The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior flyweight

Kenshiro Teraji (right) in his rematch with Masamichi Yabuki. (Photo by Naoki Fukuda)

Aug

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.

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

After a busy first half of 2024 to compile another divisional breakdown.

Next up is junior flyweight (108 pounds), which has seen both Ring, WBC and WBA ruler Kenshiro Teraji and WBO counterpart Jonathan Gonzalez vacate their titles (though they remain rated until they have officially fought at flyweight) leaving the division is a state of flux. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

CHAMPION – KENSHIRO TERAJI

RECORD: 23-1 (14 KOs)

THE PAST: Teraji won the Japanese and OPBF titles inside eight fights. Soon afterward, “The Amazing Boy” stepped up to the world scene and claimed the WBC title, in May 2017, edging Ganigan Lopez (MD 12). Teraji improved immeasurably with the world title win, making eight defenses against the likes of Lopez (KO 2), Milan Melindo (TKO 7), Jonathan Taconing (TKO 4) and Randy Petalcorin (TKO 4). However, overconfidence saw him return from COVID-19 too quickly and lose his unbeaten record and title to Masamichi Yabuki (TKO 10) in September 2021. To his credit, Teraji, now 32, doubled down and showed his class and an extra edge we hadn’t seen previously by blitzing Yabuki (KO 3) to regain the title. He then upped his game again and scored a career-best win over previously unbeaten Hiroto Kyoguchi (TKO 7) to claim The Ring and WBA titles. He has since stopped late-sub Anthony Olascuaga (TKO 9), Hekkie Budler (TKO 9) and, most recently, narrowly beat Carlos Canizales (MD 12).

THE FUTURE: Teraji is headed to flyweight where he’ll likely face Cristofer Rosales for the vacant WBC title in Japan in October.

No. 1 – JONATHAN GONZALEZ

RECORD: 28-3-1 (14 KOs)

THE PAST: Gonzalez was a standout amateur who claimed three national titles as well as gold at the Central American & Caribbean games and World Youth championships. He turned professional in 2011 amid high expectations in Puerto Rico. After winning his first 13 fights, he came unstuck against the hard-charging former world champion Giovani Segura (KO 4). After righting the ship, he was surprisingly beaten by Jobert Alvarez (TKO 6). The 33-year-old slick southpaw was stopped by Kosei Tanaka when he attempted to win the WBO 108-pound title and looked like he may not reach his potential until he shocked Elwin Soto (SD 12). He made two defenses, impressively besting rising Japanese fighter Shokichi Iwata (UD 12) but then saw a planned unification against Teraji fall apart at the 11th hour due to a bout of bout of mycoplasma. That lead to a 16-month hiatus before returning in March against Rene Santiago (UD 12).

THE FUTURE: Gonzalez vacated his WBO title and will be in line to fight recently minted Anthony Olascuaga for the WBO flyweight belt, possibly in Japan in October on the same show as Teraji-Rosales.

No. 2 – SIVENATHI NONTSHINGA

RECORD: 13-1 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: The South African won the national title in his fifth fight. The 25-year-old has beaten compatriot Siyabonga Siyo (TKO 9) and tough Filipino Ivan Soriano (KO 5). Nontshinga held on after getting knocked down in the final round against Christian Araneta (UD 12) in an IBF eliminator. He edged out Hector Flores (SD 12) to claim the vacant IBF title in Mexico and retained his title outboxing Regie Suganob (UD 12). He surprisingly lost his title to Adrian Curiel (KO 2) but bounced back in a direct rematch to come from behind to stop the Mexican in 10-rounds to regain his title.

THE FUTURE: Will likely face his mandatory Masamichi Yabuki next.

Adrian Curiel (left) and Sivenathi Nontshinga (right) during their IBF title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico – Photo by Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

No. 3 – ADRIAN CURIEL

RECORD: 24-6-1 (5 KOs)

THE PAST: Curiel turned professional in 2016. The Mexican won his first 11 fights before dropping a closely contested fight with future IBF strawweight titlist Daniel Valladares (UD 10). After returning to winning ways he was edged out by novice Sergio Meija (MD 6). “Gatito” battled on but came up short against then unbeaten Joselito Velazquez (UD 10) and future world title challenger Cristian Gonzalez (MD 10). The 25-year-old has rebounded well with seven wins out of eight, the lone blemish coming in the form of a technical draw to earn a fight with IBF titlist Sivenathi Nontshinga, who he stunningly upset via second-round knockout. He lost a direct rematch when he was stopped in 10-rounds and, most recently, lost to Sunny Edwards (Tech Dec. 9).

THE FUTURE: After losing his last two, he needs to get back in the win column.

No. 4 – ELWIN SOTO

RECORD: 21-3 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: Soto came out of nowhere to claim the WBO title at the expense of Angel Acosta (KO 12). The 27-year-old Mexican made three successful defenses, notably beating Edward Heno (UD 12) and Katsunari Takayama (TKO 9) before losing his title to Gonzalez (SD 12). “La Pulga” had home advantage when he fought former two-division titleholder Hekkie Budler (L UD 12) but was outhustled. He has since beaten Brian Mosinos (SD 10) and Jose Armenta (UD 10).

THE FUTURE: Soto injured his left hand in sparring and had to undergo an operation. He returned to training in the second week of July with the hope of returning to action later this year.

No. 5 – CARLOS CANIZALES

RECORD: 26-2-1 (19 KOs)

THE PAST: The talented Venezuelan first caught the eye when he left his homeland to face WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi (D 12). He returned home and claimed three victories before traveling overseas again and making a name for himself in Asia by defeating Reiya Konisha (UD 12), Bin Lu (TKO 12) and Sho Kimura (UD 12). The 31-year-old was surprisingly stopped by unheralded Esteban Bermudez (TKO 6) but returned with four wins, notably stopping faded former WBC titlist Ganigan Lopez (KO 4) and a WBA eliminator against Daniel Matellon (TD 8). He gave Teraji all he could handle but ultimately lost a Ring/ WBA/WBC title challenge by 12-round majority decision. He has since returned with a win.

THE FUTURE: Tabbed to face Petchmanee CP Freshmart for the vacant WBC 108-pound title.

No. 6 – MASAMICHI YABUKI

RECORD: 16-4 (15 KOs)

THE PAST: Yabuki had a patchy start to his professional career, losing three of his first 10 fights. He was beaten by future three-weight titlist Junto Nakatani (UD 4), current WBA flyweight titleholder Seigo Yuri Akui (TKO 1) and skilled Cuban Daniel Matellon (SD 8). The 32-year-old power-puncher won three fights before winning the national title. As a rank outsider he upset Teraji (TKO 10) but was decisively dispatched in three-rounds in a direct rematch. Since then, he has scored impressive wins over Thanongsak Simsri (TKO 7) and Ronald Chacon (TKO 11). He ruptured his Achilles tendon and spent 14-months on the sidelines before beating Kevin Vivas (TKO 4) in March.

THE FUTURE: He will be hoping to become a two-time world champion when he challenges Nontshinga for the IBF title later this year.

Carlos Cañizales (left) fights through a gruesome injury to defeat Daniel Matellon (left) – Photo by Nelson Quispe – Boxeo de Primera

No. 7 – SHOKICHI IWATA

RECORD: 13-1 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: Iwata, who holds amateur wins over Takuma Inoue and Kosei Tanaka, turned professional in America in December 2018. The 28-year-old has gone on to win Japanese and OPBF titles in just nine fights. Iwata beat Toshimasa Ouchi (UD 8) before demolishing him in one-round in a return. He gained invaluable experience besting grizzled former world title challenger Kenichi Horikawa (UD 12). He lost against wily Puerto Rican Jonathan Gonzalez (UD 12) in a WBO title shot but has returned with four wins, including stopping former strawweight titlist Rene Mark Cuarto (TKO 6) and, most recently, Jahzeel Trinidad (TKO 6).

THE FUTURE: Could face Jairo Noriega for the vacant WBO title in Japan in October.

No. 8 – CHRISTIAN ARANETA

RECORD: 24-2 (19 KOs)

THE PAST: Araneta has been a professional since 2013 and won his first 17 fights at home in The Philippines. The 29-year-old southpaw lost for the first time in an IBF eliminator against Daniel Valladares (RTD 4) in Mexico. After two wins he lost a close fight to Nontshinga (UD 12) in another eliminator this time in South Africa. Has won five fights since, most recently, stopping Arvin Magramo (TKO 1).

THE FUTURE: He’s the IBF No. 1, so will be angling for another shot at Nontshinga.

No. 9 – THANONGSAK SIMSRI

RECORD: 35-1 (32 KOs)

THE PAST: The power-punching Thai ran through his first 24 opponents before he came unstuck against Yabuki (TKO 7). The 24-year-old got back to winning ways an upset Miel Fajardo (UD 12) for the OPBF title. Recently defended his regional title by stopping John Paul Gabunilas (TKO 5).

THE FUTURE: He is ranked in the top 5 by both the IBF and WBO and will keep moving forward and look to see what opportunities there are once the vacancies have been filled in three of the four sanctioning bodies.

No. 10 – REGIE SUGANOB

RECORD: 15-1 (5 KOs)

THE PAST: The Filipino scored wins over compatriots Jake Amparo (UD 8), Jerome Baloro (UD 10) and Mark Vicelles (TD 8) to earn an IBF title shot. Had to go leave his homeland and go to South Africa to face Nontshinga and was outpointed over 12-rounds. The 26-year-old has since won twice and looks primed to make his move again.

THE FUTURE: Hoping for a second world title shot and appears to be looking at the winner of Iwata-Noriega, who will contest the vacant WBO title.

On the Cusp: Miel Fajardo, Jairo Noriega, Erick Rosa, Kyosuke Takami and Jayson Vayson