By Cliff Rold
When last the divisional ratings were updated, the big news was a return to what was. Floyd Mayweather’s lopsided win over Shane Mosley earned him the right to again be seen as what he was before a brief retirement: the rightful Welterweight champion.
In the month and change since, others have made their own statements. Hugo Cazares boxed, yes boxed, beautifully and then held off a furious late rally from Nobuo Nashiro to make a statement at Jr. Bantamweight while Bantamweights Yonnhy Perez and Abner Mares proved wonderful together if not so wonderful for judges who couldn’t find a winner.
Heavyweight Vitali Klitschko did what he almost always does in winning but was that a hint of vulnerability on display? Cruiserweight Troy Ross remains a “Contender” by a thumb Miguel Cotto has found new hardware for his trophy case.
Boxing, the sport without seasons, remains the sport for all of them. Ever changing, these shifts in the fistic landscape and others are reflected in this update of the divisional ratings after the second weekend of June 2010, with the most recent week’s key results (including title fights at 112 and 108) and their impact featured below.
Flyweight (109-112 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
05/09: #3 Daisuke Naito (36-3-3, 23 KO) KO5 Liempetch Sor Veerapol (17-7, 10 KO)
06/12: #6 Julio Cesar Miranda (32-5-1, 25 KO) TKO5 Richie Mepranum (22-2-1, 5 KO); vacant WBO title
World Flyweight Champion: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (75-3-1, 39 KO, Lineal/Ring/WBC)
Lineage Descends From: Canto MD15 Oguma, 01/08/1975*
Top Ten Contenders
1. Koki Kameda (22-1, 14 KO)
2. Daisuke Naito (36-3-3, 23 KO)
3. Daiki Kameda (16-2, 11 KO¸WBA¸0 Defenses)
4. Denkaosan Kaovichit (48-1-1, 20 KO)
5. Moruti Mthalane (25-2, 16 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
6. Julio Cesar Miranda (32-5-1, 25 KO, WBO, 0 Defenses)
7. Luis Concepcion (20-1, 15 KO, WBA interim)
8. Edgar Sosa (38-6, 22 KO)
9. Jesus Jimenez (28-5, 20 KO)
10. Takefumi Sakata (36-5-2, 17 KO)
* Canto, a WBC champion, was regarded by some, including Ring Magazine, as lineal champ as early as 1975 for defeating Shoji Oguma; became clear champion when twice defended against foe Betulio Gonzalez became WBA champ on 08/13/1978
Ratings Notes…Wonjongkam may be looking at a fifth fight with Naito if Koki Kameda is serious about moving up in weight rather than trying to chase a rematch. A mandatory with former Jr. Flyweight titlist Edgar Sosa may come before anything else. That could be a good fight…Wonjongkam could also conceivably do business with brother Daiki and give Flyweight its first unification contest in decades. A mandatory with former Jr. Flyweight titlist Edgar Sosa could also happen…Daiki is likely to have to face Sakata, a former WBA titlist, in the fall before anything like that can happen and then Luis Concepcion will get his say as well…Sosa enters the ratings following a fight which technically happened at Bantamweight. Leyva, who has been knocked out in four of seven, needs someone to care enough to save him from more punches…Miranda wins a belt after falling short in key eliminators and title tries previously (including losses to Wonjongkam and Mthalane in 2009). He fills the slot left behind by the vacating Omar Narvaez; the Argentine left 112 one short of tying the general consecutive title defense record at Flyweight.
Previous Champion: Koki Kameda (2009-10)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – 17
Current Champion – Defenses: 0 - Lineal/Ring/WBC
Key Upcoming Flyweight Contests
06/15: #4 Denkaosan Kaovichit vs. Anis Ceunfin (13-8-5, 5 KO)
09/25: #3 Daiki Kameda vs. #10 Takefumi Sakata
Jr. Flyweight (106-108 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
05/29: Luis Lazarte (47-9-1, 18 KO) SD12 #2 Carlos Tamara (21-5, 15 KO, IBF)
06/05: #3 Edgar Sosa (38-6, 22 KO) KO2 Roberto Leyva (27-12-1, 21 KO)
06/12: World Champion Ivan Calderon (34-0-1, 6 KO) UD12 Jesus Iribe (16-7-5, 10 KO)
World Jr. Flyweight Champion: Ivan Calderon (34-0-1, 6 KO, Lineal/ Ring/WBO)
Lineage Descends From: Cazares TKO10 Dieppa, 09/30/2006
Top Ten Contenders
1. Giovanni Segura (24-1-1, 20 KO, WBA, 3 Defenses)
2. Rodel Mayol (26-4-2, 20 KO, WBC, 0 Defenses)
3. Luis Lazarte (47-9-1, 18 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
4. Carlos Tamara (21-5, 15 KO)
5. Brian Viloria (26-3, 15 KO)
6. Ulises Solis (30-2-2, 21 KO)
7. Juan Carlos Reveco (23-1, 13 KO, interim WBA)
8. Omar Nino (28-3-2, 11 KO)
9. Edren Dapudong (17-2, 9 KO)
10. Johnriel Casimero (14-0, 8 KO)
Ratings Notes…It’s going to be a hot summer at 108, with the division’s best fighter featuring in the least of encounters. Ivan Calderon came off the floor to dominate Iribe, but that’s what he was supposed to do. In an an interview on ESPN he talked about bigger challenges to come, maybe even a rise to 112, but only after a looming mandatory with Johnriel Casimero. Casimero is a good fighter, but a showdown with Segura would be so much better…Nino and Mayol will settle the very controversial ending of their first contest earlier this year (one hopes anyways)…Luis Lazarte made a big surge, from unrated to number four with a title win over Tamara. Will Viloria attempt to off the man who offed him?…Reveco keeps rolling and, um, just when does he get his mandatory shot at Segura? He’s been interim titlist since 2009.
Previous Champion: Hugo Cazares (2006-07)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Saman Sorjaturong - 10
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Myung-Woo Yuh (WBA) – 17
Current Champion: 6 – Lineal/Ring/WBO
Key Upcoming Jr. Flyweight Contests
06/19: #2 Rodel Mayol vs. #9 Omar Nino
06/19: #7 Juan Carlos Reveco vs. Luis Doria (22-18-3, 14 KO)
07/03: #10 Johnriel Casimero vs. Ramon Hirales (12-1-1, 8 KO)
07/10: #5 Brian Viloria vs. Omar Soto (19-6-2, 13 KO)
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
