The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior lightweight

The Ring first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. Almost a century later, it’s no exaggeration to claim that these independent rankings are the most respected and talked-about in world boxing.

The Ring Ratings Panel is made up of a dozen experts from around the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the final decision on who should be rated is decided democratically every week. It sounds easy, but this can be an arduous and time-consuming process.

I will be going through each division in reverse order and work my way up from strawweight to heavyweight. I will look at each rated fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what may lay ahead.

Next up is junior featherweight (130 pounds), which is a division that has several excellent fighters but that will gain added depth with the impending arrival of a number of featherweights in the near future.

As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

No. 1 – EMANUEL NAVARRETE 

RECORD: 38-2-1 (31 KOs)

THE PAST: Navarrete burst onto the scene to claim the WBO junior featherweight title at the expense of Isaac Dogboe (UD 12) in December 2018. The heavy-handed Mexican stopped Dogboe (TKO 12) in the first of five defenses before moving up in weight. The 29-year-old bested previously unbeaten Ruben Villa (UD 12) to claim the WBO title and went on to make three defenses, notably topping Joet Gonzalez (UD 12) before moving up in weight again. He got off the canvas to stop Liam Wilson (TKO 9) to claim the vacant WBO junior lightweight title and then defended it agains Oscar Valdez (UD 12) and Robson Conceicao in a draw (D 12). He jumped to lightweight in an attempt to win the vacant WBO title but was beaten by Ivan Baranchyk (SD 12).

THE FUTURE: Tabbed to rematch Valdez on December 7.

No. 2 – O’SHAQUIE FOSTER

RECORD: 22-3 (12 KOs)

THE PAST: Foster lost twice early in his career at lightweight against Samuel Teah (UD 8) and Rolando Chinea (SD 8). However, the 30-year-old Houston native found his stride at 130 and is unbeaten in 10 fights over the past seven years. During that period, Foster ruined the unbeaten record of Jon Fernandez (UD 10), stopped grizzled former world title challenger Miguel Roman (KO 9) and dominated Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (UD 12). Those wins earned him a fight for the vacant WBC title against Rey Vargas and he put on a clinic to win a 12-round unanimous decision. He scored a thrilling last round knockout over Eduardo Hernandez (TKO 12) in Mexico to keep the title and then squeezed by Abraham Nova (SD 12), but lost his belt in controversial fashion to Robson Conceicao (SD 12).

THE FUTURE: He’ll get his rematch with Conceicao on November 2.

Conceicao (left) was the aggressor against Foster (right) but only seldom was it effective. (Photo by Mikey WIliams-Top Rank)

No. 3 – OSCAR VALDEZ

RECORD: 32-2 (24 KOs)

THE PAST: Valdez was a standout amateur, appearing at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and winning bronze at the 2009 World Championships. The Mexican star claimed the vacant WBO featherweight title by blasting out Matias Rueda (TKO 2), in July 2016, and made six defenses. Notable triumphs came against Miguel Marriaga (UD 12) and Scott Quigg (UD 12) before he moved to 130. Valdez scored a career-best win when he knocked out Miguel Berchelt (KO 10) for the WBC title. The 33-year-old made one successful defense, struggling to get past Robson Conceicao (UD 12) before losing to Stevenson (UD 12). Injury forced him to the sidelines for over a year, and after besting Adam Lopez (UD 10), he lost a firefight with Navarrete (UD 12). However, he looked pretty good beating Liam Wilson (TKO 7) on his return.

THE FUTURE: He’ll face Navarrete for the second time on December 7.

No. 4 – LAMONT ROACH JR.

RECORD: 25-1-1 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: After success in the amateur ranks domestically, the American turned his attention to professional boxing in 2014. He was held to a draw by former two-time world title challenger Orlando Cruz but went on to earn a shot at then-WBO titlist Jamel Herring (L UD 12) in 2019. The 29-year-old recalibrated with four wins before beating Hector Luis Garcia (SD 12) for the WBA title. He has since defended it beating Feargal McCrory (TKO 8).

THE FUTURE: Could look to make another optional defense or might have to face Albert Batyrgaziev in what looks a dangerous proposition.

No. 5 – ANTHONY CACACE

RECORD: 22-1 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Cacace made his professional bow in 2012. After going unbeaten through 15 fights he lost a British and Commonwealth title fight to Martin J. Ward (UD 12). Two fights later he claimed the British title beating Sam Bowen (SD 12). After one defense he won a thriller against Michael Magnesi (SD 12) and followed that up against Damian Wrzesinski (UD 12). However, the tall 35-year-old’s big opportunity came after a year off when he faced previously unbeaten IBF boss Joe Cordina in May.  Cacace knew opportunities like this don’t come along so often, and he stunned Cordina scoring an eighth-round stoppage.

THE FUTURE: The Irishman will meet former three-time featherweight titlist Josh Warrington in London on September 21.

Anthony Cacace’s homecoming party 🥳
Congrats to Ireland’s new champion ! #CordinaCacace
pic.twitter.com/UBbAzabWGU

— HotBoxingMinute (@HotBoxingMinute) May 20, 2024

No. 6 – JOE CORDINA

RECORD: 17-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Cordina had an extensive amateur career, competing at the 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships. The Welshman claimed gold at the 2015 European Championships and represented Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics before turning professional. Cordina captured Commonwealth and British lightweight titles before dropping down in weight. Came of age when he spectacularly knocked out IBF titleholder Kenichi Ogawa (KO 2). A hand injury meant the 32-year-old was harshly stripped of the title and after several months returns and edged past teak-tough Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (SD 12) to regain his old title. He struggled past Edward Vazquez (MD 12) before weight issues caught up with him when he was surprisingly beaten by Cacace (TKO 8).

THE FUTURE: Armed with a new training team, Cordina will take on seemingly insurmountable odds when he heads up to lightweight to face WBC ruler Shakur Stevenson in Riyadh on October 12.

No. 7 – HECTOR LUIS GARCIA

RECORD: 16-2 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: The Dominican Republic native represented his country at the 2016 Olympics. Fought largely at home as a pro before upsetting the touted Chris Colbert (UD 12) in Las Vegas. The 32-year-old southpaw bested Roger Gutierrez (UD 12) to pick up the WBA title. He rolled the dice by stepping up to lightweight where he lost to Gervonta Davis (TKO 9). He returned to 130-pounds to defend his title against Lamont Roach Jr. but a last round knockdown cost him the fight, and he lost a 12-round split decision.

THE FUTURE: Needs to get back in the win column, could return later this year but at the moment things are quiet.

Joe Cordina (right) lands a hard right on Edward Vazquez – Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

No. 8 – ROBSON CONCEICAO

RECORD: 19-2-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: The Brazilian fought at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics before winning gold at the 2016 Rio Games. Worked his way through the ranks as a professional and gave then-WBC titlist Oscar Valdez fits before losing a contentious 12-round unanimous decision. He rebounded strongly, taking Xavier Martinez’s unbeaten record by lopsided 10-round decision but lost a second world title fight against then WBC/WBO kingpin Shakur Stevenson (UD 12). He twice got off the canvas to hold WBO titlist Emanuel Navarrete to a draw. He finally got over the hump when at the fourth time of asking he won a world title edging past Foster (SD 12) to pick up the WBC title in controversial fashion.

THE FUTURE: The Brazilian will meet Foster in a rematch in November.

No. 9 – EDUARDO NUÑEZ

RECORD: 27-1 (27 KOs)

THE PAST: The Los Mochis native toiled in near anonymity in Mexico for several years, winning all but one his fights – a loss to Hiram Gallardo (UD 6) – inside the distance with only three opponents getting past the sixth round. The 27-year-old puncher’s big break came when he went to Tajikistan and stopped iron-jawed Shavkatzhon Rakhimov (TKO 11). Beat up and stopped faded but still serviceable former title challenger Miguel Marriaga (TKO 6) on the weekend.

THE FUTURE: He is the IBF mandatory and will likely push for the Cacace-Warrington winner.

Sugar Nunez is a beast. It’s as simple as that 🤷‍♂️@IBFUSBAboxing 🔜 pic.twitter.com/2WDwgfMga6

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 1, 2024

No. 10 – ALBERT BATYRGAZIEV

RECORD: 10-0 (7 KOs)

THE PAST: The hugely talented Dagestan-born fighter won gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021). Due to his amateur credentials and background he was able to move quickly and beat the likes of former WBA ruler Jezreel Corrales (TKO 9) and previously unbeaten Francis Frometa (UD 10) and Ender Luces (KO 5). More recently he zeroed in on the WBA title by beating up Jono Carroll (TKO 9) to pick up an interim title.

THE FUTURE: As the WBA interim titlist he’ll have designs on facing Roach for the full title. Whether that is next or not remains to be seen.

On the Cusp: Albert Bell, Andres Cortes, Eduardo Hernandez, Mark Magsayo and Masanori Rikiishi.

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: 

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Pound for Pound – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Strawweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Flyweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Bantamweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Featherweight – The Ring (ringtv.com)

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected].

Follow @AnsonWainwright