It was a slow week at the sport’s top levels, but we still have some movement to report. Most dramatically, Viktor Postol forced his own removal from the rankings as he has been out for a year now and does not have a fight scheduled. Otherwise, a couple guys were added to the rankings and one prospect made a six slot jump.
As always, the link to the S8C Top 25 is on top of your screen next to the list of current titlist and the weekly fight schedule.
Welterweight
I realized this week that I had neglected to return Argentina’s Diego Chaves to the rankings following his return in June. Though his previous two fights had been at junior middleweight, I am evaluating him as a welterweight. He weighed 148 for his June bout, indicating he is moving back to the division where he has had all his prominent bouts previously. Based on the strength of his 2013-2014 campaign where he fought competitively with Keith Thurman, Timothy Bradley, and Brandon Rios, I slotted him in at 19th. He didn’t win any of those bouts so I felt he could go no higher. This would have pushed #25 Leonard Bundu out of the rankings, but #20 Jose Benavidez has timed out due to a year of inactivity without a current fight scheduled. Accordingly, he is removed and will not be considered again until following his next fight.
Junior Welterweight
Despite no activity here this week, we still have big movement. #3 rated Viktor Postol has no officially timed out of the rankings due to one year of inactivity without a current fight scheduled. As per the established rules, he cannot be considered for rankings until after he has fought again. This brings everyone other than #1 Terence Crawford and #2 Julius Indongo up one slot. It also introduces Australian based Filipino Czar Amonsot at #25. I do not like it as I do not think he should be fighting due to health concerns, but, begrudgingly, he is the best fit at the opening.
Junior Lightweight
Jonathan Oquendo of Puerto Rico returned to the sport this Saturday. I slotted him back in at #17. This one slot above the man he beat for his biggest win, #18 Jhonny Gonzalez. Accordingly, Gonzalez fell a spot despite his own win this weekend. Japan’s Satoshi Hosono was the casualty of Oquendo’s return this week, falling out from the last spot through no performance of his own.
Super Bantamweight
Based on his performance in his native Ghana this weekend, I realized that I like 2012 Olympian Isaac Dogboe a lot more than his previous last spot ranking would suggest. I jumped him all the way up to #19, ahead of Diego De La Hoya but still behind former belt holder Randy Caballero. I can’t move him ahead of someone who had a belt just yet, but I do think he is a better prospect than Diego.
Fighters who fought and won but didn’t move: #25 heavyweight Erken Teper, #16 cruiserweight Olanrewaju Durodola, #11 super middleweight Fedor Chudinov, #10 super bantamweight Kohei Kono, #21 super bantamweight Shingo Wake, and #8 light flyweight Ryoichi Taguchi.
