With unbeaten World WBO, WBC, WBA, and IBO World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk potentially retiring soon after defeating former champion Tyson ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury again, who does that leave as the world’s heavyweight champion?
Looking at the world ratings as of January 13th, let’s consider the possibilities for who the champion is or will be:
Southpaw Usyk, 23-0 with 15 knockouts from Ukraine, defeated World Boxing Council champion Tyson ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury, 34-2-1, for the second time on December 21st at Riyadh, Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia all scores 116-112 after having defeated Fury on their previous fight by split decision last year on May 18th. Fury announced his retirement “again” afterward in December following his second loss.
In September, IBF heavyweight champion Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois, 22-2 with 21 knockouts from the UK, knocked out former IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO champion Anthony ‘AJ’ Joshua, 28-4 with 25 knockouts from the UK in 5 rounds at Wembley Stadium in London.
Dubois will face the interim WBO champion, Joseph Parker, on February 22nd at the Riyadh Arena in Saudi Arabia. Parker, who is 35-3, has 23 knockouts, and is from New Zealand.
The IBF’s first two spots are vacant with No. 3 Martin Bakole, 21-1, with 16 knockouts from the Congo, now out of Scotland. No. 4 is Frank ‘The Cuban Flash’ Sanchez, 24-1 with 17 knockouts from Miami, FL.
Fury is still ranked No. 1 by the WBC, and No. 3 China’s Olympic Silver Medalist southpaw Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang, 27-2-1 with 22 knockouts, is scheduled to fight Kabayel No. 2 on February 22nd for the interim WBC title. Zhang is the No. 1 WBO ranked.
Let’s see what this looks like:
The interim WBO champ Parker fights IBF champ Dubois.
The WBC has a meeting with Kabayel and Zhang for the interim title.
The WBA champ Kubrat ‘The Kobra’ Pulev, 32-3 with 14 knockouts of Bulgaria, has Fabio Wardley, 18-0-1 with 17 knockouts from the UK in the No. 1 spot. Nothing scheduled with either yet.
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