Boxing divisional rankings: Mielnicki enters middleweight top five after dominant win

Middleweight contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. earned the biggest win of his career by defeating Austin Williams on Friday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Mielnicki dropped Williams in Round 1 with a sharp three-punch combination that ended with a left hook to the chin. From there, Mielnicki controlled the fight and went on to win a unanimous decision by scores of 98-91, 98-91 and 98-91.

Mielnicki is 16-0, with one no contest in his past 17 fights. With the victory, he makes his ESPN rankings debut at No. 10. For Williams, it was his second consecutive unanimous decision loss and his third defeat in his past seven fights.

In the main event, former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. returned to the ring for the first time in more than two years but couldn't overcome a seventh-round knockdown and lost a unanimous decision to Damian Knyba. The judges scored the fight 117-110, 114-113 and 114-113.

While Knyba earned the biggest win of his pro career, the victory wasn't enough to move him into the top 10 in a very competitive heavyweight division.

ESPN's divisional boxing rankings highlight the best in the sport in every weight class. Rankings will change based on recent results and performances. Fighters who have announced they are moving to a different weight class will be ranked in that new division, if warranted, only once they fight in that weight class. Fighters who currently own titles in two divisions can be ranked in both.

Fighters who haven't competed in the past 12 months -- and don't have a fight scheduled -- will be dropped from the rankings until they fight again. Any fighter who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed. That boxer will be eligible to reenter the rankings after his next bout.

For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For ESPN women's divisional rankings, click here.

Jump to this week's changes: Middleweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (UNLIMITED)

CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)

MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 154 POUNDS)

WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 147 POUNDS)

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 140 POUNDS)

LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 135 POUNDS)

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 130 POUNDS)

FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 126 POUNDS)

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 122 POUNDS)

BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 118 POUNDS)

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 115 POUNDS)

FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 112 POUNDS)

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 108 POUNDS)

STRAWWEIGHT (UP TO 105 POUNDS)