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 junior featherweight (122-pounds), which is home to The Ring and undisputed champion, Naoya Inoue, who has become one of the biggest stars in the sport. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

RECORD: 30-0 (27 KOs)

THE PAST: Inoue devoured all before him en route to claiming world titles at 108, 115, 118 and 122 pounds, becoming The Ring and undisputed in the last two weight classes. The big-punching Japanese “Monster” has lived up to his moniker, demolishing the likes of Omar Narvaez (KO 2), Juan Carlos Payano (KO 1) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (KO 2). However, it’s his triumphs over four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire that garnered considerable acclaim. He edged Donaire (UD 12) in an instant classic that was later named 2019 Fight of the Year by The Ring and stopped him in the second round of their rematch. The 32-year-old moved up in weight and looked just as impressive as ever bludgeoning Stephen Fulton (TKO 8) to win the WBC and WBO 122-pound titles. He claimed the vacant Ring championship and the IBF/WBA titles against Marlon Tapales (KO 10) to become undisputed junior featherweight champion. Inoue has stayed busy with four defenses notably getting off the canvas to beat Luis Nery (TKO 6) and Ramon Cardenas (TKO 8) on May 4.

THE FUTURE: Inoue will face his biggest test in a while when he defends his titles against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Nagoya, Japan on September 14.

RECORD: 40-4 (21 KOs)

THE PAST: Tapales worked his way up through the ranks in the Philippines before narrowly losing to David Sanchez (MD 12) in Mexico. He went to Thailand and twice got off the canvas to stop Pungluang Sor Singyu (TKO 11) to pick up the WBO 118-pound title. In his first defense, Tapales missed weight and was stripped of his title. Over a year of inactivity followed, but Tapales returned with two wins before losing to Ryosuke Iwasa (TKO 11) in an IBF 122-pound title eliminator. He bounced back with three wins including an impressive stoppage over Hiroaki Teshigawara (TKO 2) in an IBF eliminator. He upset IBF/WBA titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev by winning a 12-round split decision but lost his belts to Inoue (KO 10). He is on a three-fight win streak.

THE FUTURE: Tapales will return in October in The Philippines against an as yet unknown opponent.

RECORD: 14-1 (11 KOs)

THE PAST: Akhmadaliev was a standout amateur, who won bronze at the 2016 Olympics before seamlessly transitioning into the pros. The dynamic Uzbekistan southpaw edged the more experienced Daniel Roman (SD 12) in early 2020 to become the IBF/WBA 122-pound titleholder, in just his eighth professional fight. The 30-year-old made three successful defenses including a homecoming against former IBF titlist Ryosuke Iwasa (TKO 5) and a stoppage over Ronny Rios (TKO 12). However, he lost his titles in controversial fashion to Tapales (SD 12) in April 2023. He has had to try to work his way back up with three wins while waiting for a shot at Inoue.

THE FUTURE: He will get that long awaited opportunity to face with The Ring and undisputed champion Inoue on September 14.

RECORD: 36-2 (28 KOs)

THE PAST: Nery moved through the bantamweight ranks and became the WBC mandatory challenger to Shinsuke Yamanaka. He shocked the long-reigning champion with a fourth-round stoppage. In the aftermath, he was stripped of The Ring championship he'd won for taking a banned substance (zilpaterol). The WBC continued to recognize Nery but then stripped him for failing to make weight for the rematch. Very much the pariah, Nery defeated Yamanaka by second-round stoppage but received little in the way of credit. The now 30-year-old eventually moved up to claim the vacant WBC 122-pound title by defeating Aaron Alameda (UD 12) but lost it in his first defense to Brandon Figueroa (KO 7). Nery won four fights, including Ring Fight of The Year against Azat Hovhannisyan (KO 11). He managed to drop Inoue but was later stopped in six rounds.

THE FUTURE: He signed a co-promotional with Kameda Promotions and will likely fight on one of their upcoming shows.

RECORD: 20-1 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Goodman worked his way through the domestic scene in Australia before claiming regional belts, notably beating Richie Mepranum (TKO 6) and Juan Miguel Elorde (TKO 8). However, the 26-year-old came to the fore when he bested former titlist TJ Doheny (UD 10) and edged out previously unbeaten Ra’eese Aleem (SD 12) in an IBF title eliminator. He had twice been tabbed to face Inoue but a cut in sparring curtailed those plans. He snapped a 10-months spell of inactivity by beating Cesar Vaca (UD 10) before he was offered the opportunity to jump to featherweight where he ran WBA ruler Nick Ball close but lost a 12-round unanimous decision.

THE FUTURE: Despite the loss, he enhanced his reputation by showing he can mix with the best. Turki Alalshikh has already said he'd like to see Goodman on future Riyadh Season or Ring Magazine shows.

RECORD: 32-0-1 (17 KOs)

THE PAST: Picasso turned professional at 16 in 2017. He took the requisite steps early in his career and holds wins over Sabelo Ngebinyana (TKO 6) to claim a WBC regional title, Erick Ruiz (UD 10) on his American debut, he followed that by stopping Damien Vazquez (TKO 5) and bested experienced former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan (UD 12). The 23-year-old majored in neuroscience at university has since marked time with three more wins.

THE FUTURE: He is tentatively lined up to face Inoue, in Riyadh, on December 27.

RECORD: 14-0 (4 KOs)

THE PAST: Masoud turned professional in 2018. The Englishman initially went down the small hall route before impressing the powers that be and fighting on Matchroom and Queensberry Promotions. The 29-year-old slickster holds win over previously unbeaten Jack Bateson (TKO 12) and gatekeeper Jose Sanmartin (SD 10). However, it is his upset win over former amateur rival Liam Davies (SD 12) last November that garnered the most attention.

THE FUTURE: A training injury forced him out of a fight with Peter McGrail on June 21. Once healthy it is likely he'll return in the fall.

RECORD: 26-6 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: The Irish-born Australian resident won his first 12 and began a stretch of fighting in America. When his opportunity came up, he headed to Japan and upset Ryosuke Iwasa (UD 12) for the IBF title. After one defense he lost a unification to then WBA ruler Danny Roman (MD 12). It looked like Doheny had dropped into the gatekeeper roll when he lost three of his next five fights to Ionut Baluta (UD 8), Michael Conlan (UD 12) and Sam Goodman (UD 10). However, the 38-year-old veteran scored upset wins over Kazuki Nakajima (TKO 4) and Japhethlee Llamido (TKO 1). He has since lost to Inoue (TKO 7) and when he stepped up to featherweight against WBA ruler Nick Ball (RTD 10).

THE FUTURE: Nothing lined up. He will have to decide whether to carry on or not.

RECORD: 26-2 (14 KOs)

THE PAST: Cardenas turned professional a decade ago. His career was initially something of a slow burn. He won his first 12 before being upset by Danny Flores (MD 10). The now 29-year-old San Antonio native beat the likes of faded former IBF junior bantamweight titlist Rodrigo Guerrero (RTD 2), previously unbeaten Rafael Pedroza (KO 2), Israel Rodriguez (RTD 6) and Jesus Ramirez (KO 9). Earlier this year, he was given the opportunity to fight Inoue and though he eventually succumbed in eight rounds, he did drop the Japanese standout in round two.

THE FUTURE: The Texan could be Junto Nakatani's next opponent on the undercard of the proposed Inoue-Picasso fight in December.

RECORD: 20-0 (18 KOs)

THE PAST: The Tijuana native fought exclusively at home and scored a coming of age win over fellow unbeaten Irvin Turrubiartes (KO 5). Since then, the 24-year-old has continued to impress beating Kevin Munoz (KO 5) and in another step-up former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan (UD 10) on May 10.

THE FUTURE: His schedule is currently open but likely to be back in action in the coming months.

RECORD: 10-0 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: Murata was a good amateur, who unlike most Japanese fighters, turned professional in America. The power-punching southpaw has moved quickly and in his eighth fight was fighting for a WBO regional title taking the unbeaten record of Kaito Yamasaki (TKO 8). In his last fight, he beat former world champion Yukinori Oguni (TKO 6).

THE FUTURE: Doesn't have a fall fight locked in yet, but we can expect to see him fight again before the end of the year.

Bryan Mercado, Carl Martin, Arturo Popoca, Tito Sanchez and Toshiki Shimomachi.

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

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