it was all good just a week ago
RING Ratings update: A new champion at middleweight - Ring TV
The Editorial Board had some tougher decisions to make in regard to three RING champions: Yoan Pablo Hernandez, Adonis Stevenson and Rigondeaux.
All three of them have gone more than two years without fighting a Top 5 opponent in any division, which is grounds for stripping them of their titles as per RING rules.
In the end, only Hernandez and Stevenson were stripped. Rigondeaux was given a reprieve but is in danger of losing his belt too if he doesn’t schedule a fight with a Top 5 opponents very soon.
Hernandez hasn’t faced a Top 5 opponent since Steve Cunningham in February 2012. We cut him a tremendous amount of slack because he has been hampered by injuries but enough is enough: He has been dropped from the Ring Ratings entirely.
Even Hernandez evidently feels that way. He reportedly indicated he would retire, although his handlers say nothing has been decided.
Stevenson’s last Top 5 opponent was Tavoris Cloud in September 2013. He was given time to make a significant fight after his two years were up this past September but no deal is in place. He is likely to fight the winner of the Nov. 28 fight between No. 5 Eleider Alvarez and No. 6 Isaac Chilemba but nothing is set.
Stevenson will remain in the ratings but drop to No. 2, below No. 1 Sergey Kovalev. That means the two would fight for the RING championship if they hold their positions and were to ever meet in the ring.
Rigondeaux last fought a Top 5 foe in April 2013, when
he outpointed Nonito Donaire. We decided to give him more time for two reasons: No one wants to fight him and he recently signed with a new promoter, Roc Nation Sports.
The Cuban will be on notice, though: Either fight a top opponent soon or we’ll have no choice but to strip you.
I think they were/are more than far with all 3 of them