Former junior flyweight champ Giovani Segura broke into THE RING’s flyweight rankings by stopping No. 3-rated Hernan Marquez in the 12^th round of a Fight of the Year candidate on Saturday.

The Segura-Marquez fight was not the only notable bout of the past week.

At heavyweight, Mike Perez beat Magomed Abdusalamov by unanimous decision in a very good 10-round fight. Sadly, Abdusalamov suffered injuries that resulted in his being placed in a medically induced coma. The previously unbeaten Russian puncher remains in stable condition in New York but is still in a coma.  

Perez advanced his career with the win and will be back on TV against another solid heavyweight. The Cuban southpaw is a top-15 worthy heavyweight but still needs another good win to enter THE RING’s ratings. No changes.

At cruiserweight, Ola Afolabi won a majority decision over Poland’s Lukasz Janik. Afolabi will remain No. 4 in our ratings. No change.

At middleweight, undefeated WBA titleholder Gennady Golovkin broke down No. 9-rated Curtis Stevens to an eighth-round stoppage with Stevens’ corner halting the bout at the end of the round. “GGG” cannot improve his No. 1 rating. Stevens will drop from No. 9 to No. 10 and Max Bursak will move up to No. 9.

At junior lightweight, Miguel Berchell stopped Omar Estrella in five. No change

At junior featherweight, Andress Gutierrez won a 12-round decision over Ernie Sanchez. No change.

At junior bantamweight, Ryo Akaho stopped Jacker Buhawe by TKO in the sixth. For now we will keep Akaho at No. 6 but if he gets another weak win he will be downgraded. Oleydong Sithsamerchai won a 12-round decision over Giovanni Excaner. No change.

At flyweight, Segura scored two knockdowns before brutally stopping Marquez, a former flyweight beltholder, in the final round of a war in Marquez’s home province in Mexico. With the hard-fought victory, Segura enters the deep 112-pound rankings at No. 7. Marquez drops from No. 3 to No. 8. Segura’s entrance drops Milan Melindo and Rocky Fuentes, and pushes out No. 10 Luis Concepcion..

The new flyweight rankings looks like:

Champion: Akira Yaegashi

1.     Juan Estrada

2.     Brian Viloria

3.     Edgar Sosa

4.     Moruti Mthalane (has been inactive but will face Amnat Ruenroeng within 90 days. The Silvio Olteanu fight falling out was not his fault).

5.     Juan Reveco

6.     Toshiyuki Igarashi

7.     Giovani Segura

8.     Hernan Marquez

9.     Milan Melindo

10.   Rocky Fuentes

Chuck Giampa, Chairman of THE RING Ratings Committee, can be reached at [email protected]