ranking the best fighters in the world

IBF Middleweight Titleholder 32 3 1 (15) Last Year s Ranking: 86 Status Report: Sylvester gets a small bump based on wins over Billy Lyell (KO 10) and decisions over Roman Karmazin (W 12) and Mahir Oral (W 12). Future: We re going to go out on a limb and bet that in 2011 Sylvester will defend his belt two times against average or below average European flotsam. Any takers? Didn t think so.

Junior Middleweight 45 4 0 (31) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Since his inexplicable loss to Gary Lockett way back in 2006, Rhodes has been on a bit of a tear, winning 10 in a row, eight by knockout. That s the good news. The bad is that unless you follow boxing very closely in the UK, you have no clue as to how good any of those 10 guys are. At the least, wins over the fairly well credentialed Luca Messi (KO 6)

Lightweight 26 0 1 (19) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Rios thrilling win over Anthony Peterson (W DQ 7) in November on HBO was clearly a breakout fight for him, even if Peterson s incessant nut punching deprived viewers of the conclusive ending for which they were looking. Between that fight and a win over reasonably tough Jorge Luis Teron (KO 3), and another over Omri Lowther (KO 4), Rios had a very good year if you don t count his ill advised impression of Freddie Roach. Future: Reportedly will face Miguel Acosta on Feb. 26 in Las Vegas.

IBF Junior Lightweight Titleholder 28 4 0 (11) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Fana may be the best of a wretchedly poor division, but he s doing something right. You can t discount entirely a year in which he bested once beaten Jasper Seroka (KO 6) and then avenged a majority decision loss to nemesis Cassius Baloyi (W 12). And the margin of victory over Baloyi was a combined 27 points. He dominated the way a guy at the top of his division should. Future: A fight against Scotland s Ricky Burns would be wonderful. More likely is an alphabet defense against Leva Kirakosian. He will have no part of Jorge Linares, whom the THE RING and IBF still rate at 130 pounds.

Heavyweight 20 0 0 (14) Last Year s Ranking: 64 Status Report: Povetkin slides 21 rungs almost entirely because his trainer, Teddy Atlas, said he s not good enough to face Wladimir Klitschko yet. Who are we to argue? Also, we have to say that for all the talk about Atlas taking him to the next level, Povetkin s recent resume

Light Heavyweight 21 0 0 (10) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: Cleverly is one of just two undefeated guys in THE RING s Top 10 at light heavyweight (Tavoris Cloud is the other) and he hasn t been bowling over just stiffs; in December he beat 23 1 (12) Nadjib Mohammedi, for what that that s worth and he also stopped the heretofore undefeated Karo Murat (KO 10), THE RING s No. 8 ranked 175 pounder. Future: Nothing signed yet but how about a trip across the pond, Nathan old boy?

Super Middleweight 28 2 0 (21) Last Year s Ranking: 83 Status Report: You could make the argument that this is an unfairly low rating for a guy who s hell to fight for anyone who can t jump around like a meth addict for 12 rounds, but let s remember a couple things. First, he was way behind on points when he almost stopped Lucian Bute in their match in 2008 (L 12); Bute obliterated him in their rematch (KO by 4); and even the ancient and decrepit Eric Lucas had some success against him before Andrade walked him down (KO 8). We love to watch the guy fight, too, but we shouldn t mistake exciting for ability that merits a higher ranking than this. And for a face first guy, this is a hell of a good rating. Future: Nothing scheduled at the moment, but we d like to see him against

Super Middleweight 28 4 2 (19) Last Year s Ranking: 85 Status Report: Andre Ward beat Bika in November (L 12) but Bika didn t lose much value. Ward is seen as no worse than the second best 168 pounder around, and Bika pushed him fairly hard. In his only other appearance during the year, Bika nearly disemboweled poor Jean Paul Mendy (L DQ 1). He s big, crazy strong and maybe a little insane. No one ever has an easy time of it with him

Middleweight 17 0 (14) Last Year s Ranking: Unranked Status Report: It would seem that Pirog s lone noteworthy accomplishment for the year was his beautiful annihilation of Danny Jacobs (KO 5), but he also has wins over Americans Eric Mitchell (KO 5) and Kofi Jantuah (W 12). Don t think this guy can t fight because he s whiter than Ricky Hatton and looks like he hasn t hit puberty yet. He s the goods. Ask Jacobs. Future: Pirog will be on HBO in 2011, with any luck against someone noteworthy.

Lightweight 35 4 (17) Last Year s Ranking: 46 Status Report: Clearly, Diaz is trending downward. Just two years ago, he landed at 22 in this analysis. Two years later, he s lost twice to Juan Manuel Marquez (KO by 9 and L 12) and split a pair of fights with Paulie Malignaggi (W 12 and L 12). That s the bad news. The good is that the first fight with Marquez was The Fight of the Year, and Diaz didn t disgrace himself in the rematch. And it wasn t Lady Gaga he lost to, for chrissakes, it was Juan Manuel Marquez. So for now, Diaz stays. Future: Guys who fight like Diaz burn out young. He s only 27 years old, but it s a hard 27. And he has that whole law school thing going on. Don t be surprised if you don t see him in a ring again.