The WBO’s latest ratings update – released July 22 but reflecting results through July 15 – includes the installation of two new No. 1 contenders.
At super middleweight: As previously reported on BoxingScene, Terence Crawford has been installed as the WBO’s top contender at 168lbs ahead of his September 13 challenge of undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Diego Pacheco, who was previously No. 1, is now No. 3. He outpointed the unranked Trevor McCumby on July 19.
Hamzah Sheeraz went from No. 5 to No. 2 following his fifth-round knockout of Edgar Berlanga (previously No. 2) on July 12.
At junior flyweight: Vince Paras, who was situated last month No. 2, is now in the top spot after switching places with Regie Suganob.
This happened despite the fact that Paras’ last fight – a fourth-round TKO in June of the 24-3 Sarawut Thawornkham – took place two divisions north. In fact, Paras hasn’t competed at 108lbs in nearly seven years, dating back to a September 2018 decision loss to Jonathan Taconing.
In the years since, Paras has been at flyweight or junior bantamweight. His past three outings were at or slightly above 115lbs. All of which is reflected in the other sanctioning bodies’ rankings. At junior bantamweight, Paras is ranked No. 5 by the IBF and No. 21 by the WBC. Meanwhile, the WBA has Paras ranked No. 15 at flyweight, where he lost to Hiroto Kyoguchi last October.
The WBO’s junior flyweight titleholder is Rene Santiago.
The WBO’s titleholders and No. 1 contenders in each weight class are:
Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk is the undisputed champion with all four world titles; Joseph Parker has the WBO’s interim belt; Moses Itauma is the WBO’s No. 1 contender and is scheduled to face Dillian Whyte (unranked) on August 16.
Cruiserweight: Gilberto Ramirez has the WBA and WBO world titles; he is recovering from shoulder surgery. Chris Billam-Smith is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
Light heavyweight: Dmitry Bivol has the IBF, WBA and WBO world titles. He was previously the undisputed champion before vacating the WBC belt. Bivol remains the lineal champ.
Bivol is expected to have a rubber match with Artur Beterbiev (the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts), but that fight is not yet official and is no longer expected to take place in 2025.
Callum Smith is the WBO interim titleholder; he has been ordered to face David Morrell (No. 2).
Super middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is the undisputed champion with all four world titles; he is scheduled to defend against Terence Crawford (No. 1) on September 13.
Middleweight: Janibek Alimkhanuly has the IBF and WBO world titles; Denzel Bentley is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
Junior middleweight: The world title is vacant; Xander Zayas (No. 1) is scheduled to face Jorge Garcia Perez (No. 2) for the vacant title on July 26.
Welterweight: Brian Norman Jnr has the world title; Alexis Rocha is his No. 1 contender.
Junior welterweight: Teofimo Lopez Jnr has the world title and is the lineal champ; Alfredo Santiago is his No. 1 contender.
Lightweight: The world title is vacant; Abdullah Mason (No. 1) and Sam Noakes (No. 2) are scheduled to fight for the vacant title on November 22.
Junior lightweight: Emanuel Navarrete has the world title. Charly Suarez, who lost a highly controversial technical decision to Navarrete on May 10 – which has since been rendered a “no contest” – remains his No. 1 contender. The WBO has ordered a rematch.
Featherweight: Rafael Espinoza has the world title; Luis Nery is his No. 1 contender
Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue is the undisputed champion with all four world titles; Inoue and interim WBA titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev are scheduled to fight on September 14. Carl Jammes Martin is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.
Bantamweight: Yoshiki Takei has the world title; Christian Medina is his No. 1 contender. Takei-Medina is scheduled for September 14 on the Inoue-Akhmadaliev undercard.
Junior bantamweight: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has the WBC and WBO world titles; he is scheduled for a unification bout with WBA titleholder Fernando Martinez on November 22.
Flyweight: Anthony Olascuaga has the world title; Juan Carlos Camacho is his No. 1 contender
Junior flyweight: Rene Santiago has the world title; Vince Paras is his No. 1 contender.
Minimumweight: Oscar Collazo has the WBA and WBO world titles; Ronald Chacon is the WBO’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.
