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The junior middleweight division is not a historically famous one. Rather, it has more been the spot of great welterweights on their rise up through further weight divisions or smallish middleweights who couldn't compete with the bigger bangers at 160. However, that is thankfully no longer the case. And a crop of talented prospects and rising stars makes the future of the division very promising. Here's a look at boxing's super welterweight or junior middleweight weight class rankings, one of the sport's hottest and most exciting divisions.

Junior Middleweight Division Rankings Last Updated December 2011

1. Miguel Cotto - Cotto got his revenge and reestablishes himself as the top dog in the division after his big win over Antonio Margarito. Funny how Margarito's shots didn't bludgeon him this time, eh? With three straight wins at junior middleweight, the world is at his fingertips in terms of big, moneymaking fights. Who knows, a certain Mr. Floyd Mayweather might even call him up and pencil in a date.
2. Sergiy Dzinziruk – Paging Mr. Dzinziruk. Anybody home? After challenging for the middleweight title against Sergio Martinez, and being stopped in 8 rounds, Dzinziruk has been on the shelf, with no words of his next bout on the horizon. He still has the credentials and skills at 154 lbs, but he needs to get back in the ring to keep from falling farther down the logjammed division.
3. Erislandy Lara - Never underestimate the kind of lofty amateur boxing chops that someone like Erislandy Lara has. He was fast on the rise until the draw against Carlos Molina, which many had considered to be very disappointing... until Molina dominated Kermit Cintron. Then he suffered the ultimate job of a decision when he took at least 9 rounds against Paul Williams and lost the verdict, a fight which ended with all three judges being suspended indefinitely by the New Jersey commission.
4. James Kirkland - Now that's how you shut up the critics and tell people that you're back. Realigned with trainer Anne Wolfe, Kirkland seems to have returned to Beast Mode, coming back from the brink over another 1 round KO loss disaster to turn the tables and stop Angulo. Who wants to see this guy, or his trainer, starting at him from across the ring?
5. Delvin Rodriguez - It's never an easy night of work when you meet Delvin Rodriguez. Rodriguez proved yet again that he's going to give hell to anyone who faces him, and at 154 lbs, he still looks big and durable. He easily handled Pawel Wolak in their rematch of their first instant-classic fight from summer 2011.
6. Saul Alvarez - Alvarez continues to work his way up the top 10, justifying his lofty star status in the sport. Canelo certainly puts asses in seats, and now he's putting asses on the canvas too of legit guys, like Alfonso Gomez and Kermit Cintron. He says he's ready for anyone, but who is Golden Boy going to feed him next?
7. Carlos Molina - King Carlos keeps on getting better and better after a nearly two year layoff. He handled Lara's slickness with his aggression and grit, earning a draw, took out a highly touted prospect and then easily defeated Cintron. A Lara vs. Molina rematch now looks pretty juicy, although the promoters will likely want a belt around one of their waists before they agree to it.
8. Cornelius Bundrage - K9 backed up his bark with some bite against Cory Spinks, stopping the St. Louis slickster midway through their contest. It says more about how far Spinks has fallen than anything, but the bottom line is Bundrage put himself into position and did what he needed to do. He also avenged his loss to Sechew Powell in the famous double knockdown bout to add a title defense to his resume.
9. Alfredo Angulo – Angulo was one of the sport's fast rising stars until Cintron derailed his climb. He had been back on track after dispatching of Joel Julio and crushing Joachim Alcine, and looked ready for a breakout, big-time fight, then went on the shelf, and then exhausted himself trying to KO Kirkland, and ended up getting stopped. He should be able to regroup and rebuild once again.
10. Austin Trout - Trout is technically a titleholder in the division, and he's undefeated with good skills, but he needs to step up the opposition in a hurry. It's time to face another top 10-15 caliber guy at the minimum, or else No Doubt Trout will be... We Doubt Trout.

The rest of the pack:  Paul Williams, Vanes Martirosyan, Kermit Cintron, Grady Brewer, Sechew Powell, Yuri Foreman, Daniel Santos, Joel Julio, Deandre Latimore, Joachim Alcine, Cory Spinks, Antonio Margarito

More Boxing Weight Class Rankings:

• 140-147 lbs – Boxing Welterweight Rankings
• 154-160 lbs – Boxing Middleweight Rankings

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