by Cliff Rold
Lightweight: Mike Garcia returns to the ratings for the first time in well more than a year. In the second fight of his comeback, after being shelved by contract matters, he obliterated a tough opponent in Dejan Zlaticanin. His return sends Zlaticanin plummeting and forces Felix Verdejo from the top ten.
Jr. Lightweight: Miguel Berchelt laid a beating on veteran Francisco Vargas to snag his first major title belt. With the win, he makes a big move in the top ten. Vargas slides a bit but remains ahead of former rival Takashi Miura.
Featherweight: Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton switch places after another exemplary battle between the two. A rubber match between the two could push the winner into the top slot in the ratings if Gary Russell doesn’t find a meaningful rival of his own.
Bantamweight: Zhanat Zhakiyanov came off the floor twice in the first, was denied what appeared a knockdown call in his favor in the third, and combated what looked like some iffy officiating to defeat Rau’Shee Warren in a fine encounter. He moves up with the win but Warren doesn’t fall far.
Jr. Flyweight/Strawweight: Former 105 lb. titlist Hekkie Budler debuts in the top ten and exits the lower class. Jessie Espinas enters the top ten at 105.
The full results of note and the total impact on the ratings are a click away.
Last ratings update: January 21, 2017
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
