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 fighters' 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 flyweight (108-pounds), which has seen recent coronations of Carlos Canizales and Kyosuke Takami and may go some way to medium and long term direction of the division. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people's opinions.

RECORD: 28-3-1 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: The talented Venezuelan made a name for himself in Asia against then-WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi with a 12-round draw, followed by decision victories over Reiya Konisha and Sho Kimura.

After a two-year hiatus lengthened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 32-year-old suffered a surprising sixth-round stoppage defeat by Esteban Bermudez, though contrasting victories over former WBC titlist Ganigan Lopez (KO4) and Daniel Matellon (TD8) re-established his credentials as a world-level contender.

He gave RING/WBA and WBC champion Kenshiro Teraji all he could handle, dropping a 12-round majority decision against the Japanese star and could consider himself unlucky to suffer the same fate against Panya Pradabsri when they battled for vacant WBC honours in December. He climbed off the canvas to knock him out in five rounds during their rematch last week.

THE FUTURE: Now one apiece, a potential Pradabsri trilogy fight beckons at the WBC convention in the fall.

RECORD: 10-0 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Takami was a good amateur before turning to the paid ranks in July 2022. Since then, he has also moved quickly and stopped grizzled veteran Kenichi Horikawa (TKO 6) in March 2024. The 23-year-old won the Japanese title against Toshiki Kawamitsu with a finish in the same round, before levelling up with an eye-opening display punctuated by a 10th-round stoppage of Erick Rosa to claim the WBA title last week.

THE FUTURE: It is still early days, but you'd expect to see Takami make his first championship defense later this year.

RECORD: 14-4 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Santiago went 9-3 over the first seven years of his career and didn't look to be going far before embarking on a three-fight win streak, taking the unbeaten records of Gerardo Zapata (DQ2) and a 12th-round knockout win over Kevin Vivas.

That saw him give an honest but unsuccessful effort, being outpointed by then-WBO 108-pound titleholder Jonathan Gonzalez.

After rebuilding with a 10-round points win on home turf, the 33-year-old Puerto Rican headed to Japan in March and started strong en route to a 12-round upset victory over Shokichi Iwata to clinch the WBO strap.

THE FUTURE: His maiden defense is being worked on and could take place in late September.

RECORD: 39-1 (34 KOs)

THE PAST: The power-punching Thai ran through his first 24 opponents before coming unstuck against Masamichi Yabuki, who had just finished a two-fight series with Teraji and stopped him in seven rounds.

After an eight-fight winning run featuring early knockouts against overmatched opposition, the 25-year-old marked his return to the elite with a 12-round points win over Miel Fajardo for the OPBF title. Defences against John Paul Gabunilas (TKO5) and Masataka Taniguchi (SD12) followed, before claiming vacant IBF honours with a razor-thin split decision nod over Christian Araneta.

THE FUTURE: Only recently won the title, but you'd expect him to defend before the end of the year.

RECORD: 13-2 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: The South African held on for a hard-fought decision win over Christian Araneta in an IBF eliminator, then parlayed that success into world title honours with similarly difficult 12-round battles with Hector Flores (SD12) and Regie Suganob (UD12).

Adrian Curiel caught him cold with a surprising second-round knockout in November 2023, though 'The Special One' recorded a come-from-behind stoppage to avenge defeat three months later, before losing it to Masamichi Yabuki (TKO9) last October.

THE FUTURE: He's yet to return after losing the title. Potentially could be looking at heading to flyweight.

RECORD: 14-2 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: Iwata won Japanese and OPBF titles in just nine fights, headlined by a 12-round points win over grizzled former world title challenger Kenichi Horikawa.

Four months later, Puerto Rico's wily Jonathan Gonzalez inflicted his first pro career defeat to make a second WBO title defence, though Iwata returned with four victories -- all by stoppage -- to earn a second championship opportunity. Jairo Noriega stood no chance and surrendered after three completed rounds, though the unheralded Santiago outpointed him over 12 rounds in March.

THE FUTURE: Scheduled to return in a 10-round contest on September 6.

RECORD: 16-1 (6 KOs)

THE PAST: The Filipino scored wins over compatriots Jake Amparo (UD 8), Jerome Baloro (UD 10) and Mark Vicelles (TD 8) to earn an IBF title shot. A trip to South Africa left him empty-handed as Nontshinga outpointed him over 12 rounds in July 2023, though the 27-year-old has since won three fights on home soil -- the last two by stoppage in 2024.

THE FUTURE: He's due to face compatriot and agemate Jayson Vayson (14-1-1, 8 KOs) on September 20 in an IBF eliminator.

RECORD: 25-3 (20 KOs)

THE PAST: Araneta showed early progress in The Philippines before the 30-year-old southpaw suffered his first loss in an IBF eliminator, with Daniel Valladares forcing him into submission after four rounds in Mexico.

After contrasting wins in the final quarter of 2020, he lost a close 12-round contest against Nontshinga in another away day eliminator, this time in South Africa. A six-fight winning streak followed, including a first-round finish of 17-1-1 contender Arvin Magramo, though he fell short and lost a split decision when meeting Simsri for the vacant IBF throne on June 19.

THE FUTURE: Nothing scheduled at the moment.

RECORD: 18-0 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: Badillo has been a professional since 2018 and has won all his fights in his native Mexico. The 29-year-old has since beaten Neider Valdez Aguilar (TKO 5), Luis Rodriguez (TKO 10), veteran Miguel Angel Herrera (UD 8) and, most recently, outpointed Gerardo Zapata over ten rounds in a WBC eliminator.

THE FUTURE: He'll have his eye on the WBC title but may have to potentially wait for the winner of a Canizales-Pradabsri trilogy.

RECORD: 14-1-1 (8 KOs)

THE PAST: The only blemishes on the 27-year-old Filipino's record are against world champions. A six-round draw with Rene Mark Cuarto in September 2019 has aged well, seeing as 'Mighty Mouse' went on to hold the IBF 105-pound title.

He lost every round on the scorecards against future WBA flyweight kingpin Seigo Yuri Akui in February 2023, but has since gone on a four-fight win streak - including a second-round stoppage over former WBO strawweight boss Ryuya Yamanaka.

THE FUTURE: Big fight with Suganob on tap for September 20.

On the Cusp: Daiya Kira, Panya Pradabsri, Erick Rosa, Masataka Taniguchi and Mpumelelo Tshabalala.

Click here for the pound-for-pound review, as well as the first division assessed - the strawweights.