Boxing: Haney Welterweight King, Mason Debuts at 135 Pounds

The “The Ring IV: Night of the Champions” evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, transcended the mere fight card, generating significant repercussions in various weight categories.

Mason, Haney, and Rodriguez: New Leaders in the Ring

Abdullah Mason, at 21 years old, won by unanimous decision against Sam Noakes, becoming the youngest current world champion by obtaining the WBO lightweight title. Mason, despite his advantage in skills, had to endure the twelve rounds for the first time in his professional career, demonstrating exceptional body work and endurance to overcome an opponent who never gave up. Mason’s victory places him in eighth place in the divisional ranking. Devin Haney climbed to the top of the welterweight rankings after defeating Brian Norman Jr., winning the WBO title with a masterful display of boxing. Haney sent Norman, known for his punching power, to the canvas in the second round and maintained control with his jab, nullifying his opponent. Norman’s defeat relegated him four positions, placing him in fourth place. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, with his impeccable performance in defeating Fernando Martinez and unifying three super flyweight titles, remains firmly in first place, distancing himself from the rest of the contenders. Martinez, for his part, retains second place, considering his two victories over Kazuto Ioka, ranked in third place. David Benavidez’s dominant victory over Anthony Yarde solidified his position as number 3 in the light heavyweight category, behind former champion Artur Beterbiev and unified champion Dmitry Bivol. However, Benavidez may not hold that position for long, as he announced his transition to cruiserweight for his next fight, challenging unified champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez during the Cinco de Mayo weekend. The boxing rankings for each division highlight the best in each weight category. These rankings are subject to change based on recent results and performances. Boxers who announce their change of category will be ranked in the new division, if applicable, once they compete in it. Boxers holding titles in two divisions may be ranked in both. Boxers who have not competed in the last 12 months, and have no scheduled fights, will be removed from the rankings until they fight again. Any boxer who tests positive for performance-enhancing substances will also be removed. This boxer may re-enter the rankings after their next fight. To see the list of current champions in all weight categories, click here. For women’s rankings, click here.

Weight Classification

• HEAVYWEIGHT (NO LIMIT)
• CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)
• LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)
• SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)
• MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)
• SUPER WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 154 POUNDS)
• WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 147 POUNDS)
• SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 140 POUNDS)
• LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 135 POUNDS)
• SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 130 POUNDS)
• FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 126 POUNDS)
• SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 122 POUNDS)
• BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 118 POUNDS)
• FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 112 POUNDS)
• LIGHT FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 108 POUNDS)
• STRAWWEIGHT (UP TO 105 POUNDS)

HEAVYWEIGHT (NO LIMIT)

Oleksandr Usyk retains the heavyweight championship by defeating Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in the rematch.

1. Oleksandr Usyk     Previous Ranking: 1

Record: 24-0, 15 KOs Last: W (KO5) Daniel Dubois, July 19th Next: To be announced

2. Tyson Fury     Previous ranking: 2

Record: 34-2-1, 24 KOs Last: L (UD12) Oleksandr Usyk, December 21st Next: To be announced

3. Daniel Dubois     Previous Ranking: 3

Record: 22-3, 21 KOs Last: L (KO5) Oleksandr Usyk, July 19 Next: To be announced

4. Fabio Wardley Previous Ranking: 4

Record: 20-0-1, 19 KOs Last: W (TKO11) Joseph Parker, October 25 Next: To be announced

5. Joseph Parker     Previous ranking: 5

Record: 36-4, 24 KOs Last: L (TKO11) Fabio Wardley, October 25th Next: To be announced

6. Agit Kabayel     Previous ranking: 6

Record: 26-0, 18 KOs Last: W (KO6) Zhilei Zhang, February 22 Next: To be announced

7. Filip Hrgovic     Previous Ranking: 7

Record: 19-1, 14 KOs Last: W (UD10) David Adeleye, August 16th Next: To be announced

8. Moses Itauma     Previous Ranking: 8

Record: 14-0, 12 KOs Last: W (TKO1) Dillian Whyte, August 16th Next: January 24 vs. Jermaine Franklin Jr.

9. Zhilei Zhang     Previous Ranking: 9

Record: 27-3-1, 22 KOs Last: L (KO6) Agit Kabayel, February 22 Next: To be announced

10. Martin Bakole     Previous ranking: 10

Record: 21-2-1, 16 KOs Last: D (Majority decision draw 10) Efe Ajagba, May 3rd Next: To be announced Editor’s Note: Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. have been removed due to inactivity.

CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)

1. Jai Opetaia     Previous Ranking: 1

Record: 28-0, 22 KOs Last: W (KO5) Claudio Squeo, June 8th Next: December 6 vs. Huseyin Cinkara

2. Gilberto Ramirez     Previous ranking: 2

Record: 46-1, 30 KOs Last: W (UD12) Yuniel Dorticos, June 28 Next: January 16 vs. Robin Sirwan Safar

3. Chris Billam-Smith     Previous Ranking: 3

Record: 21-2, 13 KOs Last: W (UD12) Brandon Glanton, April 26 Next: To be announced

4. Badou Jack     Previous ranking: 4

Record: 29-3-3, 17 KOs Last: W (MD12) Norair Mikaeljan, May 3rd Next: December 13 vs. Norair Mikaeljan

5. Norair Mikaeljan     Previous ranking: 5

Record: 27-3, 12 KOs Last: L (MD12) Badou Jack, May 3 Next: December 13 vs. Badou Jack

6. Aleksei Papin     Previous ranking: 6

Record: 19-1, 17 KOs Last: W (UD10) Miljan Rovcanin, July 19th Next: To be announced

7. Michal Cieslak     Previous ranking: 7

Record: 28-2, 22 KOs Last: W (TKO4) Jean Pascal, June 28 Next: To be announced

8. Ryan Rozicki     Previous ranking: 8

Record: 20-1-1, 19 KOs Last: D (Draw by majority decision 12) Yamil Peralta, December 7th Next: To be announced

9. Yamil Peralta     Previous ranking: 9

Record: 17-1-1, 9 KOs Last: D (Draw by majority decision 12) Ryan Rozicki, December 7 Next: To be announced

10. Leonardo Mosquea     Previous ranking: 10

Record: 17-0, 10 KOs Last: W (TKO9) Ivan Gabriel Garcia, June 12 Next: To be announced

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)

Dmitry Bivol defeated Artur Beterbiev in the rematch.

1. Dmitry Bivol     Previous Ranking: 1

Record: 24-1, 12 KOs Last: W (MD12) Artur Beterbiev, February 22 Next: To be announced

2. Artur Beterbiev     Previous ranking: 2

Record: 21-1, 20 KOs Last: L (MD12) Dmitry Bivol, February 22 Next: To be announced

3. David Benavidez     Previous ranking: 3

Record: 31-0, 25 KOs Last: W (TKO7) Anthony Yarde, November 22 Next: To be announced

4. Callum Smith     Previous ranking: 4

Record: 31-2, 22 KOs Last: W (UD12) Joshua Buatsi, February 22 Next: To be announced

5. David Morrell Jr.     Previous ranking: 5

Record: 12-1, 9 KOs Last: W (SD12) Imam Khataev, July 12th Next: To be announced

6. Imam Khataev     Previous ranking: 6

Record: 10-1, 9 KOs Last: L (SD10) David Morrell Jr., July 12 Next: December 11 vs. Adam Deines

7. Anthony Yarde     Previous ranking: 7

Record: 27-4, 24 KOs Last: L (TKO7) David Benavidez, November 22 Next: To be announced

8. Oleksandr Gvozdyk     Previous ranking: 8

Record: 21-2, 17 KOs Last: W (KO3) Anthony Hollaway, April 19th Next: To be announced

9. Albert Ramirez     Previous ranking: 9

Record: 22-0, 19 KOs Last: W (TKO7) Jerome Pampellone, August 8th Next: To be announced

10. Joshua Buatsi     Previous Ranking: 10

Record: 20-1, 13 KOs Last: W (MD10) Zach Parker, November 1st Next: To be announced

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)

Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez.

1. Terence Crawford     Previous Ranking: 1

Record: 42-0, 31 KOs Last: W (UD12) Canelo Alvarez, September 13th Next: To be announced

2. Canelo Alvarez     Previous Ranking: 2

Record: 63-3-2, 39 KOs Last: L (UD12) Terence Crawford, September 13th Next: To be announced

3. Diego Pacheco     Previous ranking: 3

Record: 24-0, 18 KOs Last: W (UD12) Trevor McCumby, July 19 Next: December 13 vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo

4. Hamzah Sheeraz     Previous Ranking: 4

Record: 22-0-1, 18 KOs Last: W (KO5) Edgar Berlanga, July 12 Next: To be announced

5. Christian Mbilli     Previous Ranking: 5

Record: 29-0-1, 24 KOs Last: D (Split draw 10) Lester Martinez, September 13 Next: To be announced

6. Lester Martinez     Previous ranking: 6

Record: 19-0-1, 16 KOs Last: D (Split draw 10) Christian Mbilli, September 13 Next: To be announced

7. Jermall Charlo     Previous Ranking: 7

Record: 34-0, 23 KOs Last: W (TKO6) Thomas LaManna, May 31st Next: To be announced

8. Edgar Berlanga     Previous ranking: 8

Record: 23-2, 18 KOs Last: L (KO5) Hamzah Sheeraz, July 12 Next: To be announced

9. Jose Armando Resendiz     Previous Ranking: 9

Record: 16-2, 11 KOs Last: W (SD12) Caleb Plant, May 31 Next: To be announced

10. Caleb Plant     Previous Ranking: 10

Record: 23-2, 14 KOs Last: L (SD12) Jose Armando Resendiz, March 31st Next: To be announced

AVERAGE WEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)

Janibek Alimkhanuly won by TKO against Anauel Ngamissengue.

1. Janibek Alimkhanuly     Previous Ranking: 1

Record: 17-0, 12 KOs Last: W (TKO5) Anauel Ngamissengue, April 5th Next: December 6 vs. Erislandy Lara

2. Carlos Adames     Previous ranking: 2

Record: 24-1-1, 18 KOs Last