Three fighters debut in the SNB Rankings in March, including the first time a boxer has entered the Rankings following a loss. In addition, in what is becoming a 2012 trend, a fighter exits the Rankings after a victory. Finally, a flyweight legend, and SNB Elite Fighter, leaves the Rankings after suffering an unexpected knockout defeat.
Elevated: Jorge Arce The Mexican warrior has been on quite a tear over the last 12 months. He defeated Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. last May to pick up a junior featherweight belt. Then, he dropped down to bantamweight later in the year and won another title. Earlier this year, he knocked out Lorenzo Parra, a fighter whom he drew with in 2010. Arce’s unexpected career resurgence has been stunning. He enters the Rankings in the 10 Boxers on the Rise list.
Elevated: Carlos Molina Perhaps no fighter has seen his stock rise as much in the last 12 months as Molina has, where he has distinguished himself against three notable fighters. He drew with Erislandy Lara (a fight in which he really won), he soundly defeated Kermit Cintron and he was on his way to the biggest victory of his career against James Kirkland when he was disqualified because his corner stepped onto the ring apron. Nevertheless, Molina (originally from Mexico, but fights out of Chicago) has illustrated that he’s one of the best junior middleweights in boxing. He joins the Rankings in the Bubbling Under list.
Elevated: Danny Garcia Garcia defeated Erik Morales this month to win his first title belt. One of Golden Boy’s top prospects, Garcia has shown steady improvement over the last two years. Just 24, he still has some room to grow before he takes on elite junior welterweights, but with his ring intelligence and solid boxing foundation, the Philadelphian is certainly one to keep an eye on. He enters the Rankings on the Bubbling Under list.
Demoted: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam Nobody expected the Thai flyweight master to remain a champion ad infinitum, but few believed that an obscure Filipino, Sonny Boy Jaro, would be a major stumbling block. Instead, Jaro scored a shocking knockout. Wonjongkam’s legs didn’t look good throughout the fight and Jaro’s repeated low blows didn’t help. Wonjongkam has returned from losses before but at 34 and with 89 fights, how much does he have left? He exits the SNB Elite Fighters list.
Demoted: Hernan Marquez March was certainly a strange month for flyweights. Beltholder Marquez was set to defend his title in Mexico against Rodel Mayol. However, controversy prevented the fight from taking place. Mayol’s camp contended that Marquez never legitimately made weight and Mayol refused to go through with the fight. Instead, Marquez fought a replacement fighter, Richie Mepranum, a fighter who had beaten him earlier in his career. Marquez avenged the previous loss by scoring a unanimous decision. Irrespective of the victory, the episode with Mayol raises questions about Marquez’s immediate future in the flyweight division. He exits the 10 Boxers on the Rise list.
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