Ring ratings update: Haye drops in heavyweight rankings

David Haye’s uninspired challenge to heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko last Saturday did more than disappoint fans and spark harsh criticism from the sports media, it dropped the former beltholder in THE RING’s heavyweight rankings.

Haye (25-2, 23 knockouts) was the magazine’s No. 2-rated heavyweight going into the much ballyhooed heavyweight showdown, which he lost via one-sided unanimous decision.

“The only question following David Haye’s pitiful showing against world champion Wladimir Klitschko was how far down the ranking he should fall,” said Nigel Collins, Editor-in-Chief of THE RING magazine. “After due consideration, we decided on number four, mainly because fifth-rated Ruslan Chagaev was stopped by Klitschko, while Haye lasted the distance.”

Haye’s demotion advanced Tomasz Adamek and Alexander Povetkin to the Nos. 2 and 3 spots in the heavyweight rankings.

Adamek (44-1, 28 KOs), who challenges Vitali Klitschko for THE RING’s No. 1-rated heavyweight’s WBC title on September 10 in his native Poland, is a former light heavyweight beltholder and cruiserweight champ. The 34-year-old veteran, who has won 13 consecutive bouts since his lone loss against Chad Dawson in early 2007, is 6-0 at heavyweight including decision victories over No. 10-rated Chris Arreola and U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada.

Povetkin (21-0, 15 KOs) is a former world amateur champ and 2004 Olympic gold medalist from Russia. The 31-year-old contender owns victories over No.-6 rated Eddie Chambers (UD 12), who was 30-0 at the time, former titleholder Chris Bryd (TKO 11), and Estrada (UD 10).

Adamek and Povetkin haven’t exactly faced “Murderers’ Row” but then there aren’t many killers who make their home in the heavyweight division, which lost more of its former luster with the uneventful match between Klitschko and Haye.

“Although Haye must shoulder the majority of the blame for the lackluster encounter, Wladimir’s marquee value in the U.S. was also damaged by his hesitance to go for the knockout,” said Collins. “Overall, the bout was another dismal setback for the division, which hasn’t seen an compelling championship fight in many years.”

Ring ratings update:

Heavyweights:

Haye falls from No. 2 to No. 4 following his one-sided decision loss to Klitschko. Haye’s demotion pushes up Adamek (No. 3 last week) and Povetkin (No. 4 last week) one spot each.

Flyweights: Daisuke Naito (No. 1 last week) exits because he has not fought in more than a year. Takefumi Sakata (No. 2 last week) has been demoted due to the fact he has not fought since losing to Daiki Kameda in September 2010. Hernan Marquez, fresh from a kayo of Edrin Dapudong, is promoted from No. 3 to No. 1. Naito’s exit and Sakata’s demotion also allows Luis Concepcion (No. 4 last week) and Denkaosan Kaovichit (No. 5 last week) to both climb two rungs each. All rated No. 6 and below last week move up one slot each, while Juan Carlos Revco returns at No. 10.