The Controversial WBC Heavyweight Rankings: A Closer Look

The latest WBC heavyweight rankings have caused quite a stir in the boxing world, particularly for former champion Tyson Fury. Despite losing the WBC title to Oleksandr Usyk in their unification showdown, many fans believe Fury should still be ranked as the No. 1 contender. However, the WBC has demoted him to the No. 2 position, placing British rival Anthony Joshua in the top spot instead.

One of the most surprising placements in the new rankings is Efe Ajagba at No. 5. Ajagba, a fighter many still see as a prospect rather than an elite contender, has been ranked ahead of more proven fighters such as Joe Joyce and Frank Sanchez, who even holds a win over Ajagba. The positioning of Ajagba raises eyebrows and questions the credibility of the rankings.

The current WBC Top 10 rankings are as follows:
1. Oleksandr Usyk
2. Anthony Joshua
3. Tyson Fury
4. Agit Kabayel
5. Zhilei Zhang
6. Efe Ajagba
7. Jared Anderson
8. Martin Bakole
9. Frank Sanchez
10. Joe Joyce
Bakhodir Jalolov

While it is expected that boxing fans will always find fault with rankings, the demotion of Fury below Joshua has raised many eyebrows. Joshua’s recent victory over a relatively inexperienced opponent has led to speculation about the basis of the rankings. Are the WBC comparing Fury’s performance against Usyk to Joshua’s bout with Francis Ngannou?

Interestingly, the fighters ranked at 6 and 7, Jared Anderson and Martin Bakole, are set to face each other in August. As of now, none of the other fighters in the WBC Top 10 are slated to fight fellow contenders. This upcoming match will provide an opportunity for Anderson and Bakole to prove themselves and potentially shake up the rankings.

The latest WBC heavyweight rankings have sparked controversy and debate within the boxing community. While rankings are never perfect and will always be subject to criticism, the demotion of Tyson Fury and the placement of Efe Ajagba have raised questions about the criteria used for ranking fighters. As the boxing world eagerly awaits future matchups and developments, one thing is certain – the debate over rankings will continue to rage on.

Agit Kabayel

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