A comprehensive look at the top kickboxing athletes who were active over the past month, and how their performances have reshaped the global rankings.
As kickboxing continues its global expansion with leading organizations such as GLORY, K-1, and ONE Championship, fighters are constantly vying for recognition and improved positions in both media coverage and official rankings. Each month, the esteemed Beyond Kickboxing board releases updated rankings for all weight classes, spanning from Heavyweight down to Flyweight, alongside detailed pound-for-pound lists for both male and female competitors.
This month, it`s worth noting that no top-10 fighters in the Middleweight (-85 kg) or Women`s Openweight (+59 kg) divisions participated in competitive action.
POUND-FOR-POUND MEN
Toki Tamaru, previously ranked #7, has been removed from the rankings following a year of inactivity under kickboxing rules and his recent transition to mixed martial arts.
Michael Boapeah, making his debut in the pound-for-pound rankings at #10, has shown consistent improvement. The two-time GLORY title challenger has steadily climbed the ranks in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, with his only recent setbacks being two closely contested decisions against Donovan Wisse.
HEAVYWEIGHT (+95 KG)
Levi Rigters (#2) delivered a spectacular third-round knockout against Jamal Ben Saddik (#9) with a spinning back kick to the liver. The bout had been tightly contested until that decisive moment.
Mory Kromah (#3) defeated Cristian Ristea by technical knockout in the second round.
Sofian Laidouni (#7) secured a unanimous decision victory over Cihad Kepenek.
Rade Opacic (#8) stopped Ionut Iancu in the third round with effective low kicks.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (-95 KG)
Thian De Vries (#8) knocked out Chip Moraza-Pollard in the first round of an open-finger gloves match.
WELTERWEIGHT (-77 KG)
Chico Kwasi (#1) successfully defended his GLORY welterweight title for an unprecedented fourth time, defeating Mehdi Ait El Hadj by unanimous decision and setting a new divisional record.
Regian Eersel (#3) defended his ONE title with a first-round knockout over George Jarvis under Muay Thai rules; this result does not impact his kickboxing ranking.
LIGHTWEIGHT (-71 KG)
Mohammad Siasarani (#5) claimed a unanimous decision victory over Oskar Siegert.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT (-67.5 KG)
Chadd Collins (#3) successfully defended his RISE 65kg world title against Kento Haraguchi (#4), winning by split decision after five intense rounds. Collins also defeated Jack Rachanon by unanimous decision in a Muay Thai bout three weeks later.
Denis Wosik (#10) advanced in the RISE x Glory tournament by defeating Suarek TeppenGym via unanimous decision.
FEATHERWEIGHT (-64 KG)
Kongnapa (#9) knocked out Kanato Shimoji in a Muay Thai rules bout; this outcome does not affect his kickboxing ranking.
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT (-61 KG)
Achraf Aasila (previously #6) has been removed from the rankings after a year of competing above the 61kg limit and his GLORY debut, as GLORY does not feature fights below 65kg.
Panuwat (previously unranked) re-enters the rankings at #10.
Yuki Egawa (previously #9) exits the rankings due to 18 months of inactivity.
Hyuma Hitachi (previously unranked) re-enters the rankings at #9.
BANTAMWEIGHT (-58 KG)
Taito Gunji (previously #2) has been removed from the rankings after a year of inactivity under kickboxing rules. He also announced his intention to focus on open-finger gloves Muay Thai, a discipline in which he has already competed twice.
Sam-A (previously unranked) makes his entry into the rankings at #10.
Haruto Yasumoto (rising from #3 to #2) defeated Petchuahin Jitmuangnon by unanimous decision, including a knockdown in the third round.
Kotaro Yamada (rising from #6 to #5) secured a unanimous decision win over Deun Jitmuangnon in a 59kg catchweight fight.
Koyata Yamada (rising from #10 to #9) defeated Petchpusong FormedGym by unanimous decision.
SUPER FLYWEIGHT (-55 KG)
Shiro (#1) successfully defended his RISE 55kg World title against Masashi Kumura (#6), scoring knockdowns in each of the first three rounds before winning by unanimous decision.
Koki Osaki (#2) defeated Djillali Kharroubi by unanimous decision.
Toki Tamaru (previously #3) has been removed from the rankings following a year of inactivity in kickboxing and his debut in mixed martial arts.
Krush champion Riamu (previously unranked) re-enters the rankings at #9.
Masahiko Suzuki (#9) defeated Yugo Kato (#10) by unanimous decision.
Akram Hamidi (previously #9) exits the rankings due to 18 months of inactivity.
Yugo Kato (previously unranked) makes his entry into the rankings at #10.
FLYWEIGHT (-53 KG)
Kazuki Osaki (#1) stopped Lanyakaew Tor.Silapon with body shots in an open-finger gloves match.
Ryu Hanaoka (#2) knocked out Momu Tsukamoto (#9) in two rounds during an open-finger gloves fight.
Ryujin Nasukawa (#3) defeated Jin Mandokoro (#4) by unanimous decision, notably scoring a knockdown in the first round.
Kaito Hasegawa (#7) defeated Kai Katayama by split decision.
WOMEN`S BANTAMWEIGHT (-57.5 KG)
Débora Evora (#1) secured a unanimous decision victory over Miranda Zondervan.
Darya Kuvakina (#8) captured the WKF World title, defeating Marilyn Contyn by unanimous decision after landing a spinning back kick knockdown in the fifth round.
WOMEN`S FLYWEIGHT (-53.5 KG)
Noriko Ikeuchi (dropping from #9 to #10) lost her Krush -52kg title to Sofia Tsolakidou (previously unranked, now #9) by unanimous decision in an extension round.
Ines Daniela (#7) defeated Isabel Ruz Polido by unanimous decision.
WOMEN`S ATOMWEIGHT (-47.0 KG)
Panchan Rina (#4) delivered a third-round knee knockout against Amp the Rocket in a 49kg bout. Panchan has announced this will be the final fight of her kickboxing career, but she will remain ranked for one more month.
Haruka Shimada (#7) defeated Fuu (#9) by majority decision.
Oliver Croft