Last week was a slow one for worldwide boxing action, but there was one major development in THE RING’s division ratings. Due to testing positive for a banned substance following his unanimous decision loss to Manny Pacquiao, Brandon Rios has been dropped from the junior welterweight rankings.

There was no movement is the Pound for Pound ratings.

Junior Welterweight: No. 10-rated Viktor Postol (25-0-0, 10 knockouts) won a unanimous 10-round decision over unrated Behzod Nabiev. Rios (31-2-1, 23 KOs), formerly the No. 7-rated junior welterweight, tested positive for a banned substance in his post-fight drug test after the Pacquiao fight. 

According to the magazine’s ratings policy: “THE RING will remove from its ratings any rated fighter, including a champion, if such fighter at some point undergoes drug testing (Olympic style or otherwise) and that fighter tests positive for a banned substance… a fighter who is removed because of a positive test will have the opportunity to earn his way back into the ratings after any suspension period is completed. A fighter who is dropped also may be reinstated if the testing agency subsequently reverses its decision or a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the test result was invalid.” 

Thus, Rios will be removed from the ratings. Everyone else will move up one spot and Selcuk Aydin (26-2, 19 KOs) will enter at No. 10.

Featherweight: No. 6-rated Chris John (48-1-3, 22 KOs) has retired, prompting the following changes in the ratings: Everyone moves up one spot and Nonito Donaire (32-2, 21 KOs) re-enters at No. 10.

Junior Featherweight: No. 5-rated Kiko Martinez (30-4, 22 KOs) stopped No. 2-rated Jeffrey Mathebula (27-4-2, 14 KOs) in the ninth round of his IBF title defense. The changes to the 122-pound rankings are as follows: Leo Santa Cruz (26-0-1, 15 KOs) moves to No. 2; Martinez to No. 3; Vic Darchinyan (39-6-1, 28 KOs) remains at No. 4; Victor Terrazas (37-3-1, 21 KOs) to No. 5; Scott Quigg, (27-0-2, 20 KOs) to No. 6; Cristian Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KOs) to No. 7; Jeffrey Mathebula (27-4-2 14 KOs) falls to No. 8; Jhonathan Romero (23-1, 12 KOs) remains at No. 9 and Fernando Montiel (50-4-2, 38 KOs) remains at No. 10. 

Photo / James Dayap-Top Rank