6247.jpg "Top 12 best lightweights in boxing: Rankings for 135lb weight class starring Tank, Lomachenko, Stevenson")
It's been a busy few months in the lightweight division and that's reflected in a multitude of changes in the ratings.
Former division leader Devin Haney has moved up to super lightweight and has been replaced in the No.1 spot at 135 pounds by WBA titleholder Gervonta "Tank" Davis.
Joining Haney at super lightweight is his former amateur rival Ryan Garcia, who exits from the No.6 position in these rankings.
Keyshawn Davis also drops out of the ratings after testing positive for marijuana. The unbeaten American can re-enter in the future.
These changes allowed several fighters to move up one or two spots and also made way for ratings debutants Raymond Muratalla, Jamaine Ortiz and Zaur Abdullaev.
Lightweight rankings: The Sporting News' top 12
| Rank | Fighter | Titles | Record | Movement (Jan. 3) |
| 1 | Gervonta Davis | WBA | 29-0 (27 KOs) | +1 |
| 2 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | 17-3 (11 KOs) | +1 | |
| 3 | Shakur Stevenson | WBC | 21-0 (10 KOs) | +1 |
| 4 | Isaac Cruz | 25-2-1 (17 KOs) | +1 | |
| 5 | William Zepeda | 29-0 (27 KOs) | +2 | |
| 6 | Maxi Hughes | 26-6-2 (5 KOs) | +2 | |
| 7 | George Kambosos Jr. | 21-2 (10 KOs) | +2 | |
| 8 | Raymond Muratalla | 19-0 (16 KOs) | NEW | |
| 9 | Frank Martin | 18-0 (12 KOs) | +2 | |
| 10 | Denys Berinchyk | 18-0 (9 KOs) | +2 | |
| 11 | Jamaine Ortiz | 17-1-1 (8 KOs) | NEW | |
| 12 | Zaur Abdullaev | 18-1 (11 KOs) | NEW |
The best in the world at lightweight: Gervonta Davis
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a tank is a "fighting vehicle carrying guns and moving on a continuous articulated metal track." It's an apt ring moniker for Gervonta "Tank" Davis, who has state-of-the-art firepower and a single-minded approach to ring domination.
The Baltimore-born superstar has claimed a variety of title belts in three divisions, but he's now regarded as the cream of the crop at lightweight. While his win over Ryan Garcia took place at a catchweight of 136 pounds, it was a signature victory for Tank, who is now firmly established as one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters in the world today.
If Davis can lock horns with the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney in the future, then his fearsome reputation could reach even greater heights.
The Sporting News' Boxing Ratings
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