Skip to main content
Boxing News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Features
  • Schedule
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Features
  • Fight Schedule
  • Current Champions

Follow us

  • YouTube YouTube
  • Instagram Instagram
  • Twitter / X Twitter
  • Facebook Facebook

© 2013—2025 Boxing News

Magazine

Rankings update: Tony Bellew and Ricky Burns make strides after historic weekend

Tony Bellew jumps at cruiser while Ricky Burns debuts at super-lightweight

George Gigney

31st May, 2016

Rankings update: Tony Bellew and Ricky Burns make strides after historic weekend
Action Images/Lee Smith

Cruiserweight

Tony Bellew storms into fourth place after knocking Ilunga Makabu out cold to lift the vacant WBC title. Previously ranked seventh, Bellew leaps several places due to the upset win, and how he went about it. Makabu drops one place into Bellew’s old slot.

Krzysztof Wlodarczyk remains in fifth after a fourth-round stoppage of unranked Kai Kurzawa.

Super-middleweight

After it was revealed he failed a drug test following his recent draw with Badou Jack, Lucian Bute is removed from the rankings. He was fifth, meaning all those below him move up a space and Martin Murray comes in at No 10.

Callum Smith, now ranked ninth, moves to 20-0 with a sixth session finish of Cesar Reynoso.

Super-lightweight

Ricky Burns debuts in the rankings for this weight by entering at eight after demolishing Michele Di Rocco in Glasgow to life the vacant WBA crown.

Though Di Rocco was not ranked, Burns’ achievement of becoming Scotland’s first three-weight world champion cannot be underplayed and the win betters the achievements of the fighters ranked below him.

Lightweight

Miguel Vazquez is removed from his No 10 position after taking part in a welterweight contest against Erick Bone. Former Vazquez-conqueror Mickey Bey takes his place.

Super-featherweight

No 10 Eden Sonsoa is removed for inactivity, having not fought in a year and with no bout scheduled. Mexican Miguel Berchelt enters the rankings for the first time.

Flyweight

Formerly unranked John Riel Casimero upsets Amnat Ruenroeng in China to take his place in third. Ruenroeng drops to fourth and No 10 Moises Fuentes leaves the ratings to make room for the new addition.

Strawweight

No 3 Wanheng Menayothin, No 7 Carlos Buitrago and No 9 Kosei Tanaka notch routine wins over unranked foes.

Xiong Zhao Zhong loses to an unrated fighter – Jose Antonio Jimenez – who takes his place at eighth. Zhong drops to ninth, moving Tanaka to 10th and removing Denver Cuello altogether.

More stories

James Toney

James Toney names the top 5 greatest fighters of all time

21 Nov, 2025
Tim Bradley and Terence Crawford

Tim Bradley warns Terence Crawford that the champion he is targeting is ‘not to be messed with’

21 Nov, 2025
Anthony Joshua and Ben Davison

Anthony Joshua offically splits from Ben Davison as he announces who will train him next

21 Nov, 2025
Freddie Roach

Freddie Roach trained 40 world champions but says one man stood above the rest: “He was so gifted”

21 Nov, 2025
Boxing News

Since 1909

Editorial

  • News
  • Live Coverage
  • BN Investigates
  • Opinion
  • Features

Boxing

  • Upcoming Fight Schedule
  • Current Boxing Champions

Company

  • About Boxing News
  • Contact us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy

Follow us

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • X
  • Facebook
  • Google News
Copyright 2013—2025 Boxing News