Ring Ratings Update: Kessler enters 175-pound ratings

The issue this week was whether Mikkel Kessler should crack the light heavyweight ratings after his sensational one-punch knockout of Allan Green on Saturday in Copenhagen.

The argument against the move was that Kessler was fighting at 175 pounds for the first time since announcing he was moving up in weight against an opponent who was doing the same thing.

In other words, the Dane has yet to be beat a proven light heavyweight.

Plus, Kessler (45-2, 34 knockouts) went down and seemed to be hurt badly in the first round against a fighter who is now 2-3 in his last five fights, although he recovered by the second round and dominated the fight from then on.

The arguments for rating Kessler at 175 are the sensational knockout – the result of a perfect left hook – and his lofty standing among super middleweights for a number of years.

THE RING has long taken a fighter’s track record into account when deciding whether to rate him at a higher weight.

The Editorial Board decided that Kessler belongs in the Top 10 among 175-pounders based on the above reasoning. He enters at No. 9, which pushes Issac Chilemba (No. 9 last week) down one notch and Juergen Braehmer out of the ratings.

RING RATINGS UPDATE

Junior bantamweight: Juan Carlos Sanchez (No. 8 last week) flops with Jobuo Nashiro (No. 7 last week) after he easily outpointed Juan Alberto Rosas (No. 9 last week) in Mexico. Rosas drops out. Rodel Mayol enters at No. 10.

Strawweight: Denver Cuello (No. 7 last week) changes places with Wanheng Menayothin (No. 6 last week) after the Filipino after his second-round KO of unrated Ganigan Lopez on Saturday in Mexico.

UP NEXT

Rated fighters in action this coming weekend (with current ratings)

Super middleweight: Lucian Bute (No. 1) vs. Carl Froch (No. 2) (Saturday)
Flyweight: Luis Concepcion (No. 8) vs. Odilon Zaleta (Thursday)
Strawweight: Juan Palacios (No. 5) vs. Nerys Espinoza (Saturday)