The Super Featherweight division has seen some major star power leave its ranks in the last year or two alone. When Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez (not to mention Joan Guzman, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales) the number 1 and 2 pound for pound in the world, both leave the division, there is going to be a power gap. That gap is starting to be filled in by a cast of young fighters, champions and prospects who could make their mark on the boxing world.

Super featherweight division rankings last updated October 2009.

1. Robert Guerrero – Another fighter that has moved up from the featherweight ranks to try his hand at super featherweight, Guerrero now holds the IBF title after perhaps a career best performance against Malcolm Klassen. Guerrero has stated plans to unify in the division so fights against Jorge Linares or Humberto Soto could be in his future.
2. Jorge Linares – At 27-0, Linares is one of the brightest young stars in boxing. He has stopped his last 6 opponents, 2 of which came during title fights at the featherweight limit. He has since moved up to 130 lbs and captured the vacant WBA strap. Potential future showdowns with the other names on this list would all be exciting. Linares needs to get on American TV more to build up his name.
3. Humberto Soto – Soto was outclassed against slickster Joan Guzman two years ago, and two fights later was wrongfully DQ’d in a fight he should have won. Since, he has been on a 5 fight win streak and has captured the WBC version of the super featherweight crown. It’s now time to get in with one of the names above him on this list.
4. Roman Martinez – The current WBO super featherweight champion, Martinez is undefeated and knocked out Nicky Cook for the crown. The Puerto Rican fighter must be eager to make his mark on American soil and he needs to fight a big name opponent to increase his recognition and reputation.
5. Jorge Barrios – Barrios, a fan favorite brawler, is a threat to any fighter he takes with his supreme punching power. However, can he make weight? And does he want to? He was winning his battle with Rocky Juarez however ran out of steam and got stopped late. Now he has plans to move up to lightweight to fight Edwin Valero, but his long-term plans are unknown.
6. Kevin Mitchell – Undefeated with 22 knockouts in his 29 fights, Mitchell is awaiting a title shot or a fight against a big name opponent. Of course, big name opponents are few and far between in the super featherweight ranks right now.
7. Malcolm Klassen – The South African captured the IBF strap against countrymen Cassius Baloyi via 7th round TKO. Unfortunately, he either took Guerrero lightly, or he simply didn’t have the tools to compete at that level.
8. Cassius Baloyi – Bested by his countryman Klassen, Baloyi holds a win over Mzonke Fana and two victories over Manuel Medina.
9. Nicky Cook – Cook has a win over Alex Arthur sandwiched between two knockout losses, first at the hands of Steven Luevano at featherweight and since at the hands of Roman Martinez at super feather.
10. Mzonke Fana – Fana split his two fights against his fellow countrymen, winning a split decision against Klassen but losing a majority decision to Baloyi. Outside of the Baloyi fight, he has only lost once in the last 10 years, against Marco Antonio Barrera.

More Boxing Weight Class Rankings

• 122-126 lbs – Boxing Featherweight Division Rankings
• 130-135 lbs – Boxing Lightweight Division Rankings

Written by: Jake Emen