The WBA’s latest ratings update – released March 1 – includes the installation of three new No. 1 contenders.

At light heavyweight: Artur Beterbiev, previously the undisputed champion, moved into the WBA’s and WBO’s No. 1 slots in the wake of his February 22 rematch loss to Dmitry Bivol, who was previously in the first slot before seizing the throne from Beterbiev.

The WBA’s secondary “regular” titleholder – ostensibly in line in front of Beterbiev – is David Benavidez.

At featherweight: Mirco Cuello’s come-from-behind, final-round technical knockout win over Christian Olivo Barrera on February 1 elevated Cuello from No. 3 into the vacant slot at No. 1. (Barrera was ranked No. 5 at the time and is now No. 7.) Cuello leapfrogged Bruce Carrington, who remains at No. 2.

The WBA titleholder is Nick Ball, who is scheduled to defend against TJ Doheny on March 15.

At strawweight: Ryusei Matsuomoto was 4-0 and unranked going into his February 1 bout against the 9-5-1 Masatora Okada, who was also unranked. Matsuomoto scored the fourth-round stoppage and vaulted all the way to the No. 1 position, supplanting Yuni Takada. The unified WBA/WBO titleholder is Oscar Collazo.

The WBA’s titleholders and No. 1 contenders in each weight class are:

Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk has the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Kubrat Pulev has the WBA’s secondary “regular” belt; Fabio Wardley is the No. 1 contender. 

Bridgerweight: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov has the WBA title; Julio Cesar La Cruz is his No. 1 contender.

Cruiserweight: Gilberto Ramirez has the WBA and WBO world titles; Yuniel Dorticos is the WBA’s No. 1 contender. 

Light heavyweight: Dmitry Bivol has all four world titles. David Benavidez is the secondary “regular” titleholder and is therefore the WBA’s mandatory challenger. Artur Beterbiev is the No. 1 contender for the WBA and WBO belts; he similarly sits behind interim WBO titleholder Callum Smith.

Super middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Caleb Plant is the WBA interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Canelo. Christian Mbilli is the WBA’s and WBC’s No. 1 contender. Canelo is scheduled to face IBF titleholder William Scull on May 3 for the undisputed championship.

Middleweight: Erislandy Lara has the world title; Yoenli Hernandez is his No. 1 contender.

Junior middleweight: Terence Crawford has the world title; Jermell Charlo is the “champion in recess” and would be in line for a title shot if and when he returns to the division; Yoenis Tellez is the WBA’s interim titleholder. Abass Baraou is the No. 1 contender.

Welterweight: Eimantas Stanionis has the WBA world title and is scheduled to fight IBF titleholder Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a unification match on April 12; Shakhram Giyasov is the WBA’s No. 1 contender.

Junior welterweight: Gary Antuanne Russell has the world title; Andy Hiraoka is his No. 1 contender. 

Lightweight: Gervonta Davis has the world title; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant. 

Junior lightweight: Lamont Roach Jnr has the world title; Albert Batyrgaziev is the interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Roach; Otar Eranosyan is the No. 1 contender. Batyrgaziev is scheduled to face Neri Romero (rated No. 15) on March 7.

Featherweight: Nick Ball has the world title; Mirco Cuello is his No. 1 contender. Ball is scheduled to defend against TJ Doheny on March 15.

Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue has all four world titles; Murodjon Akhmadaliev has the WBA’s interim title; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant. Inoue is expected to defend against Ramon Cardenas (rated No. 2 by the WBA, No. 8 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBO) on May 4 in Las Vegas

Bantamweight: Seiya Tsutsumi has the world title; Antonio Vargas is the interim titleholder; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant

Junior bantamweight: Fernando Martinez has the world title; David Jimenez is the interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Martinez; Roman Gonzalez is the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO. 

Flyweight: Seigo Yuri Akui has the world title; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant.

Junior flyweight: Erick Rosa has the world title; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant.

Minimumweight: Oscar Collazo has the WBA and WBO world titles; Ryusei Matsumoto is the WBA’s No. 1 contender.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.