The WBO’s newest scores replace – launched December 27 – consists of 4 new fighters who’ve been named the No. 1 contender of their respective divisions.
At heavyweight: Within the wake of his rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, 34-2-1 (24 KOs), dropped from the No. 1 spot to No. 3.
That opened issues up for Zhilei Zhang, 27-2-1 (22 KOs), to maneuver from No. 2 into the No. 1 slot. However Zhang could not stay there lengthy, on condition that his February 22 bout with Agit Kabayel is for the WBC’s interim belt. The sanctioning our bodies are inclined to take away fighters from their rankings after they compete for different organizations’ titles, even the interim ones.
Both method, a win for Zhang would hold him in line for a shot at Usyk, 23-0 (14 KOs), who holds the WBA, WBC and WBO belts and is the lineal champion.
At featherweight: Robeisy Ramirez, 14-3 (9 KOs), suffered a sixth-round technical knockout in opposition to WBC titleholder Rafael Espinoza, 26-0 (22 KOs), and dropped from No. 1 all the best way right down to No. 7.
That elevated Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, 14-0 (8 KOs), from No. 2 to No. 1. Carrington can be ranked No. 1 by the WBC.
At flyweight: The WBO lastly acknowledged that Francisco Rodriguez Jnr, 40-6-1 (27 KOs), hasn’t fought at 112lbs in almost two years and put him in its rankings at 115.
With Rodriguez now not the WBO’s No. 1 flyweight, Juan Carlos Camacho Jnr, 18-1 (8 KOs), by some means went from No. 3 to No. 1, leapfrogging the No. 2-ranked Olimjon Nazarov, 31-5 (16 KOs).
The WBO flyweight titleholder is Anthony Olascuaga, 8-1 (6 KOs).
At strawweight: It had additionally been almost two years since Masataka Taniguchi, 19-5 (13 KOs), fought at strawweight. That didn’t cease the WBO from shifting Taniguchi into the No. 1 slot two months in the past. However Taniguchi’s December cut up resolution loss at 108lbs to Thanongsak Simsri – who’s 37-1 (33 KOs), and the WBO’s No. 3 junior flyweight – pushed him out of the highest slot. Taniguchi remains to be ranked fifth at 105, for some purpose.
Nonetheless, that rankings change meant that Vic Saludar, 25-6 (15 KOs), whom Taniguchi had supplanted at No. 1, returned again into the highest place.
Oscar Collazo, 11-0 (8 KOs), has the WBO and WBA titles.
Additionally of be aware: Regardless of Jaime Munguia’s beautiful upset loss to Bruno Surace earlier within the month, Munguia, 44-2 (35 KOs), stays ranked in the identical No. 3 spot at tremendous middleweight he was in beforehand, whereas Surace, 26-0-2 (5 KOs), nonetheless isn’t within the rankings.
The WBO’s titleholders and No. 1 contenders in every weight class are:
Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk has the world title; Joseph Parker has the interim belt; Zhilei Zhang is the No. 1 contender. Zhang and Agit Kabayel are scheduled to combat February 22 for the WBC’s interim title.
Cruiserweight: Gilberto Ramirez has the WBA and WBO world titles; Michal Cieslak is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
Mild heavyweight: Artur Beterbiev has all 4 world titles; Joshua Buatsi is the WBO interim titleholder; Dmitry Bivol is the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts.
Tremendous middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Diego Pacheco is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
Middleweight: Janibek Alimkhanuly has the IBF and WBO world titles; Denzel Bentley is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
Junior middleweight: Sebastian Fundora has the WBC and WBO world title; Terence Crawford is the WBO interim titleholder (and the first WBA titleholder); Xander Zayas is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
Welterweight: Brian Norman Jnr has the world title; Shakhram Giyasov is his No. 1 contender.
Junior welterweight: Teofimo Lopez Jnr has the world title; Arnold Barboza is his No. 1 contender. Barboza will face Jack Catterall on February 15 in a ultimate eliminator.
Light-weight: Denys Berinchyk has the world title; Keyshawn Davis is his No. 1 contender.
Junior light-weight: Emanuel Navarrete has the world title; Charly Suarez is the No. 1 contender.
Featherweight: Rafael Espinoza has the world title; Bruce Carrington is his No. 1 contender.
Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue has all 4 world titles; Sam Goodman is the No. 1 contender for each the IBF and WBO. Inoue and Goodman are scheduled to combat on January 24.
Bantamweight: Yoshiki Takei has the world title; Christian Medina is his No. 1 contender.
Junior bantamweight: Phumelele Cafu has the world title; Roman Gonzalez is his No. 1 contender.
Flyweight: Anthony Olascuaga has the world title; Juan Carlos Camacho is his No. 1 contender
Junior flyweight: Shokichi Iwata has the world title; Regie Suganob is his No. 1 contender.
Minimumweight: Collazo has the world titles for the WBA and WBO; Victorio Saludar is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
