Pictured: newly crowned IBO World super middleweight champion Chris Eubank, Jr., TTR's #10 ranked super middleweight contender


On Saturday, February 4, five boxers ranked by the participating members of TTR as being among the best currently fighting in their respective weight classes were in action. All five, Daigo Higa, Hekkie Budler, Christian Hammer, Chris Eubank, Jr., and Francisco Rodriguez, Jr., won their bouts.

Tokyo, Japan-

Non-title Super Flyweight Bout-
OPBF flyweight champion Daigo Higa (WBC #3, TTR #6, Transnational #7, IBF #7, The Ring #10, WBO #12- all at 112; 12-0, 12 KOs)
TKO-4 2:29
Diomel Diocos (10-2-3, 3 KOs)
- Higa weighed in at 114 3/4; Diocos at 113 1/2.

Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa-

Vacant IBO World Light Flyweight Title-
Hekkie Budler (WBA #4, WBC #5, The Ring #9, IBF #9, TTR #12; 31-2, 10 KOs)
TKO-7 3:00
Joey Canoy (WBC #19 at 105; 12-3-1, 6 KOs)
- Budler was ranked #6 at 108 and Canoy #10 at 105 in the IBO's January 2017 computerized ratings.
- Budler landed a series of solid left hooks resulting in a knockdown in round 7. Canoy claimed he was pushed but was battered repeatedly after action resumed. He did not answer the bell for round 8.

Kensington, London, England-

WBO Europe Heavyweight Title-
Champion Christian Hammer (WBO #6, TTR #9, Transnational #9, IBF #14; 21-4, 13 KOs)
TKO-7 1:22
David Price (WBO #5, IBF #8, WBA #13, WBC #14; 21-4, 18 KOs)
- Hammer was decked in the fifth round but recovered to stun and stop Price in round 7.

IBO World Super Middleweight Title-
Chris Eubank, Jr. (WBC #7, TTR #10- both at 168; WBA #4, IBF #4, Transnational #6, The Ring #6- all at 160; 24-1, 19 KOs)
TKO-10 2:07
Champion Renold Quinlan (WBC #22; 11-2, 7 KOs)
- Quinlan was making the first defense of the title he won by knocking out Daniel Geale in the second round this past October 14.
- Eubank came into the bout ranked #2 at 160 by the IBO.
- Eubank, much faster than Quinlan, battered the defending champion throughout the match until referee Howard John Foster mercifully waved it off in round 10.

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico-

Super Flyweight Bout-
Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. (WBO #3, IBF #11, TTR #12- all at 112; WBC #9, IBF #12- both at 108; 22-4-1, 14 KOs)
Unan. Tech. Dec. 5
Hajime Nagai (14-8-2, 4 KOs)
- Both fighters weighed in at 114 1/2.
- Rodriguez, who floored Nagai two times, won by three 50-43 scores.
- Note: that's not a misprint- the IBF does rank Rodriguez at both 108 and 112.