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 discussed 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 go 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 lie ahead.

After a busy first half of 2025, time to compile another divisional breakdown. Next up is strawweight, which has an established No. 1 with some good rival champions, but has seen change with six fighters entering the top 10 since last year. As always, please enjoy the debate and respect other people’s opinions.

RECORD: 12-0 (9 KOs)

THE PAST: Collazo won five national titles, gold at the 2019 Pan-Am games, and had aspirations of representing his country at the 2020 Olympics. However, his weight class was not recognized, and he decided to make the switch to professional boxing in February 2020. The 28-year-old southpaw moved quickly in the paid ranks and beat former WBO titlist Vic Saludar by unanimous decision in his fifth pro bout. He claimed the WBO world title by stopping Melvin Jerusalem after seven rounds and has since remained active with five successful defenses against the likes of Garen Diagan (RTD 6), Reyneris Gutierrez (TKO 3), Gerardo Zapata (UD 12) and added the WBA and vacant Ring titles when he beat down Thamanoon Niyamtrong (TKO 7).

THE FUTURE: Nothing on his schedule for now, though likely to return in the coming months.

RECORD: 24-3 (12 KOs)

THE PAST: Jerusalem won his first 11 fights at home in the Philippines before losing a razor-thin decision to then-WBC titlist Wanheng Menayothin (UD 12). He suffered a hangover and lost to compatriot Joey Canoy (UD 10) in his next bout before winning eight consecutive fights and winning the WBO title against Masataka Taniguchi (TKO 2). He yielded the title in his first defense against Collazo (RTD 7), but impressively bounced back to take the WBC title from Yudai Shigeoka (SD 12). He has since beaten mandatory challenger Luis Castillo (UD 12) and Shigeoka (UD 12) in a rematch.

THE FUTURE: He has expressed interest in facing rival champion Collazo in rematch, though that may not be next as it appears he'll return at home in The Philippines in the fall.

RECORD: 18-4-1 (13 KOs)

THE PAST: Taduran turned professional at 18 and won 12 of his first 13 fights. He made an ambitious attempt at the vastly more experienced Wanheng Meenayothin (L UD 12) for the WBC title in Thailand in 2018. After returning to winning ways, he got off the canvas to beat previously unbeaten compatriot Samuel Salva (RTD 4) to win the vacant IBF title. The heavy-handed 28-year-old drew with Daniel Valladares (TD 4), but he lost the title to Rene Mark Cuarto (UD 12/TD 7). He upset touted Ginjiro Shigeoka (TKO 9) to regain the IBF title. In a rematch, Taduran edged past his rival by 12-round split decision. Afterwards, the Japanese fighter suffered a brain bleed and remains in hospital.

THE FUTURE: He has also spoken of his desire to face Collazo but that doesn’t look like it will be next.

RECORD: 27-1 (10 KOs)

THE PAST: Freshmart was the longest active reigning world titleholder, having won the WBA title from Byron Rojas (UD 12) in June 2016 before losing a unification with Collazo (TKO 7) in November 2024. The 34-year-old Thai veteran made 11 defenses, turning back the challenges of Rey Loreto (UD 12), Chaozhong Xiong (UD 12), Rojas (UD 12), Robert Paradero (TKO 5) and former long-reigning WBC titleholder Wanheng Meenayothin (UD 12). Since the Collazo defeat, he has returned with two wins.

THE FUTURE: Could fight at the WBC convention in Bangkok later this year.

RECORD: 9-2 (5 KOs)

THE PAST: Shigeoka won five national titles and had dreams of representing Japan at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. However, when his weight class was expunged, similarly to Collazo, he elected to turn professional in October 2019. He notably edged the more experienced Tsubasa Koura (MD 12) in 2021 and stopped former world champion Wilfredo Mendez (KO 7). The 28-year-old bested Panya Pradabsri (UD 12) to become WBC titlist, but he surprisingly lost to Jerusalem (SD 12). He beat Samuel Salva (UD 10), but again lost to Jerusalem (UD 12).

THE FUTURE: He is at his younger sibling’s bedside, so he doesn’t have boxing on his mind at the moment.

RECORD: 9-2-1 (4 KOs)

THE PAST: Kuse unsuccessfully challenged for the South African national title in just his fourth fight against Xolisa Magusha (UD 12). However, he rebounded to beat Magusha's conqueror, Sibusiso Bandla (KO 5), only to lose the title to Bangile Nyangani (MD 12). In a rematch, Kuse turned the tables on his countryman and regained the title by 12-round unanimous decision. He edged past stablemate Beavon Sibanda (MD 12). The 22-year-old stepped into international class by beating former world title challenger Samuel Salva (UD 10) on May 31.

THE FUTURE: It looks like Kuse may face Joey Canoy in a WBC title eliminator in October.

RECORD: 14-1 (12 KOs)

THE PAST: The Chinese fighter won his first five fights before losing to the more experienced countryman Fangyong Zhang (UD 4). Zhu has since fought in Thailand, Japan and South Korea. The 28-year-old holds wins over Richard Garde (UD 10), Marco John Rementizo (KO 3) and, most recently, Jerry Francisco (KO 7).

THE FUTURE: He hasn't fought in almost a year. He’ll need to schedule something or lose his ranking.

RECORD: 16-8-3 (6 KOs)

THE PAST: Takada’s early career was patchy, as he lost to the likes of former world title challenger Norihito Tanaka (UD 8) and perennial contender Kai Ishizawa (MD 8). He is unbeaten since 2021 and on an eight-fight win streak that has seen him claim Japan’s national title and notch three defenses before surprising Goki Kobayashi (SD 12) in his most recent fight.

THE FUTURE: He will face Ryusei Matsumoto for the WBA interim title on the Naoya Inoue-Murodjon Akhmadaliev undercard September 14.

RECORD: 6-0 (4 KOs)

THE PAST: Matsumoto was a good amateur in Japan, where he took part in nearly 100 fights before turning professional in 2023. In his fourth fight, he claimed the national title against Katsuki Mori (TKO 7). After one defense, he beat John Kevin Jimenez (KO 4).

THE FUTURE: Matsumoto will face countryman Takada for the WBA interim title.

RECORD: 24-5-2 (15 KOs)

THE PAST: Canoy has been a professional for over a decade, moved through the ranks and learned from defeats. The 32-year-old Filipino southpaw has come up short in South Africa against Hekkie Budler (RTD 7), Nkosinathi Joyi (UD 12) and Nhlanhla Tyirha (UD 10). Sandwiched amongst those road fights was a win over current WBC titlist Jerusalem (UD 10). He is unbeaten in his last nine fights, notably beating veteran Kenichi Horikawa (TKO 7) in Japan and primed for a world title shot.

THE FUTURE: It appears likely he will return to South Africa to face Kuse in a title eliminator.

RECORD: 26-6 (16 KOs)

THE PAST: The veteran Filipino lost his first attempt at a world title when he was stopped by Kosei Tanaka (KO 6) in Japan. However, when Saludar returned there three years later, he unseated Ryuya Yamanaka (UD 12) and turned back the challenge of Masataka Taniguchi (UD 12) before losing to Wilfredo Mendez (UD 12) in Puerto Rico. He has suffered defeats to future champions Erick Rosa (SD 12) and Collazo (UD 12), but he rebounded with five consecutive wins.

THE FUTURE: Nothing scheduled at this time.

ON THE CUSP: Takeshi Ishii, Takero Kitano, Goki Kobayashi, Beaven Sibanda and Alex Winwood.