Boxing: Zayas, new champion and rankings rise on ESPN

Boxing rankings by division have experienced significant movements, with unexpected results and outstanding performances in different weight categories. Alofoke Deportes brings you the most relevant details.

Changes in the Rankings

Xander Zayas, with his victory on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, became the youngest boxing champion currently. The 22-year-old pugilist defeated Jorge García by unanimous decision, winning the vacant WBO super welterweight title. Zayas moves up three positions, ranking number 5 in the 154-pound division. In the same match, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington maintained his undefeated record by defeating Mateus Heita by unanimous decision, becoming the WBC interim featherweight champion. “Shu Shu” also advanced in the ranking, reaching fifth place. On Wednesday in Japan, Ricardo Sandoval pulled off a surprise by defeating Kenshiro Teraji by split decision, obtaining the WBC and WBA flyweight titles. Sandoval now leads the rankings, while Teraji drops to second place. In addition, a late knockdown by Daigo Higa by Antonio Vargas resulted in a draw in their fight for the WBA bantamweight title. Vargas moves up to ninth place, while Higa, who announced his retirement, maintains his position in eighth place. Kyosuke Takami re-enters the light flyweight ranking at number 3, after his victory by stoppage in the tenth round against Erick Rosa, securing the WBA title. These rankings reflect the current performance of the boxers and are subject to change based on recent results and performances. Boxers who change weight categories will be included in the new division once they compete in it. Those who hold titles in two divisions may be ranked in both. Boxers inactive for more than 12 months, with no scheduled fights, will be removed from the rankings until they compete again. Likewise, any boxer who tests positive for performance-enhancing substances will be excluded and may re-enter after their next fight.

Weight Classifications

Here are the updated rankings for the different weight categories:

• 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

Heavyweight

Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in the rematch.

• Oleksandr Usyk – Record: 24-0, 15 KOs
• Tyson Fury – Record: 34-2-1, 24 KOs
• Daniel Dubois – Record: 22-3, 21 KOs
• Joseph Parker – Record: 36-3, 24 KOs
• Agit Kabayel – Record: 26-0, 18 KOs
• Anthony Joshua – Record: 28-4, 25 KOs
• Filip Hrgovic – Record: 18-1, 14 KOs
• Zhilei Zhang – Record: 27-3-1, 22 KOs
• Andy Ruiz Jr. – Record: 35-2-1, 22 KOs
• Moses Itauma – Record: 12-0, 10 KOs

Cruiserweight

• Jai Opetaia – Record: 28-0, 22 KOs
• Gilberto Ramírez – Record: 46-1, 30 KOs
• Chris Billam-Smith – Record: 21-2, 13 KOs
• Badou Jack – Record: 29-3-3, 17 KOs
• Norair Mikaeljan – Record: 27-3, 12 KOs
• Aleksei Papin – Record: 19-1, 17 KOs
• Michal Cieslak – Record: 28-2, 22 KOs
• Ryan Rozicki – Record: 20-1-1, 19 KOs
• Yamil Peralta – Record: 17-1-1, 9 KOs
• Leonardo Mosquea – Record: 16-0, 9 KOs

Editor’s note: Mairis Briedis has been removed due to inactivity.

Light Heavyweight

Analysis of Bivol’s victory statistics over Beterbiev.

• Dmitry Bivol – Record: 24-1, 12 KOs
• Artur Beterbiev – Record: 21-1, 20 KOs
• David Benavidez – Record: 30-0, 24 KOs
• Callum Smith – Record: 31-2, 22 KOs
• David Morrell Jr. – Record: 12-1, 9 KOs
• Imam Khataev – Record: 10-1, 9 KOs
• Joshua Buatsi – Record: 19-1, 13 KOs
• Anthony Yarde – Record: 27-3, 24 KOs
• Oleksandr Gvozdyk – Record: 21-2, 17 KOs
• Albert Ramirez – Record: 20-0, 17 KOs

Super Middleweight

Canelo Álvarez, on the left, faces Terence Crawford in a mega-fight on September 13 in Las Vegas.

• Canelo Álvarez – Record: 63-2-2, 39 KOs
• Christian Mbilli – Record: 29-0, 24 KOs
• Diego Pacheco – Record: 24-0, 18 KOs
• Hamzah Sheeraz – Record: 22-0-1, 18 KOs
• Jermall Charlo – Record: 34-0, 23 KOs
• Edgar Berlanga – Record: 23-2, 18 KOs
• Jose Armando Resendiz – Record: 16-2, 11 KOs
• Caleb Plant – Record: 23-2, 14 KOs
• Bektemir Melikuziev – Record: 16-1, 10 KOs
• Bruno Surace – Record: 26-1-2, 5 KOs

Editor’s Note: Jaime Munguia has been removed after testing positive for a banned substance.

Middleweight

Janibek Alimkhanuly stops Vincenzo Gualtieri in the sixth round.

• Zhanibek Alimkhanuly – Record: 17-0, 12 KOs
• Carlos Adames – Record: 24-1-1, 18 KOs
• Erislandy Lara – Record: 31-3-3, 19 KOs
• Chris Eubank Jr. – Record: 35-3, 25 KOs
• Conor Benn – Record: 23-1, 14 KOs
• Anauel Ngamissengue – Record: 14-1, 9 KOs
• Etinosa Oliha – Record: 21-0, 9 KOs
• Fiodor Czerkaszyn – Record: 26-1, 16 KOs
• Yoenli Hernandez – Record: 19-3-1, 6 KOs
• Troy Isley – Record: 15-0, 5 KOs

Super Welterweight

Terence Crawford celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov.

• Terence Crawford – Record: 41-0, 31 KOs
• Vergil Ortiz Jr. – Record: 23-0, 21 KOs
• Sebastian Fundora – Record: 23-1-1, 14 KOs
• Bakhram Murtazaliev – Record: 23-0, 17 KOs
• Xander Zayas – Record: 22-0, 13 KOs
• Israil Madrimov – Record: 10-2-1, 7 KOs
• Tim Tszyu – Record: 25-3, 18 KOs
• Serhii Bohachuk – Record: 26-2, 24 KOs
• Keith Thurman – Record: 31-1, 23 KOs
• Jesus Ramos Jr. – Record: 23-1, 19 KOs

Welterweight

Jaron Ennis, on the right, defeats Eimantas Stanionis by TKO in the sixth round.

• Jaron Ennis – Record: 34-0, 30 KOs
• Brian Norman Jr. – Record: 28-0, 22 KOs
• Mario Barrios – Record: 29-2-2, 18 KOs
• Eimantas Stanionis – Record: 15-1, 9 KOs
• Devin Haney – Record: 32-0-1 NC, 15 KOs
• Manny Pacquiao – Record: 62-8-3, 39 KOs
• Shakhram Giyasov – Record: 17-0, 10 KOs
• Giovani Santillan – Record: 34-1, 18 KOs
• Rolando Romero – Record: 17-2, 13 KOs
• Souleymane Cissokho – Record: 17-0, 9 KOs

Super Lightweight

Teofimo López wins by unanimous decision.

• Teofimo López – Record: 22-1, 13 KOs
• Richardson Hitchins – Record: 20-0, 8 KOs
• Liam Paro – Record: 26-1, 16 KOs
• Subriel Matias – Record: 23-2, 22 KOs
• Alberto Puello – Record: 24-1, 10 KOs
• Gary Antuanne Russell – Record: 18-1, 17 KOs
• Arnold Barboza Jr. – Record: 31-2, 11 KOs
• Sandor Martin – Record: 42-4, 15 KOs
• Andy Hiraoka – Record: 24-0, 19 KOs
• Dalton Smith – Record: 18-0, 13 KOs

Lightweight

• Shakur Stevenson – Record: 24-0, 11 KOs
• Gervonta Davis – Record: 30-0-1, 28 KOs
• Keyshawn Davis – Record: 13-0, 9 KOs
• William Zepeda – Record: 33-1, 27 KOs
• Lamont Roach – Record: 25-1-2 10 KOs
• Andy Cruz – Record: 6-0, 3 KOs
• Raymond Muratalla – Record: 23-0, 17 KOs
• Frank Martin – Record: 18-1, 12 KOs
• Floyd Schofield – Record: 19-0, 13 KOs
• Denys Berinchyk – Record: 19-1, 9 KOs

Editor’s Note: Vasiliy Lomachenko announced his retirement from boxing on June 5.

Super Featherweight

Emanuel Navarrete wins by technical decision despite the injury.

• Emanuel Navarrete – Record: 39-2-1, 31 KOs
• Anthony Cacace – Record: 24-1, 9 KOs
• O’Shaquie Foster – Record: 23-3, 12 KOs
• Raymond Ford – Record: 17-1-1, 8 KOs
• Robson Conceicao – Record: 19-3-1 1 NC, 9 KOs
• Eduardo Nunez – Record: 28-1 27 KOs
• Andres Cortes – Record: 23-0, 12 KOs
• Charly Suarez – Record: 18-0, 10 KOs
• James Dickens – Record: 36-5, 15 KOs
• Joe Cordina – Record: 18-1, 9 KOs

Peso Pluma

Angelo Leo knocks out Venado López, KO candidate of the year.

• Nick Ball – Record: 22-0-1, 13 KOs
• Rafael Espinoza – Record: 27-0, 23 KOs
• Stephen Fulton – Record: 23-1, 8 KOs
• Angelo Leo – Record: 26-1, 12 KOs
• Bruce Carrington – Record: 16-0, 9 KOs
• Luis Alberto Lopez – Record: 31-3, 18 KOs
• Brandon Figueroa – Record: 26-2-1, 19 KOs
• Tomoki Kameda – Record: 42-5, 23 KOs
• Robeisy Ramirez – Record: 14-3, 9 KOs
• Mirco Cuello – Record: 15-0, 12 KOs

Super Bantamweight

Naoya Inoue dominates Ramón Cárdenas with a TKO in the eighth round.

• Naoya Inoue – Record: 30-0, 27 KOs
• Marlon Tapales – Record: 37-4, 19 KOs