Boxing divisional rankings: Pacheco, Cruz retain rankings with stoppage wins

          Diego Pacheco beat Immanuwel Aleem by TKO to earn his first stoppage win since August 2024. Lewis Storey/Getty Images
          • Andreas HaleJul 21, 2026, 10:15 AM ET
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              Andreas Hale is a combat sports reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and pro wrestling. In Andreas' free time, he plays video games, obsesses over music and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He is also a host for Sirius XM's Fight Nation. Before joining ESPN, Andreas was a senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News. He started his career as a music journalist for outlets including HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z's Life+Times. He is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker as a producer for the animated short film "Bridges" in 2024.
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          Diego Pacheco and Andy Cruz picked up wins over the weekend to hold their respective spots as the No. 6-ranked super middleweight and No. 3-ranked lightweight with stoppage wins at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

          Cruz blew out Abraham Montoya in three rounds, returning to form after a controversial decision loss to IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla earlier this year. Cruz was sharp and showcased his commitment to sitting down on his punches. An exchange late in Round 2 saw Cruz blast Montoya with a right hand to put him down. Montoya was in bad shape but managed to get to his feet and out of the round. He wouldn't escape the next round, however, as Cruz went for the finish and concluded the fight with a barrage in Round 3.

          Pacheco ended a three-fight decision streak by stopping Immanuwel Aleem in Round 11 of their super middleweight clash. Behind an exceptional jab, bruising body work and a stream of uppercuts, Pacheco eventually broke Aleem down. He nearly finished the fight in Rounds 7 and 10, but referee Ray Corona allowed Aleem to continue despite being on shaky legs. Pacheco finished the job in Round 11 by forcing a referee's stoppage to prevent further damage. After earning his first knockout win since August 2024, Pacheco is targeting a title opportunity or a step up in competition for his next fight.

          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: Cruiserweight | Welterweight | Junior Lightweight | Junior Bantamweight | Flyweight | Junior Flyweight

          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)