A "BRIEF" OVERVIEW OF BOXING’S SUPER FLYWEIGHT DIVISION

TONY T. - Managing Editor, 2nd Year, Economics and Data Science

"It’s pretty cool."

The appeal of sports as a form of entertainment is something that should really go without saying. Having previously written a short three page article utilizing the narrative of George Foreman’s historic comeback to regain the world heavyweight boxing championship as an example of how boxing is compelling on multiple levels, it should be obvious what my favorite sport is. To be more descriptive, though, boxing appeals to me due to its unique status as a sport with its modern incarnation having existed for over a century. I recall a line I’ve heard, likely from some boxing documentary, which states that the history of boxing from the 1800s onward is the history of the world in the same stretch of time. In addition to the narrative intrigue of pugilism comes its mixing of cerebral on-the-fly decision making and brutal violence which is inherently interesting. It’s no wonder why former heavyweight champions like Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko have been known to engage with chess, perhaps the most iconic platonic ideal of cerebral decision making.

Michael Moorer vs George Foreman (November 5, 1994)

Due to that, it is also obvious why the heavyweight division is the most high profile. It comes with the greatest stakes – given the size of heavyweight competitors, their strikes are the most deadly, with a common adage being that, in the weight class, all it takes is one punch to achieve a victory. The history of the heavyweight division is in of itself probably the best to follow in terms of understanding boxing. Major changes in sport can be understood by simply going through a list of lineal heavyweight champions. Jack Johnson, for instance, embodied the racial divide in the sport during its early days, as a controversial figure who challenged the status quo of white America. The era of Floyd Patterson, Ingemar Johannson, Sonny Liston, and a young Cassius Clay (who would later change his name to Muhammad Ali) embodied boxing’s split championships between the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council. Fighters like the aforementioned Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, current WBC and lineal champion Tyson Fury, and current WBA/IBF/WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk are indicative of the current era of European dominance in the sport.

Historical presence, high probability of a knockout, and simply hosting the largest pugilists are all reasons that make it obvious why the heavyweight division is the most popular. However, there are specific drawbacks to the division that make it occasionally hard to watch. For one, the heavyweights vary heavily in weight, allowing for certain strategies that have debatable legality but cause undeniable boredom. In spite of my Wladimir Klitschko fanboyism, his 2013 bout against Alexander Povetkin, enforcing the “Clinchko” pejorative, is a fight that I believe best demonstrates this. Additionally, the nature of heavyweight boxing has resulted in a diminished focus on speed and technique, with more emphasis on power. This does not initially sound like an issue, but when one watches too many Tyson Fury fights (outside of his engaging trilogy with Deontay Wilder), it becomes apparent that heavyweight boxing can often devolve into jab-fests with few risks taken on either boxer’s behalf. Finally, the heavyweight division suffers by being the marquee division. Since the turn of the millennium, fights between the very top two heavyweights at any given time have been hard to come by. A part of this is due to the unavoidable fact that for much of that stretch, the division was dominated by the two Klitschko brothers, who were naturally unwilling to fight each other. That’s reasonable. Yet, since the metaphorical era shift started by Wladimir’s loss to Tyson Fury in 2015, an innumerable amount of top level fights have not been made due to a lack of incentive.

Historically, in terms of competitive matchups with both speed and power, the middleweight division, contested at or below 160 pounds, has been the boxing purist’s preferred weight class. In the last few years, however, I would argue the light middleweight division, at or below 154 pounds, has been by far the most compelling. Fighters like Jermell Charlo, Erislandy Lara, Brian Castaño, Jarrett Hurd, Julian Williams, Jeison Rosario, Erickson Lubin, and Tony Harrison have continuously given commanding performances, tossing the championships around like a game of hot potato. Having recently unified the entire division in one of the best fights of 2022 thus far, undisputed champion Jermell Charlo is also the target of extremely talented young contenders like Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora.

Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castaño II (May 14, 2022)

Yet, the light middleweight division is something of an accidental outlier where the stars just so happen to have aligned, in that top talent have constantly fought one another. It has some level of mainstream western popularity, perhaps owing in some part to the fact that fighters cutting weight to 154 pounds are likely at or slightly above the average American male’s weight. If anything, though, the light middleweights are only the second most entertaining fighters in the sport for me. In any other time period, they would probably be the greatest thing in the sport. Yet, over the last few years, an utterly ridiculous amount of talent has gathered in a place where the average non-boxing fan would not naturally think of as being compelling: the super flyweights.

Boxing’s lowest divisions have always struggled in their marketability. I’ve heard numerous statements from individuals who simply cannot take small fighters seriously, making disparaging and unintellectual claims that said small men would be easily defeated by an average large man. This is blatantly untrue and undermines the high skill level that these world class athletes display. Super flyweight, contested by 115 pounds, is actually only the fourth lowest weight class, with the flyweights (112), light flyweights (108), and minimumweights (105) being even smaller. Much valid criticism can be directed at the small weight disparities between these weight classes, though this in of itself is the product of boxing itself having too many extra divisions in between the traditional eight. The actual weight disparities are, if anything, reasonable when one considers that inherently, smaller fighters give up large percentages of their body weights in moving between weight classes, rather than viewing at the flat numbers themselves. The lack of popularity for these weight classes outside of certain hotspots of talent, like Mexico and Japan, may actually be a good thing in this case, though. There is far more financial incentive to make the most competitive and meaningful fights in smaller weight classes because fighters on average earn less.

Even beyond that, though, the current super flyweight division is so ridiculously filled with talent that it is quite possibly unmatched by any division in the sport’s history. Discussion of super flyweight necessitates understanding of surrounding weight classes almost entirely due to how the top fighters in the division are talented enough to fight in divisions where they are undersized. This is particularly true given its recent history. With Omar Narváez having been considered as the clear top super flyweight from about 2010 to 2014 when he held the WBO title, the current landscape is in many ways shaped by the bouts from contenders right below him. This remained true when Narváez usurper Inoue Naoya stayed atop the division from 2014 to 2017, when certain fights were difficult to make due to complex boxing politics. It was, then, something of a boon when Inoue moved up another weight class to bantamweight and ultimately defined himself as the top, or at least in the top three best fighters, pound for pound, in the world currently. With Inoue’s move upwards for his career-defining fights (such as against aging legend Nonito Donaire, especially in their recent second encounter where Inoue scored a devastating second round knockout), the super flyweight division he left behind exploded in terms of intrigue.

Inoue Naoya vs Omar Narváez (December 30, 2014)

Also crucial to the division’s recent surge were the three “Superfly” events promoted by HBO in 2017 and 2018, which featured top super flyweights like Román González, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Juan Francisco Estrada, Carlos Cuadras, Ioka Kazuto, and Donnie Nietes in fighting each other in America. This has given the division some notoriety beyond the typical groups of hardcore boxing fans who watch every weight class, but still, an average boxing fan has limited understanding of its high level of skill. Outside of the champion, the top ten 115 pound contenders are all either current or former titlists. The division features no less than three 4-division titlists within its rankings. Three of its fighters are generally considered amongst the sport’s ten pound for pound best fighters in the world, which considers fighters from all seventeen divisions on their pure skill and fighting resume. In this article, I will break down my personal division rankings by looking at each fighter one by one and explaining their history, skillset, notable fights, and overall why I consider them interesting.

Worthy of mention is the fact that this article is inherently a product of the specific time it is released in. The first draft of this article was written in May 2022, yet multiple fights implicating the super flyweight landscape are occurring in June. My thoughts can only account for, at the latest, July 4 2022, the release date of Konshuu’s Anarchy Issue, meaning I have very little time to parse the late June fights. In fact, this article will almost immediately be outdated given how Ioka Kazuto is scheduled to defend the WBO title against Donnie Nietes in a rematch on July 13. A further illustration of the fickleness of this article’s information is how, at the time of this article’s first draft, Juan Francisco Estrada was scheduled to defend the lineal championship against Joshua Franco on July 16; as of my fourth draft, said bout has now been rescheduled to August 20. Thus, given how this article has a shelf life of less than two weeks, all of these thoughts should be taken as my outlook as of the release date. I can only know what I know as of now – I can’t see the future. It should also be noted that the order in which I discuss each fighter is entirely subjective and in some way certainly biased. I am definitely not an authority and I implore all readers to look further into these fighters.

Jesse Rodríguez vs Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (June 25, 2022)

CHAMPION: “El Gallo” Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico)

42-3-0

(WBA (Super) Super Flyweight Champion)

To paraphrase a George Lucas saying, I would argue that some of the most compelling narratives are like poetry in that they rhyme. And while Lucas’ use of that line is somewhat diminished in its context of utterly superfluous additions to his most famous series’ canon, I believe that in sports, repeated dynamics are good. In the 1980s, four now-legendary prizefighters all competed against each other in a round robin throughout the decade, dubbed by many as boxing’s “Fab Four”. Trading back and forth the welterweight, junior middleweight, and middleweight championships, all four held at least one victory over each other, with many close encounters. With some of its members holding titles in divisions as low as lightweight and as high as light heavyweight, the foursome of “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, “Manos de Piedra” Roberto Durán, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler remain some of the most enduring figures in the sport. Ask almost any fan to list their favorite pugilists, and you’re almost certain to find at least one of these four. Personally, Duran and Hagler have always appealed to me with their compelling underdog backgrounds and endearing, aggressive fighting styles. Regardless, these four fighters represented the wide variety of skill sets, cultural backgrounds, and personalities of 1980s boxing.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns (April 15, 1985)

While rivalries have always been common in boxing, this dynamic of a Fab Four has remained endearing in of itself, with many fans reminiscing upon the era. Perhaps the most crucial part of this dynamic is probably the fact that, whenever each of the four fought each other, which was often, it was almost guaranteed to be an exciting encounter. The 1985 clash between Hagler and Hearns, for instance, remains to this day one of the most obvious candidates for the greatest fight of all time. Other groups of four have since been considered alike but not on par with these four. The 2000s had the emergence of “El Terrible” Érik Morales, “The Baby-Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Márquez, and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao as a similar foursome reigning, at various times, in the seven divisions between super bantamweight and light middleweight. The 1970s heavyweight scene was similarly dominated by the iconic quartet of Muhammad Ali, “Big” George Foreman, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier, and Ken Norton. Said group could be retroactively considered another Fab Four.

Román González vs Juan Francisco Estrada I (November 17, 2012)

In the past ten years, a similar group of fighters has emerged, with their bouts primarily taking place within the super flyweight division. Starting with the 2012 WBA light flyweight championship contest between then-titlist Román “Chocolatito” González and unheralded challenger “El Gallo” Juan Francisco Estrada, the quaternion also includes Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras. Excluding the sole light flyweight contest between González and Estrada, the other nine bouts between this generation’s Fab Four have all taken place at super flyweight, with the majority being considered the most entertaining fights of the last decade. Currently sitting atop the incredibly talent-rich division, Juan Francisco Estrada is perhaps the epitome of why I believe this foursome, and their division as a whole, are the best that boxing currently has to offer.

As a complete unknown prior to his 2012 light flyweight contest against Chocolatito, El Gallo became widely known in boxing enthusiast circles due to his valiant effort in spite of ultimately losing. Quickly bouncing back and moving up a division, Estrada in his next fight captured the unified WBA/ WBO flyweight championships at flyweight. Reigning as co-champions with his former conqueror Chocolatito, who had then captured the WBC and lineal flyweight titles, Estrada truly established himself as an key player in the lower divisions in 2016, as he moved up to super flyweight, defeating Cuadras in a non-title affair. Around 2016, Estrada could be viewed and was viewed by some as being the third best pound for pound fighter in the world, a far cry from the complete unknown he had been just four years earlier. Though he lost in 2018 to Rungvisai, he has since bounced back with single wins against all three other Fab Four members, having held the WBA, WBC and lineal titles. In spite of a controversial fight where many believed Chocolatito actually deserved a victory in their rematch last year, nine years after the first, Estrada still remains a fixture on pound for pound lists as I would currently rank him seventh. It’s also worth mentioning that he was forced to relinquish the WBC belt last year in a confusing political mess that boiled down to sanctioning bodies trying to artificially create a tournament of the super flyweight Fab Four which ultimately fell through due to multiple illnesses.

Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier III (October 1, 1975)

Juan Francisco Estrada remains a compelling pugilist for me due to a variety of factors. For one, his meteoric rise to prominence is inspiring – many had genuinely believed Chocolatito chose a random opponent in Estrada for an easy fight in their first contest. Beyond that, he is undoubtedly skilled, with a mastery of basic boxing fundamentals. Most obvious are his straight punches, which are deadly with El Gallo’s combination of excellent timing and strong pressure. Moreover, his ability to counterpunch is elite as well. At 32, Estrada is at the peak of his powers, though arguably at the tail end of his peak given how fighters in the lower weight classes peak much earlier due to a larger emphasis on speed and reflexes. Though currently scheduled to defend the title against Joshua Franco on August 20, questions still remain regarding the Chocolatito trilogy, which still may happen over the bout with Franco. Regardless of which fight Estrada takes, El Gallo is, aside from possibly a resurgent Chocolatito, likely still the top dog at super flyweight and remains incontestably the true champion of the division. As it stands, Estrada is probably not the most accomplished amongst the central quaternion that has helped build his legacy, but he is currently the most dominant.

#1 Contender: Román “Chocolatito” González (Nicaragua)

51-3-0

When Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired in 2015, there was a genuine question regarding who boxing’s pound for pound top fighter was. For years, the debate had centered around either Mayweather or career rival Manny Pacquiao with the last man to have been unanimously considered above either one being Bernard Hopkins in 2005. All three fighters I’ve mentioned thus far competed in extremely popular weight classes, creating something of a surprise amongst more casual fans when Chocolatito, the then-flyweight lineal champion, was considered by most pundits to be the best fighter in the world. Even prior to obtaining this distinction, however, González had already conquered and won titles in boxing’s smallest two weight classes, minimumweight and light flyweight. As of becoming the top fighter, Chocolatito had an unbeaten record of 43-0, accomplished against a genuine who's who of the three smallest weight classes.

Moving to super flyweight, his fourth weight class, in late 2016, Chocolatito’s relinquishment of the lineal flyweight championship actually ended a lineage that had gone unbroken since 1975, and included, among others, a young Manny Pacquiao. However, although González obtained his fourth divisional title later that year against Carlos Cuadras, he then suffered two sudden defeats to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017. In his 30s, Chocolatito was essentially written off in the ensuing few years given how, again, fighters age far faster in the lower weight classes. Hence, it was once again a shock when, in 2020, González once again captured a super flyweight title, this time the WBA championship, from Kal Yafai. Since then, Chocolatito defended the title once before losing it in a unification rematch in 2021 to Estrada. In spite of this, Chocolatito is arguably considered the top fighter in the division as most believe he won the fight El Gallo and was robbed on the scorecards. Since then, Chocolatito was supposed to have a trilogy fight with Estrada earlier this year. Estrada ultimately pulled out with illness and was replaced on short notice by current WBC flyweight champion “El Rey” Julio Cesar Martinez, who moved up a weight class momentarily for the bout. In a match that some believed signaled the rise of the younger generation of smaller fighters, Martinez, a far younger boxer, was completely outboxed by the older man. One could legitimately consider this Chocolatito’s most impressive showing thus far in his long career. In spite of not holding a major world title, González is still among the world’s top pound for pound fighters, where I would rank him sixth. Similarly, he rightfully deserves to be considered the number one contender at super flyweight.

Román González vs Julio Cesar Martinez (March 5, 2022)

What makes Chocolatito a must-watch is his comprehensive understanding of boxing. Just like Estrada, Chocolatito is a pressure fighter, though they perhaps differ in their specialties. If Juan Francisco Estrada is known for straight punches and counterpunches, Román González is supremely gifted and skilled at movement. His footwork and angles are particularly important pieces of his skillset, as Chocolatito manages to use said skills to effectively pressure his opponents, picking good spots to display his high volume punching. Despite not being a pure boxer, as one would typically consider to be the most “intellectual” boxers, Chocolatito still strikes me as one of the smartest boxers in terms of his use of these tools. In addition, González is perhaps the most important fighter of the lower weight classes in recent years. The recent influx of larger purses and increased attention for smaller fighters is almost certainly a direct result of Chocolatito bringing so many eyes to these divisions with his entertaining style. If anything, he is the very reason super flyweight is now one of the hottest divisions in the sport with a hotbed of talent.

Beyond that, Chocolatito’s three losses in particular are worth scrutiny. With the exception of his knockout loss in the second fight against Rungvisai, one could argue Chocolatito’s losses are the result of poor judging more than any actual lack of skill on his part. Both the first fight with Rungvisai, as well as the Estrada rematch, were arguably robberies that should have resulted in a win for González. With this in mind, his record could conceivably be 53-1 rather than 51-3. Given all of this and more that I’m leaving out, it should not be surprising to hear that if Chocolatito retired tomorrow, he would undoubtedly be a first ballot hall of fame boxer, one of the greatest boxers of this generation, and one of the greatest small fighters of all time in general. His resurgence in victories against top competition in this very late stage of his career, three weight classes above his starting point, are just further evidence. Chocolatito is a boon to boxing and his presence in the super flyweight division may very well be the biggest reason for its current surge in popularity. At 35, Román González may not be long for the sport, but I hope to see a bit more of him before he retires.

#2 Contender: Ioka Kazuto (Japan)

28-2-0

(WBO Super Flyweight Champion)

An interesting thing I’ve noted is that most casual boxing fans don’t notice the large presence of Japan in boxing. Again, this likely has to do with weight class. Japan is among the top four countries in terms of producing boxing champions, along with the US, UK, and Mexico, though unlike those nations, top level Japanese fighters are almost only in the lower weight classes. Japan, and to an extent, the general Asian boxing scene, is particularly notable due to the relatively common occurrence of top level talent fighting each other rather early on in their careers. This is in contrast to, say, the United States, where top prospects generally fight lesser known fighters and build undefeated records that, in reality, say little about a fighter’s actual skill. In this way, it’s rather fitting that Japan, along with Mexico, has been the main breeding ground for a lot of super flyweight talent – the current super flyweight scene embodies the same outlook in terms of top fighters earning their rankings based on fighting other top talent. For that matter, it’s why, in spite of super flyweight being one of the most talent rich divisions in the sport, almost none of the fighters I mention here are undefeated.

This isn’t to say that Japan is the only country that places emphasis on placing fighters against tough competition early, as the UK is very similar in this regard. Yet, understanding that culture is paramount to recognizing Ioka Kazuto’s place within the current landscape of super flyweight and boxing as a whole. The nephew of Ioka Hiroki, himself a two division champion in the 1980s and 90s, Ioka Kazuto is a four division champion, having previously held titles at minimumweight, light flyweight, and flyweight. Notably, his minimumweight run featured a unification fight win against top fighter Yaegashi Akira, who later won the flyweight championship before dropping it to Román González. At the expense of skimming over some detail, the Chocolatito comparison is probably the easiest way to explain why Ioka Kazuto is a top talent in the division. Beyond being a four division champion at the four lowest weight classes, Ioka has fought a myriad of top fighters in the four divisions he has competed in. His two losses, to Amnat Ruenroeng and Donnie Nietes, were both controversial decisions in championship fights against surging fighters.

After his 2018 loss to Nietes for the vacant WBO super flyweight title, Ioka has since claimed the title for himself and defended it several times against good competition. Most notable was his New Year’s Eve 2020 bout against young phenom Tanaka Kosei, who had previously been on his own tear throughout the lower divisions. Tanaka himself had claimed titles in the three divisions below super flyweight. Yet, when they fought, Ioka thoroughly beat his younger opponent by knockout. Himself something of a prodigy, having won his first championship at 21 years old, Ioka at 33 is also somewhat old for the division yet remains towards the top due to experience. With his current run being possibly his most impressive, Ioka unfortunately missed out on unifying with then-IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas in 2021 due to Japan’s COVID shutdown. He instead defended against Japanese national champion Fukunaga Ryoji. In lieu of the Ancajas fight falling through, Ioka is scheduled to defend his WBO title against Donnie Nietes on July 13 in a rematch. Ioka’s current run since 2018 has been uniquely interesting for those who follow Japan’s boxing scene, and the man himself has generally been considered amongst the top pound for pound fighters ever since the Tanaka victory. His placement varies depending on the other fighters present on the list, though I would currently rank Ioka around tenth in the pound for pound list given his current success.

Admittedly, Ioka Kazuto’s possible placement on a pound for pound list is somewhat shaky, with his recognition generally being on the lower end of said rankings. In juxtaposition with Chocolatito, while Ioka is also a pressure fighter, he isn’t as defensively responsible. He makes up for this with blistering speed, heavy power, toughness, and a strong understanding of boxing as a whole. In this way, though, Ioka displays the forward moving style quintessentially associated with Japanese fighters, going in for the kill without worrying as much about getting hit himself. I believe he’s ranked as high as he is, on both the super flyweight and pound for pound rankings, not due to any sheer display of dominant boxing skill, but off of his résumé. In that way, Ioka is as entertaining as he has probably been controversial for the Japanese Boxing Commission. I would argue, however, that the controversy he has stirred is a bit unfair. Ioka’s biggest offenses to the Japanese Boxing Commission have been his positive drug test and his tattoos. The former may seem damning, yet the banned drug he tested positive for was marijuana, certainly a far cry from what most people would consider performance enhancing. The latter matter is perhaps understandable as Japan has a different view of tattoos compared to the west, but it certainly shouldn’t play a big role in a violent sport where fighters continuously strike each other in the face and torso. In this way, Ioka could also be somewhat unintentionally compelling in that in some regard, one can view him as a victim of the Japanese Boxing Commission’s malpractice. Having fought tough competition his entire career, he has perhaps had his best run with his recent string of victories, non-boxing setbacks aside. Ioka’s rank as only the second rated contender at super flyweight despite all of his accolades is yet another indication of the high level of talent present at the division. In particular, the second fight with Nietes is an extremely interesting prospect, if not slightly dampened due to Nietes’ increased age being an unpredictable confounding variable.

Donnie Nietes vs Ioka Kazuto I (December 31, 2018)

#3 Contender: Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez (United States)

16-0-0

(WBC Super Flyweight Champion)

If the heightened age of the champion and top few contenders makes it seem like the super flyweight division is mostly filled with older, aging, legends, Jesse Rodríguez provides a nice contrast as an undefeated young fighter still hungry for continued success. Born in 2000, Bam is not only the current youngest champion in the entire sport, but also the history-making first titlist born in the new millennium. This distinction, while incredibly significant in the grand scheme of boxing’s history, doesn’t fully illustrate why Bam is someone to look out for in the near future.

Having moved up two divisions from light flyweight on late notice to fight Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC title, Bam’s historic win was punctuated by his dominant performance over the aging veteran. What made Bam’s win impressive to me is the manner in which he fought Cuadras, who was amongst the best in the division for a fairly long stretch of time. One could and probably should attribute the win in part due to Cuadras’ advanced age in the division. However, given how Cuadras himself gave extremely competitive fights to the very top of the division in his previous few fights, Bam’s victory still commands a large amount of respect. What more, given Rodríguez’s young age, it is likely that he will improve and the best is yet to come. At present, his southpaw style and crisp punches have made Bam a must-watch and an important player in the 115 pound division. On top of Rodríguez’s speed, he has also shown himself to be an extremely technical fighter beyond his years. Regarding said technical prowess, comparisons to amateur great Vasyl Lomachenko have been made, mostly due to Bam’s unique movement and use of particularly uncommon angles in his boxing.

Something else that is slightly intriguing is the fact that Bam is not alone in the division. After all, Joshua Franco, who may soon fight divisional champion Juan Francisco Estrada, is Rodríguez’s older brother. In a sense, one could potentially view this as a negative, given the fact that historically, brothers who reign atop boxing divisions at the same time rarely fight. There is precedence to this, given the Klitschko brothers’ simultaneous reigns with all four heavyweight championships between them, or the current situation with the Charlo twins moving divisions to avoid confrontations with each other. Call it marketing or jest, Jesse Rodríguez and Joshua Franco have previously stated their willingness to fight each other if need be in the given future. While that looks unlikely given the state of the division (and their actual intent to follow up on that claim is ambiguous at best), both brothers are uniquely positioned within the densely packed, talent rich, ranks of super flyweight, so these statements are at the very least interesting. Jesse Rodríguez, along with his older brother Joshua Franco, are clearly frontrunners of the next generation of super flyweight, and perhaps boxing as a whole. Both of their recent runs in particular can be seen as the first moves in the shift away from the era of the Fab Four’s dominance over super flyweight towards a younger cohort of hungry contenders.

Carlos Cuadras vs Jesse Rodríguez (February 5, 2022)

Still, Rodríguez certainly has to be ranked higher than Franco. Having previously outclassed Cuadras in a twelve round decision, his most recent win, an eighth round stoppage over another ‘Fab Four’ member, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, may perhaps be even more impressive. In said bout, Bam dismantled Rungvisai, taking the legend’s best shots, and likely won every round due to clever movement and smart boxing before going in for the kill. In defeating two members of the legendary super flyweight quartet, Rodríguez is almost certainly bound for a collision course against the others, whether it be Estrada or Chocolatito. Further supporting this intrigue is the fact that Bam fights on DAZN, where all the Fab Four are currently also contracted, meaning these bouts will happen more likely than not. Now having beaten two of the more high profile names in the lower divisions, Bam has also mentioned moving back down to win titles at light flyweight or flyweight, which would be interesting as well. With the Rungvisai fight, while I was certainly disappointed at watching the defeat of yet another great fighter, Rodríguez’s resume continues to grow ever more impressive. At just 22, and two divisions above where he should be campaigning, Bam has already defeated two likely future hall of fame inductees. In this way, in spite of only coming to prominence in his most recent few fights, Rodríguez has already distinguished himself as boxing’s latest legend slayer. He will likely be an integral part of the division going forward, and I frankly believe that his skillset and eagerness to take on tough opponents will carry him well into the future. Especially in the Cuadras and Rungvisai bouts, Bam’s wins felt momentous. The successful title defense against Rungvisai not only demonstrated a pattern of continued victory against top competition but also truly legitimized Bam as a real champion. It felt particularly like a passing of the torch with Rodríguez’s stellar performance and overjoyed exuberant celebration after having toppled yet another legend. Even this early into his career, I believe that Bam is a fighter who is destined for greatness, and will in a several years be recognized on pound for pound lists. So far, his skills demonstrated are those of a generational talent. His placement as only the number three contender in the super flyweight division mostly comes down to some judgment regarding career-long feats, but don’t mistake things: Bam is a very special fighter who may very likely be the future of boxing.

#4 Contender: Wisaksil Wangek/Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thailand)

50-6-1

At one point considered the third best pound for pound fighter in the world, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai sits at a somewhat unique spot amongst the 115 pound ranks. Hailing from Thailand, his overall profile merits explanation. As is a common practice amongst Thai boxers, Rungvisai is an adopted ring name of Wisaksil Wangek, likely derived from his birthplace of Sisaket, Thailand. Another idiosyncrasy that Rungvisai possesses given his background is the fact that he was once a Muay Thai practitioner. As someone who has casually trained in both Muay Thai and Marquess of Queensberry boxing (the latter being what most think of when they think “boxing”), I believe that the switch between the two disciplines is extremely difficult. Contrary to the complex rhythmic mastery of hand movements within boxing, Muay Thai incorporates kicks, knees, and elbows, resulting in a far more dangerous sport. In my personal opinion, while it is less interesting than boxing as a spectator (both in a physical and narrative sense), it encompasses a far more unique set of skills. In this way, I find Rungvisai’s switch from his original martial art to pugilism as an extremely important point in illustrating his illustrious career.

Beyond that, one could take note of Rungvisai’s six losses and one draw, concluding that he does not belong amongst the ranks of the top fighters in the world. It is worth mentioning, however, that Rungvisai’s draw, and his first three losses, all came within his first five bouts, when he was likely still getting used to the switch in combat styles. What more, his very first bout, a loss, was against the very Yaegashi Akira who would later participate in a unification fight with Ioka Kazuto, and lose his flyweight championship to Chocolatito. Even when he took on a debuting Rungvisai, Yaegashi, a future three division champion, had already been the Oriental Pacific minimumweight champion, and fought in a world championship match. The fact that Rungvisai’s promoters decided to pit him against such a fighter in his very first professional boxing match is an indicator of both Rungvisai’s talent but sadly, also his mismanagement. The fact that Rungvisai has accomplished so much in spite of being 1-3-1 in his first five fights is incredibly respectable and speaks to the danger he presents to the division even at 35 years old.

Capturing the WBC 115 pound title from Sato Yota in 2013, Rungvisai’s first reign with the title preceded a whole nine years of dominance over said WBC championship from the Fab Four, with Bam Rodríguez in 2022 being the first individual outside of that cohort to have held the title since then. With his two title reigns being separated by a technical decision loss to Carlos Cuadras in 2014, Rungvisai bounced back with a whopping 15 fights in the next three years before taking on then-champion, Cuadras usurper, and overall pound for pound king Román González in 2017. Winning a controversial decision before obtaining a fourth round knockout in the rematch, Rungvisai then became lineal champion by defeating number two ranked contender Juan Francisco Estrada while himself being the top ranked contender. Only losing the championship to Estrada in a rematch due to a bizarre focus on switching to orthodox stance despite being a left-handed fighter, Rungvisai is very much still in the top level mix at super flyweight.

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs Román González II (September 9, 2017)

Stylistically, Rungvisai has the skills to be the most dominant of the Fab Four. This is not to say that Rungvisai is the most undefeatable of all of them, but rather that he matches up favorably to all of them. This was demonstrated in his bouts with Chocolatito and El Gallo, with Rungvisai losing only in his rematch with the latter due to, again, the bizarre choice to fight orthodox for multiple rounds. Naturally bigger than the aforementioned two fighters who moved up from lower weight classes, Rungvisai is an extremely hard puncher.. Beyond that, in spite of the slight increase over the last few decades, it is important to note that southpaw fighters are still relatively uncommon, which makes Rungvisai all the more unique stylistically. Even in spite of a recent stoppage loss to Jesse Rodríguez for the WBC title, I still think that Rungvisai deserves to be ranked high. Even in a loss, Rungvisai managed to rock his younger opponent with a few blows, demonstrating that even in advanced age, his shots are still very, very, heavy. All in all, in spite of some setbacks as of late, Rungvisai’s skill set continues to make him an integral part of the super flyweight division’s elite.

#5 Contender: Joshua Franco (United States)

(WBA “Regular” Super Flyweight Champion)

18-1-2 [1 NC]

Ah, the WBA. In spite of being the oldest of boxing’s four sanctioning bodies, it continues to create messes that continue to make the sport more and more confusing. Case in point, Joshua Franco’s WBA title, which, for all intents and purposes, is less an indication of divisional dominance and more a physical reminder of an owed title shot. Essentially, the WBA has, in many divisions, continuously recognized multiple champions – a “Super” titlist and a “Regular” titlist – with only the “Super” Champion being considered the real champion. That is, unless the “Super” title is vacant, in which case, the sole remaining titlist would obviously be considered the actual WBA champion.

Got all that? No? Well, it hopefully shouldn’t matter, if Joshua Franco’s scheduled fight with Juan Francisco Estrada goes through. In the case that it does, then the winner obviously has a consolidated belt. Even in the case that it doesn’t, such as the increasing likelihood of Estrada taking on Chocolatito for a third time, El Gallo will mostly be stripped of his WBA title, thus rendering Franco the “true” WBA champion, even if Estrada would still be the division’s champion in a far more truer sense.

That aside, the discussion regarding the World Boxing Association’s title mishap draws away from what really matters in this case – Joshua Franco and his place within the greater 115 pound weight class. In that regard, Franco is a pugilist to look out for. One of the youngest fighters mentioned in this article at only 26 years old, Franco and his younger brother Jesse Rodríguez are, in my view, two of the most important pieces of the super flyweight puzzle given how they are fresh blood in an aging division. Franco, for his part, has been in several difficult fights in his career, with the most notable being a trilogy against Andrew Moloney, with whom Franco holds a record of 2 wins and a no-contest. With the Moloney wins, Franco netted the “Regular” WBA title and sent his opponent up a weight division to bantamweight, but also raised his name value considerably.

Joshua Franco vs Andrew Moloney III (August 14, 2021)

In a sense, Franco is, more than anyone else on this list, something of an unknown quality, given how the only measuring stick available has been the aforementioned Moloney, himself a bit of an unknown quantity. From what he’s shown thus far, though, Franco is a solid pressure fighter who throws a good variety of strikes and is skilled at infighting. Given his relatively light amount of opposition, Franco’s place in the top five contenders is contentious, but is mainly founded upon Moloney’s decent rankings prior to the trilogy. In that sense, and keeping into account his young age, Franco is someone whose skills may have yet to blossom. Out of all the contenders, including younger brother Jesse Rodríguez, Franco is by far the most unknown variable. One could view his current status prior to challenging a concurrent top fighter as a negative, though Franco’s scheduled fight with El Gallo would seem to indicate at least some level of confidence on his part. Even beyond that, though, Joshua Franco brings life and captivating potential matchups to the division in part because he is unproven, which in my view makes the super flyweight division all the more interesting.

#6 Contender: Julio “El Rey” Cesar Martinez (Mexico)1

8-2-0 [2 NC]

(WBC Flyweight Champion)

El Rey is something of a strange choice in terms of fighters to rank in this division. In terms of top level fights, Martinez has only ever competed at super flyweight once, in a losing effort against Román González. Because of this, influential rankings groups like Ring Magazine or the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board fail to list Martinez as a top ten super flyweight, and I don’t blame them. Surely, Martinez is at or around the top of every worthwhile flyweight rankings list, but in spite of being but three pounds higher, super flyweight is a completely different ball game.

So, under that view, what is Martinez doing at sixth place in my rankings? Well, simply put, I believe that, under a comprehensive view looking at any fighter who has recently competed at the top level of super flyweight, a perspective which I’ve used for other fighters like Ioka or Chocolatito, Martinez’s abilities stand up well enough. The recent Chocolatito fight could be considered a stain on Martinez, and it certainly isn’t a good thing in terms of his rankings, but given González’s history, his win is likely the result of his greatness more so than indicating any pitfalls Martinez faces. But, well, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Having lost his debut fight and obtaining a no-contest in his first championship shot, Martinez has been WBC flyweight champion since the end of 2019, winning in three subsequent title defenses. Said first shot was a fight which Martinez was dominant, but sadly accidentally hit his opponent whilst down. His fourth title defense prior to moving up short notice to face Chocolatito resulted in him retaining his title in a no-contest against McWilliams Arroyo, a former opponent of both Ioka Kazuto and Román González. In that fight, El Rey was seemingly dominant against his foe, with the bout ending early due to an accidental clash of heads. What was particularly notable in all of his victories and no-contests was Martinez’s fighting style. Aggressive, in a quintessential Mexican boxing style, Martinez differs in that he often throws unique strikes, such as leaping hooks/uppercuts and corkscrew punches. Coupled with his high output and headhunting style, Martinez’s style has not only made him an extremely dangerous champion, but also an entertaining fighter for hardcore boxing fans to follow. Given his recent fights below super flyweight, Martinez’s career may veer away from fights in this division in favor of a unification with IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards. Still, with his surprising foray into the 115 pound division earlier this year, I at the very least hope Martinez returns upward due to the higher level of talent at super flyweight in comparison to flyweight. As quite possibly the current king of the 112 pound fighters, Martinez at 27 years old is in his prime and clearly willing to take chances against the best. Given that attitude and his extremely entertaining style, Martinez is once again yet another fighter on the rise that should be monitored.

Julio Cesar Martinez vs Cristofer Rosales (December 20, 2019)

#7 Contender: Tanaka Kosei (Japan)

17-1-0

If I were limited to one phrase to describe Tanaka Kosei, it would be “prodigy”. A minimumweight champion at 19 years old, a light flyweight champion at 21 years old, and a flyweight champion at 23 years old, Tanaka is tied with Vasyl Lomachenko as having become a three division champion in the fewest bouts possible – twelve. More notable, frankly, is the competition Tanaka had to overcome within his first fifteen fights, including former and future champions like Moisés Fuentes, Vic Saludar, and Ángel Acosta. Though he doesn’t have the history-defining prodigal win that Bam Rodríguez had, Tanaka’s accomplishments at a young age are arguably more impressive due to a higher level of competition.

Somewhat recently, on New Year’s Eve 2020, Tanaka Kosei and Ioka Kazuto faced off for the latter’s WBO super flyweight title, in the former’s divisional debut. Following in the Japanese boxing tradition of having extremely exciting fights specifically for New Years’ shows, the two had an extremely entertaining fight which resulted in Tanaka’s loss. What seemingly decided the fight was Ioka’s counterpunching, playing into Tanaka’s overaggression, with the younger fighter having been knocked down twice prior to an eighth round counter left hook which led the referee to stop the contest. Though this was probably disappointing for Tanaka, who was looking to be the fastest fighter to have won four divisional titles, it was probably an important fight for his development as a pugilist. Particularly, the clear difference was in experience. Tanaka, having beat other notable titlists in the past, had likely never come across a fighter of Ioka’s pedigree, especially given Ioka’s placement on certain pound for pound lists.

Ioka Kazuto vs Tanaka Kosei (December 31, 2020)

Another important point of note was probably Ioka’s past of fighting aggressively, likely making Tanaka believe that he would be able to engage in a full-out firefight and come out victorious. Since the fight, Tanaka has bounced back against Japanese domestic level talent at super flyweight, a fact that may seem less impressive until one considers the plethora of great fighters specifically in that regional scene. This makes it seem likely that Tanaka is looking to remain a force in the division, something that can very easily occur given his particular skills. Similar to my earlier description of Ioka Kazuto, Tanaka Kosei is aggressive, with a particular focus on speed. Just like many of the top fighters at super flyweight, Tanaka’s pressure is interesting, albeit his movement is also impressive with several of his earlier fights demonstrating an ability to move in an unorthodox manner. With many American fans being probably too willing to write off fighters after a loss, I believe that the Ioka loss may have been a blessing in disguise for Tanaka, who in spite of his prodigal talent, is now more aware of what he has to fix. Should he bounce back, I believe the Ioka bout could be for Tanaka what the Floyd Mayweather bout was for Canelo Álvarez – an early loss sustained by a future great against a fellow legendary fighter which serves as a learning experience moving forward.

Floyd Mayweather vs Canelo Álvarez (September 14, 2013)

#8 Contender: Carlos Cuadras (Mexico)

39-5-1

I face two primary issues when discussing Carlos Cuadras in the context of the current super flyweight landscape as of 2022. First, my personal biases. Cuadras was one of the fighters I gravitated towards when he first beat then-WBC super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2014. This was heightened because I had only started watching boxing around 2010 or so off of the height of Showtime Boxing’s Super Six Boxing Classic tournament at super middleweight, so Cuadras was one of my earliest favorite fighters. That aside, it’s also difficult to discuss Cuadras due to his current placing in the division in comparison to where he was at his peak. He is simultaneously an individual who is crucial to the division’s history yet also someone who is in a difficult situation in terms of his chances at another title shot. As a fan, it’s somewhat sad to see Cuadras in the current position he is in when compared to his prime form.

As part of the super flyweight Fab Four, Cuadras has mostly been accepted as part of the group due to giving tough fights in spite of losses. Following his win against Rungvisai to win the title, he made several title defenses before losing the title to a surging Chocolatito in his divisional debut. Following an extremely narrow loss to Juan Francisco Estrada (erroneously, the winner was initially announced as “Carlos Estrada”) and an upset loss to future Julio Cesar Martinez victim McWilliams Arroyo, he fought three more times before challenging a now-champion Estrada in 2020. In said bout, which could have conceivably been that year’s top fight, Cuadras actually knocked down Estrada in the third round before himself being knocked out in round 11. In a sense, that fight was probably an example of the boxing adage that every great champion has one good fight left in him, as Cuadras, now 33, is unlikely to duplicate that sort of success going forward at his age. What’s important to note is that in boxing, age is not directly comparable. Seeing as Cuadras’ style has resulted in him being involved in many violent back-and-forth bouts, his 33 is very different from, say, Chocolatito at 34 years old, in that Chocolatito has been more adept at picking proper angles to punch from.

Juan Francisco Estrada vs Carlos Cuadras II (October 23, 2020)

Cuadras’ style is somewhat similar to the generally understood idea of Mexican boxing in that he is aggressive, though has some defensive holes in his game that have not aged as well as he has gotten older. It is, however, that very style that made Cuadras a staple of 2010s boxing in the lower weights, as almost every fight he has been in has been dramatic and entertaining. Sadly, in his latest match, Cuadras was not able to beat Bam Rodríguez, who is over 10 years his junior, due to Rodríguez’s extraordinary performance. Cuadras is likely winding down and may not have many more shots against other members of the Fab Four, but in spite of this, he remains incredibly dangerous for most fighters coming up as his aggression and pace are still fundamental parts of his style. Most notable is the amazing pace Cuadras kept with Estrada in their second bout, as in spite of being knocked out, Cuadras demonstrated excellent cardio. Matched with his hard punches, this seems to indicate that if given the chance, Cuadras is still a contender within the division. Call me biased (I probably am), but I would hope to see Carlos Cuadras get a few more chances within the top ten super flyweights. In spite of his defensive flaws which have emerged more in the last few years since his two year title run, Cuadras is a superb fighter. I don’t know if I’d favor Cuadras against many in this late stage of his career, but he seems to still have enough to give most super flyweights a good fight.

#9 Contender: Fernando “Pumita” Martínez (Argentina)

14-0-0

(IBF Super Flyweight Champion)

I think it speaks on the entertainment value of any division when a titlist is ranked fairly low, as it demonstrates the variability in the landscape at any given point. That ambiguity is what makes any sport, or really any piece of media in general, entertaining. With Fernando Martínez being relatively unknown prior to this February, the IBF title was previously held by Jerwin Ancajas, who had made a whopping nine consecutive title defenses over six years. In fact, most believed that Ancajas would be on a collision course with Ioka Kazuto given their scheduled but ultimately canceled bout for New Year’s Eve 2021. The Martínez fight was seen as Ancajas making but a routine title defense against a little known fighter who had not fought notable competition. Yet, when they fought, the six-year reigning champion lost a wide unanimous decision to the challenger in what was a somewhat close and violent affair. The Argentine displayed some great combinations and a fairly decent left hook. To be honest, given the relatively sudden appearance of Martínez on the world stage, it is still somewhat hard to figure out his actual skill level. Personally, I hadn’t seen much of Martínez prior to the upset. The Ancajas fight was great, albeit not necessarily informative given how Martínez didn’t display many straight punches, instead opting for hooks and uppercuts. This could potentially be Martínez adapting to that specific opponent, so in that way, he is likely the biggest question mark in the sport.

Jerwin Ancajas vs Fernando Martínez (February 26, 2022)

My description of Martínez is rather dull, as the inherent intrigue of an upset is hard to convey without proper understanding of the individual being upset. The reason why James “Buster” Douglas’ win over “Iron” Mike Tyson was and is so historical is that the latter seemed simply unstoppable. While giving that same aura of invincibility to Jerwin Ancajas is not just ludicrous, but downright disrespectful to Tyson, Ancajas’ long string of title defenses against lightly regarded competition made it feel like he would clearly defeat said unknown challengers before stepping up against the actually top competition in the sport. Ancajas was not a great champion, given his weak opposition, but the loss to Martínez felt impactful because carefully laid plans for the Ioka bout (in which most favored Ioka) were derailed. In this way, Martínez’s upset could be seen as less so over his opponent, but more over the affairs of the division as a whole – Ioka’s plans have now changed in favor of a second bout with Nietes. Thus. Martínez is an interesting new element in the division, albeit one whose actual impact is questionable.

#10 Contender: Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (Philippines)

43-1-6

Of all the fighters on this list, the 40 year old Nietes is by far the most senior, though his age is somewhat ancillary to his most notable accomplishments. Just like Chocolatito and Ioka, Nietes is a former four-division champion in the sport’s four lowest divisions. His sole loss came in his thirteenth fight, in a split decision loss years before Nietes entered the title picture in any division. Of his reigns, Donnie Nietes’ most notable stretch probably came in his light flyweight run, where he fought fighters like Moisés Fuentes, Ramón García Hirales, and Francisco Rodríguez Jr. Rodríguez Jr. is a win that has aged particularly well, given how Rodríguez was a former unified minimumweight champion and has recently emerged as something of a fringe contender at super flyweight. My exclusion of Francisco Rodríguez Jr. from my personal super flyweight rankings comes mostly down to personal biases and an admittedly unique decision to rank Julio Cesar Martinez, but he is an extremely good win that has aged particularly well given both Nietes and Rodríguez’s places in the super flyweight division. The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board rank Rodríguez at sixth, with Ring Magazine ranking him seventh, even after he suffered a decision loss to Ioka Kazuto for the WBO flyweight title.

Speaking of Ioka, he is almost certainly Nietes’ most notable opponent in the last five years. Their first fight, on New Year’s Eve 2018, saw Nietes beat Ioka in a twelve round split decision to win the vacant WBO super flyweight title. Yet, after said bout, Nietes went on a hiatus, letting Ioka fight for the once-again vacant belt, with Nietes only returning in 2021. Since his return, he has had a win and a draw, and is set to take Ioka in a rematch on July 13. Nietes is a confusing fighter in the context of the current division. Going back to the ever-relevant topic of aging fighters in boxing, a boxer in boxing’s lightest divisions is generally considered somewhat old by their 30s due to these divisions’ greater focus on reflexes rather than power. In recent times, Nonito Donaire has become considered an incredibly unusually well aged fighter due to holding a bantamweight title into his late 30s, yet he was recently demolished by Inoue Naoya within two rounds. Heavyweights, in comparison, are considered in their prime even as they approach their late 30s, due to how singular power punches have the ability to change the dynamic of a fight once fighters are that large. Yet, even heavyweights are considered somewhat old by the time they reach 40, with only George Foreman and Vitali Klitschko having held and defended heavyweight titles past that mark.

Donnie Nietes vs Moisés Fuentes II (May 10, 2014)

Thus, Nietes is in a particularly dangerous predicament, as a super flyweight at an age where even heavyweights are considered old. What more, given how Nietes has only fought twice since 2018, with mixed results, it is unclear what measures he is taking to address the limitations that will clearly be present for him going forward. Because of these circumstances, I do not know if Nietes will have a very good chance against Ioka in around a week. Still, given Nietes’ long reigns over the lighter weight classes and his unbeaten streak (including draws) that has stretched since 2004, he could still be an interesting force at super flyweight. Outside of his accomplishments on paper, Nietes is a fighter who could be seen as the antithesis of the others mentioned above. Nietes’ style is deliberately calculated. Most of the other fighters ranked at super flyweight have become known for being extremely entertaining fighters who constantly push to win in every round, beyond their high accolades. In contrast, Nietes is a point fighter; he isn’t extremely pressure nor punch heavy, opting to win rounds more than winning crowds. His greatest strength is probably his punch accuracy, which has offered him great success in spite of his style being what many consider boring. As such, Nietes isn’t a fighter that I’d normally recommend non boxing fans to look into. Still, because his next opponent is Ioka Kazuto, who could be, like the other top super flyweights, a posterboy for entertaining boxing, that fight may be rather interesting to look into beyond its large implications for the super flyweight scene and its overall history.

------------------------

The super flyweight division has many things going against it. Its relative youth as a division created in the 1980s (the original divisions fell into place around a century before then) does not afford it much presence for boxing history nerds. Yet, even in the comparatively short 40 years of its existence, fighters like Johnny Tapia, Khaosai Galaxy, Watanabe Jiro, Omar Narváez, Gilberto Román, and the oh-so controversial Tokuyama Masamori (seriously, look him up) have set the standard for great super flyweights. This standard has, in the last decade, been matched by the excellent Fab Four, who, perhaps along with Ioka Kazuto, have brought the division to a far higher level of popularity, albeit one that still isn’t proportional to what it deserves. Frankly, many of the older fighters ranked at super flyweight today are arguably amongst the all-time greatest super flyweights themselves. Some could even be ranked in overall pound for pound lists in the entirety of boxing history. Super flyweight history is short, but it certainly is not shallow.

Johnny Tapia vs Danny Romero (July 18, 1997)

The extremely low weight limit of super flyweight doesn’t help with its popularity either – when most boxing fans say that they enjoy lower weight classes, they’re usually referring to weight classes like lightweight, which, at 135 pounds, is still five divisions above super flyweight. I’ve heard many disrespectful comments from people claiming that just because a fighter weighs far less than them, they cannot take them seriously as a genuine athlete, in spite of skill. Yet another marketing issue comes in with how the majority of the top talent in this weight class, sans the American Rodríguez/Franco brothers, are from either Latin America or Asia. Because of that, the mainstream American boxing audience either cares little for, or outright looks down on these fighters.

In spite of all the issues and prejudices facing super flyweight, the past few years have seen the division filled to the brim with talent unlike any other weight class. It is bolstered by career super flyweights and fighters who have moved up to the weight division, filling its ranks to the point where literally every single fighter I have in my rankings has been a champion at some point. Perhaps because they are less popular, the best super flyweight fighters have continuously fought the best, and thus represent the true spirit of boxing. When the majority of fight fans decry the lack of top level fights in the sport, one needs only look at the super flyweights to see that that claim is more a product of marketing than a fact. I’ve said a lot about super flyweights in this article, but the top ten itself isn’t even comprehensive in explaining the true depth of the division. At middleweight, for instance, there are maybe four fighters in Gennady Golovkin, Jermall Charlo, Demetrius Andrade, and perhaps Janibek Alimkhanuly, with the majority of them seemingly about to move upwards.

Moruti Mthalane vs Sunny Edwards (April 30, 2021)

Yet, at super flyweight, despite there being a clear top few fighters, the entire division up to perhaps the top twenty are worth following. Fighters like Francisco Rodríguez, Andrew Moloney, Jerwin Ancajas, Ishida Sho, Israel González, Pedro Guevara, and Fukunaga Ryoji are or have recently been relevant players that I’ve skipped over or only briefly discussed. The current bantamweight king and arguably the top fighter in the world pound for pound, Inoue Naoya, was once in the division and could conceivably drop down if a great fight presented itself. Similarly, his adversary Nonito Donaire has actively discussed dropping down to super flyweight in pursuit of a fifth divisional title, something that would be hard fought given his advanced age, but not inconceivable. Beyond the bantamweights, similar threats loom from below. Of the flyweights, Julio Cesar Martinez has already made the jump up, and could soon be joined by fellow flyweight titlists Sunny Edwards and Nakatani Junto. To use a bit of reductive phrasing, super flyweight is currently stacked, and its scene will likely remain the most interesting in the coming few years with constant high level bouts and top talent moving in from other divisions.