It’s been two months since the last Ring Ratings Update, so please forgive your favorite Editor-In-Chief for not compiling the Ratings Panel’s suggestions and votes in a timelier – and regular – manner. I promise to get on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule going forward.

The following pound-for-pound and divisional updates took place over a seven-week span – the week ending on January 20 to the week ending on March 2. It does not include the results of the “Knockout Chaos” show that took place this past Friday (March 8) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, so please spare us the wiseass comments and ‘X’ rants about Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker. Rest assured Parker will be taking the No. 3 spot that Big Bang currently occupies after the Panel convenes over the next couple days.

Now let’s get to the rankings.

RING RATINGS UPDATE (as of March 2):

POUND FOR POUND–Teofimo Lopezexited after acontroversial victory over Jamaine Ortiz.Jesse Rodriguezreturned at No. 10.

“Not impressed by Teofimo Lopez against Jamaine Ortiz,” opinedAnson Wainwright. “Is it enough to take him out? I think we keep him [rated] but I'd be interested to see what others have to say.”

Tris Dixon:“I’d take Teo out. This is the sort of thing that counts against us when we give fighters the benefit of the doubt and they stay in for months after a bad performance. I’d be tempted to reinstate Bam [Jesse Rodriguez].

“That said, I realize that means our No. 1-rated junior welterweight Haney would be above our champion, Teo [in the pound for pound]. But it is what it is.

“I think the last few months have shown it costs us to almost ‘grandfather’ fighters in. Pound for pound, in this era, is who is hot.

“The traditionalist in me might want Teo to stay, but I’d say change it up.”

Teofimo Lopez eats a right hand from Jamaine Ortiz during their 140-pound championship bout in Las Vegas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Adam Abramowitz,Daisuke Sugiura,Wasim MatherandAbraham Gonzalezwere in favor of reinstating Rodriguez.

“I would remove Teo after that performance. We just had Bam at number 10 a few weeks ago. He should come back,” saidAbramowitz.

“Junto Nakatani was mighty impressivedethroning Alexandro Santiago in six rounds,” notedWainwright. “I could see him taking the No. 10 spot.”

Tom Gray: “I thought Nakatani was dazzling against Santiago. However, should he replace Bam? For me, Bam has the better resume and probably just holds on. Nakatani is in the 11-15 range and it's just a matter of time.”

DixonandSugiurawere in agreement withGray.

CRUISERWEIGHT–Yuniel Dorticosexited due to inactivity. Canadian bangerRyan Rozicki(20-1, 19 KOs) entered at No. 10.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT–Joshua Buatsiadvanced to No. 3 following acompetitive unanimous decision over fellow British contenderDan Azeez, who remained at No. 6.Anthony Yarderemained at No. 4 following his third-round stoppage of Marko Nikolic.Albert Ramirezadvanced to No. 9 after scoring a 10-round decision over Artur Ziyatdinov.Ali Izmailovremained at No. 10 after his fourth-round stoppage of Britton Norwood.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT–Jaime Munguiaadvanced to No. 5 following animpressive stoppage of veteranJohn Ryder, who dropped to No. 7 and later exited the rankings after announcing his retirement.Erik Bazinyanremained at No. 6 following a third-round stoppage of Billi Facundo Godoy.Edgar Berlangaremained at No. 9 following a sixth-round KO of Padraig McCrory. Cuban southpawOsleys Iglesias(10-0, 9 KOs) entered at No. 10 a couple weeks before blitzing rugged Argentine gatekeeper Marcelo Coceres in one round.

Jaime Munguia (left) and John Ryder (right) during their January 27, 2024 fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ. Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

MIDDLEWEIGHT–Hamzah Sheerazadvanced to No. 7 following a first-round blowout of veteran Liam Williams.Sergiy Derevyanchenkoexited due to inactivity at middleweight. Houston up-and-comerAustin Williams(16-0, 11 KOs), who would soon score a seventh-round KO of unbeaten Armel Mbumba-Yassa, entered at No. 10.

WELTERWEIGHT–Shakhram Giyasovremained at No. 6 after an 11th-round technical decision over still-serviceable veteran Pablo Cesar Cano.Eimantas Stanionisexited due to inactivity. Venezuelan brawlerRoiman Villa(26-2, 24 KOs) re-entered at No. 10.

“Villa just got brutally beaten by Boots,” notedAbramowitz. “I don’t see why he should be in our ratings. I like [Jin] Sasaski. I’m certainly open to other guys.”

Sugiuraseconded the nod to Sasaki.Wainwright,GonzalezandMatherbacked Villa.

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT–Teofimo Lopezremained champ following a unanimous decision over Jamaine Ortiz.

“Steve Claggett stayed sharp, stopping Marcos Gonzalez in two rounds,” notedWainwright. “Claggett is in the 11-15 range in a strong division.”

LIGHTWEIGHT–Jamaine Ortizexited. Virginia technicianKeyshawn Davis(10-0, 7 KOs), fresh off asixth-round stoppageof former two-division titleholder Jose Pedraza, entered at No. 10.

“Rising star Andy Cruz shutout Brayan Zamarripa over 10-rounds,” notedWainwright. “It's probably just a matter of time until he cracks the top 10 but for now he's working his way towards it.”

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT–O'Shaquie Fosterremained at No. 2 following acompetitive split decision over Abraham Nova.Shavkatzdzhon Rakhimovexited after suffering an 11th round stoppage toEduardo Nunez, who entered at No. 8.Roger Gutierrezexited following a 10-round decision loss to Zaur Abdullaev. Towering Toledo, Ohio nativeAlbert Bell(25-0, 8 KOs) re-entered at No. 10.

FEATHERWEIGHT–Luis Alberto Lopezmoves to No. 1 after scoring aneighth-round stoppageof gameReiya Abe, who exits the rankings.Raymond Ford Jr.enters at No. 6 following his thrillingcome-from-behind final-round stoppage of game and dangerous Otabek Kholmatov.Mauricio Lara, now campaigning at junior lightweight (and not looking so hot battling Daniel Lugo to a majority draw) exited the rankings. Then-unbeaten EnglishmanNick Ball(19-0, 11 KOs) entered at No. 10 (we’ll see where the scrappy Liverpudlian ranks after battling No. 3-rated Rey Vargas to a split-draw on March 8).

“Raymond Ford Jr. came on strong to score a come from behind knockout in the final round over Otabek Kholmatov to win the vacant WBA title,” notedWainwright. “Ford to enter at No. 10 but could also see a place or maybe two higher.”

Raymond Ford (right) hurts Otabek Kholmatov en route to 12th round stoppage to win vacant WBA featherweight title (Photo credit: Mikey Williams/ Top Rank)

Graysuggested much higher: “Kholmatov came into that fight with the reputation of a legitimate bad ass and he fought like one. Given Ford's performance level and the ability to finish an unbeaten fighter like that in the closing seconds, I'd take him up to No. 6.”

Abramowitz:“Agree with Tom. Ford to six. Lopez to one.”

Wainwright:“I'd keep [Rafael] Espinoza (No. 5) and [Rafael] Ramirez (No. 6) together, such was the closeness of their fight.”

Gonzalez: “I'm going to recommend Ray Ford to come in at No. 7. He was in a tough fight and showed everyone he wanted it just a little more.”

New Senior Writer and Ratings PanelistJake Donovan:“Agreed with all suggestions. Can maybe argue that Ford enters a touch higher but fine with 10. Brandon Figueroa will come out due to inactivity unless he suddenly schedules something at 126 (or anywhere), so everyone will move up one spot soon enough.”

“(I managed to accidentally confirm that Brandon Figueroa is waiting on a date for a planned fight this spring, at featherweight. That said, I don't see the harm in taking him out in two weeks if his fight isn't announced by then.)”

BANTAMWEIGHT–Junto Nakatanientered at No. 1 following his impressive sixth-round KO ofAlexandro Santiago, who dropped to No. 6.Takuma Inoueadvanced to No. 5 following hisninth-round body-shot KO of former 115-pound titleholder Jerwin Ancajas.David Cuellarremained at No. 10 following a lopsided 10-round UD over Pablo Ariel Gomez.

“Keita Kurihara exacted revenge over Froilan Saludar to regain his OPBF title in eight rounds,” notedWainwright. “Kurihara is a fun gunslinger and in the 11-15 range.

Junto Nakatani, the winner of the2023 KO of the Year, scored another thrilling stoppage against veteran Alejandro Santiago. Photo Naoki Fukuda / Top Rank

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT– VeteransRoman GonzalezandFrancisco Rodriguez Jr.exited (due to inactivity). Mexico’sJonathan Rodriguez(25-2-1, 17 KOs), who held Israel Gonzalez to a draw in his most recent bout, and veteran former beltholderPedro Guevara(41-4-1, 22 KOs) entered at Nos. 9 and 10.Kosei Tanakaadvanced to No. 3 after scoring a12-round unanimous decision over Christian Bacasegua. Nakatani, now at bantamweight, exited the rankings. Flamboyant Los Angeles nativeJohn Ramirez(13-0, 9 KOs) entered at No. 10 (pushing Rodriguez and Guevara to Nos. 8 and 9).Srisaket Sor Rungvisaidropped to No. 7 after struggling to a six-round decision over inexperienced Chinese journeyman Guangheng Luan.

FLYWEIGHT–Seigo Yuri Akuiadvanced to No. 4 following a somewhatcontroversial unanimous decisionoverArtem Dalakian, who dropped to No. 5.David Jimenezremained at No. 7 following a stay-busy 10-round UD over journeyman Pablo Macario.Felix Alvaradoremained at No. 9 following a fifth-round stoppage of journeyman Jose Ramirez Armenta.

“I thought Dalakian was COMPLETELY ripped off against Akui,”Graydeclared. “That's a situation where thewinnermoving up FIVE SPOTS wouldn't sit well with me. I gave that kid three of 12 rounds. I don't know what you do there. Did anyone think Akui came close to winning that fight?”

Yours Trulyagreed with Gray’s opinion and scorecard but added “I saw more than a few social media posts from veteran observers who thought the winning scorecards for Akui were legit. I'm also interested in the Panel's thoughts on this decision.”

Sugiura, who was ringside, weighed in.

“I was very close to the ring and action and I didn't think it was a robbery,” saidSugiura. “I talked to Tom after the fight so I know what he (and Doug too now) thought and I have so much respect for you guys, but, for this particular fight, to me, Dalakian's punch didn't have any zip or snap, he looked tired and defeated. Akui wasn't efficient but he initiated and kept pressing the action. More than anything, Akui's punch was three times more lively than Dalakian's.  I didn't see 119-109 (for Akui) at all but I thought Akui barely edged it and people around me pretty much agreed.

“These are quotes from Dalakian at the post-fight presser.

‘Akui is an excellent boxer, and he's younger than me. I wasn't in bad shape, but I felt that the passage of time is cruel.’”

Abramowitzthanked Sugiura for his perspective (that’s the wonderful thing about the Ring Ratings Panel).

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT–Kenshiro Terajiremained Ring champion following ahard-fought majority decisionoverCarlos Canizales, who advanced to No. 6 despite the loss.Jonathan Gonzalezremains at No. 1 following acompetitive unanimous decision over Rene Santiago.Sivenathi Nontshingaadvanced to No. 2 after scoring a thrilling 10th-round stoppage of nemesisAdrian Curiel, who dropped to No. 3.Shokichi Iwataadvanced to No. 9 following a sixth-round stoppage of former 105-pound beltholder Rene Mark Cuarto.

Carlos Canizales gave as good as he got during his challenge to Ring 108-pound champ Kenshiro Teraji. Photo by Naoki Fukuda

“Kenshiro Teraji edged home by 12-round majority over game-as-they-come Carlos Canizales in a classic,” notedWainwright. “Both men were on the floor, but Teraji shaded things to retain his Ring, WBA and WBC titles. Teraji is our champion but despite the loss maybe we undervalued Canizales. I think he could go up to No. 3, he did better head-to-head against Teraji than Hekkie Budler.”

Abramowitz: “The only question I have is about Canizales. Everybody we would be moving him above has been a legit world champion in the division. I know the fight was a toss up that Teraji won, but if we respect the result and it’s an official loss, then I don’t know if he has the body of work to move up to third in the division. I’m not fixed on this; I’m just posing the question to the panel. No. 7 to No. 3 is a big jump there. Anyone have thoughts on this?”

Gray: “Yeah, I'm with Adam on this. I had Canizales winning by one point, so the decision going the other way was perfectly acceptable. When you have an out and out robbery, those are the times where a loser can be moved up based on performance level. When it's close like this, you need to be careful. I also believe that Teraji is done at junior flyweight and that was one of the reasons for his poor showing. Keeping Canizales at No. 7 is an acknowledgment that he both earned that position and deserves to keep it.”

Gonzalez: “I'm with Adam, moving Canizales from No. 7 to No. 3 on a close decision loss is too big of a jump. Let's keep him at No. 7 but if a move has to be made, then bring him in at No. 6. I don't see the requirement to do so right now.”

STRAWWEIGHT–Oscar Collazoremains at No. 4 after his third-round stoppage of Reyneris Gutierrez.Rene Mark Cuartoexits after suffering his second consecutive stoppage loss. Uzbekistani Olympic gold medalistHasanboy Dusmatov(6-0, 5 KOs) enters at No. 10.

“Oscar Collazo stopped Reyneris Gutierrez in three rounds to retain his WBO title,” notedWainwright. “I’m not sure this deserves a move up, but it definitely puts heat onGinjiro Shigeokajust above him.”