What To Do With Tyson Fury? - BoxingScene Ratings Update
by Cliff Rold
Heavyweight: These rankings recognize the lineal champion of a division as the true champion. In the case of Tyson Fury, that creates a quandary. Fury has abdicated all of his alphabet titles, has failed multiple drug tests, and may not fight again anytime soon. TBRB recognizes this as a legitimate vacating of the genuine heavyweight title. However, his promoters have made reference to his eventual return and that he will still be the lineal champion. As a heavyweight, it’s not like there is another division for him to announce he’s fighting in so this isn’t a case where he is moving up or down for good. As Fury has not retired, and inactivity doesn’t apply to the champion’s slot, that makes him still a technically active fighter and thus, technically, still the legitimate historical champion.
Having been cleared of the drug test failure charges leveled against him in September, Lucas Browne moves into the ratings, replacing Bryant Jennings.
Cruiserweight: Significant movement in the 200 lb. class since the last ratings update sees movement upwards for Oleksandr Usyk and Tony Bellew. Unified titlist Denis Lebedev moves into the top spot. Ovil McKenzie exits the top ten for inactivity. Murat Gassiev enters the top ten.
Light Heavyweight: Nathan Cleverly returns to the top ten with an upset of Juergen Braehmer. Braehmer, who retired on an injury, doesn’t slip far and has said he will push for an immediate rematch.
Middleweight: While Saul Alvarez moved down a division to fight Liam Smith, his camp has indicated all along that he would be returning to middleweight in the aftermath. While some will be frustrated by machinations about weight, and delays in a fight with Gennady Golovkin, he has never relinquished his historical claim to the title at 160 and remains in the champion’s slot. It is not a qualitative assessment. Miguel Cotto has announced he will not fight this year and exits the top ten inactivity.
Jr. Middleweight: Saul Alvarez enters at the top spot with a previous non-title win over Erislandy Lara and knockout of rated Liam Smith. Time will tell which division he continues in. Charles Hatley is forced from the top ten.
Jr. Welterweight: Lucas Matthysse exits the top ten for inactivity and Mauricio Herrera exits without a win in the division in over a year. Ricky Burns and Jose Zepeda enter the top ten.
Lightweight: Jorge Linares reaches the top contender spot after a rousing win over Anthony Crolla. Petr Petrov and Robert Easter rise after recent impressive wins, Easter’s in a fantastic title win against Richard Commey. Rances Barthelemy vacated his title to move up in weight and exits the top ten. Felix Verdejo enters the top ten.
Jr. Featherweight: Veteran Hozumi Hasegawa makes an unlikely return to the ratings with an upset of Hugo Ruiz, giving him a belt in his third weight class. Hasegawa’s arrival forces Albert Pagara from the top ten.
Bantamweight: While not universally seen as such, the Yamanaka-Moreno rematch pitted the #1 and #2 fighters in these ratings and the winner takes over as champion. After a lengthy reign, and two wins over Moreno, Yamanaka has done more than enough to merit the honor. Yamanaka’s move to the champion’s slot open a spot in the top ten, filled by Luis Nery.
Jr. Bantamweight: There are big changes in the red hot 115 lb. division. Roman Gonzalez moved into class and won a fight of the year contender against Carlos Cuadras, Juan Francisco Estrada has officially moved up, and both Luis Concepcion and Jerwin Ancajas won titles since the last update. Watching this division shake out for the next year should be a joy for hardcore fans. This results in lots of movement, and Estrada enters the ratings having had previous track record in the class along with a win on October 8th. Norberto Jimenez hasn’t fought in the division in over a year with his last two fights at 118 lbs; he is removed from the top ten.
Flyweight: The heat at 115 marks an end in some ways of a notable era at 112. The last five years delivered a slew of quality action and the names are changing fast. Gonzalez’s move up ends the longest consecutive lineage of any title in boxing and who know when the throne may be filled again. In good news, Donnie Nietes arrives to add some shine to the class, knocking off longtime contender Edgar Sosa. Sosa exits the ratings
The full results of note and the total impact on the ratings are a click away.
Last ratings update: August 30, 2016
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
