7 +1 BRANDON ADAMS U.S. • 26-4-0 (16 KOs) 8 +1 JESUS RAMOS U.S. • 23-1-0 (19 KOs) 9 -1 ABASS BARAOU Germany • 17-1-0 (9 KOs) 10 H SERHII BOHACHUK Ukraine • 26-3-0 (24 KOs)

Lithuania • 16-1-0 (9 KOs)

Puerto Rico • 23-2-0 (22 KOs)

3 ALBERTO PUELLO

Dom. Rep. • 24-1-0 (10 KOs)

4 ARNOLD BARBOZA U.S. • 32-1-0 (11 KOs) 5 GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL U.S. • 18-1-0 (17 KOs) 6 SANDOR MARTIN Spain • 42-4-0 (15 KOs) 7 DALTON SMITH U.K. • 18-0-0 (13 KOs) 8 +2 ADAM AZIM U.K. • 14-0-0 (11 KOs) 9 LINDOLFO DELGADO Mexico • 24-0-0 (16 KOs) 10 -2 ANDY HIRAOKA Japan • 24-0-0 (19 KOs)

Dom. Rep. • 17-0-0 (10 KOs)

5 SHAKHRAM GIYASOV

Uzbekistan • 18-0-0 (11 KOs)

6 ALEXIS ROCHA

U.S. • 25-2-1 (16 KOs)

7 RAUL CURIEL

Mexico • 16-0-1 (14 KOs) 8 H JACK CATTERALL U.K. • 32-2-0 (14 KOs) 9 -1 MARIO BARRIOS U.S. • 29-2-2 (18 KOs) 10 -1 MANNY PACQUIAO

Philippines • 62-8-3 (39 KOs)

24 RINGMAGAZINE.COM

MEN’S RING RATINGS Through Nov. 15, 2025 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. • 24-0-0 (11 KOs) 2 GERVONTA DAVIS U.S. • 30-0-1 (28 KOs) 3 RAYMOND MURATALLA U.S. • 23-0-0 (17 KOs) 4 WILLIAM ZEPEDA Mexico • 33-1-0 (27 KOs) 5 ANDY CRUZ Cuba • 6-0-0 (3 KOs) 6 FLOYD SCHOFIELD U.S. • 19-0-0 (13 KOs) 7 DENYS BERINCHYK Ukraine • 19-1-0 (9 KOs) 8 SAM NOAKES U.K. • 17-0-0 (15 KOs) 9 ABDULLAH MASON U.S. • 19-0-0 (17 KOs) 10 LUCAS BAHDI Canada • 20-0-0 (15 KOs)

C (VACANT) 1 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER U.S. • 23-3-0 (12 KOs) 2 EMANUEL NAVARRETE Mexico • 39-2-1 (32 KOs) 3 ANTHONY CACACE Ireland • 24-1-0 (9 KOs) 4 LAMONT ROACH U.S. • 25-1-2 (10 KOs) 5 EDUARDO NUNEZ Mexico • 29-1-0 (27 KOs) 6 ROBSON CONCEICAO Brazil • 20-3-1 (10 KOs) 7 EDUARDO HERNANDEZ Mexico • 37-2-0 (32 KOs) 8 CHARLY SUAREZ

C (VACANT) 1 RAFAEL ESPINOZA

C NAOYA INOUE

Japan • 31-0-0 (27 KOs)

1 MARLON TAPALES

Mexico • 28-0-0 (24 KOs)

Philippines • 41-4-0 (22 KOs)

2 ANGELO LEO

+1 MURODJON AKHMADALIEV

U.S. • 26-1-0 (12 KOs)

Uzbekistan • 14-2-0 (11 KOs) +1 SAM GOODMAN Australia • 20-1-0 (8 KOs) +1 ALAN PICASSO Mexico • 32-0-1 (17 KOs) +1 SHABAZ MASOUD U.K. • 14-0-0 (4 KOs) +1 TJ DOHENY Ireland • 26-6-0 (20 KOs)

3 NICK BALL

U.K. • 23-0-1 (13 KOs)

4 STEPHEN FULTON U.S. • 23-1-0 (8 KOs) 5 LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ 6 BRUCE CARRINGTON U.S. • 16-0-0 (9 KOs) 7 BRANDON FIGUEROA U.S. • 26-2-1 (19 KOs) 8 MIRCO CUELLO 9 ROBEISY RAMIREZ Cuba • 14-3-0 (9 KOs) 10 NATHANIEL COLLINS U.K. • 17-0-1 (8 KOs)

Mexico • 31-3-0 (18 KOs)

+1 RAMON CARDENAS

U.S. • 26-2-0 (14 KOs)

+1 SEBASTIAN HERNANDEZ

Philippines • 18-0-0 (10 KOs)

Argentina • 16-0-0 (13 KOs)

Mexico • 20-0-0 (18 KOs) +1 SUBARU MURATA Japan • 10-0-0 (10 KOs)

9 RAYMOND FORD

U.S. • 18-1-1 (8 KOs)

10 JAMES DICKENS

10 H BRYAN MERCADO

U.K. • 36-5-0 (15 KOs)

Mexico • 32-1-0 (26 KOs)

BANTAMWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 118 POUNDS

JR. BANTAMWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 115 POUNDS

FLYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 112 POUNDS

JR. FLYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 108 POUNDS C (VACANT) 1 CARLOS CANIZALES

C (VACANT) 1 SEIYA TSUTSUMI

C JESSE RODRIGUEZ U.S. • 22-0-0 (15 KOs) 1 FERNANDO MARTINEZ

C ( VACANT) 1 RICARDO SANDOVAL U.S. • 27-2-0 (18 KOs) 2 KENSHIRO TERAJI Japan • 25-2-0 (16 KOs) 3 SEIGO YURI AKUI Japan • 21-3-1 (11 KOs) 4 MASAMICHI YABUKI Japan • 18-4-0 (17 KOs) 5 GALAL YAFAI U.K. • 9-1-0 (7 KOs) 6 ANTHONY OLASCUAGA U.S. • 10-1-0 (7 KOs) 7 ANGEL AYALA Mexico • 18-1-0 (8 KOs) 8 FELIX ALVARADO

Japan • 12-0-3 (8 KOs) 2 CHRISTIAN MEDINA Mexico • 26-4-0 (19 KOs) 3 RYOSUKE NISHIDA Japan • 10-1-0 (2 KOs) 4 TAKUMA INOUE Japan • 20-2-0 (5 KOs) 5 DAIGO HIGA Japan • 21-3-3 (19 KOs) 6 ANTONIO VARGAS U.S. • 19-1-1 (11 KOs) 7 YOSHIKI TAKEI Japan • 11-1-0 (9 KOs) 8 TENSHIN NASUKAWA Japan • 7-0-0 (2 KOs) 9 JASON MOLONEY Australia • 27-4-0 (19 KOs) 10 JEYVIER CINTRON Puerto Rico • 13-1-0 (6 KOs)

Venezuela • 28-3-1 (20 KOs)

Argentina • 18-0-0 (9 KOs)

2 KYOSUKE TAKAMI

2 KAZUTO IOKA

Japan • 10-0-0 (8 KOs)

Japan • 31-4-1 (16 KOs)

3 RENE SANTIAGO

3 CARLOS CUADRAS

Puerto Rico • 14-4-0 (9 KOs)

Mexico • 44-5-1 (28 KOs)

4 THANONGSAK SIMSRI

4 DAVID JIMENEZ

Thailand • 39-1-0 (34 KOs)

Costa Rica • 18-1-0 (12 KOs)

5 SHOKICHI IWATA

5 PHUMELELE CAFU

Japan • 15-2-0 (2 KOs)

S. Africa • 11-1-3 (8 KOs)

6 REGIE SUGANOB

6 ANDREW MOLONEY

Philippines • 16-1-0 (6 KOs)

Australia • 28-4-0 (18 KOs)

7 CRISTIAN ARANETA

7 RICARDO MALAJIKA

Philippines • 25-3-0 (20 KOs)

S. Africa • 16-2-0 (12 KOs)

8 ERIK BADILLO

8 WILLIBALDO GARCIA Mexico • 23-6-2 (13 KOs) 9 RENE CALIXTO BIBIANO Mexico • 23-1-1 (9 KOs) 10 JAYR RAQUINEL

Nicaragua • 42-4-0 (35 KOs)

Mexico • 18-0-0 (8 KOs) 9 MASATAKA TANIGUCHI Japan • 21-5-0 (15 KOs) 10 H SIVENATHI NONTSHINGA S. Africa • 14-2-0 (11 KOs)

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9 TOBIAS REYES

Argentina • 18-1-1 (16 KOs)

10 JUKIYA IIMURA

Japan • 9-1-0 (2 KOs)

Philippines • 18-2-1 (14 KOs)

26 RINGMAGAZINE.COM

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