Boxing: Zayas Climbs and New Flyweight King in ESPN Rankings

The lower weights experienced significant changes in divisional rankings, with unexpected results on Wednesday in Japan. In addition, Xander Zayas became the youngest champion in current boxing after his victory on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. Zayas, 22 years old, obtained a unanimous decision against Jorge García to win the vacant WBO super welterweight championship. The Puerto Rican rises three places to number 5 in the 154-pound division. Also on Saturday, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington maintained his undefeated record by defeating Mateus Heita by unanimous decision, becoming the WBC interim featherweight champion. “Shu Shu” also moved up one spot in the featherweight rankings, placing at number 5. In Japan on Wednesday, Ricardo Sandoval pulled off a significant upset by defeating Kenshiro Teraji by split decision to win the WBC and WBA flyweight titles. Sandoval moves up to number 1, while Teraji drops to number 2. A late knockdown of Daigo Higa by Antonio Vargas salvaged a draw in their WBA bantamweight title fight. Vargas rises to number 9, while Higa, who announced his retirement, maintains his spot at number 8, for now. Kyosuke Takami re-enters the light flyweight rankings at number 3 with his stoppage in the tenth round of Erick Rosa to claim the WBA title. Divisional boxing rankings highlight the best in the sport in each weight category. The rankings will change based on recent results and performances. Boxers who have announced they are moving to a different weight class will be ranked in that new division, if applicable, only once they fight in that weight class. Boxers who currently hold titles in two divisions may be ranked in both. Boxers who have not competed in the last 12 months, and do not have a scheduled fight, will be removed from the rankings until they fight again. Any boxer who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed. That boxer will be eligible to re-enter the rankings after their next fight.

Divisional Standings

Here are the division rankings:

• Heavyweight
• Cruiserweight
• Light Heavyweight
• Super Middleweight
• Middleweight
• Super Welterweight
• Welterweight
• Super Lightweight
• Lightweight
• Super Featherweight
• Featherweight
• Super Bantamweight
• Bantamweight
• Super Flyweight
• Flyweight
• Light Flyweight
• Strawweight

Heavy (unlimited)

Oleksandr Usyk retains the heavyweight championship with another decision victory over Tyson Fury on Saturday, this time by unanimous decision in an epic rematch.

1. Oleksandr Usyk     Previous ranking: 1

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

2. Tyson Fury     Previous ranking: 2

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

3. Daniel Dubois     Previous ranking: 3

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

4. Joseph Parker     Previous ranking: 4

Record: 36-3, 24 KOs Last: W (TKO2) Martin Bakole, February 22 Next: TBA

5. Agit Kabayel     Previous ranking: 5

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

6. Anthony Joshua     Previous ranking: 6

Record: 28-4, 25 KOs Last: L (KO5) Daniel Dubois, September 21st Next: TBA

7. Filip Hrgovic     Previous ranking: 7

Record: 18-1, 14 KOs Last: W (UD10) Joe Joyce, April 5th Next: August 16 vs. David Adeleye

8. Zhilei Zhang     Previous Ranking: 8

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

9. Andy Ruiz Jr.     Previous ranking: 9

Record: 35-2-1, 22 KOs Last: Draw (Majority Decision 12) Jarrell Miller, August 3rd Next: TBA

10. Moses Itauma     Previous Ranking: 10

Record: 12-0, 10 KOs Last: W (TKO2) Mike Balogun, May 24 Next: August 16 vs. Dillian Whyte

Cruise (Up to 200 pounds)

1. Jai Opetaia     Previous Ranking: 1

Record: 28-0, 22 KOs Last: W (KO5) Claudio Squeo, June 8th Next: TBA

2. Gilberto Ramírez Previous ranking: 2

Record: 46-1, 30 KOs Last: W (UD12) Yuniel Dorticos, June 28 Next: TBA

3. Chris Billam-Smith     Previous Ranking: 3

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

4. Badou Jack     Previous Ranking: 4

Record: 29-3-3, 17 KOs Last: W (MD12) Norair Mikaeljan, May 3rd Next: TBA

5. Norair Mikaeljan     Previous ranking: 5

Record: 27-3, 12 KOs Last: L (MD12) Badou Jack, May 3 Next: TBA

6. Aleksei Papin     Previous ranking: 6

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

7. Michal Cieslak     Previous ranking: 7

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

8. Ryan Rozicki     Previous ranking: 8

Record: 20-1-1, 19 KOs Last: D (Majority Decision 12) Yamil Peralta, December 7th Next: October 25 vs. Akani Phuzi

9. Yamil Peralta     Previous ranking: 9

Record: 17-1-1, 9 KOs Last: D (Majority Decision 12) Ryan Rozicki, December 7th Next: TBA

10. Leonardo Mosquea     Previous Ranking: 10

Record: 16-0, 9 KOs Last: W (SD12) Cheavon Clarke, December 14 Next: TBA Editor’s Note: Mairis Briedis has been removed due to inactivity.

Light Heavyweight (Up to 175 lbs)

1. Dmitry Bivol     Previous ranking: 1

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

2. Artur Beterbiev     Previous ranking: 2

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

3. David Benavidez     Previous ranking: 3

Record: 30-0, 24 KOs Last: W (UD12) David Morrell Jr., February 1st Next: November 22 vs. Anthony Yarde

4. Callum Smith     Previous ranking: 4

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

5. David Morrell Jr.     Previous ranking: 5

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

6. Imam Khataev     Previous ranking: 6

Record: 10-1, 9 KOs Last: L (SD10) David Morrell Jr., July 12 Next: TBA

7. Joshua Buatsi     Previous Ranking: 7

Record: 19-1, 13 KOs Last: L (UD12) Callum Smith, February 22 Next: TBA

8. Anthony Yarde     Previous ranking: 8

Record: 27-3, 24 KOs Last: W (UD12) Lyndon Arthur, April 26 Next: November 22 vs. David Benavidez

9. Oleksandr Gvozdyk     Previous Ranking: 9

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

10. Albert Ramirez     Previous ranking: 10

Record: 20-0, 17 KOs Last: W (TKO3) Marko Calic, February 6th Next: August 8 vs. Jerome Pampellone

Super Middleweight (Up to 168 pounds)

1. Canelo Álvarez Previous ranking: 1

Record: 63-2-2, 39 KOs Last: W (UD12) William Scull, May 3 Next: September 13 vs. Terence Crawford

2. Christian Mbilli     Previous ranking: 2

Record: 29-0, 24 KOs Last: W (TKO1) Maciej Sulecki, June 27th Next: TBA

3. Diego Pacheco     Previous ranking: 3

Record: 24-0, 18 KOs Last: W (UD12) Trevor McCumby, July 19 Next: TBA

4. Hamzah Sheeraz Previous ranking: 4

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

5. Jermall Charlo     Previous Ranking: 5

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

6. Edgar Berlanga     Previous ranking: 6

Record: 23-2, 18 KOs Last: L (KO5) Hamzah Sheeraz, July 12th Next: TBA

7. José Armando Resendiz Classification before: 7

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

8. Caleb Plant     Previous Ranking: 8

Record: 23-2, 14 KOs Last: L (SD12) José Armando Resendiz, March 31st Next: TBA

9. Bektemir Melikuziev     Previous Ranking: 9

Record: 16-1, 10 KOs Last: W (UD12) Darius Fulghum, May 30 Next: TBA

10. Bruno Surace     Previous ranking: 10

Record: 26-1-2, 5 KOs Last: L (UD12) Jaime Munguia, May 3 Editor’s Note: Jaime Munguia has been withdrawn after testing positive for a banned substance.

Medium (Up to 160 pounds)

1. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly Previous ranking: 1

Record: 17-0, 12 KOs Last: W (TKO5) Anauel Ngamissengue, April 5th Next: TBA

2. Carlos Adames     Previous Ranking: 2

Record: 24-1-1, 18 KOs Last: D (Split Draw 12) Hamzah Sheeraz, February 22 Next: TBA

3. Erislandy Lara     Previous Ranking: 3

Record: 31-3-3, 19 KOs Last: W (TKO9) Danny Garcia, September 14th Next: TBA

4. Chris Eubank Jr.     Previous ranking: 4

Record: 35-3, 25 KOs Last: W (UD12) Conor Benn, April 26 Next: TBA vs. Conor Benn

5. Conor Benn     Previous Ranking: 5

Record: 23-1, 14 KOs Last: L (UD12) Chris Eubank Jr., April 26th Next: TBA vs. Chris Eubank Jr.

6. Anauel Ngamissengue Classification before: 6