Latest news with #ChrisBillamSmith
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Moses Itauma, Arnold Barboza Jr - Biggest winners and losers of WBO ratings update May 2025
The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) has announced its latest ratings, clarifying the title landscapes in many of its divisions. Following the refreshing of its lists, many fighters have shot up the rankings, whilst others have dropped away from potential title shots. We take a look at the biggest winners and losers of the WBO's rankings for May. Winners Chris Billam-Smith Chris Billam-Smith's stock has risen after defeating American cruiserweight Brandon Glanton at the end of April, with the Brit fourth with both the WBC and WBA. But it is with the WBO where he is now ranked highest, with the organisation elevating him from fourth to first. It was winning the WBO belt that made Billam-Smith a world champion in 2023, and the Bournemouth fighter defended his title twice before losing it to current holder Gilberto Ramirez. Highly ranked across all four organisations, Billam-Smith appears to be back in title contention six months after losing his world champion status. Ryan Garner Chris Billam-Smith's old haunt, the Bournemouth International Centre, appears to have a new star to fill its seats. Fresh off the back of a sellout in March, Ryan Garner returns there in July for all-British clash with Reece Bellotti at super featherweight. EBU European champion, Garner has entered the WBO's rankings at number 10. Unbeaten in his 17 professional bouts, Garner's hopes of a shot at a world title have been bolstered by his entry into the WBO's top 10. Moses Itauma Shortly after Moses Itauma's brutal second-round knockout of Mike Balogun on Saturday night, WBO president Gustabo Olivieri took to Twitter to confirm his status as the organisation's number one at heavyweight. Olivieri wrote: 'Moses Itauma has climbed the WBO rankings with talent, discipline, and electrifying performances. Now the #1 world-rated heavyweight contender, his moment is approaching. It's only a matter of time before he gets his shot and the world sees a new star emerge.' Despite the 20-year-old's number one status, Olivieri confirmed that Joseph Parker remains the WBO's mandatory challenger for reigning champion Oleksandr Usyk. He added: 'For the record: While Moses Itauma holds the WBO's #1 world ranking in the heavyweight division, this alone does not confer mandatory status. That designation requires defeating top-rated contender(s). Joe Parker remains the official mandatory and retains priority, per WBO rules.' Losers Christian M'Billi French fighter Christian M'Billi's exploits with other organisations has cost him his spot as the second-best super middleweight in the eyes of the WBO. The 30-year-old remains unbeaten in 28 professional bouts, but has not fought since August 2024. M'Billi is set to return to action this summer, facing Maciej Sulęcki in Canada on Saturday, June 27. Whoever wins that bout will receive the WBC's interim super middleweight title, with the full title held by Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez, the undisputed champion that also holds the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles. In a similar vein, heavyweight Justis Huni has lost his number one ranking with the WBO after stepping in last minute to face Fabio Wardley next month for the interim WBA heavyweight title. That has allowed the aforementioned Moses Itauma to rise from second to first in the WBO's ratings. Arnold Barboza Jr Arnold Barboza Jr has enjoyed a long relationship with the WBO, working his way up their ratings in the super lightweight division. In 2020, he earned the WBO international belt, before moving on to the organisation's inter-continental belt. Victory over Jack Catterall in February saw Barboza Jr pick up the interim world title, teeing up a bout with reigning WBO champion Teofimo Lopez. Number one with the organisation before becoming interim champion, Barboza's defeat to Lopez at the start of May has seen the American tumble to fifth in the WBO's super lightweight ratings.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Conor Benn, William Scull, Chris Billam-Smith - Biggest winners and losers of IBF ratings update May 2025
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has revealed its latest ratings. Following another month of boxing, there have been plenty of winners and losers in the latest ratings from the organisation. Winners Conor Benn Conor Benn may not have been victorious in his grudge match with Chris Eubank Jr at the end of April, but he had plenty to take away from the experience. It felt that all eyes were on the pair when they shared a ring at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. The spirit shown inside the ring has helped rehabilitate Benn's public image following his controversies, but there have been further gains from the fight. A natural welterweight that came up to middleweight to face Eubank Jr, Benn has been ranked at fifth place in the IBF's super welterweight ratings, or junior middleweight as they call the 154-pound division. Benn had not been rated by the IBF in April, even as a welterweight, but his new ranking at 154 pounds hints at his future fighting plans. Chris Billam-Smith Chris Billam-Smith returned to the ring for the first time since losing his WBO cruiserweight title at the end of 2024, securing a comfortable win over American Brandon Glanton on the undercard of Conor Benn's clash with Chris Eubank Jr in April. The unanimous decision win was vintage CBS; a slow start focused on flooding the basement of his opponent, before taking control of an all-out war. Billam-Smith's victory has been recognised by the IBF, who have catapulted the Brit into fourth place, despite not having the cruiserweight in their top 15 in April. It now means 'The Gentleman' is ranked fourth by the IBF, WBC, and WBA – suggesting that the Bournemouth boxer firmly remains in the world-title picture despite losing his WBO title in November. Losers William Scull Some might argue that the biggest losers of William Scull's unification bout with Canelo Alvarez were the spectators of the fight, with former IBF champion Scull's retreating tactics and Canelo's cautious approach leading to a dull affair. Scull, who became IBF champion when Alvarez relinquished his belt to chase a more lucrative fight with Edgar Berlanga, might have received his biggest pay day as a boxer, but the Cuban has tumbled down the super-middleweight rankings. The IBF now have him at 11th, suggesting that another world title shot is some distance away from Scull at the time of writing. Brandon Glanton Chris Billam-Smith reaped the rewards for beating Brandon Glanton, so it is perhaps not surprising that the American would be impacted in the opposite direction. Heading into the contest Glanton was rated at 11th in the cruiserweight picture by the IBF, but his decision loss to CBS has seen him drop out of the 15 listed names in the division. At 33-years-old Glanton needed a victory over former world champion Billam-Smith to make an assault on the higher reaches of the cruiserweight division, but now it will take a lot for the American to re-establish himself as a contender, at least with the IBF. Lyndon Arthur Lyndon Arthur was another fighter in action on the Eubank Jr vs Benn undercard. It was Arthur's third clash with Anthony Yarde, having won the first meeting by split decision before being knocked out by his rival in the second. In the end Yarde came out on top in a unanimous decision victory, elevating him from fifth to fourth in the IBF's ratings. Arthur's movement in the rankings was far more dramatic; the 33-year-old dropping from ninth to out of the top 15 in the eyes of the IBF. Zaur Abdulaev Zaur Abdulaev entered 2025 as the highest-rated lightweight by the IBF, despite the fact that the number one spot is unfilled. Abdulaev had earned the number two ranking by defeating Juan Javier Carrasco in October 2024. Last weekend Raymond Muratalla, previously ranked fourth, defeated Abdulaev via a unanimous decision. Whilst Abdulaev has tumbled from second down to 10th, the first and second places are now vacant, meaning that there will be further eliminators to establish mandatory challengers in the lightweight division.
