The calm before the storm.
This weekend features five world championship contests and 13 fighters rated in The Ring's top-10 among their respective divisions.
Teofimo Lopez defends his Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles against
Shakur Stevenson atop The Ring 6 card, while three of the four junior middleweight belts will be on the line as IBF beltholder
Bakhram Murtazaliev ends a long layoff, before
Xander Zayas looks to unify WBO/WBA gold in Puerto Rico against newly-minted champion
Abass Baraou.
Top Rank laughed last after IBF lightweight beltholder
Raymond Muratalla finished strongly to outpoint Matchroom-backed contender
Andy Cruz in his first world title defence, while The Ring's No. 3-rated junior middleweight
Israil Madrimov returned among the undercard.
Scroll down to read the changes.
*Bold/italics denotes movement in the division.
Lightweight
Muratalla's career-best win sees him leapfrog
Gervonta Davis into the No. 2 spot, while WBC champion and top-ranked contender
Shakur Stevenson's future within the weight class will likely be settled after his impending Lopez matchup.
C (vacant)
1 SHAKUR STEVENSON WBC U.S. 24-0-0 (11 KOs)
2 RAYMOND MURATALLA IBF U.S. 24-0-0 (20 KOs)
3 GERVONTA DAVIS U.S. 30-0-1 (28 KOs)
4 WILLIAM ZEPEDA Mexico 33-1-0 (27 KOs)
5 ANDY CRUZ Cuba 6-1-0 (3 KOs)
6 ABDULLAH MASON WBO U.S. 20-0-0 (17 KOs)
7 FLOYD SCHOFIELD U.S. 19-0-0 (13 KOs)
8 DENYS BERINCHYK Ukraine 19-1-0 (9 KOs)
9 SAM NOAKES U.K. 17-1-0 (15 KOs)
10 LUCAS BAHDI Canada 20-0-0 (15 KOs)
Zepeda over Cruz? Ratings panel discussion
Anson Wainwright: "Raymond Muratalla (3) won a 12-round majority decision over Andy Cruz (5) to retain his IBF title. I actually think we keep them as they are. There will be movement with Shakur to fight at 140 and he'll come out, Gervonta for inactivity in the next couple of weeks."
Tom Gray: "Muratalla just defeated a top-5 Ring-rated lightweight. Tank hasn't won a fight for 18 months. Muratalla is taking his career seriously, getting the job done. He shouldn't have to wait to be upped through attrition. He deserves the reward now and should swap places with Tank."
Abraham Gonzalez: "Muratalla rose to the occasion against a top fighter in Cruz. Terrific fight. I agree with Tom on the Tank situation. Also, I would recommend moving Cruz past
William Zepeda. Recommend the following: 1. Stevenson 2. Muratalla 3. Davis 4. Cruz 5. Zepeda."
Adam Abramowitz: "I would prefer Zepeda to Cruz. I think he has a deeper resume at 135."
Wainwright: "I'll go with Zepeda ranking over Cruz. Cruz would move up on the loss if we had it the other way around."
Yuriko Miyata: "I agree with Muratalla over Tank, and keep Zepeda over Cruz."
Doug Fischer: "I also agree with Muratalla moving into the No. 2 spot and Cruz falling behind Zepeda."
Daisuke Sugiura: "I'd go with 1. Shakur 2. Muratalla 3. Davis 4. Zepeda 5. Cruz."