Featherweight Division Rankings
Published by: Jake Emen
The featherweight division has been ravaged in the last two to three years by fighters moving up in weight and abandoning the weight class. However, at the same time, a flock of bantamweights and super bantamweights have moved up, and the division is hotter than ever. Now the featherweight division in boxing is one of the deepest and most exciting in the sport, with some huge potential bouts that can be made.
Featherweight division rankings last updated April 2011.
- Yuriorkis Gamboa – While Gamboa still has some deficiencies, he has improved his all-around game, and has shown fewer weaknesses than he did in his early fights on television. Since beating Rogers Mtagwa, he added wins over previously unbeaten Jonathan Victor Barros and Orlando Salido, both by wide decisions. The athleticism and speed are both off the charts. Gamboa vs. Lopez is the must-see fight of the division.
- Chris John – John is seemingly the sole non-defector to higher weight classes and greener pastures from his fellow contemporaries. That includes the man he holds a victory over, Juan Manuel Marquez. He is undefeated in 46 fights and has been a champion for over 5 years. But just three fights in two years, two against Rocky Juarez, doesn't let you sit perched at the top of your division permanently, and so he's been leaped over.
- Jhonny Gonazlez - Gonzalez is now on an 8 fight winning streak and he looks better than ever at featherweight. All of the power in the world, and the knockout win over Hozumi Hasegawa was just further proof of all of that. When he puts it all together he presents a daunting challenge for anyone in the division.
- Orlando Salido - Salido has always been tough, but he finally got the big win over the big opponent. He went the distance in losing efforts against Juan Manuel Marquez, Cristobal Cruz and Yuriorkis Gamboa, and also defeated a young Robert Guerrero, although the fight was turned to a No Contest for a failed post-fight drug test. Finally, his aggressive attack and power proved too much for JuanMa and he can cash in with a rematch.
- Juan Manuel Lopez - What a crushing loss for JuanMa against Salido. His defensive lapses and chin issues caught up with him against the tough as nails fighter who had been in with some of the other big names, including Gamboa. What now? It looks like a rematch against Salido will be in the works, and the Gamboa-Lopez megafight we all dreamed of is off.
- Celestino Caballero - Caballero dominated Daud Yordan in his featherweight debut, and wanted to move right into a major bout against one of the big dogs. Of course, in biding his time he moved up to 130 lbs, lost a decision to Jason Litzau, and saw his stock drop immensely. It's rebuilding time for Caballero, and his chance at fighting the big names may have vanished with that loss if he doesn't impress the world immediately.
- Hozumi Hasegawa - Hasegawa burst onto the featherweight scene with his thrilling win over Juan Carlos Gomez. But the power-punching Gonzalez wasn't impressed, and he got Hasegawa out of there in four rounds. Now, for the longtime champion and star, it's time to rebuild, and the question will be whether he can compete with the other power-punching dynamos at 126 lbs who are bigger than he is.
- Juan Carlos Burgos - Although Burgos lost his title showdown against Hozumi Hasegawa, he impressed in defeat, and actually probably advanced his career at the same time, proving himself capable and exciting. An all-Mexican match against Rafael Marquez, Orlando Salido, Jhonny Gonzalez or Daniel Ponce de Leon would be fantastic.
- Rafael Marquez - Marquez looked solid in thumping Israel Vazquez in their fourth encounter, but considering the state of Vazquez at that point, it's not necessarily an all-world performance. He was outdone by the younger and more powerful JuanMa, but he had his own moments in the bout as well. Make no mistake about it, he's still trouble for anyone at 126 lbs, particularly for the first six rounds of a contest.
- Mikey Garcia - Mikey Garcia, full name Miguel Angel Garcia, is an undefeated, power punching, aggressive young fighter that is quickly making a name for himself in the crowded featherweight waters. A few more step-up fights in 2011 and he's ready for a title shot. He just got the biggest win of his career thoroughly outclassing then undefeated Matt Remillard.
Other names: Elio Rojas, Adrian Broner, Rocky Juarez, Terdsak Jandaeng, Rogers Mtagwa, Mario Santiago, Guty Espadas Jr., Bernabe Concepcion, Ricardo Castillo, Steven Luevano, Cristobal Cruz, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Matt Remillard
More Boxing Weight Class Rankings
- 118-122 lbs – Super Bantamweight Rankings
- 126-230 lbs – Super Featherweight Rankings
