Boxing Rankings Update: Hitchins Strengthens Position, Estrada Enters Bantamweight Scene

Richardson Hitchins has solidified his position as one of the top junior welterweights in the world following a dominant victory over George Kambosos Jr. The IBF world champion secured an eighth-round TKO at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, further closing the gap between himself and ESPN's No. 1-ranked Teofimo Lopez. Post-fight, both fighters hinted at a potential unification bout in the near future.

With this win, Hitchins retains his No. 2 spot in ESPN's junior welterweight rankings, while Kambosos exits the top 10 after suffering his second consecutive knockout loss. Meanwhile, undefeated Andy Hiraoka enters the rankings at No. 10, shaking up the division's landscape.

On the same card, Andy Cruz delivered a commanding performance against Hironori Mishiro, maintaining his No. 6 ranking in the lightweight division. Cruz, a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, is now eyeing a shot at the IBF lightweight title, potentially facing No. 7-ranked Raymond Muratalla next.

In the bantamweight division, Juan Francisco Estrada made a successful debut, defeating Karim Arce Lugo by unanimous decision on June 14. The former unified junior bantamweight champion now enters the bantamweight rankings at No. 6. Additionally, Nonito Donaire, 42, marked his return to the division with a technical decision win over Andres Campos, positioning himself just outside the top 10 and setting up a potential title shot.

ESPN's divisional rankings reflect the latest performances and results in the sport, with adjustments made based on recent fights. Fighters who move to new weight classes are ranked accordingly once they compete in that division, and inactive fighters are removed from the rankings until they return to action. For a full list of current champions and women's divisional rankings, visit ESPN's official boxing section.

As the boxing world continues to evolve, these rankings highlight the dynamic nature of the sport, with rising stars and seasoned veterans alike vying for supremacy across all weight classes.