The WBA’s latest ratings update – released July 1 – includes the installation of three new number-one contenders.
At heavyweight: Fabio Wardley, previously number one, earned the WBA’s interim title with his come-from-behind KO win over Justis Huni in June. That positions Wardley behind primary titleholder Oleksandr Usyk and secondary beltholder Kubrat Pulev.
Wardley’s ascension allowed Michael Hunter to move up from second to first.
At lightweight: William Zepeda, previously first, was dropped from the WBA’s ratings due to his upcoming challenge of WBC titleholder Shakur Stevenson.
Floyd Schofield, who was second, likely would have moved into the vacant spot anyway, but his big first-round TKO of Tevin Farmer (10th in June; since unranked) only underscored the move.
The WBA lightweight belt belongs to Gervonta “Tank” Davis, who is expected to have his rematch with Lamont Roach in August.
At bantamweight: The number-one spot at 118lbs has been vacant since December, when Antonio Vargas defeated Winston Guerrero via 10th-round TKO to claim the WBA’s interim title.
That vacancy has been filled. Tenshin Nasukawa moved up from second. In June, Nasukawa won a wide decision over Victor Santillan (sixth at the time; eighth in the latest rankings).
Nasukawa isn’t next in line, however. Vargas has since been upgraded to the primary titleholder, while Nonito Donaire (fifth) was awarded the interim WBA belt for his technical decision win in June over Andres Campos (eighth; moved to 10th in the latest rankings).
Other notable moves: As BoxingScene previously reported, Jake Paul has entered the cruiserweight ratings at 14th.
The WBA’s titleholders and No. 1 contenders in each weight class are:
Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk has the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles. He was previously the undisputed champion before vacating the IBF belt. Usyk remains the lineal champ. He is scheduled to face IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois on July 19 for the undisputed championship.
Kubrat Pulev has the WBA’s secondary “regular” belt; Fabio Wardley has the WBA’s tertiary “interim” belt; Michael Hunter is the WBA’s number-one contender.
Bridgerweight: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov has the WBA title; Julio Cesar La Cruz is his number-one contender.
Cruiserweight: Gilberto Ramirez has the WBA and WBO world titles. The WBA’s number-one spot is vacant now that Yuniel Dorticos lost to Ramirez on June 28.
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. He is expected to fight Artur Beterbiev (first for the WBA, WBC and WBO) in their rubber match later in 2025.
David Benavidez is both the WBA’s secondary “regular” titleholder and is therefore the WBA’s mandatory challenger – and he is also the WBC’s primary titleholder.
Super middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is the undisputed champion with all four world titles; he is scheduled to defend against Terence Crawford (unranked at 168lbs; the WBA titleholder at 154lbs) on September 13.
Jose Armando Resendiz is the WBA interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Canelo; Bektemir Melikuziev is the WBA’s number-one contender.
Middleweight: Erislandy Lara has the world title; Yoenli Hernandez is his number-one contender.
Junior middleweight: Terence Crawford has the world title; Yoenis Tellez is the WBA’s interim titleholder; Abass Baraou is the number-one contender.
Welterweight: Jaron “Boots” Ennis has the IBF and WBA titles but is expected to vacate them and move up to 154lbs; Rolando “Rolly” Romero has the WBA’s secondary “regular” title; Shakhram Giyasov is the WBA’s number-one contender.
Junior welterweight: Gary Antuanne Russell has the world title; Andy Hiraoka is his number-one contender.
Lightweight: Gervonta “Tank” Davis has the world title and is expected to have his rematch with Lamont Roach Jnr on August 16. Floyd Schofield is the number-one contender.
Junior lightweight: Lamont Roach Jnr has the world title and is expected to have his rematch with lightweight titleholder Gervonta “Tank” Davis on August 16.
Albert Batyrgaziev is the interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Roach; he is scheduled to face Jazza Dickens on July 2.
Elnur Samedov is the number-one contender.
Featherweight: Nick Ball has the world title; Mirco Cuello is his number-one contender.
Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue is the undisputed champion with all four world titles; Inoue and WBA interim titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev are expected to fight on September 14.
Ramon Cardenas is the number-one contender.
Bantamweight: Antonio Vargas has the world title and is scheduled to face Daigo Higa (second) on July 30.
Nonito Donaire is the interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Vargas; Tenshin Nasukawa is the number-one contender.
Junior bantamweight: Fernando Martinez has the world title; David Jimenez is the interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Martinez; John “Scrappy” Ramirez is the number-one contender.
Flyweight: Kenshiro Teraji has the WBA and WBC titles; Yankiel Rivera is the WBA’s number-one contender.
Junior flyweight: Erick Rosa has the WBA title; Kyosuke Takami is his number-one contender.
Minimumweight: Oscar Collazo has the WBA and WBO world titles; Yuni Takada is the WBA’s number-one contender.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter. David’s book, “,” is available on Amazon.
