Super Flyweight Top 8 Ranked, How We See It
This Saturday’s HBO tripleheader features 5 of the best flyweights in the world.
Since Roman Gonzalez’s HBO debut the boxing public has been patiently waiting in anticipation to see the world’s best little men get in the ring. Both Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada have moved up in weight since then, Naoya Inoue arrived as the front-runner, and Kal Yafai has brought a world title to the UK. The boxers are ready, the fans are ready, it is time for rumble.
1. Naoya Inoue
Age: 24
Fighting out of: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Record: 13–0 (11 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 86–13-3
Notable fights: Ryoichi Taguchi (W-UD10), Adrian Hernandez (W-TKO6), Omar Andres Narvaez (W-KO2), Kohei Kono (W-TKO6)
Achievements: Current WBO World Super Flyweight Champion, Former WBC World Light Flyweight Champion
Style: Boxer-Puncher
Naoya Inoue blasted onto boxing fans radar with an extraordinary perfromance against long-reigning champion Omar Narvaez whom he knocked down several times over a short distance of 2 rounds. Inoue has made himself a name with his ruthless attacking approach and continues to improve his status showcasing extraordinary and sometimes unique boxing skills.
Inoue is avoided not just the power he has in both hands, but boxing skills only the best in boxing can match. If you don’t cringe seeing and hearing him land bodyblows, you have no liver. Despite handling mostly weak and battle-worn opposition he tops our list. Inoue is the new blood and he’s looked like an absolute terror against every opponent he’s faced, from aging champions to upcoming prospects. 115 is only a stop on his way up to breaking and setting a round of records.
2. Srisaket Sor Runvisai aka Wisaksil Wangek
Age: 30
Fighting out of: Si Sa Ket, Thailand
Record: 43–4–1 (39 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 46–0–0
Notable fights: Roman Gonzalez (W-MD12), Carlos Cuadras (L-TD8), Yota Sato (W-TKO8), Jose Salgado (W-TKO4)
Achievements: Current WBC World Super Flyweight Champion (2nd time champion)
Style: Counter-puncher
Whatever you think of his fight with Roman Gonzalez, Srisaket is the champion. Unlike any other Roman Gonazlez opponent, Wangek went toe-to-toe with him, winning the middle-of-the-ring battles, and punishing Roman.
And he did not just steal rounds against Gonzalez. He fought a hard, close fight and made Gonzalez look beatable. Whatever you think of the scores, he ain’t no “Hornet”. Wisaksil Wangek is a highly respected two-time champion who lost his first title due to a technical decision — an ugly way to lose a fight. He’s been hanging on the top of the divisional rankings for a while, and has proved with each of his performances that he belongs among the best of the talent-rich division. His win over Gonzalez is not a fluke, and come September 9 he will get a chance to shut his haters up. In a bloody slugfest.
3. Roman Gonzalez
Age: 30
Fighting out of: Managua, Nicaragua
Record: 46–1 (38 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 93–6–1
Notable fights: Wisaksil Wangek (L-MD12), Carlos Cuadras (W-UD12), Akira Yaegashi (W-TKO9), Juan Francisco Estrada (W-UD12)
Achievements: Former WBC World Super Flyweight Champion, Former WBC World Flyweight Champion, Former WBA World Light Flyweight Champion, Former WBA Minimumweight Champion
Style: Boxer volume-puncher
Former pound-for-pound king needs no introduction. He is the first fighter in decades to bring notoriety to the flyweight division. The boxing public tunes in not because of his tremendous record, but because of the way he fights. He earns every dollar he makes and leaves no fan disappointed.
Whatever it is that made him look vulnerable — age, size, wear and tear, lack of power at super flyweight— he is a 4 division world champion and still the toughest fight you can make at 115. No other man here will forego walking through fire in order to get a win over Gonzalez.
4. Juan Francisco Estrada
Age: 27
Fighting out of: Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Record: 35–2 (25 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 76–9–2
Notable fights: Giovani Segura (W-TKO11), Brian Viloria (W-SD12), Milan Melindo (W-UD12), Roman Gonzalez (L-UD12)
Achievements: Former WBA Super World Flyweight Champion, Former WBO World Flyweight Champion
Style: Boxer counter-puncher
Best known for his rivalry with Roman Gonzalez, whom he had a close, competitive and enteratining fight with 5 years ago, Estrada continues to seek new opportuinities to get his rematch. Whilst his fans continue to come up with excuses to explain his loss to Gonzalez — going down in weight for the first time, lack of experience, etc — he is getting better. Estrada is more of a defensive boxer with great counter-punching abilities. He starts slow, finds his distance and starts the onslaught. Just as Roman Gonzalez he is a volume puncher who loves to dig to the body. He is a perfect example of a fighter who overwhelms his opponents with precise quality work throughout the duration of a fight.
5. Carlos Cuadras
Age: 29
Fighting out of: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Record: 36–1–1 (27 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 96–7–6
Notable fights: Roman Gonzalez (L-UD12),
Koki Eto (W-UD12), Luis Concepcion (W-UD12), Wisaksil Wangek (W-TD8)
Achievements: Former WBC World Super Flyweight Champion
Style: Boxer counter-puncher
There is a kind of boxer who is difficult to describe. They lack a particular style, there are no universal calling cards of their approach in each fight, and it doesn’t diminish what they do or are capable of in the ring. These kind of fighters are constantly entertaining because they’re always willing to match what their opponent brings to the table.
This is Carlos Cuadras. He was just another titleholder at 115 with some promise before he met Gonzalez. Then he gave Gonzalez the fight of his career and showed that Gonzalez wasn’t an unstoppable force that his promoters wanted us to believe. But Cuadras paid a price. He’s looked flat since facing Gonzalez and the question now is whether or now Estrada is too much for him. Whatever the answer, he will bring a great competitive fight, win or lose.
6. Jerwin Ancajas
Age: 25
Fighting out of: Cavite City, Cavite, Philippines
Record: 27–1–1 (18 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 74–5–1
Notable fights: Teiru Kinoshita (W-TKO7), McJoe Arroyo (W-UD12)
Achievements: Current IBF World Super Flyweight Champion
Style: Boxer counter-puncher
Out of nowhere Jerwin Ancajas emerged as an opponent for a world title against McJoe Arroyo. No one knew what to expect of him and he took advantage by taking McJoe to school and dominated him over 12 rounds. He was offered a chance to unify with Inoue right after that, but he decided to have a career of his own. Taking advice from Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum, Ancajas took an opportunity to showcase himself on the Pacquiao-Horn undercard on ESPN as the co-main event.
Ancajas looks very good. He has yet to prove his class, but that is something that will be shown over time. For now, he’s got the attributes and promise of a successful run at 115 pounds.
7. Khalid Yafai
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Record: 22–0 (14 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 69–33–6
Notable fights: Suguru Muranaka (W-UD12), Luis Concepcion (W-UD12)
Achievements: Current WBA World Super Flyweight Champion
Style: Boxer counter-puncher
Among the all fighters on the list, he is more of a boxer than anyone. He doesn’t have great power, but ability to take a fight 12 rounds and outpoint his opponents is exceptional. He had it relativly easy in his 2 last outings, including a win over Luis Concepcion for a world title. Promoted by Eddie Hearn, we will not see Yafai against the monsters ranked above him. Nevertheless, he deserves to be ranked among them. At the age of 28 and already 22 professional fights, his run at the world level may be a short one given the long history of lower-weight class fighters who start to exit their prime around this time.
8. John Riel Casimero
Age: 27
Fighting out of: Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines
Record: 24–3 (15 KOs)
Combined record of the last 3 opponents: 37–16–1
Notable fights: Amnat Ruenroeng (W-KO4), Amnat Ruenroeng (L-UD12), Luis Alberto Lazarte (W-TKO10), Moruti Mthalane (L-TKO5)
Achievements: Former IBF World Light Flyweight Champion, Former IBF World Flyweight Champion
Style: Boxer counter-puncher
John Riel Casimero is one of the underappreciated stories in boxing. His career path seemed destined to become yet another Filipino journeyman who might pull of a miracle upset as so many of his countrymen have done before him.
But Casimero wasn’t having it. He took a shot against Amnat Ruenroeng and despite all of the wrestling moves and fouls Ruenroeng used, Casimero still has a legitimate argument for winning the fight. His response was to come back and take the judges and corrupt referees out of the equation. He vowed to knock Ruenroeng out. He fulfilled on his promise, went to the UK and beat up one of their prospects, and now he stands as one of the great stories in boxing.
He’s still got youth on his side and if he is posed to strike at someone above him, the time is now.
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