by Cliff Rold

Jr. Middleweight and Jr. Welterweight are vacant no more.

Floyd Mayweather and Danny Garcia both put on exceptional performances on the card of the year, adding new honors to their already well (if distinctly different) accomplished careers.

Mayweather’s win is the more historic, a fourth lineal crown in a Hall of Fame career.  Garcia’s is in some ways the more important, a validating victory over Lucas Matthysse that outs him in line to hope for a shot at the Mayweather brass ring.

Both can hold their heads high as champions of the their classes of the most real variety.

Their results, and the rest of the sports, are reflected in this BoxingScene divisional ratings update.

Ratings Changes

Heavyweight: Given the unfortunate injury cancellation of his bout with Tyson Fury, and an erratic (at best) activity level, David Haye exits the top ten until he wins a fight again.  Bryant Jennings breaks into the top ten.

Jr. Middleweight: Mayweather moving to the champion’s spot makes room for a new man at number ten.  One can really draw a name from a hat as the division is thin past a point; the name drawn is inside the ratings based on his skill level and some decent wins to date.  “Canelo” Alvarez remains at number one as the Austin Trout win was still just months ago.  Carlos Molina gets a big win but there isn’t much room to move just yet.

Jr. Welterweight: Matthysse remains the number one contender and a rematch wouldn’t be a bad idea some day.  Room is made for a new number ten.

Strawweight: Jesus Silvestre came within a hair of winning a belt from Ryo Miyazaki and moves up the top ten.  A rematch is in order and the right man may not have won.  #4 Mario Rodriguez, after two straight at 108, exits the top ten.  Carlos Buitrago enters.

Report Card Picks 2013: 36-21

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

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