Unbeaten heavyweight Fabio Wardley is ranked number one by the WBA in the latest ratings. which was published on December 31
Wardley 18-0-1 (17 KO) fought twice in 2024, both times against the same opponent. In March, he competed for a fun draw against Frazer Clarke, then defeated Clarke in the first round of the tournament in October.
Wardley was ranked No. 9 by the WBA before the Clark bout and No. 6 afterward. However, the WBA for some reason recently decided to jump him to No. 1. Wardley jumped over several fighters to get there.
Before December The WBA’s top six contenders include Martin Bakole, Tyson Fury, Michael Hunter, Lenier Pero, Agit Kabayel and Wardley. Only one fighter was involved in December: Fury, who lost a bout to the heavyweight champion. Oleksandr Usyk by unanimous decision
The WBA top six are Wardley, Bakole, Hunter, Pero, Fury and Kabayel.
Wardley’s No. 1 slot doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be in a mandatory position to challenge Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight titles.
That’s because the WBA also has a second “regular” title holder in Kubrat Pulev. who deposed Mahmoud Char in December– Sometimes the WBA will order fights between primary and secondary title holders. And sometimes the holder of that deputy position is the one who must protect the nominee.
Additionally, the WBC has decided that the February 22 fight between Zhilei Zhang and Kabayel will be a provisional world title fight.
(The IBF has ordered a final elimination match between Bakole and Efe Ajagba, which will give the winner a mandatory shot at the sanctioning organization’s title holder, Daniel Dubois.)
The WBA title holders and No. 1 contenders in each weight class are:
Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk holds the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Kubrat Pulev has the WBA’s secondary “regular” belt; Fabio Wardley is Contender No. 1
Cruiser: Gilberto Ramirez wins WBA and WBO world titles; Yuniel Dorticos is WBA’s No. 1 contender
Light Heavyweight: Artur Beterbiev has a total of four world championship titles. David Morrell is the second “regular” title holder and is apparently Beterbiev’s mandatory challenger; Morrell will face WBC interim title holder David Benavidez on February 1. Dmitry Bivol is the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts and will have a bout. Beterbiev on February 22
Super Middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez holds the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Caleb Plant is the interim WBA title holder and is apparently Canelo’s mandatory challenger; Christian Mbilli is the contender. Number 1 of WBA and WBC
Middleweight: Erislandy Lara has world titleholder Yoenli Hernandez as his No. 1 competitor.
Junior Middleweight: Terence Crawford has the world title, Jermell Charlo is the “champ on the break” and will be in line for the title if and when he returns to the division. Abass Baraou is the No. 1 contender.
Welterweight: Eimantas Stanionis has a world title; Shakhram Giyasov is his number 1 competitor.
Junior Welterweight: Jose Valenzuela has the world title. Andy Hiraoka is his No. 1 opponent. Valenzuela is expected to face Gary Antoine Russell next. It could be an undercard game for Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roche Jr. on March 1.
Light weight: Gervonta Davis has a world title; With the No. 1 slot currently available, Davis is scheduled to face Lamont Roche Jr. on March 1.
Junior Lightweight: Lamont Roach Jnr has the world title; Albert Batyrgaziev is the interim title holder and is clearly Roach’s mandatory challenger; Otar Eranosyan is the No. 1 contender; Roach is scheduled to challenge for the WBA lightweight title. Gervonta Davis on March 1
Featherweight: Nick Ball has a world title; With slot number 1 currently available, Ball is scheduled to defend TJ. Doheny on March 15
Junior Featherweight Division: Naoya Inoue wins all 4 world titles; Murodjon Akhmadaliev has the WBA interim title; The No. 1 slot is currently vacant. Inoue is scheduled to defend against Sam Goodman, who is ranked number one by the IBF and WBO, on January 24.
Bantamweight: Seiya Tsutsumi has a world title; Antonio Vargas has a temporary position; Slot number 1 is currently free.
Junior Bantamweight Division: Fernando Martinez has world titleholder David Jimenez holding the interim title and is apparently Martinez’s mandatory challenger; Roman Gonzalez is contender No. 1. Martinez should face Kazuto. Ioka next competed on December 31, but had to withdraw due to flu symptoms.
Flyweight: Seigo Yuri Akui has a world title; Slot number 1 is currently free.
Junior Flyweight: Erick Rosa just defeated Neider Valdez Aguilar in December to win the title. Because of this, slot number 1 is free.
Minimum weight: Oscar Collazo wins WBA and WBO world titles; Hasanboy Dusmatov is WBA’s No. 1 contender
