Zhilei Zhang, Bruce Carrington and more

The WBO’s latest ratings update – released December 27 – includes four new fighters who have been named the No. 1 contender in their respective divisions.

At heavyweight: In the wake of his rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, 34-2-1 (24 KOs), dropped from the No. 1 spot to No. 3. 

That opened things up for Zhilei Zhang, 27-2-1 (22 KOs), to move from No. 2 into the No. 1 slot. But Zhang may not remain there long, given that his February 22 bout with Agit Kabayel is for the WBC’s interim belt. The sanctioning bodies tend to remove fighters from their rankings when they compete for other organizations’ titles, even the interim ones.

Either way, a win for Zhang would keep him in line for a shot at Usyk, 23-0 (14 KOs), who holds the WBA, WBC and WBO belts and is the lineal champion.

At featherweight: Robeisy Ramirez, 14-3 (9 KOs), suffered a sixth-round technical knockout against WBC titleholder Rafael Espinoza, 26-0 (22 KOs), and dropped from No. 1 all the way down to No. 7. 

That elevated Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, 14-0 (8 KOs), from No. 2 to No. 1. Carrington is also ranked No. 1 by the WBC.

At flyweight: The WBO finally recognized that Francisco Rodriguez Jnr, 40-6-1 (27 KOs), hasn’t fought at 112lbs in nearly two years and put him in its rankings at 115.

With Rodriguez no longer the WBO’s No. 1 flyweight, Juan Carlos Camacho Jnr, 18-1 (8 KOs), somehow went from No. 3 to No. 1, leapfrogging the No. 2-ranked Olimjon Nazarov, 31-5 (16 KOs).

The WBO flyweight titleholder is Anthony Olascuaga, 8-1 (6 KOs).

At strawweight: It had also been nearly two years since Masataka Taniguchi, 19-5 (13 KOs), fought at strawweight. That didn’t stop the WBO from moving Taniguchi into the No. 1 slot two months ago. But Taniguchi’s December split decision loss at 108lbs to Thanongsak Simsri – who is 37-1 (33 KOs), and the WBO’s No. 3 junior flyweight – pushed him out of the top slot. Taniguchi is still ranked fifth at 105, for some reason.

However, that rankings change meant that Vic Saludar, 25-6 (15 KOs), whom Taniguchi had supplanted at No. 1, returned back into the top position.

Oscar Collazo, 11-0 (8 KOs), has the WBO and WBA titles.

Also of note: Despite Jaime Munguia’s stunning upset loss to Bruno Surace earlier in the month, Munguia, 44-2 (35 KOs), remains ranked in the same No. 3 spot at super middleweight he was in beforehand, while Surace, 26-0-2 (5 KOs), still isn’t in the rankings.

The WBO’s titleholders and No. 1 contenders in each weight class are:

Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk has the world title; Joseph Parker has the interim belt; Zhilei Zhang is the No. 1 contender. Zhang and Agit Kabayel are scheduled to fight February 22 for the WBC’s interim title.

Cruiserweight: Gilberto Ramirez has the WBA and WBO world titles; Michal Cieslak is the WBO’s No. 1 contender. 

Light heavyweight: Artur Beterbiev has all four world titles; Joshua Buatsi is the WBO interim titleholder; Dmitry Bivol is the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts.

Super middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Diego Pacheco is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.

Middleweight: Janibek Alimkhanuly has the IBF and WBO world titles; Denzel Bentley is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.

Junior middleweight: Sebastian Fundora has the WBC and WBO world title; Terence Crawford is the WBO interim titleholder (and the primary WBA titleholder); Xander Zayas is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.

Welterweight: Brian Norman Jnr has the world title; Shakhram Giyasov is his No. 1 contender.

Junior welterweight: Teofimo Lopez Jnr has the world title; Arnold Barboza is his No. 1 contender. Barboza will face Jack Catterall on February 15 in a final eliminator.

Lightweight: Denys Berinchyk has the world title; Keyshawn Davis is his No. 1 contender. 

Junior lightweight: Emanuel Navarrete has the world title; Charly Suarez is the No. 1 contender. 

Featherweight: Rafael Espinoza has the world title; Bruce Carrington is his No. 1 contender. 

Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue has all four world titles; Sam Goodman is the No. 1 contender for both the IBF and WBO. Inoue and Goodman are scheduled to fight on January 24.

Bantamweight: Yoshiki Takei has the world title; Christian Medina is his No. 1 contender.

Junior bantamweight: Phumelele Cafu has the world title; Roman Gonzalez is his No. 1 contender.

Flyweight: Anthony Olascuaga has the world title; Juan Carlos Camacho is his No. 1 contender

Junior flyweight: Shokichi Iwata has the world title; Regie Suganob is his No. 1 contender.

Minimumweight: Collazo has the world titles for the WBA and WBO; Victorio Saludar is the WBO’s No. 1 contender.