The Ring's Latest Ratings: Zepeda leads 135; change in three divisions

Update

Link copied!

8 hrs ago

Link copied!

8 hrs ago

Mosope Ominiyi

8 hrs ago

3 min read

Following two high-profile divisional moves, WBC world champion William Zepeda is now The Ring's top-ranked lightweight.

The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion Shakur Stevenson is openly pursuing bouts in heavier weight divisions, while Raymond Muratalla relinquished the IBF crown last month following a points win over Robson Conceicao.

Zepeda (34-1, 27 KOs) outboxed Lamont Roach to win a 12-round decision on August 1 and now leads the pack, with Cleveland's 22-year-old starlet Abdullah Mason behind after his first WBO title defense the month prior.

Liam Davies told everyone within earshot that he'd prove his skills at featherweight and was sharp to stop Nathaniel Collins in their September 26 bout.

IBF titleholder Angelo Leo's inactivity has now reached 17 months, long enough for his most recent opponent Tomoki Kameda to snare a shot at newly-minted WBA beltholder Brandon Figueroa come October 17.

Down in the 112-pound division, there's a new leader too after Sergio Mendoza's stunning fifth-round stoppage win over Ricardo Sandoval shook up the weight class. Scroll down below for a look at the changes in full:

*Bold/italics denotes movement in the division.

Lightweight

Zepeda sits top of the tree, with Mason just behind him. Schofield rises four places to third after his career-best points win against Bahdi, while Andy Cruz and former title challenger Sam Noakes round out the top five. Former 140-pound champ Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela and Belarusian contender Dzmitry Asanau round out the top 10.

Valenzuela avenged a stoppage defeat by Edwin De Los Santos to headline Zuffa Boxing 8 in June while Asanau boxed well to outpoint stablemate Luis Santana on the Osleys Iglesias-Oliver Zaren undercard October 8.

C (vacant)
1 WILLIAM ZEPEDA WBC Mexico 34-1-0 (27 KOs)
2 ABDULLAH MASON WBO 21-0-0 (18 KOs)
3 FLOYD SCHOFIELD WBA U.S. 20-0-0 (13 KOs)
4 ANDY CRUZ Cuba 7-1-0 (4 KOs)
5 SAM NOAKES U.K. 19-1-0 (16 KOs)
6 JADIER HERRERA Cuba 18-0-0 (16 KOs)
7 ANDRES CORTES U.S. 26-0-0 (13 KOs)
8 LUCAS BAHDI Canada 20-1-0 (15 KOs)
9 JOSE VALENZUELA U.S. 16-3-0 (10 KOs)
10 DZMITRY ASANAU Belarus 14-0-0 (7 KOs)

Featherweight

Every contender besides the top two rise a place with an inactive Leo awaiting news on his next move. Telford's Davies, who campaigned at junior featherweight until 2024, rises after three wins in a new weight class.

C (vacant)

1 RAFAEL ESPINOZA WBO Mexico 28-0-0 (24 KOs)
2 BRUCE CARRINGTON WBC U.S. 18-0-0 (10 KOs)
3 BRANDON FIGUEROA U.S. 27-2-1 (20 KOs)
4 NICK BALL U.K. 23-1-1 (13 KOs)
5 RA’EESE ALEEM U.S. 23-1-0 (12 KOs)
6 CRISTOBAL LORENTE Spain 21-0-3 (8 KOs)
7 OMAR TRINIDAD U.S. 21-0-2 (14 KOs)
8 LORENZO PARRA Venezuela 24-1-1 (18 KOs)
9 ALBERT GONZALEZ U.S. 18-0-0 (11 KOs)
10 LIAM DAVIES U.K. 19-1-0 (10 KOs)

Flyweight

IBF champion Yabuki leads by example at 112 pounds before his scheduled defense against No. 4-rated Fajardo on November 26. Matchroom's latest signing Anthony Olascuaga is second while biggest winner Sergio Mendoza arrives on the scene at No. 3 just six months after being violently stopped by Thanongsak Simsri.

Sandoval drops four spots to No. 5 after enduring an inactive spell and being stunned into submission by a short-notice opponent. Everyone else drops one place while Calixto is a necessary casualty for new entrant Mendoza.

C (vacant)