The Ring first introduced its divisional ratings in 1925. 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 over a dozen experts from around the world. Opinions are shared, debate takes place, and the final decision on who should be ranked where is decided democratically every week. It sounds easy, but this can be an arduous and time-consuming process.

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

After a busy first half of 2025 to compile another divisional breakdown. Next up is featherweight (126-pounds), which is a division with plenty of depth but no real clear No. 1. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people's opinions.

RECORD: 27-0 (23 KOs)

THE PAST: Mexican beanpole Espinoza, at 6ft 1, fought almost exclusively in his homeland for the first decade of his career before seemingly coming from nowhere to get off the canvas and upset Robeisy Ramirez with a 12-round majority decision in December 2023.

The 31-year-old appears to have grown into a champion, having easily stopped Sergio Chirino in four rounds before needing six to stop Ramirez in their rematch. Most recently, he dropped and stopped longtime contender Edward Vazquez in seven rounds.

THE FUTURE: He could defend his title later this year although there is also the possibility that he takes his enormous frame to 130-pounds, another weight class without an undisputed leader.

RECORD: 26-1 (12 KOs)

THE PAST: Leo turned professional as a teenager back in 2012 in his native Albuquerque, recording notable victories over experienced duo Mark John Yap (UD10) and former title challenger Cesar Juarez (TKO11).

When Emanuel Navarrete vacated the WBO 122-pound title, Leo outpointed previously-unbeaten Tramaine Williams for the vacant strap in August 2020. However, Stephen Fulton won a wide 12-round decision to wrestle the title away in his first defence five months later.

After one hard-fought comeback win against Aaron Alameda, Leo spent two-and-a-half years on the sidelines before returning and scoring two victories in quick succession to earn a shot at IBF featherweight beltholder Luis Alberto Lopez.

The pair battled on near even terms before Leo thrilled his hometown fans with a picture perfect one-punch knockout in the 10th round, before a first successful defence in Japan against Tomoki Kameda (MD12) on May 24.

THE FUTURE: He's free of mandatory obligations and could look at an optional or even unification matchup in the fall.

RECORD: 23-0-1 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: Ball turned professional in 2017 and went on to claim a WBC regional title by stopping Isaac Lowe in six rounds on the Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte undercard. That proved to be the leg up the 28-year-old needed, adding victories over Ludumo Lamati and former junior featherweight titleholder Isaac Dogboe to firm up his own title credentials.

In March 2024, Ball overcame a large size disadvantage to drop WBC titlist Vargas twice and earned a draw many felt he deserved to win. Three months later, he then met WBA ruler Raymond Ford and edged matters in a close-run contest by 12-round split decision, before the Liverpudlian has produced three successful title defences: Ronnie Rios and TJ Doheny via stoppage and a competitive clash with Sam Goodman on August 16.

THE FUTURE: It's still early days but Ball has maintained a desire to one day face Inoue, however, Britain's only world champion may likely have to remain busy and pursue other options before that potentially comes to fruition.

RECORD: 23-1 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Fulton worked his way into title contention from 2019 onwards, outpointing former titleholder Paulus Ambunda, stopping Mexico's previously-unbeaten Isaac Avelar in six rounds before taming another unbeaten foe in Arnold Khegai over 12.

The Philadelphia native's smooth boxing skills helped him beat Leo to claim the WBO belt, adding the WBC strap by edging past Brandon Figueroa via 12-round majority decision in a unification bout 10 months later.

He sparkled when defending his titles against former champion Daniel Roman in another 12-round points win, though lost his unbeaten record and titles with an eighth-round stoppage loss to Inoue.

He returned in a new weight division and claimed the WBC belt, comfortably outpointing old rival Figueroa on February 1.

THE FUTURE: Looks like he'll jump to 130-pounds and face WBC titlist O'Shaquie Foster in the fall.

RECORD: 31-3 (18 KOs)

THE PAST: The Mexicali native turned professional in 2015 and moved through the ranks but dropped decisions to Abraham Montoya (SD10) and Ruben Villa (UD10) while learning on the job.

He won nine consecutive bouts, notably beating the previously-unbeaten trio of Cristian Baez (TKO5) and Isaac Lowe (KO7) by stoppage as well as Gabriel Flores Jr (UD10) to become IBF mandatory challenger for Josh Warrington's belt.

When that chance came, he edged out a 12-round majority decision win over Warrington in the defending champion's Leeds hometown. Keeping with the road warrior theme, he took his newly-minted title to Michael Conlan's Belfast backyard and stunned locals by stopping the Irishman in five rounds before beating Joet Gonzalez (UD12) and Reiya Abe (TKO8).

That all preceded him coming unstuck rather dramatically against Angelo Leo last year, though he returned to the win column in March with a first-round knockout win over Eduardo Montoya.

THE FUTURE: The 32-year-old has outlined a desire for revenge against Leo but in the meantime, is seeking to fight again later this year.

RECORD: 16-0 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Carrington was a standout amateur before turning professional in October 2021. He enjoyed a breakout 2023 campaign, where he won five fights - including three stoppages - and was The Ring's Prospect of The Year.

Shu Shu carried that momentum into the following year when stepping into contender status with victories over Brayan De Gracia (TKO8) and Sulaiman Segawa (MD10). The 28-year-old won the WBC's interim world title by outpointing Mateus Heita over 12 rounds on July 26.

THE FUTURE: As the WBC's new interim champion, he'll be targeting getting his hands on the full title in the fall months.

RECORD: 26-2-1 (19 KOs)

THE PAST: Figueroa followed older brother and former lightweight titlist Omar into boxing, initially earning his stripes on the local scene in Texas. When his chance came, he lived up to his 'Heartbreaker' moniker by stopping Oscar Escandon (KO10) and Moises Flores (KO3) in bouts which propelled him into the 122-pound rankings.

The 28-year-old impressed by knocking out previously-unbeaten Luis Nery in seven rounds with a savage body shot to clinch the WBC title, though was narrowly edged out in a unification bout with Stephen Fulton.

Moving up to featherweight saw him beat Mark Magsayo over 12 rounds in a fan-friendly shootout of former champions, though he was upgraded from interim to full titleholder and looked lethargic when losing a Fulton rematch in February.

Most recently, he could consider himself a little fortunate to emerge victorious against Joet Gonzalez in their 12-round contest, his first under new head trainer Manny Robles.

THE FUTURE: Could be in line for a title challenge later this year or early 2026.

RECORD: 16-0 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: The Argentine fighter represented his homeland at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics before making his mark in the sport's paid ranks. The 24-year-old collected the South American title and then on the Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora 1 undercard in Las Vegas, dominated Sulaiman Segawa en route to an eight-round points win.

That victory looked even more impressive after Segawa upset Ruben Villa with a 10-round decision four months later. Cuello most recently stopped Sergio Rios with a second-round knockout to clinch the WBA interim title on August 8.

THE FUTURE: It may not be next, but he has the WBA's full champion Nick Ball in his crosshairs.

RECORD: 14-3 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Ramirez, who won gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, turned professional to great acclaim after defecting from Cuba.

Things didn't go to plan when Ramirez was stunned by Adan Gonzales in a four-round split decision loss on his pro debut, though the worm turned quickly. After regrouping, he shutout Gonzalez over six rounds in a rematch and only strengthened.

The 31-year-old southpaw looked the real deal in taking apart previously-unbeaten Abraham Nova with a fifth-round knockout before a dominant decision win beyond Isaac Dogboe for the vacant WBO belt.

He was surprisingly beaten in The Ring's Upset of The Year by a then-unheralded Espinoza via 12-round majority decision and one warm-up fight later, suffered a broken eye socker in his Espinoza rematch, losing by sixth-round stoppage on December 7.

THE FUTURE: He has been medically cleared to fight again and will return later this year.

RECORD: 17-0 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Collins worked his way up on the small hall shows in Scotland. He stepped up and won the vacant Commonwealth title with a third-round stoppage win over Felix Williams.

The 29-year-old southpaw made two defences, adding the British belt with a seventh-round finish of James Beech Jr before levelling up to European honours by outpointing Francesco Grandelli over 12 rounds.

Most recently, he scored a career-best stoppage win in four rounds over compatriot Lee McGregor on the Josh Taylor-Ekow Essuman undercard in May.

THE FUTURE: He'll defend his European strap against Spain's Cristobal Lorente in Glasgow, headlining Queensberry's Oct. 4 show.

Ra'eese Aleem, Alberto Gonzalez, Joet Gonzalez, Tomoki Kameda and Mikito Nakano.

Click here for the pound-for-pound review, as well as the first six divisions assessed - the strawweights, the junior-flyweights, the flyweights, the junior bantamweights, the bantamweights and junior featherweights.

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X @AnsonWainwr1ght.