As detailed earlier, The Boxing Tribune World Rankings offer a fair and accurate look at each of boxing’s seventeen weight classes.
Using a unique formulaic criteria based on activity and level of opposition within a fighter’s own division, The Boxing Tribune stands firmly behind it’s world rankings and hopes that others will use them as a standard of fairness in the sport.
Here’s a closer look at the Lightweight Division (135 lbs.) :
Division Overview: While Juan Manuel Marquez sits firmly at the top of the division, there is general parity below him with the number 2 through 13 spots very closely bunched together in the rankings.
Below that, numbers 14 through 19 are also tightly bunched with not much room between ranking spots.
The lightweight division is clearly a division in flux and, with a 37 year old veteran at the top, anyone from 2 through 19 could make a run at Marquez’s throne.
Below the 20th spot: Jorge Linares made his lightweight debut against Rocky Juarez and if he decides to stay at 135, he will definitely make an impact in the division…Rolando Reyes, if he gets active again, can make waves…Young, tough challengers like John Molina, Henry Lundy, Mercito Gesta, and Sharif Bogere await their chance to pounce on some of the division’s veterans…Tough gatekeepers like Edner Cherry, Richard Abril, and Takehiro Shimada still roam the division and are tough enough to occasionally surprise.
The Lightweight Top 20:
1) Juan Manuel Marquez: 51-5-1 (37 KO) (WBO, WBA Champ)
Quick Note: Nobody’s even close to claiming JMM’s top spot, but his November 27th bout with Michael Katsidis could definitely shake up the division
2) Miguel Acosta: 27-3-2 (21 KO)
Quick Note: With an extremely slight statistical lead on Katsidis, Acosta rests on recent back to back victories over ranked lightweights Paulus Moses and Urbano Antillon.
3) Micheal Katsidis: 27-2 (22 KO)
Quick Note: After back to back losses to Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz in 2008, Katsidis has built his momentum back up, recently scoring impressive back to back wins over Vicente Escobedo and Kevin Mitchell.
4) Humberto Soto: 53-7-2 (32 KO) (WBC Champ)
Quick Notes: With a win over David Diaz and two other marginal victories, Soto’s spot is not very secure and the division’s young lions all seem ready to pounce on the skilled, but smallish Soto.
5) John Murray: 29-0 (17 KO)
Quick Notes: Only really tested at the regional/UK level, Murray has remained active and undefeated yet is not set to test his skills on the world stage any time soon.
6) Vicente Escobedo: 22-2 (14 KO)
Quick Notes: Scored two dominant wins over veterans Kevin Kelley and Carlos Hernandez in 2009, but also dropped a split decision to Michael Katsidis. Escobedo is set to face his toughest challenge on November 6th against Robert Guerrero.
7) Joan Guzman: 30-0-1 (17 KO)
Quick Notes: Can he even make 135 anymore? A win over ranked Ameth Diaz and a controversial draw against highly-ranked (at the time), Ali Funeka, earned him this spot, but per Boxing Tribune Rankings rules, he is one week from being eliminated from this list due to divisional inactivity.
8.) Urbano Antillon: 28-1 (20 KO)
Quick Notes: Strong and tough, Antillon has been getting busted up and taken to the edge by inferior-level opposition since his loss to Miguel Acosta. He’s rumored to be facing Brandon Rios next. Will he have enough to keep his spot in the top 10?
9) Brandon Rios: 25-0-1 (18 KO)
Quick Notes: “Bam Bam” impressed the world with his beating of well-regarded fellow prospect, Anthony Peterson. Now, he may be set to face Urbano Antillon and a win could propel him into the top 3.
10) Miguel Vazquez: 26-3 (12 KO) (IBF Champ)
Quick Notes: Talented boxer with a unanimous decision victory over tough Korean Ji-Hoon Kim and a non-lightweight win over Breidis Prescott.
11) Juan Diaz: 35-4 (17 KO)
Quick Notes:Fading fast, but still in the mix based on past glories.
12) Kevin Mitchell: 31-1 (23 KO)
Quick Notes: Rebuilding after being demolished by Michael Katsidis. Holds dominant UD win over Breidis Prescott.
13) Ali Funeka: 30-3-3 (25 KO)
Quick Notes: Tough luck former champ who has had controversy surround each blemish on his record.
14) Breidis Prescott: 23-2 (19 KO)
Quick Notes: Still coasting off his Amir Khan demolition, but will be bumped from the lightweight rankings inside of 60-days due to divisional inactivity.
15) Ji Hoon Kim: 21-6 (18 KO)
Quick Notes:Tough pressure fighter with solid resume, just got beat for the IBF title by Miguel Vazquez.
16) Paulus Moses: 25-1 (17 KO)
Quick Notes: Well-traveled lightweight with solid international record, just lost to Miguel Acosta
17) Antonio DeMarco: 24-2-1 (18 KO)
Quick Notes: Following a tough loss to the late Edwin Valero, DeMarco is in rebuilding mode.
18) Anthony Peterson: 30-1 (20 KO)
Quick Notes: Talented and favored to beat Brandon Rios, suffered a mental collapse that lead to en embarrassing DQ.
19) Robert Guerrero: 27-1-1 (18 KO)
Quick Notes: Maybe the most gifted lightweight in the world, but The Boxing Tribune World Rankings are earned and Guerrero’s one win at 135 only bags him a token 19th ranking. A win over Vicente Escobedo on November 6th will push him up to a higher spot.
20) David Diaz: 35-3-1 (17 KO)
Quick Notes: Former world champ on the way out. His hold on the 20th spot is tenuous, at best.
Take a Look at the Complete World Rankings HERE
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