The top 10 featherweight rankings
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From the time I started as the boxing writer at USA Today in early 2000 until leaving ESPN in April 2020, I was responsible for the divisional rankings during my time at each outlet. At USA Today, I updated them once a month until leaving in early 2005. At some point during my time at ESPN they became weekly. Now I am doing my own thing here at Fight Freaks Unite, where I publish division top 10s from time to time as results warrant. It’s been awhile since I have updated the featherweight rankings, but with Rafael Espinoza’s title defense against Robeisy Ramirez in their rematch on Saturday and a bit of a changing of the guard in recent months it seemed like a good time, so here they are:
Note: Results through Dec. 9
Featherweights (126 pounds)
1. Nick Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs)
Last: W (TKO10) Ronny Rios, Oct. 5
Next: TBA
Rafael’s remark: Ball, the WBA titleholder, is fun to watch with an engine that can go all out for 12 rounds. In his Liverpool, England, homecoming in October for his first defense, Ball dropped Rios three times before his corner threw in the towel. It was a follow-up to his well-deserved split decision over then-unbeaten Raymond Ford to win the belt. Many felt strongly that he should have won a world title in his previous fight when he fought to a draw with then-WBC titlist Rey Vargas. In Ball’s fight before the Vargas bout, he scored his first big win in a lopsided decision over former junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe in a WBC title eliminator.
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