30 January 2023

The Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, Artur Beterbiev turned back what was his toughest challenge thus far in #6-ranked Anthony Yarde. Beterbiev retains his championship and the board refuses to demote Yarde from his current ranking. It was a “good loss” even if he was stopped. At P4P, Beterbiev is voted by a majority of the members to move up from #9 to #10, over Jermell Charlo.

And let’s be clear: Beterbiev –is– the division’s king. He’s the man who beat the man (Oleksandr Gvozdyk) who beat the man (Adonis Stevenson) who beat the man (Bernard Hopkins) who beat the man (Jean Pascal) who beat the next best contender (Chad Dawson) in a #1 vs. #2 bout under an open throne back in 2010. It makes zero sense to deny that. However, whether he is also the -best- in the division will only be decided when he faces Dmitry Bivol. If they fight, Bivol is the challenger. The WBA Super-Duper belt he’ll carry into the ring doesn’t mean a damn thing. Keep this in mind: that WBS organization has 47-year-old Sergio Martinez rated at #2 at middleweight. Martinez beat a guy with a 6-6 record in an 8-rounder in December. He shouldn’t be ranked in the top 30 at this point and, let’s face it, he probably shouldn’t be boxing at all.  

Cruiserweight David Light returns in at #10 after Thabiso Mchunu (5) exits due to inactivity. Light is scheduled to fight an awkward and very dangerous puncher in Lawrence Okolie, who is ranked #2. That’s coming March 11. Light isn’t light on courage. 

At Jr. Featherweight, Zolani Tete (#8) is removed from the rankings due to PED issues. Despite our efforts to find out what is going on with the B sample, there has been no response. Information has been muted -or kept quiet- since November. Enough is enough. Liam Davies returns in at #10.

Artem Dalakian is now in striking distance of the Flyweight championship now that he moved from #3 to #2 after a big win against #4 ranked David Jiminez. The no-longer surging Julio Cesar Martinez is now #3. At Jr. Flyweight, Masamichi Yabuki stops Ronald Chacon to move up from #3 to #2.

Strawweight Oscar Collazo moves up from #9 to #8 with a KO win against Yudel Reyes. 

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Every member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board is a volunteer. We are on the following continents:

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2. Australia
3. Europe
4. North America
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We represent 21 countries, including:  Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, England, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.