by Cliff Rold

This was a big week at Jr. Welterweight and, but for a little more luck with knockdown calls against Timothy Bradley, could be an even bigger year for Ruslan Provodnikov.  After a career making defeat earlier this year, he followed with an even better win over the rugged Mike Alvarado.

There were concerns about how he would handle the altitude in Colorado.  Provodnikov showed that in elevated air he soars even higher.  It causes a shake-up at 140. 

Inactivity also factors in for the first update in a few weeks.  Several classes have fighters exit with no fights in a year or more and nothing scheduled.  If anything was missed, dear readers, feel free to mention in the comments. 

The Provodnikov results, and the rest for the sport, are reflected in this BoxingScene divisional ratings update.

Ratings Changes

Heavyweight: Klitschko remained champion with a win over Povetkin who drops a spot.  The new number one contender is undefeated Kubrat Pulev, last seen picking up a solid win over veteran Tony Thompson.  Pulev is the IBF mandatory for Klitschko and a fight between the two in the next year looks inevitable.

Cruiserweight: Veteran Grigory Drozd returns to the top ten with an impressive stoppage of Mateusz Masternak.  Troy Ross, previously rated sixth, and Francisco Palacios, previously rated ninth, exit due to inactivity.  Entering the top ten are Ilunga Makabu and Alexander Alekseev.  Guillermo Jones has been stripped of the WBA belt due to testing bad for a diuretic.  However, the decision has not been overturned or rendered a “No Decision” at this time so the ratings remain the same.  The WBA has ordered they negotiate a rematch.

Middleweight: Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam exits due to inactivity.  Marco Antonio Rubio returns to the top ten.

Jr. Middleweight: Zaurbek Baysangurov exits due to inactivity.  Sergey Rabachenko enters the top ten.

Flyweight: Moruti Mthalane exits due to inactivity.  Giovanni Segura returns to the top ten.

Jr. Flyweight: Roman Gonzalez has vacated his WBA belt and is moving to 112, likely to face Juan Carlos Reveco.  Raul Garcia enters the top ten.

The full results of note and the total impact on the ratings are a click away.

>>>>>>Click Here To View BoxingScene's Full Divisional Ratings<<<<<<

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com