Unbeaten New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker (17-0, 15KOs) has climbed two spots to be the third-ranked challenger in the World Boxing Organization.
There was a ranking reshuffle following Briton Tyson Fury's defeat of long-time champion Wladimir Klitschko last month, with the Ukranian great now sitting a place below Parker.
The top-ranked challenger to Fury is American Charles Martin, followed by another unbeaten fighter, Briton Anthony Joshua.
He is expected to rise even higher next month, with Martin accepting the opportunity to fight Czar Glazkov for the vacant IBF world title. Joshua returns later tonight against rival Dillian Whyte in London.
Parker, 23, holds the Oriental and African belts in the division, cruised to a first-round knockout win over Daniel Martz in Hamilton last week and next fights another mid-ranked US opponent, Jason Bergman, in Apia in January.
Parker was ranked just outside the top-10 in two rival organisations last month, the WBC and WBA.
