As kickboxing continues to grow on a global scale with promotions like GLORY, K-1, ONE Championship, and more, fighters are constantly jockeying for position in the media's eyes, and rankings. Every month, the Beyond Kickboxing board will compile kickboxing rankings for each weight class from Heavyweight to Flyweight, as well as the pound-for-pound rankings for both men and women.
No fighter in the top 10 at Middleweight (-85 KG) and Welterweight (-77 KG) has been active this month.
POUND-FOR-POUND MEN
Rico Verhoeven (6 to 4) won the GLORY Heavyweight 8-man Grand Prix. He defeated Sofian Laidouni by unanimous decision in the quarterfinals, Nabil Khachab by unanimous decision in the semifinals, and Levi Rigters by technical knockout in the final. Despite a lackluster performance against the Moroccan fighter, Verhoeven once again proved his position within the sport even in the face of adversity as shown against Rigters.
Chadd Collins (8 to NR) was stopped in the opening round of his non-title fight against Miguel Trindade at RISE El Dorado 2024. The Portuguese fighter came out blasting, scoring three heavy knockdowns in quick succession.
Akihiro Kaneko (NR to 8) makes his first appearance in the pound-for-pound rankings. He outguns former RISE champion Masahiko Suzuki earning himself a unanimous decision victory after scoring knockdowns in the first and third round with his right hand. The 27-year-old boasts 21 wins and has avenged his only two career losses against Masashiko Suzuki and Masashi Kumura. With the RISE and K-1 partnership, the -55 KG weight class has become one of the premier divisions in the sport.
HEAVYWEIGHT (+95 KG)
Rico Verhoeven (1) won the GLORY Heavyweight 8-man Grand Prix. He defeated Sofian Laidouni (8 to 9) by unanimous decision in the quarterfinals, Nabil Khachab (NR to 10) by unanimous decision in the semifinals, and Levi Rigters (5 to 2) by technical knockout in the final. Despite a lackluster performance against the Moroccan fighter, Verhoeven once again proved his position within the sport even in the face of adversity as shown against Rigters.
Tariq Osaro (2 to 4) lost to Bahram Rajabzadeh (NR to 3) by unanimous decision in the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinals. Rajabzadeh has announced his intention to compete at Light Heavyweight in the future.
Levi Rigters (5 to 2) reached the final of the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix. He knocked out Uku Jurjendal in the quarterfinals, defeated Bahram Rajabzadeh by unanimous decision in the semifinals and was stopped in the second round by Rico Verhoeven in the final.
Benjamin Adegbuyi (9 to NR) lost by unanimous decision to Nabil Khachab.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (-95 KG)
Donegi Abena (1 to 3) lost by split decision to Tarik Khbabez (6 to 2) for the GLORY Light Heavyweight title.
Sergej Maslobojev (2 to 1) stopped Leandro Dikmoet with punches in the second round at Heavyweight.
LIGHTWEIGHT (-71 KG)
Tyjani Beztati (5 to 4) defeated Enriko Kehl by unanimous decision to successfully defend his GLORY Lightweight title for the fifth time. A dominant performance from start to finish. After suffering an eye injury early in the fight, Kehl never got out of second gear. The Moroccan-Dutch kickboxer expressed his intention to move up to Welterweight.
Stoyan Koprivlenski (9 to NR) lost to Kacper Muszyński (NR to 10) by unanimous decision in a fight of the year contender that saw Muszyński score a late fight knockdown.
Ouyang Feng (10 to 9) defeated Pascal Schroth by unanimous decision to qualify for the K-1 World MAX Final 8 tournament.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT (-67.5 KG)
Miguel Trindade (NR to 3) scored three knockdowns in the opening round against RISE Super Lightweight champion Chadd Collins (1 to 4) in a non-title bout.
Chihiro Suzuki (9 to NR) leaves the rankings after a year of inactivity under kickboxing rules and a transition to MMA.
Tetsuya Yamato (6 to 9) falls down three spots following a year of inactivity. He relinquished his K-1 belt and announced a return to Muay Thai rules in the future.
Kiamran Nabati (10) defeated Avatar by unanimous decision in Muay Thai rules.This doesn’t affect his ranking.
FEATHERWEIGHT (-64 KG)
Yuki Yoza (1) won by technical majority decision against Kan Nakamura (6 to 7). The fight was first ruled a knockout victory for Yoza after a controversial stoppage coming from a spinning back kick to the groin but later was overturned.
Zhu Shuai (3) defeated Yodkhunpon MoothongAcademy by decision in a competitive bout at 67 KG, the highest recorded weight of Zhu's career.
Jin Ying (4 to 6) lost by knockout to Zhang Jingtao (NR to 4) in the third round of their fight at the China Kickboxing League.
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT (-61 KG)
Rémi Parra (3 to 4) lost by unanimous decision to Hirotaka Asahisa (5 to 3)
Hyuma Hitachi (8 to 10) lost by extension round split decision to Yuki Egawa (NR to 9) in a very competitive K-1 versus RISE matchup.
BANTAMWEIGHT (-58 KG)
Taito Gunji (1) defeated Keisuke Monguchi (2) by extension round split decision.
Kaito (4) went to a draw with Takahito Niimi after an extension round was contested.
Shoki Kaneda (7) stopped Daiki Toita with punches in the second round.
Wang Junguang (9) stopped Jaroenerng with a spinning back kick in the first round for what was his second consecutive fight at 55 KG.
SUPER FLYWEIGHT (-55 KG)
Akihiro Kaneko (1) outguns former RISE champion Masahiko Suzuki (7) earning a unanimous decision victory after dropping Suzuki in the first and third round with his right hand.
Masashi Kumura (2) defeated Luca Cecchetti by majority decision in a 56 KG catchweight bout.
The fight between Toki Tamaru (3) and Shiro (5) was declared a no contest due to doctor stoppage after a clash of heads at the end of the first round.
Akram Hamidi (8) defeated Duk Jae Yoon by unanimous decision to defend his WKN world title.
Ryunosuke Omori (NR to 9) scores a knockout of the year contender against Koyata Yamada (9 to NR), folding the Shootboxing champion with a spinning backfist in the first round.
Jaroensuk (NR to 10) defeats Yugo Kato (10 to NR) wearing on the pressure fighter with body work and smart use of the clinch enroute to a unanimous decision victory.
FLYWEIGHT (-53 KG)
Ryu Hanaoka (4) put on a masterclass against Krush champion Koji Ikeda (6), using elusive movements and kicks to wear on Ikeda before dropping the pressure fighter with a stiff jab in the third round to secure the victory.
Kazuki Miburo (10 to NR) lost by unanimous decision to Rui Okubo. Following the loss, Miburo announced his retirement.
Kaito Hasegawa (NR to 10) enters the rankings.
WOMEN'S POUND-FOR-POUND
Phetjeeja (2 to 1) climbs to the number one spot in the women's pound-for-pound rankings. After defeating Anissa Meksen, her win over Janet Todd by unanimous decision to become the undisputed ONE champion solidifies her standing at the top.
SAHO (NR to 5) makes her first entry in the women's pound-for-pound rankings. She made defeating Antonia Prifti (4 to 7) look easy, beating her over three rounds to claim the K-1 Flyweight championship.
Koyuki Miyazaki (3 to 2) defeats Miyuu Sugawara (8 to 10) by unanimous decision after an extension round.
WOMEN'S OPENWEIGHT (+59 KG)
Aurore Llorens (10) defeated Clara Pennequin by decision.
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (-57.5 KG)
Li Mingrui (1) defeated Vish by decision in a 58 KG bout, where Mingrui missed weight.
Chellina Chirino (8) lost by first round knockout to Natalia Dyachkova under Muay Thai rules. This doesn't affect her ranking.
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (-53.5 KG)
Phetjeeja (1) defeated Janet Todd by unanimous decision to become the undisputed ONE champion in what was Todd's retirement fight.
Antonia Prifti (2 to 4) lost by unanimous decision to SAHO (NR to 3) for the K-1 52 KG title.
Cristina Morales (6 to 7) lost by unanimous decision to Allycia Rodrigues under Muay Thai rules. This doesn’t affect her ranking.
WOMEN'S STRAWWEIGHT (-50.0 KG)
Panchan Rina (7) defeated Koto Hiraoka by majority decision in a 47.5 KG catchweight bout.
Marine Bigey (10 to NR) lost her ISKA -48 KG European title to Maialen Gallardo (NR to 10) by decision.
Dimitra Agthangelidou (9 to NR) leaves the rankings for inactivity and is replaced by WAKO Pro -50 KG European champion Klára Strnadová (NR to 9).
WOMEN'S ATOMWEIGHT (-47 KG)
Koyuki Miyazaki (1) defeated Miyuu Sugawara (2) by extension round unanimous decision.
Koto Hiraoka (6 to 7) lost to Panchan Rina (NR to 6) by majority decision.
