The WBC’s latest ratings update – released December 20, but reflecting decisions made during the sanctioning body’s convention the week before – includes the installation of two new No. 1 contenders.
At lightweight: William Zepeda’s split decision over Tevin Farmer in November brought his record to 32-0 (27 KOs) and earned him the WBC’s interim title, leaving the number one slot open.
That allowed Raymond Muratalla, 22-0 (17 KOs), to go from second to first.
As for Farmer, 33-7-1 (8 KOs), he jumped from 13th all the way to the fourth position.
Zepeda remains the mandatory for WBC titleholder Shakur Stevenson, who is 22-0 (10 KOs).
At junior lightweight: O’Shaquie Foster, 23-3 (12 KOs), regained the WBC title with his split decision over Robson Conceicao in November.
Foster was previously ranked first, and that opened up a vacancy for Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez, 36-2 (32 KOs), to move up from the second position.
Conceicao, 19-3-1 (9 KOs), is now ranked fourth.
The WBC’s titleholders and No. 1 contenders in each weight class are:
Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk has the world title; Tyson Fury is his No. 1 contender. Their rematch is scheduled for December 21.
Bridgerweight: Kevin Lerena has the world title; Adam Balski is his No. 1 contender.
Cruiserweight: Noel Mikaelyan has the world title; Ryan Rozicki is his No. 1 contender; Badou Jack is the champion-in-recess.
Light heavyweight: Artur Beterbiev has the world title; David Benavidez is the interim titleholder; Dmitry Bivol is the No. 1 contender. The rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol is scheduled for February 22.
Super middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has the world title; Christian Mbilli is his No. 1 contender.
Middleweight: Carlos Adames has the world title; Hamzah Sheeraz is his No. 1 contender. Adames vs. Sheeraz is scheduled for February 22 on the undercard of Beterbiev-Bivol II.
Junior middleweight: Sebastian Fundora has the world title; Vergil Ortiz is the interim titleholder; Errol Spence is the No. 1 contender.
Welterweight: Mario Barrios has the world title; Souleymane Cissokho is his No. 1 contender.
Junior welterweight: Alberto Puello has the world title; Sandor Martin is his No. 1 contender; Devin Haney is the champion-in-recess. Puello and Martin are expected to fight on the March 1 undercard of Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach.
Lightweight: Shakur Stevenson has the world title; William Zepeda is the interim titleholder; and Raymond Muratalla is the No. 1 contender.
Junior lightweight: O’Shaquie Foster has the world title; Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez is his No. 1 contender.
Featherweight: Brandon Figueroa has the world title; Bruce Carrington is his No. 1 contender; Rey Vargas is the champion-in-recess.
Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue has the world title; Alan David Picasso is his No. 1 contender.
Bantamweight: Junto Nakatani has the world title; Juan Francisco Estrada is his No. 1 contender.
Junior bantamweight: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has the world title; Roman Gonzalez is the #1 contender.
Flyweight: Kenshiro Teraji has the world title; Galal Yafai is the interim titleholder; Francisco Rodriguez Jnr is the No. 1 contender.
Junior flyweight: The world title is vacant; Carlos Canizales is the No. 1 contender and Panya Pradabsri is No. 2.
Minimumweight: Melvin Jerusalem has the world title; Yudai Shigeoka is his No. 1 contender.
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