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RING Ratings Update: Errol Spence Jr. rises to No. 2 welterweight

Errol Spence Jr., the star of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, made his pro debut on Showtime. Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime
Fighters Network
01
Jun

Errol Spence Jr. continued his ascent in boxing with his impressive stoppage of Kell Brook on Saturday in Sheffield, England. That includes his position in the RING Ratings.

Spence, who stopped Brook (No. 2 last week) in 11 rounds, entered the fight as the RING’s No. 7 welterweight. After his most important victory, he jumps to Brook’s former position. He is now behind only No. 1 Keith Thurman, who we believe has a better overall resume than Spence.

The 147-pound championship is vacant. That means the title would be at stake if Thurman and Spence were to fight one another.

The Ratings Panel and Editorial Board were divided on whether to have Spence enter the pound-for-pound Top 10. His supporters pointed to the eye test, which he passes, and the significance of his victory. Those against the move suggested he needs more than one important success to crack the mythical list.



In the end, we decided to wait, although everyone seemed to agree that Spence is likely to get there very soon.

Brook drops to No. 5 among 147-pounders.

In other divisions:

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT

George Groves (No. 3 last week) holds his position after stopping Fedor Chudinov (No. 8 last week) in six rounds Saturday on the Spence-Brook card. Chudinov drops out and Jesse Hart enters at No. 10.

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT

Orlando Salido (No. 2 last week) stays put after his seventh-round KO of Aristides Perez (unrated last week) on Saturday in Mexico. Salido is behind only No. 1 Vasyl Lomachenko, meaning their proposed rematch would be for the vacant RING championship.

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT

Julio Ceja (unrated last week) stopped Anselmo Moreno (No. 4 at bantamweight last week) in three rounds Saturday in Panama. As a result, Ceja enters at No. 10. That pushes out Randy Caballero (No. 10 last week).

BANTAMWEIGHT

Moreno, 1-4 in his last five fights, drops out. Suriyan Kaikanha (Suriyan Sor Rungvisai) enters at No. 10.

STRAWWEIGHT

Leroy Estrada (unrated last week) enters at No. 10 after outpointing Saul Juarez (No. 7 last week) on Saturday in Panama. Juarez drops out.

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