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 ranked fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what may lay ahead.

Next up is welterweight (147 pounds), which is at its weakest in years and looks bereft of the usual cadre of elite talent aside from Jaron Ennis. Perhaps some of the stars at junior welterweight may soon head to welterweight and bring back the good glory days. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

No. 1 – JARON ENNIS

RECORD: 32-0 (29 KOs)

THE PAST: The brilliant American switch-hitter might just be the next big star in boxing. He learned to box at a very young age, in Philadelphia, with his father and brothers. “Boots” has an elite mix of power and speed that has been a nightmare for anyone he’s faced so far. The manner in which the 27-year-old brutally dispatched former junior welterweight titleholder Sergey Lipinets (KO 6), Thomas Dulorme (KO 1), Custio Clayton (KO 2) and Roiman Villa (KO 10) suggests he may be special. After a year off, he returned for his Matchroom debut which was a homecoming against David Avanesyan (RTD 5).

THE FUTURE: Ennis had been in talks to face WBO titlist Brian Norman Jr. in a unification, but that ultimately didn’t come to pass. So, he’s lumbered with a mandatory against Karen Chukhadzhian which is a rematch of a fight that Ennis won by 12-round shut out. To compound matters, his promoter, Matchroom, lost the purse bid and he faces the proposition of going overseas. It’s more likely Ennis will vacate and perhaps join the junior middleweight party.

Hey @OfficialBNorman, you up for the challenge? 👀 @JaronEnnis

🍿 @EddieHearn pic.twitter.com/THtCYZw3uo

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) August 23, 2024

No. 2 – EIMANTAS STANIONIS

RECORD: 15-0 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: He turned professional after an excellent amateur career concluded at the 2016 Olympics. The 30-year-old Lithuanian moved to America, and his aggressive style allowed him to adapt quickly to the professional ranks. He owns wins over Justin DeLoach (KO 9), Thomas Dulorme (UD 12) and overcame the previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev via hard-fought 12-round split decision to win the WBA title. Snake-bitten fight with Ortiz failed to come to pass, and this has left him on the sidelines for an extended period. He returned earlier this year to defend his title against Gabriel Maestre (UD 12).

THE FUTURE: Likely looking to return in the fall or early 2024 depending on the PBC schedule.

No. 3 – MARIO BARRIOS

RECORD: 29-2 (18 KOs)

THE PAST: Barrios turned professional as a teenager over a decade ago as a junior featherweight. Since then, the tall San Antonio native has filled out and claimed world titles at 140 and 147. He won the vacant WBA 140-pound title against Batyr Akhmedov (UD 12) but lost it in his second defense to Gervonta Davis (TKO 11). The 29-year-old jumped to welterweight and was beaten by Keith Thurman (UD 12) but has won three times since. He claimed the WBC title by upsetting Yordenis Ugas (UD 12) and has since successfully defended against Fabian Maidana (UD 12).

THE FUTURE: Waiting to see what the PBC fall schedule looks like.

No. 4 – DAVID AVANESYAN

RECORD: 35-5-1 (18 KOs)

THE PAST: The aggressive Russian made his bones fighting at home. He beat a shell of former boxing superstar Shane Mosley (UD 12), then pushed Lamont Peterson close, narrowly losing a 12-round decision. He was stopped by Egidijus Kavaliauskas (TKO 6), but rebounded to win six fights including an on-the-road win over Kerman Lejarraga (TKO 9) to claim the European title. Also took the unbeaten record of talented Josh Kelly (TKO 6). The 36-year-old had lost world title challenges in the backyards of Terence Crawford (KO 6) and, most recently, Jaron Ennis (RTD 5).

THE FUTURE: He would like to face one of the British welterweights, and has identified Lewis Crocker as someone he would like to face.

David Avanesyan (left) Photo courtesy of Queensberry Promotions

No. 5 – BRIAN NORMAN JR.

RECORD: 26-0 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: Norman made his professional debut at 17 and fought often in Mexico, where he served his apprenticeship. He came to the fore after signing with Top Rank but looked more suspect than prospect at first. To his credit, he dominated Quinton Randall (UD 10) and then bludgeoned Giovanni Santillan (KO 10) in front of Santillan’s San Diego fans to win the WBO interim title that has since been upgraded to full championship status.

THE FUTURE: Norman, who had been in talks to face Ennis, will instead face Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1) in Norfolk, Virginia on November 8.

Official WBO Welterweight Champion @OfficialBNorman @WorldBoxingOrg pic.twitter.com/4BA9sTlEgz

— Jolene Mizzone (@Jmizzone) August 12, 2024

No. 6 – GIOVANI SANTILLAN

RECORD: 32-1 (17 KOs)

THE PAST: Santillan has been a professional since 2012. His career was something of a slow burn and took him until 2020 when he edged past former lightweight titlist Antonio DeMarco (MD 10) inside The Bubble at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas. Several fights later he upset Alexis Rocha (KO 6) in a career best performance. However, just as we started to believe in his return, he was well beaten in a homecoming against Norman (KO 10).

THE FUTURE: He’ll need to rebuild after getting bashed up by Norman in May.

No. 7 – SHAKHRAM GIYASOV

RECORD:  16-0 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Giyasov was a standout amateur claiming silver at the 2016 Olympics before taking gold at the 2017 World Championships. After turning professional in early 2018, the impressive Uzbek has moved through the ranks, initially at 140 pounds before settling at 147 pounds. The 31-year-old holds win over Christian Gomez (UD 10), Harold Calderon (UD 12) faded former title challenger Pablo Cesar Cano (TD 11) and struggled last time out against Miguel Parra (SD 10).

THE FUTURE: The Uzbek is ranked No. 1 by the WBA and WBO, and would be a danger to Stanionis (who he beat as an amateur) or Norman.

No. 8 – ALEXIS ROCHA

RECORD: 25-2 (16 KOs)

THE PAST: Rocha was a good amateur and hit the ground running as a professional, notching 16 consecutive wins before losing his unbeaten record to Rashidi Ellis (UD 12) in October 2020. To his credit the 27-year-old southpaw has bounced back strongly with seven wins, notably Blair Cobbs (KO 9), George Ashie (KO 7) and Anthony Young (KO 5) to become the WBO mandatory challenger. However, he lost to Giovani Santillan (KO 6) but has returned with wins over Frederick Lawson (RTD 7) and previously unbeaten Santiago Dominguez (UD 10).

THE FUTURE: He’ll be hoping to find his way onto Golden Boy’s big “Latinos Night in Riyadh Season” show on November 16.

Raul Curiel (right) wore down veteran Courtney Pennington. Photo / Golden Boy Promotions

No. 9 – JIN SASAKI

RECORD: 17-1 (16 KOs)

THE PAST: Sasaki made his professional debut at 17 as a lightweight. He matured into a junior welterweight and won his first 11 before coming in over weight against the more experienced Andy Hiraoka, who stopped him in 11-rounds when the two contested the vacant Japanese title. The 23-year-old power-puncher moved up to welterweight and has claimed the OPBF title and owns wins over Ryota Toyoshima (TKO 1), former world title challenger Keita Obara (TKO 3), Joe Noynoy (TKO 5) and, most recently, Qamil Balla (TKO 7).

THE FUTURE: Perhaps he returns on the undercard of stablemate Naoya Inoue’s December 24 show.

勝ちました！
7ラウンドKO勝ち
会場からの応援そしてlemino生配信からの応援して下さった方々本当にありがとうございました🤝
皆様の応援パワーもの凄く力になりました！
とりあえず勝ちの報告をすることができてホッとしてます。
まだまだ最強目指して頑張りたいと思います🌏… pic.twitter.com/4TmKKNaTRx

— 佐々木 尽　JIN SASAKI (@JinSasaki0728) September 3, 2024

No. 10 – RAUL CURIEL 

RECORD: 15-0 ( 13KOs)

THE PAST: Curiel was a talented amateur who fought Internationally. He boxed in the World Series of Boxing and also represented Mexico at the 2016 Olympics. He turned professional in the undercard of Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in May 2017. The now 28-year-old won the vacant NABF title against Ferdinand Kerobyan (KO 9) in June 2022 and has made five successful defenses, all inside the distance and appears ready to make the step up.

THE FUTURE: He’ll hope his promoter Golden Boy are able to place him on one of their shows before the end of the year.

On the Cusp: Karen Chukhadzhian, Souleymane Cissokho, Lewis Crocker, Paddy Donovan and Egidijus Kavaliauskus

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected].

Follow @AnsonWainwright