Boxing Rankings (Jan 9): Tank Davis, Jaron Ennis & More

The ranking goes up on Monday. No updates for next week. The next update will be his January 23rd.

Ranked Battles for the next two weeks:

• Heavyweight: (8) Joseph Parker vs. Jack Massey, January 21
• Cruiserweight: (6) Krzysztof Growadzki vs. Richard Liakporje, January 21
• Middleweight: (4) Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith, Jan. 21
• Junior Middleweight: (5) Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr. [middleweight]January 21

Upcoming battles: (8) Joseph Parker vs. Jack Massey, January 21

Upcoming battles: (6) Krzysztof Growadzki vs Richard Liakporje, January 21 … (2) Lawrence Okory vs David Wright, February 11

Upcoming battles: (2) Artur Beterbiev vs (8) Anthony Yard, Jan 28… (10) Jean Pascal vs Michael Eifert, TBA

Note: I really thought Demetrius Andrade would be here if he won the Davis vs Garcia card, but I don’t fully believe him with 168 based on that win. Sure, he clearly beat Demond Nicholson, but he even admitted to “feeling” the difference in his weight. In retrospect, even if vacating the WBO middleweight belt makes him look worse, going back to 160 might really be the best bet.

Upcoming battles: (2) David Benavidez vs (3) Caleb Plant, TBA

Upcoming battles: (4) Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith, Jan. 21 … (1) Gennady Golovkin vs. Esquiva Falcao, TBA

Upcoming battles: (5) Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr. [middleweight]January 21 … (1) Jermell Charlo vs (4) Tim Tsuju, TBA

Note: I don’t think Jaron Ennis “didn’t impress” on Saturday. Karen Chukhadzhian turned out to be very good and smart matchmaking. It wasn’t a good fight to watch, but it will be very valuable to Ennis’ progress. He needed someone who couldn’t keep his head down. When your opponent is always there to be devoured by your power and speed, you start to develop bad habits and start to get a little arrogant. Chukhadzhian is a well-trained fighter with good footwork, and it’s also highly debatable that he didn’t win a single round in this fight. Ennis was calm and may have battled some frustration here and there, but he did his job and earned a clear victory and the interim IBF title.

Upcoming battles: (6) Virgil Ortiz Jr. vs. (7) Eimantas Stannionis, TBA

Upcoming battles: (5) Subriel Matias vs Jeremias Ponce, February 11 … (2) Josh Taylor vs (3) Jack Catterall, March 4 … (7) Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta Davis, April 15.. (10) ) Alberto Puelo vs Gary Antuan Russell, TBA

Note: I didn’t develop a new opinion on Garbonta Davis’ status as a lightweight on Saturday. He won the fight that was the -1600 favorite against a solid titleholder at 130 pounds. I believe he is better than the people named after him. I think it’s a valid question about the people listed above him.

Upcoming battles: (3) Garbonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia, April 15

Note: I didn’t develop a new opinion about Hector Luis Garcia’s 130th position. I look forward to seeing him fight again. If PBC can put up a fight between Garcia and Leo Santa Cruz, I think it will be a good one, or a winner for Vargas Foster.

Upcoming battles: (7) Oshakey Foster vs. Ray Vargas, Feb. 11

Upcoming battles: (1) Emmanuel Navarrete vs Liam Wilson [junior lightweight]Feb. 3… (3) Ray Vargas vs Oshakey Foster [junior lightweight]February 11

Upcoming Battles: (2) Murozhon Ahmadaliev vs (9) Marlon Tapares, TBA

Upcoming battles: to be decided

Upcoming Battles: to be decided

Upcoming Battles: (3) Artem Darakian vs (5) David Jimenez, January 28

Upcoming Battles: (7) Masamichi Yabuki vs Ronald Chacon January 28

Note: Two notable matches in Japan last Friday: Melvin Jerusalem ripped the WBO belt from Masataka Taniguchi within two rounds and moved up to No. 3 in the rankings this week. Daniel Valladares won the IBF belt in a no-contest with Ginjiro. Shigeoka can expect a rematch as soon as possible.

Upcoming Battles: (7) Wilfredo Mendes vs (8) Oscar Collazo, 28 January

Upcoming Battles: (3) Amanda Serrano vs Erica Cruz, 4 February … (4) Alicia Baumgardner vs Elhem Mekared, 4 February … (5) Seniesa Estrada vs Tina Ruprecht, 3 Mon 25 … (6) Michaela Meyer vs Christina Rinaldatou, TBA