The Ring Ratings Reviewed 2024: Junior bantamweight
The Ring first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. Almost a century later, it’s no exaggeration to claim that these independent ratings 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 where is decided democratically every week. It sounds easy, but it 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 to look at each rated fighter’s respective achievements and gaze into my crystal ball to see what may lay ahead.
Next up is junior bantamweight (115-pounds), which has a new sheriff in town after Jesse Rodriguez vanquished grizzled veteran Juan Francisco Estrada to annex the Ring and WBC titles.
As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.
CHAMPION – JESSE RODRIGUEZ
RECORD: 20-0 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Rodriguez was a decorated amateur before turning professional at 17 years of age. “Bam” worked his way through the junior flyweight rankings and was a highly touted prospect when he appeared on ESPN during the pandemic. The Texan was given the opportunity to jump two weight classes and face savvy former titleholder Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC title. He made the most of his big chance, dropping Cuadras en route to claiming a 12-round unanimous decision. He went on to make two defenses, notably stopping Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TKO 8). He decided to drop down in weight and picked up the vacant WBO title but suffered a broken jaw in the process against Cristian Gonzalez (UD 12). The 24-year-old southpaw stopped Sunny Edwards (RTD 9) to add the IBF title before electing to vacate both titles to move back up to 115-pounds, where, most recently, he won The Ring junior bantamweight belt and regained the WBC title by getting off the canvas to knockout former pound-for-pound entrant Juan Francisco Estrada (KO 7).
THE FUTURE: Estrada has a rematch clause and it looks like it could happen in November.If he wins, it would be great to see him further solidifying his status by facing IBF/WBA counterpart Fernando Martinez.
No. 1 – FERNANDO MARTINEZ
RECORD: 17-0 (9 KOs)
THE PAST: Martinez was a standout amateur and represented his home country of Argentina all over the world. Martinez appeared in the World Series of Boxing and the 2016 Olympics before turning professional in 2017. He won his first nine fights, all in Argentina, before venturing to South Africa to stop Athenkosi Dumezweni (TKO 11). The 33-year-old was largely unknown until he scored an upset over Jerwin Ancajas (UD 12) to win the IBF title and repeated the trick in a rematch for his first defense. He then stopped another Filipino in Jade Bornea (TKO 11). In his last outing he impressively unified belts with with WBA ruler Kazuto Ioka (UD 12) in Japan.
THE FUTURE: The road warrior will have no problem coming to America for a further unification with Rodriguez, but might need to bide his time. Hopefully he will stay active in the meantime.
No. 2 – JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA
RECORD: 44-4 (28 KOs)
THE PAST: Estrada came of age in a losing effort to former pound-for-pound king Roman Gonzalez (UD 12) in November 2012. He rebounded to win WBA and WBO 112-pound titles at the expense of Brian Viloria (SD 12). After making five defenses, Estrada abdicated his throne for a move up to junior bantamweight. After losing to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (MD 12), he outboxed the big-punching Thai to claim Ring and WBC junior bantamweight titles in the rematch. He made three defenses, edging old rival Gonzalez (SD 12) who held the WBA title, in a classic. “El Gallo” had his WBA and WBC titles taken when he spent 18 months on the sidelines. When he returned he was given a harder-than-expected time against Argi Cortes (UD 12). However, the 34-year-old returned to form boxing to an early lead and holding off Gonzalez (UD 12) to pick up the vacant WBC title and retain his Ring title in their trilogy fight but again didn’t fight for 18-months. His team were unable to broker a deal to face Kazuto Ioka last year and ended up instead yielding his titles to Jesse Rodriguez (KO 7).
THE FUTURE: He has a rematch clause with Rodriguez, and things are progressing towards a November date.
Fernando Martinez scores with an uppercut during his junior bantamweight title-unification fight against Kazuto Ioka. (Photo by Naoki Fukuda)
No. 3 – KAZUTO IOKA
RECORD: 31-3-1 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: After claiming titles at strawweight and junior flyweight, Ioka lost for the first time to IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng (SD 12). Unperturbed, the Japanese star rebounded to best Juan Carlos Reveco (MD 12) to win the WBA belt in that division. He made five defenses, including a rematch victory over Reveco (TKO 11), then shockingly retired from the sport in 2017. However, following a 17-month layoff, Ioka returned at junior bantamweight in search of more glory. He lost a WBO title bout to Donnie Nietes (SD 12) but stopped Aston Palicte (TKO 10) for the very same belt after Nietes vacated. The four-weight world titleholder made six successful defenses, notably stopped Kosei Tanaka (TKO 8) before dominating Nietes (UD 12) in a rematch. Looked to unify with WBA titlist Joshua Franco but had to settle for a draw. Ioka, 35, decided to vacate his title instead of facing his mandatory to pursue a rematch with Franco and impressively won a 12-round unanimous decision. Unable to secure a unification with Estrada, Ioka had to settle for a routine defense before dropping his title to the hard-charging Martinez (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: Ioka typically fights on the year-end show in Japan – 13 times in his career – and figures to return then, where he could meet Pedro Guevara.
No. 4 – KOSEI TANAKA
RECORD: 20-1 (11 KOs)
THE PAST: Tanaka won the WBO strawweight title from Julian Yedras (UD 12) in his fifth fight and made one defense. He then moved up to junior flyweight and won the vacant WBO title and made two defenses. The Japanese star outgrew that division and edged Sho Kimura (MD 12) to win the WBO flyweight title. He made three defenses of that one, notably outboxing former unified junior flyweight titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi (UD 12) and stopping current WBO 108-pound titlist Jonathan Gonzalez (TKO 7). The now 29-year-old jumped to 115 pounds but was brutally stopped by Ioka (TKO 8). The three-weight world champion regained his confidence with four wins and bested Christian Bacasegua (UD 12) for the vacant WBO crown. He had been tabbed to defend his belt against Jonathan Rodriguez last month, only for the Mexican to miss weight and the fight being cancelled.
THE FUTURE: A mouthwatering fight with living legend Roman Gonzalez has been teased.
No. 5 – CARLOS CUADRAS
RECORD: 42-5-1 (28 KOs)
THE PAST: Cuadras was a talented amateur before turning professional in 2008. “El Principe” won his first 29 fights and then claimed the WBC title against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TD 8). He made six title defenses before losing to Roman Gonzalez (UD 12). Since then he has lost two fights against Juan Francisco Estrada (UD 12/ TKO 11), the latter coming in a Ring/ WBC title fight. He also lost a WBC title fight to Jesse Rodriguez (UD 12). The 35-year-old Mexican warhorse won two fights before breathing new life into his career edging past compatriot Pedro Guevara (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: He tore his Achilles tendon in March and is recovering before returning.
No. 6 – PEDRO GUEVARA
RECORD: 42-4-1 (22 KOs)
THE PAST: Guevara began his career with 14 wins before drawing with Mario Rodriguez (D 12). He righted the ship with four wins to earn a shot at IBF 108-pound titleholder John Riel Casimero, narrowly losing a 12-round split decision. He scored wins over former two-time world champion Raul Garcia (SD 12) and Rodriguez (UD 12) in a rematch. Those wins saw him get a second tilt at the world title against Akira Yaegashi. This time, Guevara got the win stopping Yaegashi in seven rounds. He made two defenses at home in Mazatlan before losing in Japan to Yu Kimura (SD 12). He later lost a fight with WBC 108-pound ruler Kenshiro Teraji (MD 12). Guevara jumped from 108 to 115 and reeled off 10 wins before narrowly losing to Cuadras (SD 12). The 35-year-old has won twice since, including edging past Moloney (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: Linked with a rematch with Moloney but could also go to Japan to face Ioka.
Andrew Moloney (left) lands a hook on Pedro Guevara – Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
No. 7 – ANDREW MOLONEY
RECORD: 26-4 (16 KOs)
THE PAST: Moloney was a seasoned amateur and won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth games. Has scored solid wins over Luis Concepcion (TKO 10), Miguel Gonzalez (TKO 8) and Elton Dharry (RTD 8). The Australian came up short in a three-fight series with then-WBA titlist Franco (UD 12/ ND 2/ UD 12). Four wins saw him well positioned to face Junto Nakatani for the vacant WBO title but was knocked out in 11 rounds. He returned with a win over Judy Flores (UD 10) but lost a heartbreaking decision to Pedro Guevara (SD 12).
THE FUTURE: Hopes to exorcise a few demons in a return with Guevara in the final quarter of the year.
No. 8 – SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI
RECORD: 56-6-1 (46 KOs)
THE PAST: Unseated WBC junior bantamweight titleholder Yota Sato (TKO 8) in May 2013 but lost it to Carlos Cuadras (TD 8) after one defense. Reeled off 15 consecutive wins to earn a shot at his old title against then-pound-for-pound No. 1 Roman Gonzalez. Srisaket upset huge odds to win a controversial majority decision but left no doubt in the rematch, which he won via brutal fourth-round knockout. He went 1-1 with the aforementioned Estrada. He stayed in the title picture with three wins while awaiting the rubber match, but settled on facing rising star Jesse Rodriguez for his old title and was stopped in eight rounds. The 37-year-old got back in the win column with four lower-level wins.
THE FUTURE: Rungvisai has seen better days but remains in the hunt while waiting for something bigger to present itself.
No. 9 – DAVID JIMENEZ
RECORD: 16-1 (11 KOs)
THE PAST: Jimenez fought internationally for Costa Rica as an amateur before turning professional in early 2019. The 32-year-old has been able to move relatively quickly. However, it was his win over Ricardo Sandoval (MD 12) in a WBA title eliminator, in which he scored an 11th round knockdown that made the difference, that he drew acclaim for. Lost to Dalakian (UD 12) but has since returned to winning ways with four wins, notably against the usually sturdy Rosendo Hugo Guarneros (RTD 7) and, most recently, jumped up to 115-pounds and bested John Ramirez (UD 12) for the WBA Interim title.
THE FUTURE: He is yet to decide whether his future lays at 112 or 115, and could fight in Costa Rica in December.
No. 10 – KJ CATARAJA
RECORD: 17-0 (13 KOs)
THE PAST: Cataraja was a talented amateur domestically in the Philippines before embarking on the next chapter as a professional in 2015. His career since has been something of a slow burn fighting exclusively at home. The 29-year-old won the OPBF title last year when he bested Edward Heno (UD 12).
THE FUTURE: The unbeaten Filipino will face Kenbyn Torres in Japan on Saturday. All being well will hope to parlay his WBO No. 1 position into a fight with Tanaka for the title.
On the Cusp: Rene Calixto Bibiano, Argi Cortes, Ricardo Malajika, Jayr Raquinel and Suzumi Takayama.
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)
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk.
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