View source for The Ring (magazine)

{{short description|Boxing magazine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = ''The Ring''
| logo = The Ring magazine logo.jpg
| logo_alt = 
| logo_caption = 
| trading_name = ''The Ring''
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = [[Boxing promotion]] <br>[[Sports magazine]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1922}}
| founder = 
| hq_location_city = [[Dubai]]
| hq_location_country = [[United Arab Emirates]]
| key_people = [[Turki Alalshikh]] ([[Ownership|Owner]])<br>Rick Reeno ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| services = 
| owner = Turki Alalshikh
| parent = The Ring Magazine FZ-LLC
| module = 
| website = {{url|ringmagazine.com}}
}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = The Ring
| logo = 
| logo_size = 
| image_file = Ring Magazine Cover.jpg
| image_size = 
| image_caption = Cover of the first issue
| editor = Douglass Fischer
| editor_title = Editor-in-Chief
| previous_editor = [[Nat Fleischer]]
| frequency = 
| circulation = 
| category = [[Sports magazine]]
| publisher = Stefan Friedman
| company = 
| founded = {{Start date and age|1922}}
| country = United States
| based = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]<br>[[Blue Bell, Pennsylvania]]<br>[[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| website = {{official website}}
| issn = 0035-5410
}}

'''''The Ring''''' (often called '''''The Ring''''' '''magazine''' or '''''Ring''''' '''magazine''') is a [[boxing]] [[magazine]], that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of [[professional wrestling]] came more into question, ''The Ring'' shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing-oriented publication.

''Ring'' began publishing annual ratings of boxers in 1924. With its November/December 2022 issue, the magazine stopped publication of its regular monthly print issues and will remain a digital publication, offering occasional special interest print issues.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ringtv.com/646145-press-release-the-ring-magazine-embraces-digital-future-launching-monthly-electronic-edition/#:~:text=After%20more%20than%20100%20years,the%20November%2DDecember%202022%20issue | title=Press release: The Ring Magazine Embraces Digital Future, Launching Monthly Electronic Edition | date=November 3, 2022 }}</ref>

==History==
''The Ring'', founded and published by future [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] member [[Nat Fleischer]], has perpetrated boxing scandals, helped make unknown fighters famous worldwide, and covered boxing's biggest events of all time. [[Dan Daniel (sportswriter)|Dan Daniel]] was a co-founder and prolific contributor to ''The Ring'' through most of its history.

Another founding partner was [[John L. Dorgan|John L. "Ike" Dorgan]] (April 15, 1879 – December 27, 1960), a bookbinder, boxing manager (for Harry Ebbets and [[Frank Moran|Charles Francis "Frank" Moran]], known as "The Fighting Dentist"), press agent (for boxing promoter [[Tex Rickard|George L. "Tex" Rickard]]),<ref>Roberts, Randy. ''Jack Dempsey: The Manassa Mauler''. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 2003, p. 140. {{ISBN|978-0-252-07148-5}}</ref> and publicity manager for the [[Madison Square Garden (1890)|Madison Square Garden]]. He remained with this influential publication until his retirement in 1930.<ref>[http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ike_Dorgan "Ike Dorgan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009163639/http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ike_Dorgan |date=October 9, 2012 }} in BoxRec (Boxing Records Archive) Boxing Encyclopaedia</ref>

''The Ring'' refers to itself (and is referred to by others) as "The Bible of Boxing." During the Fleischer years, the contents page or indicia of every issue carried the claim: "''The Ring'' is a magazine which a man may take home with him. He may leave it on his library table safe in the knowledge that it does not contain one line of matter either in the text or the advertisements which would be offensive. The publisher of ''The Ring'' guards this reputation of his magazine jealously. It is entertaining and it is clean."<ref>''Sports Illustrated'', August 6, 1962.</ref>

In 1972, following Fleischer's death, his son-in-law and managing editor Nat Loubet took over as publisher.<ref>[http://www.thesweetscience.com/feature-articles/19261-remembering-the-rock-a-mr-boxing Gordon, Randy] "REMEMBERING THE ROCK & MR. BOXING", 'The Sweet Science",  SEPT 6, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2018.</ref> In 1977, Loubet launched three international editions of the magazine. The [[Spain|Spanish]] version, ''[[Ring En Español]]'', was published in Venezuela and distributed to all Spanish-speaking countries and the United States (U.S.) until 1985. There was also a [[Japan]]ese version published in [[Tokyo]] and a [[France|French]] version published in [[Paris]].{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

In 1977, managing editor of ''The Ring'' Johnny Ort, [[1977 United States Boxing Championships Series|fabricated records of selected boxers]], and elevated their rankings, securing them lucrative fights on the American ABC television network, as part of the United States Championship Tournament orchestrated by promoter [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]].<ref name="Time Magazine">{{cite magazine|date=May 2, 1977|title=A King-Size Scandal in The Ring|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918922,00.html|url-status=dead|access-date=May 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022151731/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918922,00.html|archive-date=Oct 22, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Newfield, Jack">[https://books.google.com/books?id=sWYN6cETROQC&pg=PA115 Newfield, Jack] ''Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King'', Harbor Electronic Publishing, New York, 2003, page 115. Retrieved June 16, 2018.</ref> The deception was uncovered by boxing writer Malcolm "Flash" Gordon and ABC staffer [[Alex Wallau]] and the United States Championship tournament was cancelled by ABC.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cady |first=Steve |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/22/archives/abc-backs-arledge-amid-boxing-inquiry-abc-president-supports.html |title=ABC Backs Arledge Amid Boxing Inquiry - The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1977-04-22 |accessdate=2021-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/20/archives/abc-sports-names-ring-inquiry-head-exknapp-commission-counsel-is.html|title = ABC Sports Names Ring Inquiry Head|newspaper = The New York Times|date = April 20, 1977}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Boyle |first1=Robert |title=SOME VERY WRONG NUMBERS |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 2, 1977 |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/05/02/some-very-wrong-numbers |access-date=24 January 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref>

In 1979, the magazine was purchased from Loubet by a group led by [[Dave DeBusschere]] and [[Bert Sugar]] took over as editor. In 1983 Sugar was succeeded by future [[New York (state)|New York]] boxing commissioner [[Randy Gordon (boxing)|Randy Gordon]]. By 1984 the publication was reported to be over $1 million in debt and a number of top salaried employees, including Gordon, were let go. [[Nigel Collins (writer)|Nigel Collins]] of the Ring's defunct sister magazine ''Boxing Illustrated'' took over as editor.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ring on Ropes |work=The New York Times |date=November 3, 1984}}</ref> In 1989 ''The Ring'' was purchased by [[Stanley Weston]]'s G.C. London Publishing (later known as [[Kappa Publishing Group]]), which also published ''[[KO Magazine]]'' and a number of wrestling publications. KO senior writer [[Steve Farhood]] became ''The Ring's'' editor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Matthews |first1=Wallace |title=King-Cayton Bout Belongs in Court |work=Newsday |date=August 31, 1989}}</ref> Weston was a sentimentalist and 52 years after joining ''The Ring'' magazine as a stock boy, Weston purchased the magazine that gave him his first job. He not only resurrected the magazine from its imminent collapse, he re-established the publication as the definitive source for boxing news. An outstanding boxing artist, Weston painted 57 covers for ''The Ring'' with his first cover, a painting of [[Billy Conn]], for the December 1939 issue. Weston was also a photographer who, according to his own estimate, shot over 100,000 boxing photos{{nsmdns}}the majority of which are housed in the archives of ''The Ring'' magazine.

Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, a subsidiary of [[Oscar De La Hoya]]'s [[Golden Boy Promotions|Golden Boy Enterprises]], acquired ''The Ring'', ''KO Magazine'', and ''World Boxing'' in 2007. The magazine's rankings are recognized as "official" by some in the U.S. media, particularly [[ESPN]]. While some may see a conflict of interest in a boxing promoter being paymaster of what is essentially a magazine/rankings organization that awards world titles and belts, De La Hoya says that is not the case. "These magazines will be held in an editorial trust where they will be operating totally independent of any influence from me or others from the Golden Boy Companies as it relates to editorial direction or content". Also there is a 35-member ratings advisory panel, which include many of the media that cover boxing, who would prevent Golden Boy Promotions from using the magazine for self gain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goldenboypromotions.com/media/2007/sept/9.12.07_mag.htm|title=Golden Boy Promotions|access-date=January 3, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024112250/http://goldenboypromotions.com/media/2007/sept/9.12.07_mag.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

''The Ring'' was headquartered in [[Blue Bell, Pennsylvania]] until 2011 when it was relocated to [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite news|author1=Tim Starks|title=The Ring Magazine Shakes Up Its Leadership|url=http://thecomeback.com/queensberryrules/2011-articles/the-ring-magazine-shakes-up-its-leadership-threatens-its-credibility.html|access-date=March 20, 2016|work=The Queensberry Rules|date=September 9, 2011}}</ref>

The magazine had a sister publication named ''[[The Ring Wrestling]]'' which came about due to professional wrestling writer [[Bob Leonard (wrestling)|Bob Leonard]] contacting the magazine and expressing that it was too focused on boxing and not giving wrestling enough coverage. Nat Loubet served as the editor of the wrestling magazine as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who is Bob Leonard?|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/04/26/1014099.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180117231559/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/04/26/1014099.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2018|last=Kreiser|first=Jamie|website=canoe.com|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref>

In December 2022, ''The Ring'' relocated from Los Angeles to [[Dubai]] after discontinuing their regular monthly print issues in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RingMagazine.com |url=https://ringmagazine.com/en |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=RingMagazine.com |language=en}}</ref>
{{Shallow reference inline|date=June 2025}}

In November 2024, ''The Ring'' was acquired by [[Turki Alalshikh]], chairman of the [[General Entertainment Authority]] and a major figure in the global boxing renaissance. Alalshikh had already been instrumental in bringing major events to Saudi Arabia under the [[Riyadh Season]] umbrella. After the acquisition, ''The Ring'' began to evolve from a neutral publication into an active promotional brand. Under Alalshikh's direction, the magazine retained its editorial team and rankings panel but expanded its operations to include event promotion, branding partnerships, and cross-industry collaborations. The transition formally materialized in 2025 with the launch of ''Ring''-branded boxing, with the first major event being [[Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero|Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero – Fatal Fury in Times Square]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whitehead |first1=Jacob |title=Special report: Turki Al-Sheikh and the two sides of boxing's new king |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6298589/2025/04/25/turki-al-sheikh-boxing-saudi-arabia/ |access-date=6 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=28 April 2025}}</ref>

==Cover art==
Some of the boxers featured on the magazine covers have included [[Tommy Ryan]], [[Salvador Sánchez]], [[Jack Dempsey]], [[Pancho Villa (boxer)|Pancho Villa]], [[Max Schmeling]], [[Joe Louis]], [[Sugar Ray Robinson]], [[Jake LaMotta]], [[Rocky Marciano]], [[Willie Pep]], [[Ingemar Johansson]], [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Alexis Argüello]], [[Wilfred Benítez]], [[Wilfredo Gómez]], [[Roberto Durán]], [[Larry Holmes]], [[Marvin Hagler]], [[Sugar Ray Leonard]], [[Bud Taylor]], [[Mike Tyson]], [[Evander Holyfield]], [[Floyd Mayweather Jr.]], [[Thomas Hearns]], [[Naoya Inoue]], [[Roy Jones Jr.]], [[Bernard Hopkins]], [[Julio César Chávez]], [[Félix Trinidad]], [[Manny Pacquiao]], [[Oscar De La Hoya]], [[Mauro Mina]] and [[Ricardo Mayorga]]. In 1978, boxer [[Cathy Davis|Cathy "Cat" Davis]] became the first woman ever to be on a cover of ''The Ring'', and she held the distinction of being the only woman featured on the cover of the magazine until January 2016, when [[Ronda Rousey]] joined her and also became the first [[mixed martial arts]] fighter featured on its cover.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/story/ufc-ronda-rousey-becomes-first-mma-fighter-to-land-ring-magazine-cover-boxing-102615 Rousey becomes first MMA fighter to land ''Ring'' Magazine cover] ''Fox Sports''. Retrieved March 20, 2016.</ref> ''The Ring'' has used cover artwork created by famed artists such as [[LeRoy Neiman]] and [[Richard T. Slone]].

== Boxing events ==
On March 5, 2025, [[TKO Group Holdings]] (TKO) announced a partnership with [[Turki Al-Sheikh|Turki Alalshikh]] and Saudi entertainment conglomerate [[Sela (company)|Sela]] to launch a new boxing promotion in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-05 |title=TKO, Saudis join forces for new boxing promotion |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/44120770/tko-group-partners-saudis-form-new-boxing-promotion |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Shortly after this announcement, rumors about disagreements between TKO's [[Dana White]] and Alalshikh about the promotion for a fight between [[Canelo Álvarez]] and [[Terence Crawford]] started circulating on social media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilcox |first=Nate |title=Turki triggers turmoil for TKO by cutting Dana White out of Canelo-Crawford |url=https://www.themmadraw.com/p/turki-triggers-turmoil-for-tko-by |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=www.themmadraw.com |language=en}}</ref> These disagreements allegedly prompted Alalshikh to venture into boxing promotion himself under "''The Ring''" banner. The first event advertised under ''The Ring'' banner in partnership with [[SNK]] took place on April 26, 2025, with [[Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn|Eubank Jr vs. Benn – Fatal Fury]] at the [[Tottenham Hotspur Stadium]] in London.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=24 January 2025 |title=Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight officially announced at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26 |url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/13290737/chris-eubank-jr-vs-conor-benn-fight-officially-announced-at-tottenham-hotspur-stadium-on-april-26 |website=[[Sky Sports]]}}</ref>

On May 2, 2025, the second event in ''The Ring''{{'}}s  boxing series titled [[Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero|Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero – Fatal Fury in Times Square]], took place. The event was co-promoted by [[Golden Boy Promotions]], [[Matchroom Boxing]], and [[Top Rank]], and was again held in collaboration with SNK to promote the upcoming video game ''[[Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=https://papercrowns.com |first=Paper Crowns- |title=FATAL FURY X Ring Magazine US Boxing Match |url=https://fatalfury.club/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=FATAL FURY X Ring Magazine US Boxing Match |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Garcia vs. Romero: Fatal Fury Times Square {{!}} Boxing Event |url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/123138-ring-magazine-usa-series |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=Tapology |language=en}}</ref>

Ring III: Berlanga vs. Sheeraz was the third event in ''The Ring''{{'}}s boxing series, and the first event to actively use "''The Ring''" branding for their event name. The event took place on July 12, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-22 |title=Ring III: Is Edgar Berlanga vs. Hamzah Sheeraz a 50-50 matchup? Jim Lampley and Breadman Edwards think so |url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/stephen-edwards-and-jim-lampley-view-berlanga-vs-sheeraz-as-a-50-50-fight |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=RingMagazine.com |language=en}}</ref>

On June 23, 2025, it was announced that the new boxing promotion partnership between Turki Alalshikh/''The Ring'', TKO, and Sela will be under the [[Zuffa Boxing]] name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-23 |title=Dana White: TKO's new boxing venture to be named Zuffa Boxing |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/06/18/dana-white-tkos-new-boxing-venture-to-be-named-zuffa-boxing/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}</ref> The inaugural Zuffa Boxing event will be [[Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford|Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford – Once In A Lifetime]] on September 13, 2025, at [[Allegiant Stadium]]. As part of the buildup to Álvarez vs. Crawford, ''The Ring'' will hold The Ring Presents: The Underdog on September 11 at [[Fontainebleau Las Vegas]]. The card will feature a [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] world flyweight title bout between [[Anthony Olascuaga]] and Juan Carlos Camacho.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anthony Olascuaga vs Juan Carlos Camacho planned for September|url=https://www.badlefthook.com/boxing-news/109606/anthony-olascuaga-vs-juan-carlos-camacho-planned-for-september|work=Bad Left Hook|author=Stumberg, Patrick|date=August 18, 2025|accessdate=September 7, 2025}}</ref>

===Events===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+
! Event !! Date !! Venue !! Main Event !! Co-Promoters 
|-
| [[Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn|'''Eubank Jr vs. Benn – Fatal Fury''']] (also known as '''Ring I''') || April 26, 2025 || Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK || Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn || [[Matchroom Sport|Matchroom Boxing]], [[Boxxer]]
|-
| [[Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero|'''Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero – Fatal Fury in Times Square''']] (also known as '''Ring II''') || May 2, 2025 || Times Square, New York City, USA || Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero || [[Golden Boy Promotions]], Matchroom Boxing, [[Top Rank]] 
|-
| '''Ring III: Berlanga vs. Sheeraz''' || July 13, 2025 || Louis Armstrong Stadium, Queens, New York, USA || Edgar Berlanga vs. Hamzah Sheeraz || Matchroom Boxing, [[Queensberry Promotions]], Top Rank 
|-
| '''[[Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford#Fight cards|The Ring Presents: The Underdog]]''' || September 11, 2025 || Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA || Anthony Olascuaga vs. Juan Carlos Camacho || [[Zuffa Boxing]]
|-
| '''Ring IV: Benavidez vs. Yarde – Night of the Champions'''  || November 22, 2025 || ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia || David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde || Queensberry Promotions, Top Rank, [[Sela (company)|Sela]] 
|}

==World champions==
{{main|List of The Ring world champions}}
''The Ring'' has its own championship belt in a given weight class where ''The Ring'' champion holds a lineal reign to the throne, the man who beat the man. ''The Ring'' began awarding championship belts in 1922. The first ''Ring'' world title belt was awarded to [[heavyweight]] champion Jack Dempsey and the second was awarded to [[flyweight]] champion Pancho Villa. ''The Ring'' stopped giving belts to world champions in the 1990s, then reintroduced their titles in 2002.

''The Ring'' stated that their title was "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given [[List of boxing weight classes|weight class]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thering-online.com/ringpages/about.html |title=About ''The Ring'' |date=June 26, 2006 |work=The Ring |access-date=June 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221053336/http://thering-online.com/ringpages/about.html |archive-date=February 21, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It echoed many critics' arguments that the sanctioning bodies in charge of boxing championships had undermined the sport by pitting undeserving contenders against undeserving "champions" and forcing the boxing public to see mismatches for so-called "world championships". ''The Ring'' attempts to be more authoritative and open than the sanctioning bodies' rankings, with a page devoted to full explanations for ranking changes. A fighter pays no sanctioning fees to defend or fight for the title at stake, contrary to practices of the sanctioning bodies.

However, many boxing journalists complained that ''The Ring'' ignored the world championship lineage when they started awarding titles again. A controversy described by Cliff Rold of ''BoxingScene.com'' is for example, the "world" light-heavyweight title was considered vacant from the time [[Michael Spinks]] went up to heavyweight in 1985 until 1996. While the ''Cyber Boxing Zone'' and the International Boxing Research Organization considers [[Virgil Hill]]'s defeat of [[Henry Maske]] (who were the two highest rated light-heavyweights) as the beginning of the new lineage,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/lheavy.htm|title=The Cyber Boxing Zone|work=cyberboxingzone.com}}</ref> ''The Ring'' awarded their newly reintroduced title to [[Roy Jones]].<ref name="rold2">{{cite web|url= http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/w0707-rold.htm|title=Boxing's Lineal Mathematics: Champion Versus Champion II|last=Rold|first= Cliff|work=Wail!|publisher=CBZ|access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref> In 2002, ''The Ring'' editor, Nigel Collins, acknowledged that if their championship policy was in place in 1997, [[Dariusz Michalczewski]], who defeated Hill, "probably would have been ''The Ring'' Champion."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maxboxing.com/Kim/kim092602.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041015134801/http://www.maxboxing.com/Kim/kim092602.asp|title=Boxing News : The Disputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World|archive-date=October 15, 2004|work=maxboxing.com}}</ref>

Under the original version of the championship policy, there were only two ways that a boxer could win ''The Ring''{{'}}s title: defeat the reigning champion; or win a box-off between the magazine's number-one and number-two rated contenders (or, sometimes, number-one and number-three rated). A vacant ''Ring'' championship was filled when the number-one contender in a weight-division battles the number-two contender or the number-three contender (in cases where ''The Ring'' determined that the number-two and number-three contenders were close in abilities and records).  The ratings are compiled by the magazine's editorial board, with the participation of ''The Ring'' Ratings Panel of boxing journalists from around the world. A fighter could not be stripped of the title unless he lost, decided to move to another weight division, or retired.

In May 2012, citing the number of vacancies in various weight classes as primary motivation, ''The Ring'' unveiled a new championship policy. Under the new policy, ''The Ring'' title can be awarded when the No. 1 and No. 2 fighters face one another or when the No. 1 and 2 contenders choose not to fight one another and either of them fights No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, the winner may be awarded ''The Ring'' belt. In addition, there are now seven ways for a fighter to lose his title: 
* The champion loses a fight in the weight class in which he is champion.  
* The champion moves to another weight class.  
* The champion does not schedule a fight in any weight class for 18 months.  
* The champion does not schedule a fight at his championship weight for 18 months (even if he fights at another weight).
* The champion does not schedule a fight with a top five contender from any weight class for two years.  
* The champion retires. 
* The champion tests positive for a banned substance.<ref>{{cite web|title=''The Ring'' updates championship policy|url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172677-the-ring-updates-championship-policy|date=May 3, 2012|work=Ring TV|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531102137/http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172677-the-ring-updates-championship-policy|archive-date=May 31, 2012}}</ref>

Many media outlets and members are extremely critical of the new championship policy and state that if this new policy is followed ''The Ring'' title will lose the credibility it once held.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chat with Dan Rafael|url=http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/43689/boxing-with-dan-rafael|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506045416/http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/43689/boxing-with-dan-rafael|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 6, 2012|work=[[ESPN]]|access-date=January 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Horrible New Ring Magazine Championship Policy|url=http://thecomeback.com/queensberryrules/2012-articles/the-horrible-new-ring-magazine-championship-policy.html|last=Starks|first=Tim|date=May 4, 2012|work=Queensberry Rules|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507093439/http://queensberry-rules.com/2012-articles/may/the-horrible-new-ring-magazine-championship-policy.html|archive-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy|url=http://theboxingtribune.com/2012/05/ring-magazines-pretend-rankings-upgrade-championship-policy/|last=Magno|first=Paul|date=May 4, 2012|work=The Boxing Tribune|access-date=January 3, 2016}}</ref> They then later changed the policy so vacant belts can only be awarded to the winner of No. 1 vs No. 2 or if No. 3 is deemed worthy by The Ring's editorial board.<ref>{{cite web|title=''The Ring'' current championship policy|url= https://www.ringtv.com/ratings/}}</ref>

The purchase of ''The Ring'' magazine by Golden Boy Promotions in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/media/2007/sept/9.12.07_mag.htm |title=Golden Boy Enterprises' Subsidiary, Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, Acquires The Ring Magazine, KO, World Boxing and Pro Wrestling Illustrated |date=September 12, 2007 |publisher=[[Golden Boy Promotions]] |access-date=November 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119150246/http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/media/2007/sept/9.12.07_mag.htm |archive-date=November 19, 2008 }}</ref> the dismissal of editor-in-chief Nigel Collins and several editorial staff in 2011 and a series of questionable ratings decisions by the new editors<ref>{{cite web|title="The Ring" Changes The Rules, Further Clouds Title Scene|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/-ring-changes-rules-further-clouds-title-scene--52718|author=Cliff Rold|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=Boxing Scene|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Occupy the Ring|url=http://www.thesweetscience.com/feature-articles/14560-occupy-the-ring|author=Springs Toledo|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=The Sweet Science|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220080836/http://www.thesweetscience.com/feature-articles/14560-occupy-the-ring|archive-date=December 20, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> prompted many members of ''The Ring'' Ratings Advisory Panel to resign. This led to the formation of the [[Transnational Boxing Rankings Board]] in 2012 headed by boxing historians Springs Toledo, Cliff Rold and Tim Starks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-balls-of-wrath/2015/feb/02/transnational-boxing-rankings-board-sport-titles|title=Boxing loses credibility with every new champion. Can the sport be saved?|first=Paul|last=Gibson|date=2 February 2015|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board: An Opening Bell For Reform|url=http://thecomeback.com/queensberryrules/2012-articles/the-transnational-boxing-rankings-board-an-opening-bell-for-reform.html|last=Starks|first=Tim|date=October 11, 2012|work=The Queensberry Rules|access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref>

Golden Boy has publicized ''The Ring'''s World Championship when the title is at stake in fights it promotes (such as [[Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr.]] in 2008).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-178384366.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022090855/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-178384366.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2012|title=Calzaghe claim far from undisputed|last=Kimball|first=George|date= April 27, 2008|work=[[Boston Herald]]|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>

=== Current champions ===

==== Men's ====
As of September 24, 2025

{| class="wikitable"
!Weight class
!Champion
!Date won
|-align=left
|[[Strawweight]]
|align=left| [[Oscar Collazo (boxer)|Oscar Collazo]]
|November 16, 2024
|-align=left
|[[Junior flyweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|
|-align=left
|[[Flyweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|
|-align=left
|[[Junior bantamweight]]
|align=left| [[Jesse Rodriguez (boxer)|Jesse Rodriguez]]
|June 29, 2024
|-align=left
|[[Bantamweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|
|-align=left
|[[Junior featherweight]]
|align=left| [[Naoya Inoue]]
|December 26, 2023
|-align=left
|[[Featherweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|
|-align=left
|[[Junior lightweight]]
|{{font color|gray|
Vacant}} 
|
|-align=left
|[[Lightweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|
|-align=left
|[[Junior welterweight]]
|align=left|[[Teofimo Lopez]]
|June 10, 2023
|-align=left
|[[Welterweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|
|-align=left
|[[Junior middleweight]]
|{{font color|gray|
Vacant}} 
|
|-align=left
|[[Middleweight]]
|{{font color|gray|
Vacant}} 
|
|-align=left
|[[Super middleweight]]
|align=left|[[Terence Crawford]]
|September 13, 2025
|-align=left
|[[Light heavyweight]]
|align=left|[[Dmitry Bivol]]
|February 22, 2025
|-align=left
|[[Cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]]
|align=left|[[Jai Opetaia]]
|July 2, 2022
|-align=left
|[[Heavyweight]]
|align=left|[[Oleksandr Usyk]]
|August 20, 2022
|}

==== Women's ====
As of {{today}}

{| class="wikitable"
!Weight class
!Champion
!Date won
|- align=left
|[[Atomweight]]
|colspan=2 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|- align=left
|[[Strawweight]]
|colspan=2 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|- align=left
|[[Junior flyweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Uninaugurated}}
|
|- align=left
|[[Flyweight]]
|align=left|[[Gabriela Fundora]]
|November 2, 2024
|- align=left
|[[Junior bantamweight]]
|{{font color|gray|Uninaugurated}}
|
|- align=left
|[[Bantamweight]]
|colspan=2 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|- align=left
|[[Junior featherweight]]
|align=left|[[Ellie Scotney]]
|April 13, 2024
|- align=left
|[[Featherweight]]
|align=left|[[Amanda Serrano]] 
|September 24, 2022 
|- align=left
|[[Junior lightweight]]
|align=left|[[Alycia Baumgardner]]
|October 15, 2022
|- align=left
|[[Lightweight]]
|colspan=2 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|- align=left
|[[Junior welterweight]]
|align=left|[[Katie Taylor]]
|November 25, 2023
|- align=left
|[[Welterweight]]
|align=left|[[Lauren Price]]
|May 11, 2024
|- align=left
|[[Junior middleweight]]
|colspan=2 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}
|- align=left
|[[Middleweight]]
|align=left|[[Claressa Shields]]
|April 13, 2019
|- align=left
|[[Super middleweight]]
|align=left|[[Shadasia Green]]
|July 11, 2025
|}

==Rankings==
=== Current #1 ranked fighters per weight class ===
Note: ''The Ring'' champions are also noted as No. 1 fighters

==== Men's ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Weight class
!No. 1 ranked fighter
|- align=left
|[[Strawweight]]
|align=left|[[Oscar Collazo (boxer)|Oscar Collazo]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior flyweight]]
|align=left|[[Carlos Cañizales]]
|- align=left
|[[Flyweight]]
|align=left|[[Ricardo Sandoval]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior bantamweight]]
|align=left|[[Jesse Rodriguez (boxer)|Jesse Rodriguez]]
|- align=left
|[[Bantamweight]]
|align=left|[[Seiya Tsutsumi]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior featherweight]]
|align=left|[[Naoya Inoue]]
|- align=left
|[[Featherweight]]
|align=left|[[Rafael Espinoza]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior lightweight]]
|align=left|[[O'Shaquie Foster]]
|- align=left
|[[Lightweight]]
|align=left|[[Shakur Stevenson]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior welterweight]]
|align=left|[[Teofimo Lopez]]
|- align=left
|[[Welterweight]]
|align=left|[[Brian Norman Jr.]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior middleweight]]
|align=left|[[Vergil Ortiz Jr.]]
|- align=left
|[[Middleweight]]
|align=left|[[Janibek Alimkhanuly]]
|- align=left
|[[Super middleweight]]
|align=left|[[Terence Crawford]]
|- align=left
|[[Light heavyweight]]
|align=left|[[Dmitry Bivol]]
|- align=left
|[[Cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]]
|align=left|[[Jai Opetaia]]
|- align=left
|[[Heavyweight]]
|align=left|[[Oleksandr Usyk]]
|}

==== Women's ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Weight class
!No. 1 ranked fighter
|- align=left
|[[Atomweight]]
|align=left|[[Tina Rupprecht]]
|- align=left
|[[Strawweight]]
|align=left|[[Seniesa Estrada]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior flyweight]]
|align=left| [[Jessica Nery Plata]]
|- align=left
|[[Flyweight]]
|align=left|[[Gabriela Alaniz]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior bantamweight]]
|align=left| [[Lourdes Juárez]]
|- align=left
|[[Bantamweight]]
|align=left| [[Dina Thorslund]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior featherweight]]
|align=left|[[Ellie Scotney]]
|- align=left
|[[Featherweight]]
|align=left|[[Amanda Serrano]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior lightweight]]
|align=left|[[Alycia Baumgardner]]
|- align=left
|[[Lightweight]]
|align=left|[[Katie Taylor]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior welterweight]]
|align=left|[[Katie Taylor]]
|- align=left
|[[Welterweight]]
|align=left|[[Lauren Price]]
|- align=left
|[[Junior middleweight]]
|align=left| [[Natasha Jonas]]
|- align=left
|[[Middleweight]]
|align=left| [[Claressa Shields]]
|- align=left
|[[Super middleweight]]
|align=left| [[Savannah Marshall]]
|}

=== List of pound for pound #1 fighters ===
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

Keys:
:{{Color box|#B2FFFF|border=darkgray}} Current P4P #1

{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Name
!Weight Division(s) as #1
!Date
|- 
!1
|align=left|[[Mike Tyson]]
|Heavyweight
|align=center|1989 &ndash; January 1990
|- 
! 2 
|align=left|[[Julio César Chávez]]
|Junior welterweight 
|align=center|January 1990 &ndash; September 1993
|- 
! 3 
|align=left|[[Pernell Whitaker]] 
|{{plainlist|
*Welterweight
*Junior middleweight
}}
|align=center|September 1993 &ndash; April 1997
|- 
! 4 
|align=left|[[Roy Jones Jr.]] 
|Light heavyweight 
|align=center|April &ndash; May 1997 
|- 
! 5 
| align=left|[[Oscar De La Hoya]] 
|Welterweight 
|align=center|May 1997 &ndash; June 1999
|- 
! 6 
|align=left| Roy Jones Jr. (2) 
| Light heavyweight 
|align=center|June 1999 &ndash; June 2000
|- 
! 7 
| align=left|[[Shane Mosley]] 
| Welterweight
|align=center| June 2000 &ndash; July 2002
|- 
! 8 
|align=left| [[Bernard Hopkins]] 
| Middleweight 
|align=center| July 2002 &ndash; November 2003
|- 
! 9 
|align=left| Roy Jones Jr. (3)
| {{plainlist|
* Light heavyweight 
* Heavyweight
}}
| align=center|November 2003 &ndash; June 8, 2004
|-
! 10 
| align=left|Bernard Hopkins (2) 
| Middleweight 
|align=center| June 8, 2004 &ndash; July 18, 2005
|- 
! 11 
|align=left| [[Floyd Mayweather Jr.]]
|{{plainlist|
*Junior welterweight 
*Welterweight
*Junior middleweight
}}
| align=center|July 18, 2005 &ndash; June 9, 2008
|- 
! 12 
|align=left| [[Manny Pacquiao]] 
| {{plainlist|
*Junior lightweight 
*Lightweight
*Junior welterweight
*Welterweight
*Junior middleweight
}}
|align=center| June 9, 2008 &ndash; May 7, 2012
|-
!colspan=4|{{small| ''The Ring'' decided to vacate the pound-for-pound #1 rank and demoted Pacquiao to #2 that resulted in a tie with Mayweather Jr. because the members of the editorial board were unimpressed by Pacquiao's performance [[Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez III|in his third fight with Juan Manuel Márquez]], while Mayweather Jr. was not promoted to #1 because the board determined that he struggled [[Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto|in his fight against Miguel Cotto.]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Rosenthal|first=Michael|date=8 May 2012|title=Ring Ratings Update: Does Mayweather supplant Pacquiao atop Pound-for-Pound list?|work=The Ring|url= https://www.ringtv.com/172781-ring-ratings-update-does-mayweather-supplant-pacquao-atop-pound-for-pound-list/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510113354/https://www.ringtv.com/172781-ring-ratings-update-does-mayweather-supplant-pacquao-atop-pound-for-pound-list/|archive-date=10 May 2022|access-date=10 May 2022}}</ref>}}
|- 
!13 
|align=left|  Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2) || 
{{plainlist|
*Welterweight
*Junior middleweight 
}}
| align=center|December 11, 2012 &ndash; September 15, 2015
|- 
!14
|align=left|  [[Román González (boxer)|Román González]] || 
{{plainlist|
*Flyweight
*Junior bantamweight
}}
|align=center|September 15, 2015 &ndash; March 21, 2017
|- 
! 15 
|align=left| [[Andre Ward]] || Light heavyweight
|align=center|March 21 &ndash; September 26, 2017 
|-
! 16
|align=left| [[Gennady Golovkin]] || Middleweight 
|align=center| September 26, 2017 &ndash; September 18, 2018 
|-
! 17 
|align=left| [[Vasiliy Lomachenko]] || Lightweight 
|align=center| September 18, 2018 &ndash; November 7, 2019
|- 
! 18 
|align=left| [[Canelo Álvarez]] ||
{{plainlist|
*Middleweight
*Super middleweight
*Light heavyweight
}}
|align=center| November 7, 2019 &ndash; May 7, 2022
|-  
! 19
|align=left| [[Oleksandr Usyk]] ||
Heavyweight
|align=center| May 7 &ndash; June 11, 2022
|-  
! 20
|align=left| [[Naoya Inoue]] ||
Bantamweight
|align=center| June 11 &ndash; August 20, 2022
|-  
!21
|align=left| Oleksandr Usyk (2) ||
Heavyweight
|align=center| August 20, 2022 &ndash; July 29, 2023
|- 
! 22
|align=left| [[Terence Crawford]] ||
Welterweight
|align=center| July 29, 2023 &ndash; May 6, 2024
|-  
! 23
|align=left| Naoya Inoue (2)||
Junior featherweight
|align=center| May 6 &ndash; May 18, 2024
|-
! 24
|align=left| Oleksandr Usyk (3)||
Heavyweight
|align=center| May 18, 2024 &ndash; September 15, 2025
|-  style="background:#b2ffff;"
! 25
|align=left| Terence Crawford (2)||
Super middleweight
|align=center| September 15, 2025 &ndash; present
|}

==Controversies==
In their book ''Iron Ambition: My Life With [[Cus D'Amato]]'', [[Mike Tyson]] and Larry Sloman, while depicting the rise of the [[International Boxing Club of New York]] and D'Amato's battle with the organization, allege that the magazine and its then-owner and editor-in-chief [[Nat Fleischer]] were under control of the IBC and the rankings were heavily favorable towards the fighters it controlled.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tyson|first1=Mike |author-link1=Mike Tyson |last2=Sloman |first2=Larry |author-link2=Larry Sloman |date=2017 |title=Iron Ambition: My Life With Cus D'Amato|publisher=Blue Rider Press |chapter=Chapter 6}}</ref>

In the 1970s, managing editor of ''The Ring'' Johnny Ort fabricated records of selected boxers to elevate them, thereby securing them lucrative fights on the American ABC television network, as part of the [[1977 United States Boxing Championships Series|United States Championship Tournament]],<ref name="Time Magazine2">{{cite magazine|date=May 2, 1977|title=A King-Size Scandal in The Ring|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918922,00.html|url-status=dead|access-date=May 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406081345/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918922,00.html|archive-date=April 6, 2013}}</ref> orchestrated by promoter [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]].<ref name="Newfield, Jack"/> The scandal was uncovered by boxing writer Malcolm "Flash" Gordon and ABC staffer [[Alex Wallau]]. After Gordon and Wallau's evidence was presented to ABC executive [[Roone Arledge]], the United States Championship tournament was cancelled. The scandal would lead to the eventual resignation of New York State Boxing Commissioner [[James A. Farley Jr.]], who had lent his name to the Championship fights.<ref name="Time Magazine2" />

==See also==
* [[List of The Ring world champions|List of ''The Ring'' world champions]]
* [[List of The Ring pound for pound rankings|List of ''The Ring'' pound for pound rankings]]
* [[List of fights between two The Ring pound for pound boxers|List of fights between two ''The Ring'' pound for pound boxers]]
* [[The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Fighter of the Year]]
* [[The Ring magazine Fight of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Fight of the Year]]
* [[The Ring magazine Knockout of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Knockout of the Year]]
* [[The Ring magazine Comeback of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Comeback of the Year]]
* [[The Ring magazine Round of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Round of the Year]]
* [[The Ring magazine Upset of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Upset of the Year]]
* [[The Ring magazine Prospect of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Prospect of the Year]] (discontinued between 1989 and 2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/171651-past-winners-of-the-rings-year-end-awards|title=Past winners of ''The Ring{{'}}s'' year-end awards|date=February 24, 2012|work=The Ring|access-date=March 11, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307004617/http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/171651-past-winners-of-the-rings-year-end-awards|archive-date=March 7, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* [[The Ring magazine Event of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Event of the Year]]
* [[The Ring magazine Hall of Fame|''The Ring'' magazine Hall of Fame]]
* [[Boxing pound for pound rankings#The Ring|''The Ring'' magazine Pound for Pound]]
* [[The Ring magazine Progress of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Progress of the Year]] (discontinued)
* ''[[The Ring: Boxing the 20th Century]]''
* [[List of professional wrestling magazines]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://ringmagazine.com}}

{{authority control}}

{{Portal bar|Sports}}

{{World professional boxing champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ring}}
[[Category:The Ring (magazine)| ]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Sports magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Boxing magazines]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1922]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling magazines]]
[[Category:Golden Boy Promotions]]