THE Ring Magazine have updated their top ten heavyweight list with three British stars sitting pretty at the top of the rankings.
Tyson Fury is the current champion of the prestigious belt, with the Gypsy King awarded his second Ring belt following his emphatic win against Deontay Wilder where he was crowned as the WBC champion.
The unbeaten Fury is the only person in the list who has ever held the belt – and the only British man to win the strap since Lennox Lewis.
Here SunSport runs you down the full rankings.
Champion – Tyson Fury – 30-0
The 31-year-old is widely considered to be the best heavyweight on the planet, and he will be looking to prove it in his trilogy bout against the Bronze Bomber.
Should he beat the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist he will surely go down as one of Britain’s finest ever fighters.
No1 – Anthony Joshua – 23-1
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist is the current WBA, WBO and IBF champion after he outpointed Andy Ruiz Jr in their December rematch following his shock loss last summer.
A two-fight deal between AJ and Fury has been agreed to take place where it will be decided who is the world’s best heavweight.
Fight fans may have to fork out £49.95 to watch on pay-per-view – a whopping 150 per cent more than the PPV events both fighters took part in.
No2 – Dillian Whyte – 27-1
The Body Snatcher has taken legal action against the WBC after Fury’s decision to face Joshua instead of him, with Whyte mandatory to fight him after Wilder.
Whyte, 32, will have been the mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight crown for 1,000 days in July.
The former British champ boasts one of the finest resumes in the division, as he boasts win over the likes of Derek Chisora, Joseph Parker, Oscar Rivas, Lucas Browne and Robert Helenius.
No3- Deontay Wilder – 41-1
The American KO artist has hinted he could retire should he lose against Fury after he was exposed by his rival during their Las Vegas bout.
Wilder was recently taunted by Fury over his defeat against him, as he mocked him over the body shot that dropped him in the fifth round.
No4 – Luis Ortiz – 31-2
The heavy-handed Cuban southpaw has twice fought for the WBC title – and was twice knocked out by Wilder despite being in control of the fight on both occasions.
Now 41, it remains to be seen how much left he has in the tank as he harbours dreams of competing for a major belt again.
No5 – Andy Ruiz Jr – 33-2
The Mexican-American has a point to prove after he was humbled by Joshua during their dust-up in Saudi Arabia.
A fight against Whyte has been speculated, while Tony Bellew has hinted he could step out of retirement to face him.
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are contracted to a third fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
No6 – Alexander Povetkin – 35-2
The Russian seems likely to face Whyte next after their scheduled fight was scrapped due to the coronavirus crisis.
Following his KO defeat against Joshua, he has beaten Hughie Fury, while judges scored his bout against Michael Hunter as a draw.
No7 – Joseph Parker – 27-2
Parker is looking to get himself back into world title contention after he lost his WBO strap to AJ in 2018, before he lost to Whyte in his next fight.
A clash against Chisora could take place once boxing returns, while Lucas Browne is also an option for the New Zealand star.
No8 – Michael Hunter – 19-1
The American has just one defeat on his record coming at the hands of unbeaten Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk in 2017.
Since stepping up from cruiserweight, the 31-year-old has established himself as a force to be reckoned with.
Former IBF champ Charles Martin could be an option for Hunter in the near future.
No9 – Oscar Rivas – 26-1
The 33-year-old Colombian dropped Whyte during their meeting last July, but he was unable to capitalise as he was ultimately outpointed.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, his bout against China’s Meng Fanlong had to be called off.
No10 – Kubrat Pulev – 28-1
The veteran Bulgarian is set to face Joshua for the IBF title later this year – despite a knee injury picked up by AJ.
Their meeting could take place in England in September, with the 02 Arena and the Royal Albert Hall two possible options.
ON THE CUSP
The Ring Magazine have also named five fighters that have just missed out on the list – which includes unbeaten British prospect Daniel Dubois.
Along with the British and Commonwealth champion, Usyk, Efe Ajagba, Filip Hrgovic and Agit Kabayel have all been named.
Dillian Whyte says he’ll be ‘the greatest combat athlete of all time’ if he beats UFC star Francis Ngannou in ring and cage
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
