Boxing divisional rankings: 'Pitbull' Cruz enters junior welterweight top 5

Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz retained the WBC interim junior welterweight title with a sixth-round KO victory over Nestor Bravo at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California on Saturday.

Cruz's pressure caused problems for Bravo from the opening bell, as he dropped Bravo in Round 1. Bravo was later deducted a point for holding in Round 2.

Bravo survived until Round 6, when Cruz landed a perfect left hook that sent him to the canvas. Bravo couldn't get to his feet before referee Thomas Taylor reached the count of 10 at 1 minute, 30 seconds.

The impressive victory moves Cruz up three spots to No. 5 in ESPN's 140-pound rankings.

Also on Saturday, Shabaz Masoud defeated Ckari Cani Mansilla by unanimous decision in his featherweight debut in Manchester, England. All three judges scored the fight 100-90.

Masoud, who has fought primarily at junior featherweight over the past six years, enters the featherweight rankings at No. 9.

On Monday in Tokyo, Jin Sasaki defeated David Ssemujju by sixth-round KO. Sasaki dropped Ssemujju with a left hook in Round 2, but Ssemujju recovered and had a strong fifth round.

In Round 6, Sasaki dropped Ssemujju again with a short right cross-left hook combination, forcing referee Tetsuya Iida to stop the fight at 58 seconds.

Sasaki retains his No. 10 spot at welterweight.

ESPN's divisional boxing rankings highlight the best in the sport in every weight class. Rankings will change based on recent results and performances. Fighters who have announced they are moving to a different weight class will be ranked in that new division, if warranted, only once they fight in that weight class. Fighters who currently own titles in two divisions can be ranked in both.

Fighters who haven't competed in the past 12 months -- and don't have a fight scheduled -- will be dropped from the rankings until they fight again. Any fighter who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed. That boxer will be eligible to reenter the rankings after his next bout.

For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For ESPN women's divisional rankings, click here.

Jump to this week's changes: Junior welterweight | Featherweight | Junior featherweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (UNLIMITED)

CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)

MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 154 POUNDS)

WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 147 POUNDS)

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 140 POUNDS)

LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 135 POUNDS)

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 130 POUNDS)

FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 126 POUNDS)

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 122 POUNDS)

BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 118 POUNDS)

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 115 POUNDS)

FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 112 POUNDS)

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 108 POUNDS)

STRAWWEIGHT (UP TO 105 POUNDS)