05-17-2016, 11:52 AM
WBO ratings shakeup, Povetkin dropped
By David Finger
The WBO world rankings for the month of May were released late last week and although there were no changes at the top, where all of the champions retained their belts, there were nonetheless a fair share of shakeups in the rankings.
In the heavyweight division Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) continued to have the week from hell as he not only saw his WBC title fight cancelled at the last minute due to a positive test for a banned substance but also saw his WBO ranking disappear as well. Povetkin dropped out of the rankings entirely (he had been the third ranked heavyweight). Taking his place at #3 was Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) who moved up from #4. Takam is scheduled to fight the #1 ranked heavyweight Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs) of New Zealand and the #2 ranked heavyweight, Wladimir Klitschko (64-4. 53 KOs), is scheduled to fight the champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) in July so there is a real possibility that either Parker or Takam will emerge as the mandatory this summer.
Rounding off the heavyweight rankings Alex Ustinov and Andy Ruiz both moved up one slot (Ustinov moved from five to four while Ruiz moved from six to five) while undefeated Hughie Fury (20-0, 10 KOs) moved into the world ranking as the sixth ranked heavyweight after winning the WBO Inter-Continental title on April 30th. Dereck Chisora dropped out of the world rankings after his loss to Kubrat Pulev on May 7th. Pulev also entered the rankings by taking over Chisora’s spot as the tenth ranked heavyweight.
In the cruiserweight division Tony Bellew (26-2-1, 16 KOs) was dropped from the WBO rankings due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title on May 29th. Bellew was the #3 ranked cruiserweight. What was most surprising in the cruiserweight division was the fighter who took his place at #3…Thomas Williams Jr. (20-1, 14 KOs). There was no question that Williams deserved to be in the world rankings after his impressive second round destruction of Edwin Rodriguez on April 30th. But Williams had never expressed an interest in fighting as a cruiserweight prior to this and by all accounts had been targeting WBC light heavyweight Adonis Stevenson, even calling him out after he scored the knockout over Rodriguez. However, both Rodriguez and Williams technically weighed in over the 175-pound limit when they fought (Williams weighed in at 176 ¾ while Rodriguez weighed in at 177 ½) which may have factored in the decision to put him in the cruiserweight rankings.
Also in the cruiserweight division, Youri Kayembre Kalenga (22-2, 15 KOs) dropped out of the WBO rankings due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight for the vacant WBA cruiserweight title later this week. Kalenga was ranked #8. Moving into the WBO rankings were Jordan Shimmell (20-1, 16 KOs) who found himself in at #10, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (50-3-1, 36 KOs) who entered the rankings at #13, and Maxim Vlasov (34-2, 17 KOs) who moved in at #14. Also dropping out of the rankings was the 14th ranked Ilunga Makabu (19-1, 18 KOs), who is fighting in the aforementioned WBC title fight against Tony Bellew.
In the light heavyweight division undefeated Thomas Oosthuizen (25-0-2, 17 KOs) of South Africa dropped out of the rankings, most likely due to inactivity (Oosthuizen had not fought since June of 2015). Taking his place at #14 was undefeated Ukrainian Olexander Gvozdyk (10-0, 8 KOs). Undefeated Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) dropped from five to seven, most likely due to inactivity (his last fight was in June of 2015 also) but he is currently scheduled to defend his WBO International title fight on June 4th and should see his stock rise if he emerges victorious there.
In the super middleweight division the biggest surprise was the ascension of Jamie Cox of the UK as the #4 ranked 168-pounder. Cox won the WBO European title back in November of 2015, but had remained inactive since then. Cox was the 4th ranked super middleweight in March but dropped out of the rankings in April. However he is now back in the WBO world rankings at #4. Making room for Cox was Robin Krasniqi (45-4, 17 KOs) who dropped from #4 to #5. Krasniqi had not fought since January of this year. The top ten simply moved down a notch to make room for Cox, with Arthur Abraham, Callum Smith, Isaac Ekbo, and Trevor McCumby each dropping a spot in the rankings. Australian Blake Caparello (22-2-1, 6 KOs) dropped out of the world rankings, losing his #9 spot, due to his loss to Andre Dirrell on April 29th. Rocky Fielding (22-1, 12 KOs) dropped from #11 to #12 while the previous #12 ranked fighter, Vincent Feigenbutz (22-2, 20 KOs), dropped out of the rankings entirely. #13 ranked Tyron Zeuge (18-0, 10 KOs) was dropped from the rankings due to the fact that he is fighting for the WBA title while Norwegian Tim-Robin Lihaug (15-1, 8 KOs) was dropped from the rankings entirely. Lihaug was the fifteenth ranked super middleweight. Moving into the rankings was Dominik Britsch (32-2-1, 11 KOs) who was subsequently named as the next opponent for champion Gilberto Ramirez on July 23rd. Britsch had been campaigning as a middleweight before moving up in weight to fight Ramirez.
In the middleweight division David Lemieux (35-3, 32 KOs) punched his way back into the middleweight rankings thanks to his impressive 4th round KO over Glen Tapia on May 7th. Lemieux moved into the #5 position. Dropping out of the rankings was Patrick Teixeira (26-1, 22 KOs) who was stopped by Curtis Stevens, also on May 7th.
In the junior middleweight division, Austin Trout lost his #1 ranking due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight Jermall Charlo for the IBF title this Saturday. Taking his place at #1 is Miguel Cotto, who moves up from #2. Also dropping out of the rankings is Vanes Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs) who is scheduled to fight for the WBA title this Saturday. Moving into the world rankings are Charles Hatley (26-1-1, 18 KOs) who moved into the #9 spot and Julian Williams (22-0-1, 14 KOs) who moved into the #10 spot. Michel Soro (27-1-1, 17 KOs) dropped out of the top ten, falling from #9 to #11. Soro has not fought since June of 2015 and may be in danger of slipping out of the rankings entirely if he goes a full year without a fight. Predrag Radosevic, 30-1, 11 KOs moved into the top ten, going from #11 to #8. The Montenegrin is scheduled to fight for the WBO title against Liam Smith on June 4.
In the welterweight division, Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) dropped out of the rankings due to his scheduled fight for the WBA welterweight title next month against Keith Thurman. Taking his place at #3 is Errol Spence Jr. (20-0, 17 KOs) who moves up one spot from #4. Jeff Horn (14-0-1, 9 KOs) and Konstantin Ponomarev moved up to four and five respectively while Lamont Peterson moved up from eight to seven. Entering the top ten entirely was Frankie Gomez (22-0, 13 KOs) whose dominant win over Mauricio Herrera on May 7th ensured him a place in the world rankings. Falling out of the rankings were the previously tenth ranked Russian Dmitry Mikhaylenko (21-1, 9 KOs) who lost his last fight on May 6th in a battle for the WBC Silver title. 41-year old former WBO super lightweight champion Randall Bailey (46-9, 39 KOs) saw his dream for a George Foreman-like comeback end on April 27th when he was defeated by the aforementioned Jeff Horn. Bailey also lost his #11 ranking. #15 ranked Cristian Nestor Romero also slipped out of the WBO rankings after losing his WBO Latino belt to Adrian Luciano Vernon, who moved into the rankings at #14. Omar Figueroa and Elias Leandro Vallejos moved into the rankings at #13 and #15 respectively.
At 140 pounds Mauricio Herrera dropped out of the rankings (he had been ranked at seven) while undefeated Mexican Pedro Campa (20-0, 15 KOs) moved into the rankings at #14. John Molina moved up from ten to eight while Japan’s Keita Obara (16-1-1, 15 KOs) moved into the top ten, jumping from eleven to nine.
At lightweight, Saul Rodriguez and Sharif Bogere switched spots, with Rodriguez slipping to seven while Bogare jumped up to six. Liam Walsh and Juan Martin Elorde also traded spots with Walsh moving up from ten to nine while Elorde dropped one spot in the process.
In the 130-pound division, the previously number one ranked Orlando Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs) dropped out of the rankings due to the fact that he is slated to fight for the WBC title on June 4th against Francisco Vargas. The next six junior lightweights simply moved up one spot as a result. Moving into the rankings was undefeated American Gervonta Davis (15-0, 4 KOs) while Jason Sosa was dropped due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight for the WBA title.
At featherweight Jonathan Victor Barros (40-4-1, 22 KOs) was dropped from the rankings (he had held the #11 spot) while undefeated Oleg Malynovsky (18-0, 5 KOs) moved into his spot at #11 on the basis of his win over Ruslan Berchuk for the WBO European championship back on April 23rd. Undefeated Dennis Ceylan (17-0-1, 8 KOs) of Denmark slipped out of the rankings (he had been at #14) as did Australian Nathaniel May (14-1, 7 KOS) who held the #15 spot. Moving into the rankings were undefeated Mark Magsayo of the Philippines (14-0, 11 KOs) who knocked out Chris Avalos in his last fight for the WBO International title back on April 23rd. Magsayo moved into the #12 spot in the rankings. Sacramento’s Guy Robb (18-1, 8 KOs) moved into the final spot in the rankings at #15.
At 122-pounds the previously #4 ranked Hungarian Zsolt Bedak (25-2, 8 KOs) dropped out of the rankings after his knockout loss to WBO champion Nonito Donaire on April 23rd. Moving into the rankings was Julio Ceja of Mexico, who also lost his last fight for the world title. Ceja moved into the #15 spot.
At bantamweight undefeated Mexican Luis Nery (19-0, 13 KOs) moved into the top ten at #8.l Nery had previously been the seventh ranked junior bantamweight but have moved up in weight back in April. Anselmo Moreno (36-4-1, 12 KOs) moved into the #9 spot after defeating the thirteenth ranked Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (46-7-1, 23 KOs) of Thailand, who slipped out of the rankings due to the loss. Undefeated Irishman T.J. Doheny (15-0, 11 KOs) also moved into the rankings at #12. The biggest loser in the bantamweight division was Japanese prospect Ryo Matsumoto, who was upset on May 8th by Mexican journeyman Victor Uriel Lopez (9-5-1, 4 KOs). Matsumoro was 17-0, 15 KOs going into the fight with Lopez and also held the #2 rank. With the loss his world ranking along with his undefeated record disappeared. Also dropping out of the world rankings was Japan’s Yushi Tanaka who had been ranked #9 in April.
At 115-pounds the only major move (besides Luis Nery, who moved up to 118-pounds) was the entry of David Sanchez into the world rankings. Sanchez took the #7 spot that had been held by Nery.
At 112-pounds McWilliams Arroyo (16-3, 14 KOs) moved into the top ten, grabbing the #9 spot. Dropping out of the rankings was EBU flyweight champion Thomas Masson (15-3-1, 4 KOs) of France. Masson had been ranked #14 in April. At 108-pounds Juan Jose Landaeta of Venezuela dropped out of the rankings after his loss to Ryoichi Taguchi for the WBA title. He had been ranked #4. Moving into the rankings was Hekkie Budler (29-2, 9 KOs) who also had lost his last fight for a WBA title but who nonetheless impressed many boxing fans with his performance.
And in the mini-flyweight division, there was no bigger loser than the #1 ranked Merlito Sabillo (25-3-1, 12 KOs) of the Philippines. Sabillo was sitting pretty at #1 whereas the title was vacant. A fight for the vacant title seemed his for the taking. But all that came crashing down on May 8th when he was upset by Riku Kano in a fight for the vacant OPBF championship. Kano, who had been ranked #6, moved into the #1 slot and is poised to fight for the vacant title shortly. Sabillo drops to #12.
By David Finger
The WBO world rankings for the month of May were released late last week and although there were no changes at the top, where all of the champions retained their belts, there were nonetheless a fair share of shakeups in the rankings.
In the heavyweight division Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) continued to have the week from hell as he not only saw his WBC title fight cancelled at the last minute due to a positive test for a banned substance but also saw his WBO ranking disappear as well. Povetkin dropped out of the rankings entirely (he had been the third ranked heavyweight). Taking his place at #3 was Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) who moved up from #4. Takam is scheduled to fight the #1 ranked heavyweight Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs) of New Zealand and the #2 ranked heavyweight, Wladimir Klitschko (64-4. 53 KOs), is scheduled to fight the champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) in July so there is a real possibility that either Parker or Takam will emerge as the mandatory this summer.
Rounding off the heavyweight rankings Alex Ustinov and Andy Ruiz both moved up one slot (Ustinov moved from five to four while Ruiz moved from six to five) while undefeated Hughie Fury (20-0, 10 KOs) moved into the world ranking as the sixth ranked heavyweight after winning the WBO Inter-Continental title on April 30th. Dereck Chisora dropped out of the world rankings after his loss to Kubrat Pulev on May 7th. Pulev also entered the rankings by taking over Chisora’s spot as the tenth ranked heavyweight.
In the cruiserweight division Tony Bellew (26-2-1, 16 KOs) was dropped from the WBO rankings due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title on May 29th. Bellew was the #3 ranked cruiserweight. What was most surprising in the cruiserweight division was the fighter who took his place at #3…Thomas Williams Jr. (20-1, 14 KOs). There was no question that Williams deserved to be in the world rankings after his impressive second round destruction of Edwin Rodriguez on April 30th. But Williams had never expressed an interest in fighting as a cruiserweight prior to this and by all accounts had been targeting WBC light heavyweight Adonis Stevenson, even calling him out after he scored the knockout over Rodriguez. However, both Rodriguez and Williams technically weighed in over the 175-pound limit when they fought (Williams weighed in at 176 ¾ while Rodriguez weighed in at 177 ½) which may have factored in the decision to put him in the cruiserweight rankings.
Also in the cruiserweight division, Youri Kayembre Kalenga (22-2, 15 KOs) dropped out of the WBO rankings due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight for the vacant WBA cruiserweight title later this week. Kalenga was ranked #8. Moving into the WBO rankings were Jordan Shimmell (20-1, 16 KOs) who found himself in at #10, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (50-3-1, 36 KOs) who entered the rankings at #13, and Maxim Vlasov (34-2, 17 KOs) who moved in at #14. Also dropping out of the rankings was the 14th ranked Ilunga Makabu (19-1, 18 KOs), who is fighting in the aforementioned WBC title fight against Tony Bellew.
In the light heavyweight division undefeated Thomas Oosthuizen (25-0-2, 17 KOs) of South Africa dropped out of the rankings, most likely due to inactivity (Oosthuizen had not fought since June of 2015). Taking his place at #14 was undefeated Ukrainian Olexander Gvozdyk (10-0, 8 KOs). Undefeated Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) dropped from five to seven, most likely due to inactivity (his last fight was in June of 2015 also) but he is currently scheduled to defend his WBO International title fight on June 4th and should see his stock rise if he emerges victorious there.
In the super middleweight division the biggest surprise was the ascension of Jamie Cox of the UK as the #4 ranked 168-pounder. Cox won the WBO European title back in November of 2015, but had remained inactive since then. Cox was the 4th ranked super middleweight in March but dropped out of the rankings in April. However he is now back in the WBO world rankings at #4. Making room for Cox was Robin Krasniqi (45-4, 17 KOs) who dropped from #4 to #5. Krasniqi had not fought since January of this year. The top ten simply moved down a notch to make room for Cox, with Arthur Abraham, Callum Smith, Isaac Ekbo, and Trevor McCumby each dropping a spot in the rankings. Australian Blake Caparello (22-2-1, 6 KOs) dropped out of the world rankings, losing his #9 spot, due to his loss to Andre Dirrell on April 29th. Rocky Fielding (22-1, 12 KOs) dropped from #11 to #12 while the previous #12 ranked fighter, Vincent Feigenbutz (22-2, 20 KOs), dropped out of the rankings entirely. #13 ranked Tyron Zeuge (18-0, 10 KOs) was dropped from the rankings due to the fact that he is fighting for the WBA title while Norwegian Tim-Robin Lihaug (15-1, 8 KOs) was dropped from the rankings entirely. Lihaug was the fifteenth ranked super middleweight. Moving into the rankings was Dominik Britsch (32-2-1, 11 KOs) who was subsequently named as the next opponent for champion Gilberto Ramirez on July 23rd. Britsch had been campaigning as a middleweight before moving up in weight to fight Ramirez.
In the middleweight division David Lemieux (35-3, 32 KOs) punched his way back into the middleweight rankings thanks to his impressive 4th round KO over Glen Tapia on May 7th. Lemieux moved into the #5 position. Dropping out of the rankings was Patrick Teixeira (26-1, 22 KOs) who was stopped by Curtis Stevens, also on May 7th.
In the junior middleweight division, Austin Trout lost his #1 ranking due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight Jermall Charlo for the IBF title this Saturday. Taking his place at #1 is Miguel Cotto, who moves up from #2. Also dropping out of the rankings is Vanes Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs) who is scheduled to fight for the WBA title this Saturday. Moving into the world rankings are Charles Hatley (26-1-1, 18 KOs) who moved into the #9 spot and Julian Williams (22-0-1, 14 KOs) who moved into the #10 spot. Michel Soro (27-1-1, 17 KOs) dropped out of the top ten, falling from #9 to #11. Soro has not fought since June of 2015 and may be in danger of slipping out of the rankings entirely if he goes a full year without a fight. Predrag Radosevic, 30-1, 11 KOs moved into the top ten, going from #11 to #8. The Montenegrin is scheduled to fight for the WBO title against Liam Smith on June 4.
In the welterweight division, Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) dropped out of the rankings due to his scheduled fight for the WBA welterweight title next month against Keith Thurman. Taking his place at #3 is Errol Spence Jr. (20-0, 17 KOs) who moves up one spot from #4. Jeff Horn (14-0-1, 9 KOs) and Konstantin Ponomarev moved up to four and five respectively while Lamont Peterson moved up from eight to seven. Entering the top ten entirely was Frankie Gomez (22-0, 13 KOs) whose dominant win over Mauricio Herrera on May 7th ensured him a place in the world rankings. Falling out of the rankings were the previously tenth ranked Russian Dmitry Mikhaylenko (21-1, 9 KOs) who lost his last fight on May 6th in a battle for the WBC Silver title. 41-year old former WBO super lightweight champion Randall Bailey (46-9, 39 KOs) saw his dream for a George Foreman-like comeback end on April 27th when he was defeated by the aforementioned Jeff Horn. Bailey also lost his #11 ranking. #15 ranked Cristian Nestor Romero also slipped out of the WBO rankings after losing his WBO Latino belt to Adrian Luciano Vernon, who moved into the rankings at #14. Omar Figueroa and Elias Leandro Vallejos moved into the rankings at #13 and #15 respectively.
At 140 pounds Mauricio Herrera dropped out of the rankings (he had been ranked at seven) while undefeated Mexican Pedro Campa (20-0, 15 KOs) moved into the rankings at #14. John Molina moved up from ten to eight while Japan’s Keita Obara (16-1-1, 15 KOs) moved into the top ten, jumping from eleven to nine.
At lightweight, Saul Rodriguez and Sharif Bogere switched spots, with Rodriguez slipping to seven while Bogare jumped up to six. Liam Walsh and Juan Martin Elorde also traded spots with Walsh moving up from ten to nine while Elorde dropped one spot in the process.
In the 130-pound division, the previously number one ranked Orlando Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs) dropped out of the rankings due to the fact that he is slated to fight for the WBC title on June 4th against Francisco Vargas. The next six junior lightweights simply moved up one spot as a result. Moving into the rankings was undefeated American Gervonta Davis (15-0, 4 KOs) while Jason Sosa was dropped due to the fact that he is scheduled to fight for the WBA title.
At featherweight Jonathan Victor Barros (40-4-1, 22 KOs) was dropped from the rankings (he had held the #11 spot) while undefeated Oleg Malynovsky (18-0, 5 KOs) moved into his spot at #11 on the basis of his win over Ruslan Berchuk for the WBO European championship back on April 23rd. Undefeated Dennis Ceylan (17-0-1, 8 KOs) of Denmark slipped out of the rankings (he had been at #14) as did Australian Nathaniel May (14-1, 7 KOS) who held the #15 spot. Moving into the rankings were undefeated Mark Magsayo of the Philippines (14-0, 11 KOs) who knocked out Chris Avalos in his last fight for the WBO International title back on April 23rd. Magsayo moved into the #12 spot in the rankings. Sacramento’s Guy Robb (18-1, 8 KOs) moved into the final spot in the rankings at #15.
At 122-pounds the previously #4 ranked Hungarian Zsolt Bedak (25-2, 8 KOs) dropped out of the rankings after his knockout loss to WBO champion Nonito Donaire on April 23rd. Moving into the rankings was Julio Ceja of Mexico, who also lost his last fight for the world title. Ceja moved into the #15 spot.
At bantamweight undefeated Mexican Luis Nery (19-0, 13 KOs) moved into the top ten at #8.l Nery had previously been the seventh ranked junior bantamweight but have moved up in weight back in April. Anselmo Moreno (36-4-1, 12 KOs) moved into the #9 spot after defeating the thirteenth ranked Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (46-7-1, 23 KOs) of Thailand, who slipped out of the rankings due to the loss. Undefeated Irishman T.J. Doheny (15-0, 11 KOs) also moved into the rankings at #12. The biggest loser in the bantamweight division was Japanese prospect Ryo Matsumoto, who was upset on May 8th by Mexican journeyman Victor Uriel Lopez (9-5-1, 4 KOs). Matsumoro was 17-0, 15 KOs going into the fight with Lopez and also held the #2 rank. With the loss his world ranking along with his undefeated record disappeared. Also dropping out of the world rankings was Japan’s Yushi Tanaka who had been ranked #9 in April.
At 115-pounds the only major move (besides Luis Nery, who moved up to 118-pounds) was the entry of David Sanchez into the world rankings. Sanchez took the #7 spot that had been held by Nery.
At 112-pounds McWilliams Arroyo (16-3, 14 KOs) moved into the top ten, grabbing the #9 spot. Dropping out of the rankings was EBU flyweight champion Thomas Masson (15-3-1, 4 KOs) of France. Masson had been ranked #14 in April. At 108-pounds Juan Jose Landaeta of Venezuela dropped out of the rankings after his loss to Ryoichi Taguchi for the WBA title. He had been ranked #4. Moving into the rankings was Hekkie Budler (29-2, 9 KOs) who also had lost his last fight for a WBA title but who nonetheless impressed many boxing fans with his performance.
And in the mini-flyweight division, there was no bigger loser than the #1 ranked Merlito Sabillo (25-3-1, 12 KOs) of the Philippines. Sabillo was sitting pretty at #1 whereas the title was vacant. A fight for the vacant title seemed his for the taking. But all that came crashing down on May 8th when he was upset by Riku Kano in a fight for the vacant OPBF championship. Kano, who had been ranked #6, moved into the #1 slot and is poised to fight for the vacant title shortly. Sabillo drops to #12.