The Boxing Bulletin Ratings: Minimumweight - 105lbs

Corey Erdman brings you the first installment of The Boxing Bulletin's new divisional ratings.

Since the smallest guys are always put last in boxing, we've decided to drop a hint of socialism into the squared circle and put them first in the inaugural installment of The Boxing Bulletin Rankings.

The biggest issue with ranking minimumweights, as they are known in the WBA (strawweights in the WBC, and mini flyweights in the IBF and WBO), is the glaring lack of depth in the division. When top contenders below 105-pounds do get together, it almost certainly provides entertaining action. However, there simply are not many men that size who have chosen fighting as their line of work.

Moreover, fighters in the tiniest of weight classes are almost exclusively located outside of North America. Boxrec.com lists a whopping 34 boxers from the United States in the history of the sport who have competed at the minimumweight limit, with the vast majority being youngsters who fought before the division was established...or laws surrounding humanity and child labor were put in place. Five Americans have competed in the modern era of the division, and just one, Miguel Montoya, ever fought more than two professional bouts—notching a record of 2-2-0.

As blatant as the mismatches we see on North American television can be, they cannot even compare to the slaughters devised by promoters in various Asian countries. Nowhere is this more evident than at minimumweight, but with such a lack of depth in the division, it can be argued that they don't actually have a choice.

In this case, we'll do the work for them and size up the very best in the division for The Boxing Bulletin's minimumweight rankings:

1. Roman Gonzalez

"El Chocolatino" could be the most exciting fighter you've never seen. Unlike plenty of his peers, Gonzalez has fought against solid competition in three different countries over his past five fights. No favoritism, no babying for the true big man of the small men.

2. Nkosinathi Joyi

An absolutely gorgeous boxer to watch, the South African all but danced the Mambo with his past two opponents—Raul Garcia and Florante Condes—both former world champions and current top contenders. Joyi-Gonzalez would be akin to Ivan Calderon-Giovanni Segura a weight class above, a matchup between a pure puncher and a pure boxer.

3. Oleydong Sithsamerchai

If Sithsamerchai weren't the WBC champion, he would be incredibly difficult to rank, due to his downright embarrassing competition as of late. In 2009, the 25-year old fought an 0-3 Adi Nukung, and an 0-2 Darmea Jordan. However, he did win the title off of Muhammad Rahman, and defend it against Yasutaka Kuroki, which exemplifies the typical schedule a Thai fighter keeps. Fight extraordinarily often, against absolutely anyone.

4. Donnie Nietes

Nietes is handled about as well as any fighter in the division, keeping a roughly two fight per year schedule, with all being meaningful and competitive fights. The only knock against him in terms of the rankings is that while he has held the WBO title since 2007, he hasn’t fought any of the individuals listed above or below him on this page. As such, he can’t really be considered one of the top three titleholders at present time.

5. Juan Palacios

The blemishes on Palacios' record can be ignored—a loss in a regional title fight in his fifth pro bout (a twelve rounder!) and split decision loss to Jose Antonio Aguirre in a world title clash in his 14th pro bout, and in his most recent outing, a majority decision loss to Sithsamerchai in his homeland of Thailand. Palacios can seemingly keep up with anyone, but he could quickly become the Rocky Juarez of 105 if he doesn't start putting up Ws when they count.

6. Raul Garcia

Getting spun like a Bee Gees record in the 70s by Nkosinathi Joyi is really nothing to be ashamed about, but one could almost see it coming after a lackluster outing against lightly-regarded Sammy Guitierez in August of 2009. At 27, he may be getting a bit old for the division, but he's still a trick southpaw with only one loss on his record. Another world title is not out of the question.

7. Juan Hernandez

Hernandez took an ill-advised pseudo-flyweight fight in just his eighth pro outing, and was flattened by journeyman Oscar Martinez. Since then, he's cut a few carbs out of the diet and has been laying out mediocre minimumweight opposition at a steady pace, most recently sneaking in a disqualification victory over division mainstay Denver Cuello. Hernandez also has the dubious distinction of having taken part in the most laughable regional title defense ever, a 2009 wager of his NABF strap against 0-2 Sammy Reyes...in a 12 round bout.

8. Florante Condes

Condes has been inactive since mid-2009, but is taking a tune-up this weekend. Prior to the sabbatical, the Filipino fought the very best the division had to offer in three of his last four contests. Most recently, he too was shut out by Joyi, however he earned a unanimous decision over Muhammad Rahman on the road in his opponent's country of Indonesia, and lost a shady split decision to Raul Garcia in his homeland of Mexico.

9. Muhammad Rahman

Rahman is a stalwart of the division who has fallen off in recent years, but given the unproven young fighters flowing into the title picture on a monthly basis, it isn't inconceivable that the veteran could upset any one of them.

10. Katsunari Takayama

Before a 14 month layoff that will conclude with a soft touch in September, Takayama was able to stay very active in a lively minimumweight scene in Japan. A former world champion himself, the 27-year old took a serious beating in an exciting, but ultimately one-sided loss to Roman Gonzalez. He remained standing at the final bell, but it's a fair query to ponder just what that night took out of him.

Corey Erdman is a host and producer at SIRIUS 98, and a freelance boxing writer formerly of The Sporting News' The Rumble. Follow him on Twitter: Corey_Erdman@Twitter