BoxingScene Ratings Update: Rigo, Inoue, Uchiyama
by Cliff Rold
Jr. Lightweight: Takashi Uchiyama ended 2013 closing in on ten straight title defenses, a commendable feat in any class. Will he make the most of those digits and finally attempt to unify, if at least partially? One of the world’s best deserves the chance to earn more global acclaim. At 35, time is probably short.
Jr. Featherweight: Guillermo Rigondeaux kept his world title. He got some drama. Coming off the floor twice, and considering all his amateur rounds, is the 34-year old vulnerable? Or will he be avoided for ‘business’ reasons in 2015 to make it a non-issue?
Jr. Bantamweight: Naoya Inoue rises to the top spot in his division debut, eviscerating Omar Narvaez with four knockdowns in two rounds. What will he do by ten fights? Will Narvaez continue at 115 or attempt to pick off one last title at 118?
Flyweight: Akira Yaegashi drops, but remains, in the ratings after a loss at Jr. Flyweight. If his next fight occurs outside Flyweight, he will be removed. Kazuto Ioka rises after his second straight win since a loss to titlist Amnat Ruenroeng.
Jr. Flyweight: Inoue exits the top ten and Guevara moves up on the strength of his title win over Yaegashi. Ryoichi Taguchi enters the top ten after a belt win over Alberto Rossel.
Strawweight: Katsunari Takayama stays put in the ratings but, one fight after losing the 2014 BoxingScene Fight of the Year, regained his IBF belt and added the WBO belt. Both were vacant after Francisco Rodriguez Jr. left the division.
The full results of note and the total impact on the ratings are a click away.
Last ratings update: December 23, 2014
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
