Boxing Rankings (May 24, 2021): Josh Taylor tops at 140, enters P4P

[ad_1]

Rankings go up on Mondays at 10 am ET.

Ranked fights this week:

  • Light-weight: (4) Devin Haney vs (6) Jorge Linares, Might 29
  • Bantamweight: (2) Nordine Oubaali vs (3) Nonito Donaire, Might 29
  • Junior Flyweight: (4) Carlos Canizales vs Esteban Bermudez, Might 28
  • Minimumweight: (1) Knockout CP Freshmart vs Pongsaklek Sithdabnij, Might 29

Notes: Now that Fury-Wilder 3 is signed and the WBO are ordering Joshua-Usyk, we no less than have some concrete plans for the highest of the division. All of us wished Fury-Joshua, however we’ll wait, and whereas we wait, no less than something is occurring. For boxing, I’ll take this as a W.

Upcoming Fights: (9) Michael Hunter vs Mike Wilson, June 19 … (1) Tyson Fury vs (3) Deontay Wilder, July 24 … (2) Anthony Joshua vs (6) Oleksandr Usyk, TBA


Upcoming Fights: (6) Kevin Lerena vs Ryad Merhy, July 17


Upcoming Fights: (5) Jean Pascal vs (7) Badou Jack, June 6 … (8) Gilberto Ramirez vs Sullivan Barrera, July 9 … (1) Artur Beterbiev vs (4) Joe Smith Jr, TBA


Upcoming Fights: (10) David Lemieux vs David Zegarra, June 4 … (3) David Benavidez vs Jose Uzcategui, Aug. 28 … (1) Canelo Alvarez vs TBA, Sept. 18


Upcoming Fights: (2) Jermall Charlo vs Juan Macias Montiel, June 19 … (8) Jaime Munguia vs Maciej Sulecki, June 19 … (6) Rob Brant vs Janibek Alimkhanuly, June 26


Upcoming Fights: (5) Jarrett Hurd vs Luis Arias, June 6 … (3) Jeison Rosario vs (8) Erickson Lubin, June 26 … (4) Julian Williams vs Brian Mendoza, June 26 … (7) Tim Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa, July 7 … (1) Jermell Charlo vs (2) Brian Castano, July 17 … (8) Sebastian Fundora vs Sergio Garcia, TBA


Notes: Now that Pacquiao-Spence is official, the opposite dominoes ought to begin to fall, and Terence Crawford may actually have a good opponent lined up, too. However anticipate fights for among the different PBC guys to be introduced shortly now that it’s clear what Spence is doing. Additionally would notice that Keith Thurman has two months to both signal one thing (or no less than have one thing reported) earlier than I’m dropping him out for inactivity. Two years is lengthy sufficient, even with COVID screwing up the game final 12 months. Loads of different individuals have fought.

Upcoming Fights: (1) Errol Spence Jr vs (3) Manny Pacquiao, Aug. 21


Notes: Josh Taylor is now the clear, no-doubt-about-it No. 1 man in this division, beating Jose Ramirez to become undisputed champ at 140. (And imagine it or not, regardless of Teofimo Lopez’s protestations about what would occur if he beat Devin Haney for precise undisputed standing at 135, no person is citing Mario Barrios or whomever the fuck holds the IBO title. It’s not “at all times one thing.” There’s a transparent recognition right here.)

There’s an excellent likelihood that’s additionally the final we’re going to see of Taylor at 140. The 30-year-old is focusing on a battle at 147 with Terence Crawford, and good for him. He’s crushed Ramirez and Regis Prograis, what else is there for him to try this’s notably attention-grabbing at 140? Do you wish to see him battle Terence Crawford, or would you somewhat see him battle Jack Catterall and Jose Zepeda, his two present mandatories?

It’s too dangerous that undisputed standing is absolutely extra of an achievement and finale at a weight, however typically talking that’s what it’ll be most of the time. If Canelo beats Caleb Plant to totally unify 168 later this 12 months, he’s bought a battle with David Benavidez left to do at that weight, after which truthfully, what else apart from somebody developing from 160? That’s why I say Taylor’s greatest battle at 140, by far, is Teofimo developing from 135, however doing that will require dropping one if not two belts, too. And it doesn’t appear on the desk, actually. The main focus now could be Crawford, however that might change.

I switched Prograis and Ramirez within the No. 2 and No. 3 slots; regardless of the scoring Saturday, I assumed Taylor beat Ramirez extra clearly than he did Prograis. However actually, it’s most likely nearer to 2A and 2B to me than an actual break up between Regis and Jose; they’re nonetheless very, superb fighters, and if Taylor strikes up, we actually will see worse world title fights than these two possibly assembly for a vacant belt.

Elsewhere, Jose Zepeda did concerning the naked minimal in beating Hank Lundy on the Ramirez-Taylor undercard. Zepeda’s an attention-grabbing fighter, however not at all times in a great way. He’s fairly good, however once more I are likely to agree with Andre Ward that he has to have the canine introduced out of him, it’s not his pure inclination. If he’s capable of cruise in opposition to somebody he might beat extra impressively, he’ll cruise, and people lulls don’t simply are available fights he handily wins, both. We noticed a few of it when he fought Ramirez, and that’s why Ramirez beat him.

Upcoming Fights: (10) Jose Pedraza vs Julian Rodriguez, June 12 … (7) Mario Barrios vs Gervonta Davis, June 26


Notes: I’m dropping Gervonta “Tank” Davis from the 135 rankings as a result of he’s mainly simply taking over a spot. Whereas his final battle did have a secondary light-weight belt at stake, it was fought with a 130 lb restrict, and his subsequent battle is coming at 140.

I perceive the will to record Gervonta with Lopez, Garcia, Haney, and Loma specifically — although he’s completely not going to battle any of them any time quickly, until considered one of them soar to PBC or he shocks everybody by leaving — however what’s he actually executed right here? He beat Yuriorkis Gamboa, an previous featherweight, in 2019. I’m an enormous believer in Tank’s expertise, however he’s not preventing on this division. If he comes again to it, then I’ll put him again in. It’s quite simple.

Upcoming Fights: (4) Devin Haney vs (6) Jorge Linares, Might 29 … (1) Teofimo Lopez vs (9) George Kambosos Jr, June 19 … (2) Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Masayoshi Nakatani, June 26 … (7) Javier Fortuna vs Joseph Diaz Jr, July 9


Upcoming Fights: (6) Shakur Stevenson vs Jeremiah Nakathila, June 12 … (2) Gervonta Davis vs Mario Barrios [junior welterweight], June 26 … (10) Chris Colbert vs Yuriorkis Gamboa, July 3 … (5) Joseph Diaz Jr vs Javier Fortuna [lightweight], July 9 … (8) Shavkat Rakhimov vs Kenichi Ogawa, TBA


Upcoming Fights: (1) Gary Russell Jr vs Rey Vargas, TBA … (2) Child Galahad vs Jazza Dickens, TBA … (5) Mauricio Lara vs (6) Josh Warrington, TBA


Upcoming Fights: (2) Stephen Fulton Jr vs (3) Brandon Figueroa, Sept. 11 … (1) Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs (8) Ronny Rios, TBA


Upcoming Fights: (2) Nordine Oubaali vs (3) Nonito Donaire, Might 29 … (1) Naoya Inoue vs Michael Dasmarinas, June 19 … (4) John Riel Casimero vs (5) Guillermo Rigondeaux, Aug. 14


Upcoming Fights: (1) Juan Francisco Estrada vs (4) Chocolatito Gonzalez, TBA … (3) Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs Carlos Cuadras, TBA


Upcoming Fights: TBA


Notes: Value noting that Hekkie Budler returned over the weekend and gained a mid-level kind of battle. I thought of getting him in, however the guys 1-10 listed here are all fairly good. Budler would possibly beat a few of them, however we’ll see what he does.

Upcoming Fights: (4) Carlos Canizales vs Esteban Bermudez, Might 28


Notes: Ayanda Ndulani is in after an upset win over veteran Nkosinathi Joyi, who was No. 10 final week. Simpiwe Konkco additionally fought on Saturday in opposition to Ariston Aton, however we haven’t gotten a consequence reported on that but. Will regulate if vital as soon as we all know. Ginjiro Shigeoka’s scheduled Sunday battle was canceled.

In all sincerity, there aren’t 10 notably good fighters on this division proper now, however

Upcoming Fights: (1) Knockout CP Freshmart vs Pongsaklek Sithdabnij, Might 29


Notes: Josh Taylor is in at No. 8. He was a borderline man for me even once we first began together with the P4P rankings, he was somebody I assumed strongly about on the again finish of the highest 10, and he’s totally made his case as one of many 10 greatest fighters within the sport no matter weight.

Upcoming Fights: (2) Naoya Inoue vs Michael Dasmarinas, June 19 … (5) Teofimo Lopez vs George Kambosos Jr, June 19 … (7) Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Masayoshi Nakatani, June 26 … (10) Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder, July 24 … (9) Juan Francisco Estrada vs Chocolatito Gonzalez, TBA


Upcoming Fights: (7) Mikaela Mayer vs Erica Farias, June 19

[ad_2]
Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *