The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior featherweight

The Ring first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. Almost a century later, it’s no exaggeration to claim that these independent rankings are the most respected and talked-about in world boxing.

The Ring Ratings Panel is made up of a dozen experts from around the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the final decision on who should be ranked where is decided democratically every week. It sounds easy, but this can be an arduous and time-consuming process.

I will be going through each division in reverse order, and work my way up from strawweight to heavyweight. I will then look at each rated fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball as to what may lay ahead.

Next up is junior featherweight (122 pounds), which has a very dominant Ring champion in Naoya Inoue.

As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

 

CHAMPION – NAOYA INOUE

RECORD: 27-0 (24 KOs)

THE PAST: Inoue destroyed every fighter they placed before him en route to claiming world titles at 108, 115, 118 and 122 pounds. The big-punching Japanese “Monster” has lived up to his moniker, demolishing the likes of Omar Narvaez (KO 2), Jamie McDonnell (TKO 1), Juan Carlos Payano (KO 1) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (KO 2). However, it’s his triumphs over four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire that provided Inoue with considerable acclaim. He edged Donaire (UD 12) in an instant classic that was later named 2019 Fight of the Year by The Ring, and stopped him in the second round of their rematch. The 31-year-old became the undisputed bantamweight champion when he dominated Paul Butler, stopping the Brit in 11 one-sided rounds. With nothing left to conquer at 118, Inoue decided to move up in weight and looked just as impressive as ever, bludgeoning Stephen Fulton (TKO 8), the consensus No. 1-rated junior featherweight, to add the WBC and WBO 122-pound titles to his growing list of accolades. He claimed the vacant Ring junior featherweight championship and the IBF/WBA titles against Marlon Tapales (KO 10) to become undisputed champion. Inoue got off the floor for the first time in his career to bludgeon former two-weight world champion Luis Nery (TKO 6) in front of a huge crowd of 40,000+ in his last time out.

THE FUTURE: Inoue will face TJ Doheny at the Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan on September 3.

 

次戦発表
9月3日(火)有明アリーナ
世界スーパーバンタム級4団体王座防衛戦
井上尚弥vsTJドヘニー#InoueDoheny#Lemino pic.twitter.com/FWms5qg0Cx

— 井上尚弥 Naoya Inoue (@naoyainoue_410) July 16, 2024

 

No. 1 – STEPHEN FULTON

RECORD: 21-1 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Fulton worked his way into title contention by besting former titleholder Paulus Ambunda (UD 12). He also stopped previously unbeaten Mexican Isaac Avelar (KO 6) and used his skills to tame another unbeaten opponent in Arnold Khegai (UD 12). The smooth boxing skills of the Philadelphia native helped him beat Angelo Leo (UD 12) to claim the WBO title, and he added the WBC title by edging Brandon Figueroa (MD 12) in a unification bout. He sparkled when he defended his titles against former titlist Daniel Roman (UD 12). However, the 30-year-old American lost his unbeaten record and titles to Inoue (TKO 8).

THE FUTURE: Fulton will return for the first time since losing to Inoue 14 months ago, when he steps up to featherweight to face Carlos Castro on the undercard of Canelo-Edgar Berlanga on September 14.

 

No. 2 – MARLON TAPALES

RECORD: 38-4 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: Tapales worked his way up through the ranks in the Philippines before narrowly losing to David Sanchez (MD 12) in Mexico. He rebounded to upset unbeaten Shohei Omari (TKO 2) in a WBO bantamweight title eliminator in Japan. He headed to Thailand and twice got off the canvas to stop Pungluang Sor Singyu (TKO 11) to pick up the WBO 118-pound title. In his first defense, Tapales went back to Japan to face Omari in a rematch. Although he missed weight and was stripped of his title, he was able to stop Omari in the 11th round. Over a year of inactivity followed, but Tapales returned with two wins before losing to Ryosuke Iwasa (TKO 11) in an IBF 122-pound title eliminator. He bounced back with three wins including an impressive stoppage over Hiroaki Teshigawara (TKO 2) in an IBF eliminator. He scored an upset over IBF/WBA titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev by winning a 12-round split decision but lost his belts to Inoue (KO 10). He has returned with an easy win over Nattapong Jankaew (KO 1).

THE FUTURE: Tapales will face unheralded Saurabh Kumar in Cambodia in a bid to stay active on September 7.

No. 3 – MURODJON AKHMADALIEV

RECORD: 12-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Akhmadaliev was a standout amateur, who won bronze at the 2016 Olympics before seamlessly transitioning into the pros. The dynamic Uzbekistan southpaw edged the more experienced Daniel Roman (SD 12) in early 2020 to become the IBF/WBA 122-pound titleholder, in just his eighth professional fight. The 29-year-old Uzbek made three successful defenses including a homecoming against former IBF titlist Ryosuke Iwasa (TKO 5) and a stoppage over Ronny Rios (TKO 12). However, he lost his titles in controversial fashion to Tapales (SD 12) and has had to try to work his way back up by defeating Kevin Gonzalez (TKO 8).

THE FUTURE: He would like a fight with Ring champion Inoue, but that may not be next and he might have to stay busy in the meantime.

 

No. 4 – SAM GOODMAN

RECORD: 19-0 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Goodman worked his way through the domestic scene in Australia before claiming regional belts, notably beating Richie Mepranum (TKO 6) and Juan Miguel Elorde (TKO 8). However, the 25-year-old came to the fore when he bested former titlist TJ Doheny (UD 10) and edged out previously unbeaten Ra’eese Aleem (SD 12) in an IBF title eliminator. He has since maintained his position with four wins over middling opposition.

THE FUTURE: He broke his left hand against previously unbeaten Chainoi Worawut last month and is recovering. He hopes it is healed in time seal a deal to face Inoue if the Monster beats Doheny next month, as he is favored to do.

 

No. 5 – LUIS NERY

RECORD: 35-2 (27 KOs)

THE PAST: Nery moved through the bantamweight ranks and became the WBC mandatory challenger to Shinsuke Yamanaka. The Mexican puncher traveled to Japan and shocked the long-reigning champ via brutal fourth-round stoppage. However, in the aftermath, Nery was stripped of The Ring championship he’d won for taking a banned substance (zilpaterol). The WBC continued to recognize Nery, but then stripped him for failing to make weight for the rematch. Very much the pariah, Nery defeated Yamanaka by second-round stoppage but received little in the way of credit. The now 29-year-old eventually moved up to claim the vacant WBC 122-pound title by defeating Aaron Alameda (UD 12), but lost it in his first defense to Brandon Figueroa (KO 7). Nery won four fights, including Ring Fight of The Year against Azat Hovhannisyan (KO 11). He managed to drop Ring champion Inoue but was later stopped in six rounds.

THE FUTURE: Still deciding pondering his next move which could see him head to 126 pounds in search of a third world title in as many weight classes.

 

No. 6 – LIAM DAVIES

RECORD: 16-0 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: The 28-year-old Brit has caught the eye winning British, European and WBC regional titles. He impressed scoring wins over Ionut Baluta (UD 12), blitzing Jason Cunningham (TKO 1) and, most recently, Erick Robles (TKO 2). Davies has been due to face Shabaz Masoud last month but pulled out through illness.

THE FUTURE: Likely to rearrange the fight with Masoud sometime in the final quarter of the year.

 

After his recent illness, @Liamdavies_2 cannot wait to get his hands on @ShabazMasoud pic.twitter.com/mXAKQuLA2K

— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) July 12, 2024

 

No. 7 – TJ DOHENY

RECORD: 26-4 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: The Ireland-born Australian resident turned professional back in April 2012. Doheny won his first 12 and began a stretch of fighting in America. When his opportunity came up, he headed to Japan and upset Ryosuke Iwasa (UD 12) for the IBF title. After one defense he attempted to unify with then WBA ruler Danny Roman but lost a 12-round majority decision. It looked like Doheny had dropped into the gatekeeper role when he lost three of his next five fights to Ionut Baluta (UD 8), Michael Conlan (UD 12) and Sam Goodman (UD 10). However, the 37-year-old veteran is on a three fight win streak, which has breathed new life into his career, with upset wins over Kazuki Nakajima (TKO 4) and Japhethlee Llamido (TKO 1).

THE FUTURE: Doheny will face Inoue for The Ring 122-pound championship on September 3.

 

No. 8 – ALAN PICASSO

RECORD: 29-0-1 (16 KOs)

THE PAST: Picasso turned professional at 16 in 2017. He took the requisite steps early in his career and holds wins over Sabelo Ngebinyana (TKO 6) to claim a WBC regional title, Erick Ruiz (UD 10) on his American debut earlier this year, and he followed that by stopping Damien Vazquez (TKO 5) on the undercard of Canelo-Jaime Munguia. Most recently, he bested experienced former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan (UD 12). The 23-year-old majored in neuroscience at university but is currently focused on his boxing career.

THE FUTURE: Fresh off a career-best win. It will be interesting to see what his promoter Zanfer does next with him.

No. 9 – ELIJAH PIERCE

RECORD: 19-2 (16 KOs)

THE PAST: Much of the tall southpaw puncher’s early career wasn’t helped by fighting considerably higher than his natural weight, and that’s how he suffered defeats against Giovanni Cabrera (UD 10) and Sulaiman Segawa (MD 8). However, after a change of management he worked his way down in weight and is on a 10-fight win streak which includes an impressive points win over Tramaine Williams (UD 10), a one-punch knockout over Mike Plania (KO 3) and, most recently, stopped Arthur Villanueva (TKO 4).

THE FUTURE: The 27-year-old American will face Jose Sanmartin in Atlanta on Saturday.

 

No. 10 – RAMON CARDENAS

RECORD: 26-1 (14 KOs)

THE PAST: Cardenas turned professional in 2015 as a teenager. His career has been something of a slow burn. He won his first 12 fights before being upset by Danny Flores (MD 10). Since then, the now 28-year-old San Antonio native has remained unbeaten against the likes of faded former IBF junior bantamweight titlist Rodrigo Guerrero (RTD 2), previously unbeaten Rafael Pedroza (KO 2) and this year he has beaten Israel Rodriguez (RTD 6) and Jesus Ramirez (KO 9).

THE FUTURE: His last two wins have taken place on ProBox, so maybe his next fight will be on that same platform as he looks to move towards a world title shot.

 

On the Cusp: Sebastian Hernandez, Dennis McCann, Bryan Mercado, Tito Sanchez and Toshiki Shimomachi.

 

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Pound for Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

 

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk.

Follow @AnsonWainwright

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