The Sporting News’ lightweight boxing rankings: Is Haney or Tank the best at 135?
The lightweight class is arguably the busiest division in world boxing and is currently experiencing a renaissance.
Last month’s hyped 136-pound catchweight fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia generated 1.2 million pay-per-view purchases, a number that exceeded many people’s expectations.
Give fans the fights they want and they will respond positively, and that very formula is repeated again this weekend.
On Saturday, undisputed lightweight king Devin Haney takes on threeweight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
WATCH: Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko on ESPN+
The winner of this superfight will almost certainly be crowned king of the division, and there will be many contenders waiting to claim the victor. Who has the best chance of gaining the upper hand in the future?
The Sporting News recently solicited opinions from members of their fight team from around the world, who now value the field at 135lbs.
12. Denys Berinchyk
- Record: 17-0 (13 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
An Olympic silver medalist at the 2012 games, Berinchyk was a member of the brilliant Ukrainian team that also included Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk.
In the professional ranks, Berinchyk has crossed every “t” and every “i”. The 35-year-old boxer-puncher has solid wins over Viorel Simion (TKO 7), Jose Sanchez (TKO 3), Isa Chaniev (UD 12), and Yvan Mendy (UD 12). The Ukrainian star should soon be interfering with the elite.
11. Keyshawn Davis
- Record: 8-0 (6 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
Another Olympic silver medalist, this time at Tokyo 2020, Davis, 24, is a superb young talent on his way to a world title shot.
A native of Norfolk, Virginia (home of the great Pernell Whitaker), Davis has quick feet, excellent shot variety and the killer instincts it takes to be a quality pro. Davis picked up the best win of his career against former world title challenger Anthony Yigit.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko
10.Frank Martin
- Record: 17-0 (12 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
If you haven’t seen Frank Martin yet, you should fix that quickly. This nimble southpaw combines defensive finesse with hard hitting power to disorient and then destroy the opponent.
Martin was largely dominant in the last point win against the previously unbeaten Michel Rivera. However, in his previous two bouts, the Indiana fighter showed his punching power against Romero Duno (TKO 4) and Jackson Marinez (TKO 10).
9.Maxi Hughes
- Record: 26-5-2 (5 KOs)
- Next fight: George Kambosos Jr in July
This Yorkshire-based left-hander was largely unknown outside of British fighting circles until September 2021, when he utterly dominated pre-match favorite Jovanni Straffon. Since then, the former British champion has gone from strength to strength, repelling challenges from Ryan Walsh (UD 12) and Kid Galahad (MD 12).
It is likely that Hughes will face Kambosos in the summer as a big underdog. However, the Englishman has just the style and ring technique to cause plenty of problems for the Aussie.
8.William Zepeda
- Record: 28-0 (24 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
Zepeda, a hard-hitting Mexican southpaw, managed a slow and deliberate climb to the pro ranks after joining in November 2015. Since transitioning to contender status, the 26-year-old power-puncher is still able to bring his power to bear.
Despite Rene Alvarado and Joseph Diaz Jr. conquering the distance, the fighter known as “Camaron” kept his opponents honest throughout. Zepeda is the WBA’s No. 1 contender.
7.Ryan Garcia
- Record: 23-1 (19 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
The young man who has it all: endorsement deals, looks, talent, speed, power and the adoration of a legion of social media followers.
As of April 2023, Garcia also had an excellent unbeaten record. But after “KingRy” teamed up with Gervonta Davis in their much-anticipated clash, he was the victim of a seventh-round knockout.
We’re unlikely to see him again at 135 pounds and he’s expressed his desire to move north on several occasions. No matter what division he’s fighting in, Garcia creates plenty of excitement.
6. George Kambosos Jr.
- Record: 20-2 (10 KOs)
- Next fight: Maxi Hughes in July
Kambosos made his name by scoring a close decision over former champion Lee Selby in October 2020. However, the Aussie boxer-fighter was considered a huge underdog when he took on then-unified champion Teofimo Lopez at MSG the following year.
Kambosos has not read the script. The challenger hit Lopez hard in the opening round, fought hard throughout, survived a late-round knockdown and earned a history-making split-decision triumph.
Since then, Kambosos has twice been pressured by top American Devin Haney in undisputed title fights. Regardless, he remains a handful.
5. Isaac Cruz
- Record: 24-2-1 (17 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
Despite notching up several high-profile wins, “Pitbull” Cruz delivered a career-best performance in the loss.
In December 2021, the raging Mexican pushed Gervonta Davis to the limit with a courageous and powerful performance in Los Angeles. ‘Tank’ deserved the unanimous victory but was put to the test from bell to bell.
Cruz is relentless, and standout wins over Diego Magdaleno (KO 1), Francisco Vargas (UD 10), and Yuriorkis Gamboa (TKO 5) only underscore his skill.
4. Shakur Stevenson
- Record: 20-0 (10 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
A new addition to the 135lb class, although many believe Stevenson could be the best of them all. After Stevenson won the world title at 126 pounds before achieving the world title at 130 pounds, Stevenson aimed for lightweight glory.
The 25-year-old from Newark has incredible speed, skill and ring artistry. Notable wins include Jamel Herring (TKO 10), Oscar Valdez (UD 12), and Robson Conceição (UD 12).
If he gets his wish to mingle with the likes of Haney and Davis, then Stevenson will tell you he’s sure to emerge pound-for-pound king.
3. Vasily Lomachenko
- Record: 17-2 (11 KOs)
- Next fight: Devin Haney on May 20th
Loma is a former Unified Lightweight Champion and former number one pound-for-pound race.
The Ukrainian magician has actually mastered three weight classes, and despite being small for a lightweight, he’s made quite a splash here too. Notable wins in this division include Jorge Linares (TKO 10), Jose Pedraza (UD 12), Anthony Crolla (KO 4) and Luke Campbell (UD 12).
The ex-champ starts off as an underdog against Devin Haney but it would be very unwise to write him off.
2. Gervonta Davis
- Record: 29-0 (27 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight planned
Although “Tank” does not have an authentic world title in this weight class (WBA regular is not authentic), he is undoubtedly the biggest star in the division.
Davis, 28, has won a variety of world title belts between 130 and 140 pounds, some more meaningful than others. A true knockout artist with underrated ringcraft, the Baltimore native has established himself as one of the top fighters in the world today and a solid PPV attraction.
In April 2023, Tank achieved a career-defining triumph over Ryan Garcia in one of the biggest fights of the year. He’s brilliant, he’s in his prime and it will take a great fighter to defeat him.
MORE: Tank awaits Haney-Lomachenko winner
1. Devin Haney
- Record: 29-0 (15 KOs)
- Next fight: Vasily Lomachenko on May 20
Devin Haney is supremely talented and owns every precious treasure in lightweight. At 135, he’s the man to beat.
After defending the WBC title four times, Las Vegas resident Haney faced unified champion George Kambosos Jr. in a match that would crown the first undisputed champion since Pernell Whitaker in the early 1990s. Haney has dominated Kambosos not once but twice and his skill is beyond reproach.
He’ll be a nightmare for either Tank or Stevenson, but first Haney has to get past old Professor Lomachenko, which will take his star power to a new level. If Haney can win this fight by force, he’s sure to move up the pound-for-pound list.
WATCH: Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko on ESPN+