RING Middleweight Rankings Archive | July 1988

Rank	RINGJuly 1988
	Sumbu Kalambay World Champion
1	Michael Nunn+2
2	Iran Barkley
3	Thomas Hearns+1
4	Frank Tate-3
5	Herol Graham
6	Mike McCallum
7	Matthew Hilton
8	Donald Curry+1
9	Julian Jackson+1
10	Gianfranco Rosi-2

Source

RING

July 1988 archive

Box-Rank presents each published list in a consistent format. Browse this division and its archive, read the methodology, or see how Box-Rank differs from BoxRec.

Month-over-month changes since June 1988

Biggest risers

Michael NunnNow ranked #1 (was #3)
+2
Thomas HearnsClimbed a place to #3
+1
Donald CurryClimbed a place to #8
+1

Biggest fallers

Frank TateDown 3 places to #4
-3
Gianfranco RosiFrom #8 to #10
-2

RING Middleweight Title History

Champions who have held each belt, most recent first. Exact dates are shown where verified; month-only dates reflect available records. Available history begins in January 1924, combining ranking archives and sourced title records.

Explore the middleweight title-change timeline across all organizations

RING Middleweight - World Champion

Saul Alvarez

15 September 2018January 2021

Became champion: 15 September 2018

Won the title by defeating Gennadiy Golovkin.

First shown in September 2018 rankingsView source

Saul Alvarez

21 November 201512 June 2018

934 days

Became champion: 21 November 2015

Won the title by defeating Miguel Cotto by unanimous decision.

First shown in November 2015 rankingsView source

Miguel Cotto

7 June 201421 November 2015

532 days

Became champion: 7 June 2014

Won the title by defeating Sergio Martinez.

First shown in June 2014 rankingsView source

Sergio Martinez

17 April 20107 June 2014

1,512 days

Became champion: 17 April 2010

Won the title by defeating Kelly Pavlik.

First shown in April 2010 rankingsView source

Kelly Pavlik

29 September 200717 April 2010

931 days

Became champion: 29 September 2007

Won the title by defeating Jermain Taylor.

First shown in October 2007 rankingsView source

Jermain Taylor

16 July 200529 September 2007

805 days

Became champion: 16 July 2005

Won the title by defeating Bernard Hopkins.

First shown in July 2005 rankingsView source

Bernard Hopkins

2 December 200116 July 2005

1,322 days

Became champion: 2 December 2001

Awarded the title.

First shown in December 2001 rankingsView source

Sumbu Kalambay

6 July 1988February 1989

Became champion: 6 July 1988

Awarded the title.

First shown in July 1988 rankingsView source

Ray Leonard

6 April 198727 May 1987

51 days

Became champion: 6 April 1987

Won the title by defeating Marvin Hagler.

First shown in April 1987 rankingsView source

Marvin Hagler

27 September 19806 April 1987

2,382 days

Became champion: 27 September 1980

Won the title by defeating Alan Minter.

First shown in September 1980 rankingsView source

Alan Minter

16 March 198027 September 1980

195 days

Became champion: 16 March 1980

Won the title by defeating Vito Antuofermo.

First shown in March 1980 rankingsView source

Vito Antuofermo

30 June 197916 March 1980

260 days

Became champion: 30 June 1979

Won the title by defeating Hugo Corro.

First shown in July 1979 rankingsView source

Hugo Corro

22 April 197830 June 1979

434 days

Became champion: 22 April 1978

Won the title by defeating Rodrigo Valdez.

First shown in July 1978 rankingsView source

Rodrigo Valdes

5 November 1977March 1978

Became champion: 5 November 1977

Won the vacant title by defeating Bennie Briscoe.

First shown in October 1977 rankingsView source

Carlos Monzon

7 November 197029 August 1977

2,487 days

Became champion: 7 November 1970

Won the title by defeating Nino Benvenuti.

First shown in November 1970 rankingsView source

Nino Benvenuti

4 March 19687 November 1970

978 days

Became champion: 4 March 1968

Won the title by defeating Emile Griffith.

First shown in March 1968 rankingsView source

Emile Griffith

29 September 19674 March 1968

157 days

Became champion: 29 September 1967

Won the title by defeating Nino Benvenuti.

First shown in December 1967 rankingsView source

Nino Benvenuti

17 April 1967September 1967

Became champion: 17 April 1967

Won the title by defeating Emile Griffith.

First shown in July 1967 rankingsView source

Emile Griffith

25 April 1966March 1967

Became champion: 25 April 1966

Won the title by defeating Dick Tiger.

First shown in July 1966 rankingsView source

Dick Tiger

21 October 196525 April 1966

186 days

Became champion: 21 October 1965

Won the title by defeating Joey Giardello.

First shown in March 1966 rankingsView source

Joey Giardello

7 December 1963October 1965

Became champion: 7 December 1963

Won the title by defeating Dick Tiger.

First shown in January 1964 rankingsView source

Dick Tiger

7 May 1963November 1963

Became champion: 7 May 1963

Awarded the title.

First shown in May 1963 rankingsView source

Paul Pender

7 April 1962February 1963

Became champion: 7 April 1962

Won the title by defeating Terry Downes.

First shown in June 1962 rankingsView source

Terry Downes

11 July 1961February 1962

Became champion: 11 July 1961

Won the title by defeating Paul Pender.

First shown in July 1961 rankingsView source

Paul Pender

22 January 196011 July 1961

536 days

Became champion: 22 January 1960

Won the title by defeating Sugar Ray Robinson.

First shown in February 1960 rankingsView source

Ray Robinson

25 March 195822 January 1960

668 days

Became champion: 25 March 1958

Won the title by defeating Carmen Basilio.

First shown in March 1958 rankingsView source

Carmen Basilio

23 September 195725 March 1958

183 days

Became champion: 23 September 1957

Won the title by defeating Ray Robinson.

First shown in September 1957 rankingsView source

Ray Robinson

1 May 195723 September 1957

145 days

Became champion: 1 May 1957

Won the title by defeating Gene Fullmer.

First shown in June 1957 rankingsView source

Gene Fullmer

2 January 19571 May 1957

119 days

Became champion: 2 January 1957

Won the title by defeating Sugar Ray Robinson.

First shown in January 1957 rankingsView source

Ray Robinson

9 December 1955November 1956

Became champion: 9 December 1955

Won the title by defeating Carl Olson.

First shown in January 1956 rankingsView source

Carl Olson

21 October 1953November 1955

Became champion: 21 October 1953

Won the title by defeating Randy Turpin.

First shown in November 1953 rankingsView source

Ray Robinson

12 September 1951November 1952

Became champion: 12 September 1951

Won the title by defeating Randolph Turpin.

First shown in September 1951 rankingsView source

Randolph Turpin

10 July 195112 September 1951

64 days

Became champion: 10 July 1951

Won the title by defeating Ray Robinson.

First shown in July 1951 rankingsView source

Ray Robinson

14 February 1951May 1951

Became champion: 14 February 1951

Won the title by defeating Jake LaMotta.

First shown in February 1951 rankingsView source

Jake Lamotta

16 June 194914 February 1951

608 days

Became champion: 16 June 1949

Won the title by defeating Marcel Cerdan.

First shown in June 1949 rankingsView source

Marcel Cerdan

21 September 194816 June 1949

268 days

Became champion: 21 September 1948

Won the title by defeating Tony Zale.

First shown in October 1948 rankingsView source

Tony Zale

10 June 194821 September 1948

103 days

Became champion: 10 June 1948

Won the title by defeating Rocky Graziano.

First shown in June 1948 rankingsView source

Rocky Graziano

16 July 194710 June 1948

330 days

Became champion: 16 July 1947

Won the title by defeating Tony Zale.

First shown in July 1947 rankingsView source

Tony Zale

28 November 194116 July 1947

2,056 days

Became champion: 28 November 1941

Won the title by defeating Georgie Abrams.

First shown in January 1942 rankingsView source

Al Hostak

26 July 1938November 1938

Became champion: 26 July 1938

Won the title by stopping Freddie Steele in the first round on 26 July 1938, The Ring’s October 1938 editorial explicitly identifies that victory as the title transfer.

First shown in August 1938 rankingsView source

Freddie Steele

March 193726 July 1938

The Ring’s May 1937 editorial explains that Steele replaced Marcel Thil following criticism of Thil’s foul victory over Lou Brouillard and Steele’s clear win over Babe Risko. Its March 11 ratings already name Steele champion, contradicting the later September date in secondary lineages. The editorial does not give the recognition decision day.

First shown in March 1937 rankingsView source

Marcel Thil

11 June 1932January 1937

Became champion: 11 June 1932

Won the title by defeating Gorilla Jones.

First shown in June 1932 rankingsView source

Mickey Walker

3 December 192619 June 1931

1,659 days

Became champion: 3 December 1926

Won the title by defeating Tiger Flowers.

First shown in August 1929 rankingsView source

Tiger Flowers

26 February 1926December 1926

Became champion: 26 February 1926

Won the title by defeating Harry Greb.

First shown in February 1926 rankingsView source

Harry Greb

192426 February 1926

The source gives only the year of this inaugural Ring recognition. An exact award day is not established; 1 January was a placeholder and is not treated as an event date.

First shown in January 1924 rankingsView source

RING Middleweight Title History

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RING Middleweight boxing rankings- July 1988

Month-over-month changes since June 1988

Biggest risers

Biggest fallers

RING Middleweight Title History

RING Middleweight - World Champion

RING Middleweight Title History

RING Middleweight Title History

RING Middleweight - World Champion