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, working my way up from strawweight to heavyweight, looking at each ranked fighter's respective achievements and gazing into my crystal ball to determine what might lie ahead.

Next up is light heavyweight (175-pounds), which has a strong top 10 but lacks much depth outside of that existing crop. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people's opinions.

RECORD: (24-1, 12 KOs)

THE PAST: Bivol was an excellent amateur before turning pro in November 2014. The 34-year-old Kyrgyzstan-born technician claimed the WBA light heavyweight title in 2017 and reeled off 10 successful defenses, including wins over Sullivan Barrera (TKO 12), Jean Pascal (UD 12) and Joe Smith Jr. (UD 12).

A career-best win over Canelo Alvarez (UD 12) in May 2022 vaulted Bivol into the pound-for-pound ratings before picking apart Gilberto Ramirez over 12 rounds six months later.

He lost an undisputed matchup with Artur Beterbiev via 12-round majority decision last October but became the Ring and undisputed titleholder by winning the rematch by 12-round majority decision on February 22.

THE FUTURE: Bivol had back surgery in August that has ruled him out for the remainder of this year. When he returns, a Beterbiev trilogy could be on the cards or looking at other options, including the WBC-ordered David Benavidez matchup which didn't happen.

RECORD: 21-1 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: Beterbiev was a standout amateur, winning gold at the 2009 World Championships and competing at the 2012 Olympics. The Russian moved quickly as a professional and won the IBF light heavyweight title, stopping Enrico Koelling (KO 12) in November 2017 and made two subsequent defenses.

His breakout win came against then-WBC titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk (TKO 10) in a unification bout in October 2019. The 40-year-old marked time before demolishing WBO counterpart Joe Smith Jr. (TKO 2), showed his toughness to beatdown Anthony Yarde (TKO 8) in January 2023 and looked sensational bludgeoning dangerous Callum Smith (TKO 7) last January. He has since gone 1-1 against Bivol (MD 12/ L MD 12).

THE FUTURE: His return is currently up in the air.

RECORD: 30-0 (24 KOs)

THE PAST: Benavidez is an offensive beast; physically imposing with impressive power. He became the youngest fighter to win a super middleweight world title, edging past Ronald Gavril (SD 12) to collect the WBC title back in February 2018. He was stripped of his WBC title for cocaine use before impressively regaining the belt from Anthony Dirrell (TKO 9).

However, he missed weight in his first defense to lose the belt on the scales. The 28-year-old beat arch-rival Caleb Plant (UD 12) and ran over two-division titlist Demetrius Andrade (RTD 6) in November 2023. When unable to secure a fight with Canelo, he moved to 175-pounds and beat Oleksandr Gvozdyk (UD 12) for the WBC Interim title before besting unbeaten contender Morrell on February 1 before being elevated to full champion.

THE FUTURE: He'll make the first defence of his light heavyweight crown in a much-anticipated Riyadh Season debut against Anthony Yarde in Riyadh, on November 22.

RECORD: 31-2 (22 KOs)

THE PAST: Smith won the British and European super middleweight titles in impressive fashion and got his big break winning the WBSS by stopping George Groves (KO 7) to become Ring Magazine champion and WBA titleholder in September 2018.

The Englishman struggled to capitalize on that momentum, easily defeating the undersized Hassan N’dam N’Jikam (TKO 3) but laboring against John Ryder (UD 12) before losing to the sport's superstar Canelo Alvarez (UD12) in December 2020.

The 35-year-old moved up to 175-pounds and won two fights before taking a hiding against IBF, WBC and WBO titlist Beterbiev (TKO 7). After knocking off some rust, he won an exciting firefight with Joshua Buatsi (UD) to claim the WBO interim title on February 22.

THE FUTURE: Had been in talks to face Benavidez but now looks to be headed in the direction of David Morrell, potentially early next year.

RECORD: 27-3 (24 KOs)

THE PAST: The power-punching Londoner steamrolled through moderate opposition to earn a shot as the WBO mandatory against Sergey Kovalev in Russia, where he put up a good effort before being stopped in the 11th round of their August 2019 title clash.

After returning to winning ways against overmatched opposition, he suffered a shock 12-round split decision defeat by the slick Lyndon Arthur in December 2020.

However, a year later he scored a fourth-round stoppage in a rematch. He gave IBF, WBC, WBO champion Beterbiev a tough fight before wilting eight rounds into their January 2023 matchup. The 34-year-old is riding a four-fight win streak, notably beating Arthur during a competitive rubber match as part of April 26's Eubank Jr-Benn undercard.

THE FUTURE: Yarde will face Benavidez for the WBC title in Riyadh, on November 22.

RECORD: 19-1 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: Buatsi won bronze at the 2016 Olympics before turning professional. The British-based fighter began training with Virgil Hunter in California and has shown promise but saw his career stagnate. The 32-year-old has produced 12-round decision wins over British trio Craig Richards, Dan Azeez and Willy Hutchinson before losing for the first time as a professional against former world champion Callum Smith on February 22.

THE FUTURE: He'll make his Queensberry debut, headlining their Manchester show against another British contender who has moved up in weight: Zach Parker on November 1.

RECORD: 22-0 (19 KOs)

THE PAST: Ramirez represented his country Venezuela at the 2016 Rio Olympics, losing at the Round of 16 stage. His cousin former IBF super middleweight titlist Jose Uzcategui opened the doors to him turning professional in Mexico, where he won his first nine fights.

The 33-year-old southpaw later moved in a different direction after impressing during a training camp in Russia alongside Beterbiev. He stunned then-unbeaten Braian Suarez (KO 1) in June 2022, stopped former world title challenger Adam Deines (TKO 7) last August and stopped Jerome Pampellone (TKO 7) for the WBA Interim title on August 8.

THE FUTURE: He's inching towards some of the big names that have so far evaded him.

RECORD: 12-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Morrell won Cuban national titles at various levels before turning professional in 2019, aided by an esteemed amateur pedigree with his progress being fast-tracked.

The 27-year-old notched wins over the likes of Alantez Fox (TKO 4), Aidos Yerbossynuly (KO 12) and Yamaguchi Falcao (KO 1) before heading to 175-pounds where he won but failed to catch the eye against Radivoje Kalajdzic (UD 12) last August.

He came up short in a much-anticipated headline matchup with Benavidez on Feb. 1 but returned to winning ways this summer the hard way, climbing off the canvas to edge home a 10-round split decision win over Imam Khataev as part of Ring III in New York on July 12.

THE FUTURE: He has been linked with an interim world title fight against Smith, which would be very interesting.

RECORD: 10-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Khataev was a decorated amateur, winning bronze at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 World Championships. He turned pro between those tournaments in November 2021, with slow early progress before signing with Eye of The Tiger.

The 31-year-old scored impressive wins over experienced Richards Bolotniks (TKO 6) last May and four months later against Ezequiel Maderna (TKO 7). He stepped up and gave David Morrell all he could handle en route to a contentious 10-round split decision loss on July 12.

THE FUTURE: He's tabbed to return in December.

RECORD: 21-2 (17 KOs)

THE PAST: The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist was part of the Ukrainian dream team alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko. As a professional, he worked his way up before unseating WBC titleholder Adonis Stevenson (KO 11) in December 2018.

"The Nail" made one defense before losing a unification matchup to Beterbiev (TKO 10) in October 2019. He retired for over three years before his fire was relit in sparring with Canelo, after which he returned with three victories before a 12-round points loss to Benavidez last June. Since then, the 38-year-old scored a third-round stoppage win over Anthony Holloway on a Golden Boy card in April and remains eager to continue.

THE FUTURE: Originally slated to return again at the end of June, it looks like he'll stay busy next month after potential fights against Khalil Coe and Albert Ramirez recently fell through for different reasons.

RECORD: 19-2 (14 KOs)

THE PAST: Hutchinson was a touted amateur before turning professional as a teenager in 2017. He won his first 13 against modest opposition before being derailed by Lennox Clarke (TKO 5) for the vacant British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles.

He moved up to light heavyweight and reeled off five wins, including a coming-of-age win over Craig Richards (UD 12) last June and fought on near even terms, save two knockdowns, in a spirited losing effort against Buatsi (SD 12) last September.

THE FUTURE: After enduring a long injury lay-off and changes within his team, he returned with a seventh-round stoppage win over Mark Jeffers in Glasgow at the weekend before doubling down on a desire to return to world level competition going forward.

Khalil Coe, Najee Lopez, Mehmet Unal, Conor Wallace and Malik Zinad

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