ANOTHER month of action, drama and decisions has passed by in the world of boxing. Here, Boxing News looks at how the WBC rankings have been impacted, following their October update.
UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND – COLLINS’ DRAW PROVES COSTLY
There has been minimal movement for British and Irish fighters this month, with Nathaniel Collins’ surprise draw with EBU featherweight champion Cristobal Lorente being the only result to have made an impression on the ratings.
The Scottish southpaw had been ranked as the WBC’s #1 contender in the division, but his underwhelming draw with the Spaniard has seen him drop down to #3, whilst Lorente has risen from the #10 spot, up to #5.
Reigning WBC featherweight champion Stephen Fulton seems set to either vacate or be stripped of the title, with interim champion Bruce Carrington poised to capitalise.
However, new #1 contender, Brandon Figueroa, has been ordered to face Nick Ball for the WBA title and could soon drop out of the rankings, meaning Japan’s #2 rated Mikito Nakano may now be best positioned to become Carrington’s first challenger, rather than Collins.
REST OF THE WORLD – BOOTS AND TERAJI FOREGO #1 RANKING
Elsewhere, Kenshiro Teraji has decided to move up to the super-flyweight division and challenge for the IBF crown, after losing his WBC flyweight title to Ricardo Sandoval in July. As a result, ‘The Amazing Boy’ has lost his #1 contender position in the WBC’s flyweight rankings.
At bantamweight, both Kazuto Ioka and David Cuellar Contreras have entered the ratings after moving up from super-flyweight, sitting at #5 and #11 respectively.
Meanwhile, former unified bantamweight world champion Junto Nakatani has been installed as the #1 contender at super-bantamweight, ahead of his December debut at 122lbs.
In the welterweight division, Liam Paro entered in the #10 slot after his points win against David Papot. Additionally, Karen Chukhadzhian has returned to the ratings (now #12) following a knockout win in Latvia, whilst Angel Fierro (prev. #12) and Ricardo Salas Rodriguez (prev. #14) have both dropped out.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis claimed the WBA interim super-welterweight title with a first-round knockout of Uisma Lima. Due to the title win, Ennis has been removed from his #1 contender position with the WBC. France’s Bakary Samake takes his position.
Meanwhile, Lima (formerly #10) has been demoted from the rankings entirely, with Argentine duo Francisco Veron and Alejandro Silva creeping in as replacements at #14 and #15.
Denmark’s Jacob Bank has disrupted the super-middleweight ratings after a stoppage win on home soil, he now sits at #12, whilst former #15 Erik Bazinyan drops out.
Similarly, highly-rated Cuban Arlen Lopez claimed a sixth professional victory last month. He sneaks into the light-heavyweight top 15 at #15, taking Khalil Coe’s position.
Finally, Guido Vianello delivered one of the standout performances of the month, halting the previously undefeated Alexis Barriere on the Ennis-Lima undercard. As a reward for his efforts, the Italian heavyweight has re-entered the WBC’s heavyweight ratings at #12, with Australia’s Justis Huni (prev. #15) being pushed out.
The fully updated WBC world rankings are available to view on the Boxing News website here.
