The Ring’s welterweight rankings reward names over recent form

The Ring’s revised welterweight rankings have placed recognition and title ownership ahead of recent performances and head-to-head results. Rolly Romero has entered the list at No. 10 despite losing his WBA title to Teofimo Lopez on Saturday night, while Lopez is ranked fifth after winning the belt.

Romero had previously been left out because he was inactive. His return did not produce a strong case for inclusion: he fought without urgency, threw 352 punches over 12 rounds and allowed Lopez to dictate the contest. His defeat therefore makes the decision to rank him difficult to justify on current form.

Lopez has a clearer claim to a top-10 position because he won the WBA championship, but fifth appears generous based on the fight itself. He landed 124 punches, was hurt more than once and received a 114-114 score from one judge. The result supports his return to the rankings, but not necessarily a place among the division’s five best fighters.

The treatment of Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr. creates another problem. Catterall is ranked third, even though Barboza defeated him directly and is not included. A ranking that overlooks that result gives reputation greater weight than what happened between the two fighters.

Several other omissions add to the inconsistency. Keyshawn Davis has competed in his last two bouts at light welterweight, but his level has been higher than that of many ranked fighters. Liam Paro holds the IBF title yet was removed, while Haney and Lopez have benefited from belt ownership. Richardson Hitchins was ranked ninth after beating Ricardo Salas in his welterweight debut, then disappeared from the list without a defeat.

Brian Norman Jr. remains No. 2 despite landing only 59 of 399 punches in his fight with Devin Haney. His subsequent stoppage of the little-known Josh Wagner did not establish him as the division’s second-best fighter. Alexis Rocha, Raul Curiel, Rohan Polanco, Eimantas Stanionis and Romero are also identified as fighters who should be removed, while the 10th position could remain open until it is earned.