Ring Ratings Update: Errol Spence exits the pound-for-pound and welterweight rankings
For months, hardcore fans have questioned Errol Spence’s inclusion in The Ring’s pound-for-pound ratings. Some of the more obsessive boxing geeks and purists DEMANDED that the former unified welterweight champ be dropped.
Most cited the severity of Spence’s lone pro loss, suffered at the punishing hands of Terence Crawford on July 29, 2023, as the main reason he no longer belonged among the elite boxers of the sport. Some brought up the amount of time since the 34-year-old Texan’s last victory, a unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugas in April 2022, while others claimed that Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) was never really pound-for-pound-worthy (and, of course, they knew it all along because they’re boxing geniuses).
Well, now that this week marked the one-year anniversary of the Crawford loss, all the comment-section geniuses and pound-for-pound enthusiasts on X can rejoice! Spence is no longer in The Ring’s pound-for-pound or welterweight rankings! (Most will probably just say “It’s about time!”)
Devin Haney replaces Spence in the No. 10 spot. Haney, a former undisputed lightweight champ and The Ring’s No. 1-rated junior welterweight, had been dropped from the mythical rankings after his April loss to Ryan Garcia, but the Ring Ratings Panel voted to reinstate him once the New York State Athletic Commission changed Garcia’s majority decision victory to a No-Contest following a positive drug test for a banned substance.
Ryan Garcia Issued One-Year Suspension by NYSAC
While not as anti-Spence as some of our critics (pretty much every fan with a podcast or YouTube channel), the panel had been counting down the months, weeks and days before our one-year inactivity clause kicked in. (In the meantime, Spence had slid down to the No. 10 spot as younger, more active elites – Gervonta Davis, Jesse Rodriguez and Junto Nakatani – advanced following significant victories.)
Anson Wainwright kicked off the discussion.
“Errol Spence has been inactive for a year,” said Wainwright. “He can come out. There is no obvious candidate to enter. I can see reasons to bring in any of David Benavidez, Devin Haney, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson or Kenshiro Teraji. I’d be interested to see what others think.”
Added Adam Abramowitz: “I would bring back Haney at No. 10. I think that’s a good compromise based on the outcome of the (Ryan) Garcia fight.”
Added Jake Donovan: “I’m good with Adam’s suggestion to place Haney at P4P No. 10. From (Anson’) list, anyone but Loma is fine.”
Added Abraham Gonzalez: “I would rather see Kenshiro (Teraji) at No. 10 but I do see why it would make sense to put Devin Haney at No. 10. I agree with Adam.”
Added Michael Montero: “In regards to P4P, I don’t really have a strong opinion about who should come in at that final spot.
“I don’t even recognize 10 fighters in a P4P sense right now. But from the names you listed, I would say Haney is most deserving.”
Added Daisuke Sugiura: “Haney is good at P4P No. 10 for me too. That’s how it should be.”
Your favorite Editor-In-Chief reminded the panel that a replacement was also needed for the welterweight top 10.
“Spence also needs to exit the welterweight rankings, so who should we bring into the top 10 (presumably at No. 10)?
“Souleymane Cissokho has been a junior middleweight most of his career, but his last two bouts were at welterweight. Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) seems to be knocking on the door. Who else is worthy? Blair Cobbs? (Yikes!)”
Replied Gonzalez: “I would agree on Curiel and before even saying the name Blair, I would consider Paddy Donovan over Cobbs all day. The welterweight division went from being the glamour division to one with the least amount of talent.”
Added Wainwright: “Yikes! Dearth of talent at welter. I’ve not known it like this since forever. I think Curiel deserves the ranking.
“I’m also good with Haney (in the pound-for-pound rankings). We had him ranked prior to the Garcia fight and now that has been resolved.”
Added Donovan: “Curiel is fun but still feels like more of a prospect. I’d go with Souleymane Cissokho or Lewis Crocker. Though all three just speak to how far (low) we’re reaching to come up with a 10th welterweight contender.”
Added Tris Dixon: “Crocker at 10 for me.
“And yes to Haney re-entering P4P.”
Added Tom Gray: “Crocker gets my vote.
“Haney back in P4P. As I’ve said previously, he should have been back in after the result was declared a No-Contest.”
Added Wasim Mather: “I’m on board with including Souleymane Cissokho/Donovan at welterweight and reinstating Haney in the P4P rankings.”
Added Diego Morilla: “Torn between Curiel and Crocker for 147… whoever needs the extra vote can get it from me .
“A reluctant vote for Haney at P4P, too.”
Resolved Your Truly: “OK, thanks for everyone’s input on the new welterweight entrant. It’s evident that there is no clear choice, so I’m going to pull the trigger on our new No. 10, but (as always) I will include all of your suggestions/comments on the matter in the Ring Ratings Update article posted on RingTV.com.”
The way I view it, Cissokho has only two bouts at welterweight and his tough 12-round majority decision over fringe contender Tulani Mbenge didn’t sell me on his potential. Crocker and Donovan are making noise in the UK, but both still appear to be domestic level to me.
Donovan’s most notable victory was against a limited former lightweight (Lewis Ritson). Crocker’s most notable victory? I don’t know. It’s not 39-year-old former contender Joel Julio (39-20), who he blitzed in two rounds last April. You tell me.
Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs), a 28-year-old Mexican Olympian (2016 Summer Games), hasn’t taken on any world-beaters and is clearly still being developed by his management team and Golden Boy’s matchmakers (hence Jake’s “prospect” tag), but he’s defeated fighters that I recognize as reliable gatekeepers (Courtney Pennington and Kendo Castaneda) or tough guys from Southern California’s fight scene (Ferdinand Kerobyan and Elias Diaz). The Guadalajaran has also blasted out some normally durable veterans (Brad Solomon in two rounds, Jorge Marron Jr. in one).
I went with “Cugar.”
RING RATINGS UPDATE (as of July 27):
POUND FOR POUND – Spence exits due to inactivity. Haney re-enters at No. 10.
HEAVYWEIGHT – Joe Joyce exits after dropping a rousing 10-round decision to faded veteran Derek Chisora. Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs), who takes on No. 7-rated Jared Anderson on Saturday, enters at No. 10.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT – David Benavidez, now committed to campaigning at light heavyweight, exits. Bektemir Melikuziev (14-1, 10 KOs) re-enters at No. 10.
WELTERWEIGHT – Spence exits. Raul Curiel enters at No. 10.
BANTAMWEIGHT – Nonito Donaire exits due to inactivity. Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs) re-enters at No. 10.
STRAWWEIGHT – Pedro Taduran advances to No. 2 after scoring a brutal ninth-round stoppage of Ginjiro Shigeoka, who drops to No. 6.
“Taduran upset Shigeoka by ninth-round stoppage to regain the IBF throne,” noted Wainwright. “Didn’t see that one coming. (Oscar) Collazo is now the No. 1(-rated strawweight).
Doug Fischer is Editor-in-Chief of The Ring Magazine. Email him at comeoutwriting@gmail.com. Follow him on X and IG @dougiefischer.
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