The top 10 jr. lightweight rankings

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 compiling divisional rankings for each outlet. At USA Today, I updated the rankings once a month until leaving in early 2005. At some point during my time at ESPN they became weekly, but I had not done any divisional rankings until I recently did an updated top 10 heavyweights and then welterweights last week. The reader reaction was overwhelming, which I appreciate. I figured why not keep it going, so here are updated rankings for the hot junior lightweight division.

Remember, divisional rankings are mainly based on what a fighter has done in the weight class in more recent times, though not entirely. They are not, however, based on hypothetical outcomes of fights that have not happened.

Note: Results through April 4, 2021

Junior lightweights (130 pounds)

1. Oscar Valdez (29-0)

Last: W (KO10) Miguel Berchelt, Feb. 20

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: The former two-time Mexican Olympian, one of boxing’s most exciting fighters, made six featherweight title defenses before vacating to move up in weight in 2019. In his third fight in the division, Valdez, the mandatory challenger, faced countryman Berchelt in what was supposed to be an action-packed fight with Berchelt the clear favorite. Instead, Valdez dominated the fight all the way in a near-flawless performance before scoring a massive knockout of the year candidate in the 10th round.

2. Gervonta Davis (24-0)

Last: W (KO6) Leo Santa Cruz, Oct. 31

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Floyd Mayweather protégé Davis has had legal issues outside the ring as well as issues within boxing making weight, but there is no disputing his talent and star power. In October, Davis headlined his first pay-per-view card for Showtime and scored a massive sixth-round knockout of Santa Cruz in an unusual dual weight title fight at 130 pounds in which Davis retained his secondary lightweight title but also took Santa Cruz’s junior lightweight belt. Davis faces possible jail time in an alleged hit and run but if he can continue boxing there are huge fights for him, although they are at lightweight.

3. Jamel Herring (23-2)

Last: W (TKO6) Carl Frampton, April 3

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: The 2012 U.S. Olympian has been an overachiever and is easy to root for. Besides the trials and tribulations of his personal life, he has overcome two losses to make himself into one of the best 130-pounders in the world. He scored his biggest victory in his most recent fight, his third title defense, when he dominated and knocked out former two-division titleholder Frampton in the sixth round in Dubai. Whether he tries to make the fight he wants against Valdez, honors his mandatory obligation to the Shakur Stevenson-Jeremiah Nakathila winner or moves up in weight remains to be seen.

4. Miguel Berchelt (38-2)

Last: L (KO10) Oscar Valdez, Feb. 20

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Mexico’s Berchelt has been one of the division’s best for the past few years and defended his title against quality contenders such as Takashi Miura, Francisco Vargas (in a rematch of his title win), Mickey Roman and Jason Sosa. He was the significant favorite to successfully retain his title for the seventh time against Valdez, but instead took a beating in a one-sided knockout loss. It was the kind really rough loss that could end Berchelt’s run as a top fighter. If he does fight on, he will likely move up to lightweight after so much difficulty making 130 pounds for the Valdez fight.

5. Joseph Diaz Jr. (31-1-1)

Last: D (MD12) Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, Feb. 13

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: The 2012 U.S. Olympian lost a featherweight title shot to Gary Russell Jr. in 2018 before moving up in weight two fights later. At 130 pounds, he was the underdog when he challenged Tevin Farmer for his belt in January 2020 and won a close but clear decision in an excellent performance in which he overcame a terrible cut. But when it came time for his mandatory defense against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov — whom he fought rather than honoring a rematch clause with Farmer — in February, Diaz missed weight by 3½ pounds, was stripped of the title fought to a disappointing draw. His next move is up in the air.

6. Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (15-0-1)

Last: D (MD12) Joseph Diaz Jr., Feb. 13

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Rakhimov, a native of Tajikistan fighting out of Russia, was about as obscure a mandatory as one could be, a position he gained with an eighth-round knockout of Azinga Fuzile on his turf in South Africa in September 2019. He got the shot against Diaz in February and, in his first fight in the United States, Rakhimov nearly pulled the upset but settled for a draw in which the title was only on the line for him because Diaz missed weight and was stripped.

7. Tevin Farmer (30-5-1)

Last: L (UD12) Joseph Diaz Jr., Jan. 30, 2020

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: The Philadelphia southpaw traveled to Australia in August 2018 and outpointed Aussie Billy Dib for a vacant title and then put together as busy a run as exists at the top of boxing today. Between October 2018 and July 2019, Farmer made four successful defenses. When he faced Diaz in his fifth defense he lost a competitive unanimous decision. He exercised his rematch clause but Diaz denied him over a technicality in the timing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Farmer deserved better.

8. Shakur Stevenson (15-0)

Last: W (UD10) Toka Kahn Clary, Dec. 12

Next: June 12 vs. Jeremiah Nakathila

Rafael’s remark: Stevenson was a 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist and many view him as a future pound-for-pound elite fighter because of his outstanding combination of speed, skills and defensive prowess. He won a vacant featherweight belt in October 2019 but never defended it because the pandemic forced his first defense in March 2020 to be canceled. He instead moved up in weight and has won all 16 rounds he has had in the division over two fights. He is the mandatory challenger for Jamel Herring but stepped aside to allow him to face Carl Frampton on April 3. Instead, Stevenson will face Nakathila for the vacant interim belt with the winner to face Herring next — unless, as expected, Herring vacates, in which case Stevenson-Nakathila will be for the vacant title.

9. Chris Colbert (15-0)

Last: W (TKO11) Jaime Arboleda, Dec. 12

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Colbert doesn’t get the attention or hype of some others in the division, but “Prime Time” is a flashy, skilled fighter who would give anyone in the division trouble. He won an interim belt by clear decision over former titlist Jezreel Corrales in January 2020 and defended it with a solid 11th-round knockout of Arboleda in his first defense.

10. Roger Gutierrez (25-3-1)

Last: W (UD12) Rene Alvarado, Jan. 2

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Since suffering consecutive losses to undefeated opponents Hector Tanajara and Oscar Duarte in 2018, Venezuela’s Gutierrez has won six fights in a row, culminating the stretch in his most recent fight when he scored two knockdowns and edged Rene Alvarado to win a secondary world title. The victory also avenged a seventh-round knockout loss to Alvarado in a nontitle fight in 2017.

Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank