But keeps spot in ESPN ratings

MANILA, Philippines – Unbeaten American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr. dropped one spot in The RING Magazine’s pound-for-pound ratings after being taken to the limit by unheralded Russian Ruslan Provodnikov.

Bradley, making the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship, was nearly knocked out in the second round and took a knee in the final round, but survived to win a close decision.

In its ratings update released March 20, RingTV dropped Bradley to the 10th spot in the pound-for-pound ratings, while promoting Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero to No. 9.

“The fact that Bradley went life and death with an unrated welterweight (who some even considered a fringe contender at 140-pounds) after winning a highly controversial decision over Manny Pacquiao last June caused the 29-year-old veteran to drop a spot,” wrote RingTV’s Chuck Giampa.

But Bradley remains at No. 7 in The RING’s welterweight ratings, while Provodnikov remains at No. 10 in the light-welterweight list.

Giampa said Provodnikov may enter the welterweight ratings if he performs well in his next fight at that weight class.

Meanwhile, Bradley remained at No. 8 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound ratings.

Unbeaten American superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. remains at No. 1 in both ESPN and The RING’s pound-for-pound lists.