Yuni Takada is the new No. 1 strawweight contender

Yuni Takada is now ranked first at strawweight by the WBA in its latest ratings, which were released February 1.

Takada was previously in the No. 2 slot while Hasanboy Dusmatov was No. 1. They have now switched positions.

The unified WBA/WBO titleholder is Oscar Collazo (pictured), 11-0 (8 KOs).

Takada, a 26-year-old from Tokyo, has a record of 16-8-3 (6 KOs). Those defeats are heavily weighted in Takada’s past. He turned pro in 2015 at the age of 17 and clearly learned on the job, and particularly via his failings. By the end of 2021, Takada was just 8-8-3.

He’s since rattled off eight consecutive victories, including a split decision win in January over the 8-1 Goki Kobayashi.

Dusmatov is a 31-year-old originally from Uzbekistan and now fighting out of California. He won gold medals in the 2016 Olympics at light flyweight and the 2024 Olympics at flyweight. Dusmatov’s participation in the Paris Games may help explain why he hasn’t been overly active in the professional ranks of late. 

In November 2023, Dusmatov won a 10-round shutout over the 21-5-2 Siphamandla Baleni. And last April, he had an IBA pro fight — which BoxRec lists separately — with a 10-round unanimous decision at flyweight over former title challenger Samuel Carmona.

Including his two IBA pro fights, Dusmatov is 8-0 (5 KOs).

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: Artur Beterbiev has all four world titles. David Benavidez is the secondary “regular” titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Beterbiev. Dmitry Bivol is the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts and will have a rematch with Beterbiev on February 22.

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.

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; 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: Jose Valenzuela has the world title; Andy Hiraoka is his No. 1 contender. Valenzuela is scheduled to face Gary Antuanne Russell next on the March 1 undercard of Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jnr.

Lightweight: Gervonta Davis has the world title; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant. Davis is scheduled to face Lamont Roach Jnr on March 1.

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. Roach is scheduled to challenge WBA lightweight titleholder Gervonta Davis on March 1.

Featherweight: Nick Ball has the world title; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant. 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. 

Bantamweight: Seiya Tsutsumi has the world title; Antonio Vargas has the interim title; 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. 

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; Yuni Takada is the WBA’s No. 1 contender.