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Ring Ratings Update: Kovalev cracks Pound-for-Pound Rankings

Fighters Network
16
Mar
Photo by Mike Greenhill

Photo by Mike Greenhill

Boxing fans were treated to a very busy schedule over the past two weeks, which included action from many RING-rated fighters, including No. 1-rated light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev, who cracked the magazine’s Pound-for-Pound rankings after his eighth-round stoppage of former champ Jean Pascal.

The following is a divisional look at RING-rated fighters who were in action from late February to the present and any rankings changes that have occurred due to the results of those bouts:

Pound for Pound: Kovalev (27-0-1, 12 knockouts) has not only passed every test but has done so with power. He will enter the Pound for Pound ratings replacing Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) at No. 10.

Heavyweight: Vyacheslav Glaskov (20-0-1, 12 KOs) won a close decision over unrated former cruiserweight titleholder Steve Cunningham on March 14; the unbeaten Ukrainian remains at No. 7. An overweight Chris Arreola (36-4, 31 KOs) won an eight-round decision over journeyman Curtis Harper. Arreola will be dropped from the ratings. Ruslan Chagaev (33-2-1, 20 KOs), who has won six straight bouts since dropping a decision to No. 1-rated Alexander Povetkin, will move up to No. 9 and Tony Thompson (40-5, 27 KOs), who forced Odlanier Solis to quit after eight rounds in February, will enter at No. 10.



Light heavyweight: Kovalev retained his IBF, WBO and WBA titles by stopping Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) in the eighth round. No. 6-rated Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) dominated previously unbeaten Vasily Lepikhim over 10 rounds. No. 8-rated Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) stopped Lee Campbell in six rounds. No movement.

Welterweight: Keith Thurman (25-0, 21 KOs) put on a dominant display winning a wide points decision over Robert Guerrero (32-3-1, 18 KOs) on March 7. Thurman will move up to No. 5. Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs), who was at No. 5 and has not fought since outpointing Mike Alvarado last May, will drop to No. 6, pushing Shawn Porter (25-1-1, 16 KOs) to No. 7, Marcos Maidana (35-5-0, 31 KOs) to No. 8, and Guerrero to No. 9. Diego Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs) will remain at No. 10. Porter stopped game but overmatched late-sub Erick Bone in five on March 13.

Lightweight: No. 5-rated Miguel Vazquez (35-4, 13 KOs) got back in the win column with a points win decision over unrated Jerry Belmontes on March 13. No. 10-rated Dierry Jean (28-1, 20 KOs) stayed active with a third-round stoppage over unrated Carlos Manuel Reyes in three rounds. No movement.

Junior lightweight: Francisco Vargas (22-0-1, 16 KOs) stopped Will Tomlinson in eight rounds on Mach 12. Vargas will move up to No. 5 trading places with Diego Magdaleno (27-1, 11 KOs) who has not fought at 130 in quite some time and will move down to No. 7.

Junior bantamweight: Zolani Tete (20-3, 15 KOs) put on a terrific show, stopping previously unbeaten Paul Butler on March 8, retaining his IBF title. Tete will move from No. 5 to No. 4. Omar Narvaez (43-2-2, 23 KOs) will drop to No. 5.

Flyweight: Amnat Ruenroeng (15-0, 5 KOs) had too much pro experience for Zou Shiming winning a unanimous decision on March 8. Ruenroeng will move up to No. 2. Brian Viloria (35-4, 21 KOs) will drop to No. 3. Edgar Sosa (51-8, 30 KOs) will drop to No. 4. Juan Carlos Reveco (35-1, 19 KOs) will drop to No. 5.

Strawweight: No. 5-rated Knockout CP Freshmart (10-0, 5 KOs) won a unanimous decision over unrated former beltholder Muhammad Rachman. No movement.

 

 

Chuck Giampa, the chairman of the Ring Ratings Committee, can be emailed at [email protected]

 

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