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 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 junior bantamweight (115-pounds), Jesse Rodriguez is the class of the division and will look to further unify when he faces the next best guy, Fernando Martinez on November 22. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

RECORD: 22-0 (15 KOs)

THE PAST: Rodriguez turned professional at 17 and worked his way through the junior flyweight rankings and was given the opportunity to jump two weight classes and beat titleholder Carlos Cuadras (UD 12) for the vacant WBC title and hasn't looked back since. He made two defences - notably stopping Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TKO 8). "Bam" dropped down to flyweight and picked up the vacant WBO title against Cristian Gonzalez (UD 12). The 25-year-old southpaw unified by beating IBF champion Sunny Edwards (RTD 9). That prompted a move back up to 115-pounds, where he won The Ring junior bantamweight title and regained the WBC strap after climbing off the canvas to knock out Juan Francisco Estrada (KO 7). He added Phumelela Cafu's WBO title (TKO 10) on July 19.

THE FUTURE: He'll look to further unify against Fernando Martinez in Riyadh, on November 22.

RECORD: 18-0 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Martinez was a standout amateur and represented his home country at 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 34-year-old was largely unknown until he upset Jerwin Ancajas (UD 12) to win the IBF title and repeated the trick in his first defense and then stopped another Filipino Jade Bornea (TKO 11). He impressively unified with WBA ruler Kazuto Ioka (UD 12) in Japan. He had to vacate ahead of a rematch we he again won by 12-round unanimous decision.

THE FUTURE: Puma will face Rodriguez on November 22.

RECORD: 31-4-1 (16 KOs)

THE PAST: Ioka won world titles at strawweight and junior flyweight but lost when he faced IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng (SD 12). The Japanese star rebounded to best Juan Carlos Raveco (MD 12) to win the WBA flyweight title. He made five defenses, including a rematch victory over Raveco (TKO 11). He surprisingly retired for 17-months before returning at 115-pounds. 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 stopping Kosei Tanaka (TKO 8) before dominating Nietes (UD 12) in a rematch. Then WBA ruler Joshua Franco held him to a draw, but he won the rematch (UD 12). He suffered back-to-back defeats to Martinez (UD 12/ UD 12).

THE FUTURE: Assessing his options before announcing his next move, which given his status and age in the sport is likely to be something significant.

RECORD: 44-5-1 (28 KOs)

THE PAST: Cuadras was a talented amateur before turning professional in 2008. "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's gone lost two fights against Juan Francisco Estrada (UD 12/ TKO 11) the later coming in a Ring/ WBC title fight. He also lost a WBC title fight to Jesse Rodriguez (UD 12). The 36-year-old Mexican warhorse breathed new life into his career edging past compatriot Pedro Guevara (SD 12) on November 17, 2023. He has stayed active with two wins since.

THE FUTURE: Likely to return in the fall as he chases another title opportunity.

RECORD: 18-1 (12 KOs)

THE PAST: Jimenez fought internationally for Costa Rica as an amateur before turning professional in early 2019. The 33-year-old holds a win over recently minted WBA/ WBC flyweight boss Ricardo Sandoval (MD 12). However, he lost to WBA flyweight titleholder Artem Dalakian (UD 12). He has returned strongly with six wins and stepped up to 115-pounds where he bested John Ramirez (UD 12) for the WBA Interim title and went to Kyrgyzstan and stopped Kenbun Torres (KO 11) on July 20.

THE FUTURE: Only recently fought and will hope that helps him move closer to a world title shot.

RECORD: 11-1-3 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Thrown in at the deep end and was held to draw in three of his first seven fights. One of those was against the more experienced Jackson Chauke (D 12) for the national title. The 27-year-old bested Chauke (SD 12) in a rematch. He beat Filipino Genisis Libranza (UD 12) and shocked Kosei Tanaka (SD 12) to claim the WBO title but lost it in a unification to Rodriguez (TKO 10).

THE FUTURE: Only recently lost his title, so will be taking some time off before assessing his next move.

RECORD: 27-4 (17 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 heart-breaking decision to Pedro Guevara (SD 12).

THE FUTURE: The Australian had been due to face Argi Cortes in Mexico on August 15 in an IBF title eliminator but the fight was beset by issues and Moloney pulled out at the last minute.

RECORD: 43-5-1 (22 KOs)

THE PAST: Guevara began his career with 18 wins from 19 fights but came unstuck against then IBF 108-pound titleholder John Riel Casimero (SD 12). He worked his way back up and got a second tilt at the world title against WBC titlist Akira Yaegashi. This time Guevara got the win stopping Yaegashi (KO 7) 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 36-year-old edged past Andrew Moloney (SD 12) but was stopped for the first time when he challenged Rodriguez (TKO 3) for Ring/ WBC titles.

THE FUTURE: Looking to rebuild after losing to Rodriguez.

RECORD: 16-2 (12 KOs)

THE PAST: Malajika learnt and improved from a pair of early loses. The 26-year-old has since beaten Kevin Munoz (UD 12), Marcel Braithwaite (UD 12), Jackson Chauke (KO 2) and stopped former world title challenger Jayson Mama (TKO 5) last Saturday.

THE FUTURE: He's angling towards a world title eliminator, which may come next.

RECORD: 23-6-2 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: Garcia turned professional in 2017. He lost three of his first five but reeled off eight wins before narrowly losing to future WBC bantamweight titlist Alexandro Santiago (MD 10) and former two-time bantamweight beltholder Paul Butler (SD 10). The 35-year-old won 10 fights to earn a fight for the vacant IBF title against Bibiano (D 12) and edged in in a rematch (SD 12) on May 23.

THE FUTURE: Still relatively early after winning the title but you'd imagine he'll defend his title later this year.

RECORD: 23-1-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Bibiano made his debut in 2016. The 30-year-old won his first 23 fights with all but two on home soil. His most impressive win came in May 2024 when he ouboxed Sikho Nqothole (UD 10). He was held to a draw by Garcia (D 12) when they contested the vacant IBF title and dropped a close decision (SD 12) in their rematch.

THE FUTURE: He'll have to work his way back up after narrowly losing to Garcia.

Argi Cortes, Jayr Raquinel, Suzumi Takayama, Jack Turner and Joselito Velazquez.

Click here for the pound-for-pound review, as well as the first three divisions assessed - the strawweights, followed by the junior-flyweights and flyweight class.