May 2026

MAY 2026

The Ring Magazine - The Bible of Boxing, May 2026 • Volume 103, No. 5

64 THE WALK THE PATH FROM THE DRESSING ROOM TO THE RING IS A MENTAL MAZE THAT CAN DEFINE THE FIGHT TO COME By Brin-Jonathan Butler 70 LOVE OF THE GAME FOR TRAINER MANNY ROBLES, GUIDING FIGHTERS TO THEIR GREATEST VICTORIES IS THE ONLY JOB HE HAS EVER WANTED By Steve Kim 74 DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE THE RING’S NEW DIGITAL ARCHIVE HAS GIVEN BOXING FANS MORE THAN 100 YEARS’ WORTH OF STUDY MATERIAL By Cliff Rold 80 MYTHICAL MATCHUP: LISTON VS. TYSON TWO BOMBERS FROM DIFFERENT ERAS MEET TO CROWN THE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION By Ron Lipton DEPARTMENTS 6 OPENING SHOTS 13 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 18 BERNSTEIN ON BOXING By Al Bernstein 21 STEVE’S SOAPBOX By Steve Kim 24 BY THE NUMBERS By Don Stradley 27 RING RATINGS 48 PROSPECT WATCH: GURGEN HOVHANNISYAN By Manouk Akopyan 88 A SLICE OF BOXING By Thomas Hauser 90 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER By Randy Gordon 92 THE FIGHT DOCTOR

36 MAN OF THE MOMENT RYAN GARCIA REMINDED US HOW GOOD HE IS AGAINST MARIO BARRIOS, BUT WILL THIS VERSION OF “KING RY” STICK? By Don Stradley 42 DUTCH COURAGE FEW BESIDES RICO VERHOEVEN HIMSELF BELIEVE THE KICKBOXING ICON CAN UPSET THE WORLD’S GREATEST HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER By Gareth A Davies

52 NO TRASH TALK REQUIRED NEWLY UNIFIED 154-POUND TITLEHOLDER XANDER ZAYAS IS A REMINDER THAT NICE GUYS CAN STILL KICK ASS

By Joseph Santoliquito 58 CLUB FIGHTERS

FOR BOXERS IN THE U.K., BEING CONNECTED TO A LOCAL SOCCER TEAM CAN SUPPLY A READY-MADE HORDE OF FANS By Dom Farrell

By Dr. Margaret Goodman 94 FINISHING SHOTS 96 FIGHTLINE

In one of our sport’s most memorable ring walks, Floyd Mayweather dressed as Roman centurion for his fight against Carlos Baldomir in 2006.

RINGMAGAZINE.COM 1

The 6G Ringside Seat: How Every Fan Gets the Front Row

We’ve all been there. You score a ticket to the big fight, but you’re in the upper deck. You can hear the gloves pop, but for the details, you’re watching the Jumbotron. Today’s 5G networks have already changed the game. They let thousands of fans stream, share, and post from the arena without the network crashing. It’s seamless, but it’s still just watching a screen. stc group is already looking past that by shaping the technology that comes next. While the boxing world focused on the champions in the ring late last year, stc group, quietly tested the technology that will redefine how we watch them. In a pioneering move, they successfully completed the Middle East and Africa’s first trial of the 7 GHz frequency band in Yanbu, a major industrial hub on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Working alongside the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) and Nokia, stc group used the 7 GHz spectrum to benchmark the future of connectivity. Industry insiders call this the golden band for 6G. It’s the sweet spot that balances massive capacity with wide coverage. However, it is not the only band in the mix. stc group remains committed to collaborating with the CST to establish a unified Saudi vision for spectrum allocation, ensuring alignment with global developments while safeguarding national priorities.

For the engineers, using Nokia’s pre- commercial AirScale Massive MIMO radio was a technical milestone. For the fight fan, it’s the key to 6G. It opens the door to enriched immersive communications that go far beyond faster downloads. It promises to seamlessly blend the physical and digital worlds, blurring the line between the seat and the canvaImagine holding up your phone in the nosebleeds. Instead of a grainy zoom, you see a live, high-definition view from the referee’s body cam with zero lag. Imagine an instant replay that isn’t just a video loop, but a fully manipulatable 3D rendering of the knockout punch, right on your tablet. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the next- generation capability that the 7 GHz band enables. The trial in Yanbu helped stc identify the best opportunities to develop vit further. By leading this trial, stc group has positioned Saudi Arabia as a pioneer in digital advancement. The goal is seamless evolution of the infrastructure opportunity of tomorrow. For the sport of boxing, that means the best seat in the house will no longer be ringside. It will be wherever you are.

“+966” Documentary Series Showcases Saudi Identity

In today’s rapidly changing world, countries are often reduced to numbers and statistics—butwhat if a number could reveal an entire story? This is the question raised by Konoz at the Saudi Ministry of Media to support local media content—in its latest documentary project, +966. Named after the Kingdom’s international dialing code, +966 offers a direct connection to SaudiArabia’s unfolding transformation—told through the authentic voices of its people and residents,rather than through an external lens. The series features 6 short episodes exploring diverse facets of contemporary Saudi society via rich visual storytelling and a modern narrative approach that blends archival footage with in- depth interviews with experts and specialists. Its fingerprint- inspired visual identity symbolizes individuality and belonging, conveying that +966 goes beyond mere information-sharing to colorfully portray a vibrant national identity.

Each episode runs 20–30 minutes, exploring themes across the arts, anthropology, digital transformation, and cultural development— interweaving past, present, and future through grounded, reality-based narratives that reflect contemporary life in Saudi Arabia. +966 reflects the broader mission of Konoz to encourage rich documentary content by empowering local individuals and production companies to create work of a global standard. While rooted in local experiences, the series also speaks to international audiences, presenting Saudi Arabia as seen by its own people—through the lived reality and cultural depth of their stories and perspectives. More than a documentary series, +966 is a window into a rapidly evolving nation, as it moves confidently forward and shapes a future with profound awareness of its roots and unique place in the world.

OPENING SHOT ALIVE AT 175: In a brutal clash of light heavyweight fringe contenders, Najee Lopez recovered from a knockdown to take out Mexico’s Manuel Gallegos in Kissimmee, Florida, on March 13. While unloading a combination in the seventh, Lopez was suddenly dropped by a right hand in a bout that had already featured eye-popping ebb and flow. Bloodied and bruised around the right eye, the unbeaten Lopez recovered enough to unleash hell in a wild eighth. With less than a minute remaining in the session, a sharp right hand hurt Gallegos before a sustained two-fisted follow-up forced the referee’s intervention just as the stricken fighter slumped to the canvas. Some are calling it an early contender for Fight of the Year.

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RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer SUPPORT BOXING’S MIDDLE CLASS

May 2026 Volume 103, No. 5

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

INSURE LIKE A CHAMPION

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

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

T he subject of this column involves Zuffa Boxing, so before I get into the meat of it, I feel obligated to state up front that I know its co-founder, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White, is a polarizing figure within the combat sports world. I’m also acutely aware of the considerable angst the newly formed company – co-founded by Turki Alalshikh – has ignited among boxing’s sanctioning bodies, promoters, media and some fans. There are numerous reasons for the fear and loathing, some of which are merited. But suffice to say, Zuffa Boxing, a company that just started promoting this year, is already an 800-pound gorilla thanks to the financial backing of Sela Sports (a Saudi Arabia- funded conglomerate) and TKO Group Holdings (the billion-dollar parent company of the UFC and WWE). And White, a headstrong leader with an abrasive personality, likes to throw his weight around. Ring cruiserweight champ Jai

Cain Sandoval takes it to Wesley Ferrer in 2023.

Opetaia was signed to Zuffa Boxing in January, and British star Conor Benn inked a one-fight deal with the upstart company in February said to be worth $15 million. Offers were also reportedly made to Shakur Stevenson, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Anthony Joshua, and while all three declined, White’s boasts about bigger signings to come are understandably taken by major promoters as threats. Shots have been fired and battle lines have been drawn, but I’m not taking sides. I don’t approve of everything White says and does, but I think Zuffa Boxing can be good for the sport. I know I’m not a disinterested observer in all of this. Alalshikh owns The Ring. But this is my honest opinion, and my “bias” has nothing to do with who my “boss” is and everything to do with the majority of the fighters involved

Authorized by Insurance Authority.

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RINGSIDE

Daniel Barrera (right) ended 2025 with a decision over Mario Hernandez.

with Zuffa Boxing. I’m not referring to Opetaia, Benn or the handful of Ring-rated contenders (Efe Ajagba) and former titleholders (Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Jose Valenzuela, Mark Magsayo, Charles Martin) currently under its banner. I’m talking about the majority of the 93 boxers that Zuffa Boxing announced as “Signed Athletes” in a February social media post. Some are promising young up-and-comers, such as Robert Meriwether III and Floyd Diaz, but most are solid 10-round level fighters generally overlooked by the boxing media and fans. Due in part to a five-year (2021-2025) commentating gig with Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions, I recognized a bunch of the names on that list of Zuffa Boxing signees. The best- known of this group of fighters are former junior middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk and unbeaten Irish standout Callum Walsh. But the others – including Umar Dzambekov, Omar Trinidad, Cain Sandoval, Jaybrio Pe Benito, Jorge Maravillo, Adan Palma, Abel Mejia and Daniel Barrera – are only known by those who attended Loeffler’s cards in Southern California or watched the shows on UFC Fight Pass. Dzambekov (14-0, 10 KOs), a talented Austrian light heavyweight with a deep amateur background, may develop into a legit contender. But the others have likely hit their ceilings. That’s a hard reality in the current U.S. boxing landscape. The only value a limited but hard-nosed featherweight scrapper like Trinidad (20-0-2, 14 KOs) has with traditional promoters is his unbeaten record. He would be used for one or two matchups against a favored house fighter and then get discarded after a couple of losses. One of the things I like about White

ESPN). Of his next 13 bouts, from January 1988 to October 1991, nine were televised on ESPN. I’ve got four takeaways from the first half of Ward’s career (prior to a 2½-year hiatus and his hard-fought climb to HBO status): Activity – Ward fought six times in ’88 and seven bouts between ’89-’91. Tough matchups – Ward gave his all vs. Ring-rated fighters, such as Frankie Warren, Harold Brazier and Charles Murray, all of whom outpointed him over the 12-round distance. Network returns after losses – Following the loss to Curet, Ward was back on ESPN vs. Joey Ferrell (TKO 1) in January ’88. The network brought him back immediately after losses to Mike Mungin (UD 10) in September ’88 and Warren in January ’89. From April ’90 to October ’91, he lost four in a row to Brazier, Murray, Tony Martin (UD 10) and Ricky Meyers (UD 10), all televised main events. Exposure – From Curet to Meyers, 10 of 14 bouts were on ESPN. The Warren bout was on CBS and the Meyers bout was on the USA Network. This is what Zuffa Boxing promises to fighters like Sandoval, who dropped a spirited 10-round decision to Julian Rodriguez in the opening bout of its inaugural show on January 23, and Palma, who was outworked and outpointed over eight heated rounds by a determined Pablo Rubio (despite scoring two knockdowns in the third) in the opening bout to the March 8 show headlined by Opetaia- Brandon Glanton. They’ll be back, and it won’t get

is his rejection of modern boxing’s obsession with undefeated records. A UFC fighter can have losses in the double digits and still be a viable player within the organization. As long as the fighter is willing to challenge himself on a regular basis and he makes for good fights, he’ll be welcomed back – win or lose. The U.S. boxing scene used to have a

fighter. From 1986-1991, fans literally witnessed the junior welterweight from Lowell, Massachusetts, develop from the four-round preliminary bouts to 10- and 12-round main events, usually on ESPN’s “Top Rank Boxing” series. Ward won his first 14 pro bouts, nine of which were televised on ESPN, before he dropped a 10-round split decision to Edwin Curet in September 1987 (also on

place for tough fighters who fell short of world-class but could test a superior talent on a good night and, most importantly, weren’t afraid to lose. They’re sometimes called fringe contenders. White and Hall of Fame promoter Lou DiBella refer to them as boxing’s “middle class.” Right now we’ve got an upper class – blue-chip prospects and world-level boxers signed

to major promoters, managers and platforms – and an unsigned lower class made up of gatekeepers and journeymen used to pad the records of the elite. But during the 1980s and ’90s, hungry blue-collar professionals were seen in quality matchups every week on network television and basic cable. Micky Ward, prior to his legendary trilogy with Arturo Gatti, was one such

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RINGSIDE

Omar Trinidad (right) battled Lorenzo Parra to a draw in 2025.

any easier. But they’ll stay active, and their bouts will be streamed to an international audience of almost 80 million subscribers on Paramount+ (as well as wide U.K. viewership via Sky Sports). Zuffa Boxing will have promoted five shows this year by April 5. White says the company aims to promote 44 cards by the end of 2026. I know ProBox does a great job serving boxing’s middle class with quality cards streamed on their YouTube channel and app, as does Salita Promotions with its “Big Time Boxing” shows on DAZN. Golden Boy Promotions had a good developmental series from 2015-2019 showcased on

various platforms (Rubio’s first nine pro bouts were on this “L.A. Fight Club” series), as did Loeffler with his “Hollywood Fight Nights” before becoming Zuffa Boxing’s VP of Boxing Operations. But these shows operate in hardcore fan bubbles. Zuffa Boxing has the potential to reach a much larger audience with its Paramount+ partnership. The combination of White’s ambition and this OTT streaming service may be the closest thing we’ll get to ESPN’s “Top Rank Boxing” and “Friday Night Fights.” I’m not saying any of the aforementioned Zuffa boxers will

develop into the next “Irish Micky” and be involved in multiple Fights of the Year. I’ll be happy if we get a Kevin Pompey out of the bunch (under-40 readers can search him on YouTube; they’ll thank me later). I’ll also be happy knowing they’re receiving the support needed to make a living in the toughest of sports. These are good people I’ve gotten to know over the years. Now it’s your turn to get to know them.

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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING

BORN TO BE A STAR By Al Bernstein

Ray, I was not the broadcaster who was in his orbit the most in that period. I was a part of the telecasts of five Hagler fights, five Hearns battles, four Duran matches and only one for Leonard. This is not to say I didn’t have plenty of interactions with Ray and talk about his exploits on the air, but two of my colleagues (both brilliant announcers and Boxing Hall of Famers) had a closer working and personal relationship with Ray. That’s why I need to add the two other voices of Barry Tompkins and Tim Ryan to this column. They both announced a number of Ray’s fights and announced with him during that period. They have a unique perspective on this man who was such a central figure in perhaps the best overall era boxing has ever had. Barry was there when Ray had his breakthrough moment of winning the 1976 Olympic gold medal. He said, “As I was calling those fights, you just knew he was the goods. He was an amateur who had all the trappings of being a great pro. He was great in the ring and gave off an aura that was unmistakable, even at such a young age.” Leonard’s star power is a matter of record, but still, firsthand experiences tend to further buttress it. Barry has his share of these. “We were walking down a street in London and he literally became the pied piper. People started following us, and it multiplied as we went. This was not a boxing setting, just a street in London where everyone knew him and wanted to be around him,” Barry explained. He also remembered, “We were at a Lebanese restaurant in Italy that I presumed was not filled with hardcore boxing fans. Literally every person at every table knew him and could not avert their gaze or resist coming by our table to pay respects.” My favorite of Barry’s stories is this one: “One time in an arena where we were doing a broadcast, we went to the bathroom and they cleared out the bathroom for us to go inside. A few minutes later, we were leaving the bathroom and there was a crowd of close to 100 people congregating outside, and

they burst into applause.” Ray is perhaps the only person I’ve ever heard of to receive applause just for urinating. Dealing with that level of fame could be a daunting experience, but Ray has navigated it as well as any superstar ever. Barry said, “Even at the beginning when he wasn’t yet savvy enough to figure it out, he had some inbred quality that he carried with him. He handled his public as well as anyone I’ve seen. He never turned down an autograph but never stopped for long conversations; he moved on to the next person, maybe patting a youngster on the head and saying, ‘Hi, champ!’ And he always looked people in the eyes with a smile that made them feel good about the interaction. No one told him how to do this. He just knew how to be a star.” For my part, I remember doing a program with Ray and Michael Buffer at a computer conference where they did some kind of high-tech presentation with a boxing theme. We finished the program, and they had a place to do photos. There were about 400 people at this event. Every single one of them wanted a photo with Ray, and he pleasantly stood for every picture and engaged every one of them with that easy, charming demeanor that is his trademark. The process of working through all these people was long and arduous, but he did not waver. Tim explained it all this way: “He genuinely enjoys that part of his life. It was always a kick for him to be a heroic figure, and he relates well with boxing fans. He appreciates people recognizing him as a great boxer.” There was a time in our society where you had to accomplish something special to warrant the kind of attention and adulation Ray got, and it is best we not forget what made this all happen: his great moments in the ring. Tim put it succinctly: “His physical skills were, of course, amazing, but part of why he was so good is that he was so intelligent in the ring. He never felt he needed to knock every guy out – though it often happened. He was interested in winning

round.’ This was way before any fight had been signed or seriously talked about. [Three] years later, they fought and that’s exactly what he did.” What made the guile and intelligence work, however, was the innate toughness and even a mean streak he was often capable of showing in the ring. Barry remembers that when Leonard’s mentor/adviser Ollie Dunlap first discovered Ray, “he was in a fight in a pool room in which pool sticks were even involved in the scuffle, and Ollie realized something serious and life changing could happen. He ushered Ray out of there, got him in the gym and started his great career, and it started Ollie assisting and taking care of Ray in a way few others have done for somebody else. That fierceness that Ray showed in that pool hall never left him and he used it, but only in the ring.” In 2012, when Tommy Hearns was being inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame, both Ray and Marvin were there for the occasion. Back then, everyone stayed at this tiny, less-than- elegant motel that housed all these boxing superstars for the weekend. I was also being inducted that year and Ray, Marvin and Tommy were in rooms in close proximity to mine. My then- 12-year-old son, Wes, who was not then or now a boxing aficionado, was befriended by these three members of the Four Kings. They were all like uncles to him through the weekend. Wes knew they were famous but did not fully grasp that there were countless people out there who would call camaraderie with these men a once-in-a-million experience. Wes just kept telling me, “They are all such nice men.” Well, as we sat in the breakfast room at the motel the last day of the weekend, Wes took in the scene of greats milling around this room for the last time and said to me, “Dad, it seems like when Mr. Leonard is in the room, it makes everything so special to everyone. Do you think that’s true?” I told him he was right, and it is still true as Sugar Ray reaches 70. It will always be so.

You’d be hard-pressed to guess Sugar Ray’s age by looking at him.

the fight with his artistic prowess.” Barry said, “Ray was a student of the game. We’d be sitting there at ringside before our part of the broadcast went on, and he’d be watching preliminary fights dissecting what each fighter was doing well and not so well. He would predict what was about to happen and was always right.” Of all his victories in the ring, perhaps the one that was most famously crafted by guile was his upset victory by a thin margin over Hagler (well, thin everywhere except on the absurd 118- 110 scorecard of Jo Jo Guerra). This one demonstrated how the Leonard boxing IQ could come into play. Here’s Barry’s tale of that: “At the end of the Hagler-Duran fight, Duran, after losing, came and leaned over the ropes and said to Ray, ‘You can beat this guy.’ Three or four months later, when we were together, [Leonard] said to me, ‘Let’s go have lunch.’ Well, in true Ray fashion, he had chartered a boat and we cruised as we had lunch. Over lunch he told me how he would beat Marvin if they ever fought. ‘I will try and control the tempo as much as I can. And I will fight vigorously in 15-second intervals about three or four times a round – two coming at the beginning and end of the

T here are some topics that have reached their quota of discussion and new insights. The era of the Four Kings in boxing is not one of them. People continue to write books, do documentaries and television shows, discuss endlessly on social media and, yes, write magazine articles about that era and those four remarkable men. So it did not surprise me when it was suggested to me by Ring Magazine to write my column about Sugar Ray Leonard as he reaches a milestone with his 70th birthday. Yes, let that sink in – Ray is about to turn 70 (though it’s hard to accept, because he looks so much younger). Boxing

Leonard’s pro career was preceded by an equally brilliant amateur run.

fans, both young and old, still want to hear any story or anecdote about the Four Kings. The quartet of Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran continue to fascinate us. I was there in real time for this amazing period, and I was one of the main voices heard chronicling those matches and the journey of these men. I was certainly not the only voice, however. In fact, when it comes to Sugar

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STEVE’S SOAPBOX

Richardson Hitchins vs. Oscar Duarte was called off at the 11th hour.

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gain 10 pounds, which was the limit. He looked healthy. He was smiling. He didn’t look sick Saturday morning.” Out of the four major sanctioning bodies, the IBF is the only one to conduct a second weigh-in for world title bouts where the boxers have to stay within a certain number of pounds above the division limit. Everyone agrees that Hitchins, who is big for the 140-pound division, complied with the rules. What took place before and afterward is where the sides diverge. “When I was told he was pulling out of the fight, I believe it was like 2 p.m., 3 p.m., something like that. They called me and told me that he was throwing up all night. So if a fighter is sick and throwing up all night, believe me, he’s not going to gain 10 pounds,” said Garcia, who pointed out that Duarte actually had to sweat off a bit of excess weight on Saturday morning. But Keith Connolly, Hitchins’ manager, vehemently denies this. “He threw up [after the second weigh- in],” Connolly told Ring Magazine. “He ate breakfast at the MGM, he threw up multiple times after. He didn’t throw up before the weigh-in.” The manager also made it clear that any reports of food poisoning are erroneous. “[Richardson] didn’t feel well after the breakfast,” said Connolly. “I’m not a doctor; I don’t know if it was a combination of the rehydration and food, or if it was the food, if he had a violent reaction to it, I have no idea. But what I do know is that he vomited a couple of times. We waited after the first time. We were hoping he would get better, and he vomited multiple times.” Connolly bristles at the criticism his fighter is taking for making the decision to not fight on the card. “Everyone pretends to be for ‘fighter safety,’ but then when something like this happens, then we have a problem with it. Should I have put my fighter in there after he was

WEIGHTY ISSUES By Steve Kim

T he IBF junior welterweight title tilt between defending beltholder Richardson Hitchins and Oscar Duarte was one of the most anticipated matchups on the undercard of the bout between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia on February 21. Unfortunately, it didn’t take place. On the afternoon of the fight, Hitchins and his team made the decision to pull out of the contest, claiming illness after the IBF morning-of weigh-in had taken place. This left Duarte’s trainer, the normally good-natured Robert Garcia,

hot under the collar. “Look, I understand that there are fighters who do get sick, especially when the fighter is cutting weight. Their body is weaker than normal,” said Garcia, who himself was a world titleholder during his days inside the ring. “So they do get a cold. It happens to a lot of fighters. I was a boxer; it happened to me a couple of times.” He recalled, “[I was sick for] my fight against [Diego] Corrales, but I still fought. We’re fighters. I know that with Hitchins, we had a second-day weigh-in. I saw him step on the scale, I saw him

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STEVE’S SOAPBOX

either everyone should have this protocol, or nobody. There are probably boxers who have shied away from the [IBF] title because of this. When asked about the IBF hydration clause, Connolly said, “I’m not the one who has to make the weight, but I know a lot of fighters in boxing complain about it and don’t like it. But personally, I know it works for some fighters and it doesn’t work for others.” If you examine Hitchins’ career, you see that as he turned pro in 2017, he tipped the scales at 141¼ pounds and has been hovering around the junior welterweight limit

Hitchins, seen here in 2018 against Cesar Valenzuela, has been fighting around 140 for several years.

sick the day of the fight? Then [what if] he gets crushed, or worse, he gets killed? Name me a fighter that’s puked multiple times the day of the fight and fought.” It’s a valid point. But this whole situation has brought about a couple of questions. Should boxing just go back to having the boxers weigh in the morning of the fight, like they did for decades? The reality is that weigh-ins for the bigger events now take place closer to 36 hours from the time the boxers step into the ring (not the originally intended 24). And with that, many fighters squeeze themselves into smaller weight classes for the scale and then use this time to replenish their system. At one time, perhaps this was about safety. Now, in the era of the farcical “ceremonial” weigh-in, it’s nothing more than a promotional tool and a way to game the system for certain fighters. “I know there’s a lot of fighters who are in favor of [previous-day weigh-ins] because they get to eat two days in a row, stuff like that,” stated Garcia, who in the beginning of his career had to weigh in on the morning of his contests. “But it could actually be hurting you, because most of the time they just go out and eat whatever they want. They pig out and it affects them.” Reigning WBC middleweight

for about a decade. He won the title in December 2024 versus Liam Paro and made his first defense last June, stopping George Kambosos in eight. At age 28, his body is probably yearning to move up. Connolly points out that if the old system was somehow implemented, basically everyone would have to move up and you’d have a plethora of vacant titles all throughout the sport. “You’d have to alter the sport entirely.” Which also happened when weigh-ins were moved back. “I know people specifically who would’ve never been able to win the title in the weight class they won it [had the weigh-in been the same day as the fight], because they couldn’t make that weight,” said Mancini, who held the WBA lightweight title from 1982 to 1984. Several days after the cancellation of the fight, the IBF ruled that Hitchins would have to face Lindolfo Delgado, who is rated number one by the organization. Duarte, who was an optional defense, is out of luck. “I wanted to cry, because Duarte was going to become a world champion,” said Garcia, who also happens to train Delgado. “Nothing was going to stop Duarte.” Except vomiting, it turns out. (Calls to IBF President Daryl Peoples for this story were not returned.)

titleholder Carlos Adames was scratched from his late January bout versus Austin “Ammo” Williams due to an illness that was really a botched weight cut. Again, is this current system any safer for these combatants? Maybe they should just go back to the way it was. “Absolutely. I’ve been saying that forever,’’ said Hall of Famer Ray Mancini, who says on many occasions he hit the scales in the early morning and then stepped into the ring in the late afternoon for his appearances on CBS. “Fighters won’t be getting sick. They won’t be taking chances, taking the diuretics.” There is a theory that if you went back to this, fighters would just move up in weight (to where they probably belong). Garcia agrees: “I think we would all do the same with our fighters. If they’re fighting at 140, we’d probably move them up to 147, and they would be the same guys anyways. They’re all doing the same thing.” The other question surrounds the IBF rule. There is a line of thinking that

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BY THE NUMBERS: LASZLO PAPP By Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt By the time he turned professional in 1957, Laszlo Papp of Hungary was history’s most decorated amateur boxer. Unfortunately, his country’s communist government kept Papp from reaching his full potential in the pro ranks. While he remained a revered figure back home in Budapest, the world would always wonder if the greatness he’d shown as an amateur would continue in the high-stakes game of big-money boxing. Regarding Papp, they could only wonder, “What could have been?” Here’s his story by the numbers.

bouts with Peter Mueller » Papp enjoyed the best part of his pro career starting in 1961, highlighted by two knockout wins over German workhorse Peter Mueller. In 1963, Papp fought Mueller a third time and scored yet another KO win. But even as Papp racked up the victories, some critics withheld their praise. Of course, they admired Papp for being the only fighter from a Soviet bloc country to turn professional. They also acknowledged his ability as a counterpuncher. Yet there were questions about his opposition, a group described by one British sportswriter as the “aging ornaments of the European middleweight scene.”

years as European Boxing Union titleholder » Papp won the EBU middleweight laurels in May of 1962 by defeating Denmark’s Christian Christensen by seventh-round TKO. He went on to defend the belt six times, including KO wins over England’s George Aldridge and France’s Hippolyte Annex. In between defenses of his European belt, Papp scored non-title victories over two rugged but faded Americans, Randy Sandy and Charley Cotton. On October 9, 1964, in what turned out to be the final bout of Papp’s career, he scored a 15-round decision over England’s Mick Leahy. Papp knocked Leahy down four times along the way, using what one journalist called “all his vast store of craft and experience to win.” At 38, Papp was an old fighter by the day’s standard. Yet there was talk that he would challenge the reigning middleweight champion, Joey Giardello. Fate, of course, and the Hungarian People’s Republic, had other ideas. In March of 1965, Papp announced his plans to quit boxing, claiming the Hungarian government had ordered him to retire from the ring. “I’m very sorry about all this,” Papp said. “I was hoping they would change their minds, but the ruling was definite – I am not supposed to box as a professional anymore.” Naturally, Papp’s decision spawned rumors. It was said by some that Hungarian authorities thought Papp was getting too old to box and didn’t want him to suffer a loss. Others felt the government was punishing Papp because he’d refused to coach the Hungarian boxing team as they prepared for the Tokyo Olympics. A third story had to do with the government’s disapproval of Papp’s growing fame (and growing bank account). What sort of example was Papp setting for his fellow communist citizens? By traveling out of the country and getting paid to box, he was practically waving the flag of capitalism. At the time, Hungary was still an oppressive country. Less than a decade had passed since the Soviet Union crushed the Hungarian Revolution, and Soviet troops still lurked in the shadows. Political dissenters were still beaten down, while high restrictions were placed on travel to the West. The country had loosened up considerably since the Communist Party takeover in the 1940s but kept a heavy thumb on the heads of Hungarians. Papp may have had a good left hand, but he was no match for even a “soft dictatorship.” He never boxed again. unanswered question » Papp (1926-2003) left behind a record of 27-0-2 with 15 KOs. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001, making him one of the rare enshrinees without a world championship to his credit. Could Papp have beaten Giardello for the championship? It is possible. Once Papp was out of the picture, Giardello lost the title five months later to Dick Tiger. Perhaps Giardello was ripe for plucking. We’ll never know. And we’ll never know how Papp would’ve fared against the other top middleweights of the period, such as Emile Griffith or Nino Benvenuti. Chances are, Papp was getting a bit old by then and might’ve fallen short against the best of the middleweights. Again, we’ll never know. Maybe it’s a good thing that Papp never fought after 1964. Sometimes an unanswered question is more fun than the answer.

rounds with Ralph “Tiger” Jones » For his 17th professional win, Papp boxed his way to a 10-round decision over Tiger Jones. But it was no easy night. Jones, the seminal American journeyman who had once been a TV favorite in America, traveled to Vienna in March of 1962 and more than earned his payday. Before a reported 16,000 customers at the Stadthalle arena, Papp knocked Jones down in the second, third and 10th rounds. Jones, always a threat even when being outclassed, managed to open a gash over Papp’s left eyebrow, an injury that bothered Papp from the eighth round on. The fight’s final moments were torrid, as Jones landed some desperation shots that left Papp wobbly. Jones’ last-minute attack led to the Hungarian wrestling him into the ropes and out of the ring. Jones, 34 and a veteran of 89 professional contests, retired after losing to Papp. He went out, however, with the proverbial bang. “Both fighters were on the verge of a knockout in the last round,” reported the United Press, “when they kept hitting each other and forgot everything about defense.”

Olympic gold medals » A short, bow- legged southpaw, Papp was described by one writer as

“dapper and mustachioed as a Ruritanian officer.” As tough as he was clever, Papp amassed an amateur record of 301-12-6 and purportedly scored 55 first-round knockouts. While representing Hungary at the 1948 Olympics in London, Papp trounced the competition and took home the gold medal at middleweight. He turned the same trick in the light middleweight division at the 1952 Helsinki games, and again at the 1956 games in Melbourne. With his triumph in Australia, which included a victory over future light heavyweight champion Jose Torres in the finals, Papp was the first boxer to win three consecutive gold medals. Only two others, Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon, both of Cuba, have matched his feat.

years old when he turned pro » A bit old to turn professional and already suffering from bad hands, Papp enjoyed a successful pro debut by winning an easy four-round decision over Alois Bran in Cologne, West Germany, on May 18, 1957. Distancing himself from Hungary’s state-run boxing system where fighters were housed and feted like prized cattle, Papp pursued more pro bouts in West Germany, as well as France, Austria and Croatia. By December of 1960, he’d registered 11 wins and two draws, the draws coming against Germinal Ballarin in Paris and Giancarlo Garbelli in Milan, Italy. Though the Paris fight was only notable for Ballarin’s anger at having to shave his mustache before the bout due to some odd French ruling, Papp’s bout with Garbelli was allegedly a tough one. “The Hungarian landed lightning-like lefts to Garbelli’s jaw in the opening rounds,” reported the United Press. Garbelli survived Papp’s early onslaught and won the later part of the fight “as Papp tired and went on the defensive.”

24 RINGMAGAZINE.COM

RINGMAGAZINE.COM 25

Ring Ratings Through fights of March 15, 2026

The unbeaten Oscar Collazo was punch-perfect in a TKO 6 triumph over Jesus Haro in Anaheim.

RECENT FIGHT RESULTS

112: Anthony Olascuaga (No. 3) TKO Jukiya Iimura (No. 9, out) 108: Regie Suganob (No. 6, 1) TKO 8 Siphamandla Baleni 108: Shokichi Iwata (No. 6, 1) TD 8 Knockout CP Freshmart 105: Joseph Sumabong (No. 10, 1) KO 6 Roland Toyogon 105: Ryusei Matsumoto (No. 3) UD 10 Yuni Takada (No. 7, out) WOMEN P4P: Gabriela Fundora (No. 6, 2) KO 6 Viviana Ruiz 160: Melinda Watpool (No. 2) TKO 1 Szilvia Szabados 140: Sandy Ryan (in at No. 2) MD 10 Karla Zamora 140: Soledad Matthysse (in at No. 3) TKO 8 Samantha Worthington (No. 3, 1) 112: Diana Fernandez (No. 5, 3) UD 10 Tenkai Tsunami 102: Camila Zamorano (No. 2) UD 10 Claudia Ruiz

MEN P4P: Oscar Collazo (No. 10) TKO 6 Jesus Haro

200: Jai Opetaia (C) UD 12 Brandon Glanton (No. 10, out) 175: Najee Lopez (in at No. 10) TKO 10 Manuel Gallegos 168: Bektemir Melikuziev (in at No. 10) TKO 7 Sena Agbeko 147: Ryan Garcia (in at No. 4) UD 10 Mario Barrios (No. 9, out) 147: Alexis Rocha (in at No. 9) UD 10 Joseph Diaz 140: Gary Antuanne Russell (No. 7, 1) UD 10 Andy Hiraoka 140: Pierce O’Leary (in at No. 10) TKO 10 Maxi Hughes 130: Emanuel Navarrete (No. 2, 1) TKO 11 Eduardo Nunez (No. 4, 3) 130: Anthony Cacace (No. 3) UD 12 James Dickens (No. 8, 2) 126: Lorenzo Parra (in at No. 10) TKO 2 Elijah Pierce 118: Riku Masuda (No. 9, 3) TKO 8 Nonito Donaire

RINGMAGAZINE.COM 27

MEN’S RING RATINGS Through Mar. 15, 2026 CHAMPIONSHIPBELTS: RING IBF WBA WBC WBO | H NEW TO RATINGS

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 175 POUNDS

HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGHT UNLIMITED

CRUISERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 200 POUNDS

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 168 POUNDS

C OLEKSANDR USYK

C JAI OPETAIA

C DMITRY BIVOL

C (VACANT) 1 CANELO ALVAREZ

Ukraine • 24-0-0 (15 KOs)

Australia • 30-0-0 (23 KOs)

Russia • 24-1-0 (12 KOs)

1 FABIO WARDLEY

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 NOEL MIKAELIAN Armenia • 28-3-0 (12 KOs) 5 RYAN ROZICKI Canada • 21-1-1 (20 KOs) 6 BADOU JACK Sweden • 29-4-3 (17 KOs) 7 LEONARDO MOSQUEA France • 18-0-0 (11 KOs) 8 ROBIN SIRWAN SAFAR Sweden • 19-0-0 (13 KOs) 9 VIDDAL RILEY U.K. • 13-0-0 (7 KOs) 10 H YAMIL PERALTA Argentina • 18-1-1 (10 KOs)

1 ARTUR BETERBIEV

Mexico • 63-3-2 (39 KOs)

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U.K. • 20-0-1 (19 KOs)

Russia • 21-1-0 (20 KOs)

2 OSLEYS IGLESIAS

2 AGIT KABAYEL

2 DAVID BENAVIDEZ

Cuba • 14-0-0 (13 KOs)

Germany • 27-0-0 (19 KOs)

U.S. • 31-0-0 (25 KOs)

3 CHRISTIAN MBILLI

3 DANIEL DUBOIS

3 CALLUM SMITH

France • 29-0-1 (24 KOs)

U.K. • 22-3-0 (21 KOs)

U.K. • 31-2-0 (22 KOs)

4 LESTER MARTINEZ

4 FILIP HRGOVIC

4 ALBERT RAMIREZ

Guatemala • 19-0-1 (16 KOs)

Croatia • 19-1-0 (14 KOs)

Venezuela • 22-0-0 (19 KOs)

5 DIEGO PACHECO

5 ZHILEI ZHANG

5 ANTHONY YARDE

U.S. • 25-0-0 (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 JACOB BANK Denmark • 18-0-0 (10 KOs) 10 H BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV Uzbekistan • 17-1-0 (11 KOs)

China • 27-3-1 (22 KOs)

U.K. • 27-4-0 (24 KOs)

6 MARTIN BAKOLE

6 DAVID MORRELL

Congo • 21-2-1 (16 KOs)

Cuba • 12-1-0 (9 KOs)

7 MOSES ITAUMA

7 IMAM KHATAEV

U.K. • 13-0-0 (11 KOs)

Australia • 11-1-0 (10 KOs)

8 EFE AJAGBA

8 JOSHUA BUATSI U.K. • 20-1-0 (13 KOs) 9 WILLY HUTCHINSON U.K. • 19-2-0 (14 KOs) 10 H NAJEE LOPEZ U.S. • 16-0-0 (13 KOs)

Nigeria • 21-1-1 (15 KOs) 9 RICHARD TORREZ JR. U.S. • 14-0-0 (12 KOs) 10 MURAT GASSIEV Russia • 33-2-0 (26 KOs)

MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 160 POUNDS C (VACANT) 1 CARLOS ADAMES 2 YOENLI HERNANDEZ Cuba • 9-0-0 (8 KOs) 3 ERISLANDY LARA U.S. • 32-3-3 (19 KOs) 4 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. • 20-1-0 (13 KOs) 9 CHRIS EUBANK JR. U.K. • 35-4-0 (25 KOs) 10 JESUS RAMOS JR. U.S. • 24-1-0 (19 KOs)

JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 154 POUNDS

WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 147 POUNDS

JR. WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 140 POUNDS C H SHAKUR STEVENSON U.S. • 25-0-0 (11 KOs) 1 DALTON SMITH U.K. • 19-0-0 (14 KOs) 2 RICHARDSON HITCHINS U.S. • 20-0-0 (8 KOs) 3 KEYSHAWN DAVIS U.S. • 14-0-0 (10 KOs) 4 TEOFIMO LOPEZ U.S. • 22-2-0 (13 KOs) 5 ALBERTO PUELLO

C (VACANT) 1 VERGIL ORTIZ

C (VACANT) 1 DEVIN HANEY

Dom. Rep. • 24-1-1 (18 KOs)

U.S. • 24-0-0 (22 KOs) 2 SEBASTIAN FUNDORA U.S. • 23-1-1 (15 KOs) 3 XANDER ZAYAS

U.S. • 33-0-0 (15 KOs) 2 BRIAN NORMAN JR. U.S. • 28-1-0 (22 KOs) 3 EIMANTAS STANIONIS U.S. • 25-2-0 (20 KOs) 5 H ROLANDO ROMERO U.S. • 17-2-0 (13 KOs) 6 -2 ROHAN POLANCO Lithuania • 16-1-0 (9 KOs) 4 H RYAN GARCIA

Puerto Rico • 23-0-0 (13 KOs)

4 ISRAIL MADRIMOV

Uzbekistan • 11-2-1 (7 KOs)

5 JARON ENNIS

U.S. • 35-0-0 (31 KOs)

Dom. Rep. • 24-1-0 (10 KOs)

6 JOSH KELLY

+1 GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL

U.K. • 18-1-1 (9 KOs) 7 BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV Russia • 23-1-0 (17 KOs) 8 BRANDON ADAMS U.S. • 26-4-0 (16 KOs) 9 ABASS BARAOU Germany • 17-2-0 (9 KOs) 10 BAKARY SAMAKE France • 19-0-0 (11 KOs)

Dom. Rep. • 17-0-0 (10 KOs) -2 SHAKHRAM GIYASOV Uzbekistan • 17-0-0 (10 KOs) -1 RAUL CURIEL Mexico • 17-0-1 (14 KOs) U.S. • 26-2-1 (16 KOs) -2 JACK CATTERALL U.K. • 32-2-0 (14 KOs)

U.S. • 19-1-0 (17 KOs) +1 SANDOR MARTIN Spain • 43-4-0 (15 KOs)

+1 SUBRIEL MATIAS Puerto Rico • 23-3-0 (22 KOs)

9 H ALEXIS ROCHA

+1 ADAM AZIM U.K. • 14-0-0 (11 KOs) 10 H PIERCE O’LEARY

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Ireland • 19-0-0 (11 KOs)

28 RINGMAGAZINE.COM

MEN’S RING RATINGS Through Mar. 15, 2026 CHAMPIONSHIPBELTS: RING IBF WBA WBC WBO | H NEW TO RATINGS

LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 135 POUNDS

JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 130 POUNDS

FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 126 POUNDS

JR. FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 122 POUNDS

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

C (VACANT) 1

C (VACANT) 1 RAFAEL ESPINOZA

C NAOYA INOUE

Japan • 32-0-0 (27 KOs)

+1 EMANUEL NAVARRETE

1 MARLON TAPALES

Mexico • 40-2-1 (33 KOs) -1 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER U.S. • 24-3-0 (12 KOs)

Mexico • 28-0-0 (24 KOs)

Philippines • 41-4-0 (22 KOs) 2 MURODJON AKHMADALIEV Uzbekistan • 14-2-0 (11 KOs) 3 SAM GOODMAN Australia • 21-1-0 (8 KOs) 4 JUNTO NAKATANI Japan • 32-0-0 (24 KOs) 5 SEBASTIAN HERNANDEZ Mexico • 20-1-0 (18 KOs) 6 RAMON CARDENAS U.S. • 27-2-0 (15 KOs) 7 RYOSUKE NISHIDA Japan • 11-1-0 (2 KOs) 8 ALAN PICASSO Mexico • 32-1-1 (17 KOs) 9 SHABAZ MASOUD U.K. • 15-0-0 (4 KOs) 10 BRYAN MERCADO VAZQUEZ Mexico • 32-2-0 (26 KOs)

2 ANGELO LEO

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

3 ANTHONY CACACE

Ireland • 25-1-0 (9 KOs)

+1 ROBSON CONCEICAO

Brazil • 20-3-1 (10 KOs)

+2 CHARLY SUAREZ Philippines • 18-0-0 (10 KOs)

+2 RAYMOND FORD

U.S. • 18-1-1 (8 KOs)

-3 EDUARDO NUNEZ Mexico • 29-2-0 (27 KOs)

Mexico • 32-3-0 (19 KOs)

8 MIRCO CUELLO

+2 RYAN GARNER U.K. • 19-0-0 (10 KOs) 9 H ANDRES CORTES U.S. • 24-0-0 (13 KOs) 10 -1 JAMES DICKENS U.K. • 36-6-0 (15 KOs)

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Argentina • 16-0-0 (13 KOs)

9 RA’EESE ALEEM U.S. • 23-1-0 (12 KOs) 10 H LORENZO PARRA

Venezuela • 24-1-1 (18 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 SEIYA TSUTSUMI

C JESSE RODRIGUEZ U.S. • 23-0-0 (16 KOs) 1 FERNANDO MARTINEZ

C ( VACANT) 1 RICARDO SANDOVAL U.S. • 27-2-0 (18 KOs) 2 MASAMICHI YABUKI Japan • 19-4-0 (18 KOs) 3 ANTHONY OLASCUAGA U.S. • 12-1-0 (9 KOs) 4 SEIGO YURI AKUI Japan • 22-3-1 (12 KOs) 5 GALAL YAFAI U.K. • 9-1-0 (7 KOs) 6 ANGEL AYALA Mexico • 18-1-0 (8 KOs) 7 TOBIAS REYES Nicaragua • 42-5-0 (35 KOs) +1 JOSELITO VELAZQUEZ Mexico • 22-1-1 (14 KOs) 10 H YOALI MEJIA MOSQUEDA Mexico • 15-0-0 (12 KOs) Argentina • 18-1-1 (16 KOs) 8 FELIX ALVARADO 9

C (VACANT) 1 RENE SANTIAGO

Japan • 13-0-3 (8 KOs) 2 CHRISTIAN MEDINA Mexico • 27-4-0 (19 KOs) 3 TAKUMA INOUE Japan • 21-2-0 (5 KOs) 4 DAIGO HIGA Japan • 21-3-3 (19 KOs) 5 ANTONIO VARGAS U.S. • 19-1-1 (11 KOs) 6 +3 RIKU MASUDA Japan • 10-1-0 (9 KOs) 7 -1 JOSE SALAS Mexico • 17-0-0 (11 KOs) 8 -1 YOSHIKI TAKEI Japan • 11-1-0 (9 KOs) 9 -1 KAZUTO IOKA Japan • 32-4-1 (17 KOs) 10 KENNETH LLOVER

Puerto Rico • 15-4-0 (9 KOs)

Argentina • 18-1-0 (9 KOs)

2 CARLOS CANIZALES

2 DAVID JIMENEZ

Venezuela • 28-3-1 (20 KOs)

Costa Rica • 18-1-0 (12 KOs)

3 THANONGSAK SIMSRI

3 PHUMELELA CAFU

Thailand • 39-1-0 (34 KOs)

S. Africa • 11-1-3 (8 KOs)

4 KYOSUKE TAKAMI

4 TOMOYA TSUBOI Japan • 3-0-0 (2 KOs) 5 ANDREW MOLONEY

Japan • 10-1-0 (8 KOs)

5 SHOKICHI IWATA

Japan • 16-2-0 (12 KOs)

Australia • 28-4-0 (18 KOs)

6 REGIE SUGANOB

6 RICARDO MALAJIKA

Philippines • 18-1-0 (7 KOs)

S. Africa • 17-2-0 (12 KOs)

7 CRISTIAN ARANETA

7 WILLIBALDO GARCIA Mexico • 23-6-2 (13 KOs) 8 RENE CALIXTO BIBIANO Mexico • 24-1-1 (10 KOs) 9 ISRAEL GONZALEZ Mexico • 31-5-2 (12 KOs) 10 THEOPHILOUS ALLOTEY Ghana • 13-0-0 (10 KOs)

Philippines • 25-3-0 (20 KOs)

8 ERIK BADILLO

Mexico • 19-0-0 (8 KOs) 9 MASATAKA TANIGUCHI Japan • 21-5-0 (15 KOs) 10 SIVENATHI NONTSHINGA S. Africa • 14-2-0 (11 KOs)

Philippines • 17-0-0 (12 KOs)

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