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.

After a busy first half of 2025, it's time to compile another divisional breakdown.

Next up is lightweight (135 pounds), which is blessed with the elite fighters such as Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Andy Cruz and excellent supporting cast. It has plenty of star power and an excellent supporting cast. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people's opinions.

RECORD: 24-0 (11 KOs)

THE PAST: The 2016 Olympic silver medalist adapted to the professional game and his star quickly ascended. Stevenson shut down the previously unbeaten Joet Gonzalez (UD 12) to claim the vacant WBO featherweight title in October 2019. He moved up to 130 pounds and was awarded The Ring Performance of the Year for dominating and stopping WBO titlist Jamel Herring (TKO 10) in October 2021. And He added Ring and WBC titles by outclassing the previously unbeaten Oscar Valdez (UD 12) the following April but missed weight against Robson Conceicao (UD 12) and lost his titles on the scales in September 2022. The 28-year-old southpaw elected to head to 135-pounds but failed to impress when he won the WBC title against Edwin De Los Santos (UD 12) in November 2023. He stayed busy before reminding us of his talents by dissecting William Zepeda (UD 12) on July 12.

THE FUTURE: Has spoken about going up in weight, whether that's next or not remains to be seen. Perhaps he could face Lamont Roach.

RECORD: 30-0-1 (28 KOs)

THE PAST: Davis dominated his opposition on the way up before impressively ripping the IBF 130-pound title from Jose Pedraza (TKO 7) in January 2017. Since then, his star has risen and he is one of the most popular attractions in America, regularly selling out arenas across the country. The 30-year-old power-punching southpaw owns a highlight-reel knockout over Leo Santa Cruz (KO 6) in October 2020 and showed that his vaunted power carries up in weight by coming on strong to stop the much larger future WBC welterweight titlist Mario Barrios (TKO 11) at 140 pounds in June 2021. “Tank” also won when not at his best against Isaac Cruz (UD 12), took care of Rolando Romero (TKO 6), shone against Ryan Garcia (KO 7) and stopped Frank Martin (KO 8) but failed to impress when he was held to a draw by Lamont Roach (D 12) in March.

THE FUTURE: Instead of the Roach rematch, he'll face Jake Paul in Atlanta on November 14.

RECORD: 23-0 (17 KOs)

THE PAST: Muratalla turned professional in September 2016. After winning his first three fights in Mexico, the California native moved through the ranks. He stepped up against Jeremia Nakathila and showed he was ready for the opportunity stopping the Namibian in two rounds in May 2023. He took fellow unbeaten Diego Torres unbeaten record by eighth-round stoppage and has since followed up with wins over Xolisani Ndongeni (UD 10) and tricky former junior lightweight titlist Tevin Farmer (UD 10). The 28-year-old hoped to face Vasiliy Lomachenko for the IBF title. Whilst waiting, he beat Zaur Abdullaev (UD 12) for the Interim title on May 10, and when Lomachenko retired, he was upgraded to full champion.

THE FUTURE: Reportedly in negotiations to face Floyd Schofield in November.

RECORD: 33-1 (27 KOs)

THE PAST: The hard-hitting Mexican southpaw punching machine won his first 20 fights in Mexico before signing with Golden Boy Promotions. Since then, the 29-year-old has continued to impress, notably bludgeoning previously unbeaten Hector Tanajara (RTD 6), he gained quality rounds with seasoned veteran Rene Alvarado (UD 10), further legitimized himself scoring a dominant win over former 130-pound titlist Joseph Diaz (UD 12), veteran Mercito Gesta (KO 6), Maxi Hughes (RTD 4) and Giovanni Cabrera (KO 3). He struggled against Tevin Farmer (SD 10/UD 10) last November and their rematch in March. He was no match for Stevenson (UD 12) when he fought for the WBC title on July 12.

THE FUTURE: Will be looking to get back in the win column and regroup after losing to Stevenson.

RECORD: 6-0 (3 KOs)

THE PAST: The Cuban was one of the best amateurs in recent history. He claimed gold at the 2020 Olympics, won gold at the 2017, 2019 and 2021 World Championships as well as a slew of other gold medals at various tournaments. He holds a 4-0 edge over Keyshawn Davis from their time in the unpaid ranks. The 30-year-old decided to make the transition and jumped to the pros in July 2023. Since then, he has moved quickly and most recently caught the eye stopping seasoned Antonio Moran (TKO 7) and Hironori Mishiro (TKO 5) on June 14.

THE FUTURE: As the IBF mandatory, he'll have his eyes on Muratalla, though it appears it won't be next with Muratalla facing Schofield, so will have to stay busy in the meantime.

RECORD: 19-0 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: Initially Schofield and his father ploughed their own furrow until signing with Golden Boy Promotions. While things haven't always been easy, notably having to hold on late after building a considerable lead before getting dropped by Rene Tellez (UD 12) last November. He had been due to face Stevenson in February only to pull out at the 11th hour leaving more questions that answers. However, he put that behind him by blitzing Tevin Farmer (KO 1) on June 28.

THE FUTURE: He's hoping to secure a November date with IBF ruler Muratalla.

RECORD: 19-1 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Berinchyk was a part of the 2012 Ukrainian boxing dream team that also featured Oleksandr Usyk, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko. Berinchyk won silver and then turned professional. However, while his illustrious countrymen quickly gained acclaim he was forced to take a slower path. He picked up the European title on the undercard of Usyk-Joshua by beating Yvan Mendy (UD 12) in December 2022 and successfully defended it against Anthony Yigit (UD 12) eight months later. The 37-year-old, who has actively fought for Ukraine in their ongoing war against Russia, finally got his big chance and went to San Diego and beat Emanuel Navarrete (UD 12) for the vacant WBO title last May but dropped it in his first defense against Keyshawn Davis (KO 4) in February.

THE FUTURE: Still taking some time to assess his options after losing his title.

RECORD: 17-0 (15 KOs)

THE PAST: Noakes worked his way up through the ranks winning British, Commonwealth and European titles. The 28-year-old is a dangerous puncher as illustrated in stoppage wins over Lewis Sylvester (TKO 4) last February and Gianluca Ceglia (RTD 8) last September. However, he has also shown he can box when he has to and outwitted iron jawed duo Yvan Mendy (UD 12) in April 2024 and Ryan Walsh (UD 12) last December.

THE FUTURE: He'll look to take the next step when he faces burgeoning star Abdullah Mason for the vacant WBO title in Riyadh, on November 22.

RECORD: 19-0 (17 KOs)

THE PAST: Mason caught they eye winning the eye in the amateurs before turning professional at 17. Since then, his promoter, Top Rank, have kept him active as he has continued to excel and grow as a fighter. The 21-year-old southpaw lived up to his considerable potential early on in his career but had to show he could overcome adversity by twice getting off the canvas to beat Yohan Vasquez (KO 2) in November 2024. He appears to have learnt from that by beating Manuel Jaimes (TKO 4), Carlos Ornelas (RTD 6) and veteran Jeremia Nakathila (RTD 5) June 7.

THE FUTURE: The youngster gets his first world title opportunity when he faces Noakes on the big Riyadh Season in November.

RECORD: 19-0 (15 KOs)

THE PAST: The Canadian made his way up in Mexico and at home before his career was impacted by Covid-19 and he didn't fight for 18 months. The 31-year-old kept plugging away until he got his big opportunity to face touted prospect Ashton Sylve. Despite being handily down in the scorecards, he rallied and knocked Sylve out cold in July 2024. He has fought three times since, notably besting teak-tough Roger Gutierrez (UD 12) on August 23.

THE FUTURE: Still early days but could have his eye on a spot on the undercard of promoter Jake Paul-Gervonta Davis on November 22.

Zaur Abdullaev, Dzmitry Asanau, Joe Cordina, Jadier Herrera and Maxi Hughes.

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

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