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RING Ratings update: Tyson Fury seizes the throne

Fighters Network
30
Nov
Chris Brunskill - Getty Images

Photo by Chris Brunskill – Getty Images

The King is dead! Long live the King!

Tyson Fury stunned Wladimir Klitschko and the boxing world by handily outpointing the long-reigning ruler of the heavyweight division to win the RING championship Saturday in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The RING belt – engraved with Fury’s name – is already on order and will be presented to him soon.

Fury is only the second fighter from the United Kingdom to hold the RING heavyweight title. Lennox Lewis was RING champ from 2002 to 2004. The new titleholder also is the 25th RING heavyweight champ. Jack Dempsey was designated champion in 1922, the year THE RING Magazine was founded.



Klitschko won the vacant RING title by outpointing Ruslan Chagaev in June 2009. He successfully defended it 11 times before losing it on Saturday.

What to do about Klitschko now? The RING Editorial Board decided to place him in the No. 1 position based on his track record. Fury was rated No. 3 going into the fight behind No. 1 Alexander Povetkin and No. 2 Deontay Wilder, who now drop one position each.

Fury, who also won the IBF, WBA and WBO titles, outboxed a strangely inactive Klitschko to win a clear decision – 115-112, 116-111 and 115-112 – at the Espirit Arena.

In other divisions:

POUND FOR POUND

Klitschko (No. 6 last week) was removed from the Top 10 following the loss, which forced the Editorial Board to decide upon a replacement.

The Board, with input from the Ratings Panel, considered unbeaten welterweight titleholder Kell Brook, who had been rated No. 10 until Canelo Alvarez cracked the list after his victory over Miguel Cotto on Nov. 21.

However, we decided to place Tim Bradley at No. 10 for these reasons: 1. He is coming off an impressive ninth-round knockout victory over Brandon Rios three weeks ago; 2. He has a stronger resume than Brook; and 3. Brook hasn’t fought in six months and still doesn’t have a fight scheduled.

Bradley and Brook could settle things in the ring, though. They reportedly are in negotiations to fight one another in a title-unification bout.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Eleider Alvarez (No. 6 last week) defeated Isaac Chilemba (No. 7 last week) by a tight majority decision Saturday in Quebec City. As a result, Alvarez switches places with Juergen Braehmer (No. 5 last week).

Chilemba holds his position in light of his solid performance in defeat.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT

James DeGale (No. 2 last week) stays put after his unanimous decision victory over Lucian Bute (unrated last week) Saturday in Quebec City.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT

Erislandy Lara (No. 1 last week) stopped Jan Zaveck (unrated last week) Wednesday in Hialeah, Florida. Thus, he retains his position.

Jermall Charlo (No. 5 last week) knocked out Wilky Campfort (unrated last week) Saturday in Dallas. He, too, stays put.

WELTERWEIGHT

Errol Spence (No. 10 last week) stopped Alejandro Barrera (unrated last week) in five rounds Saturday in Dallas and remains where he is.

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT

Adrian Granados (unrated last week) stunned rising star Amir Imam (No. 8 last week), scoring an eighth-round knockout Saturday in Quebec City.

Imam has been dropped from the ratings, which created an opening. The Editorial Board considered Granados but opted for unbeaten Eduard Troyanovsky, who has the stronger resume and a recent victory over highly regarded Cesar Cuenca. The Russian enters at No. 10.

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT

Carlos Cuadras (No. 2 last week) defeated Koki Eto (unrated last week) by a wide decision Saturday in Miyagi, Japan. He stays put.

Arthur Villanueva (No. 9 last week) also holds his position after eking past Victor Mendez (unrated last week) by a split decision Saturday in Cebu, Philippines.

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT

Yu Kimura (unrated last week) upset Pedro Guevara (No. 1 last week) by a split decision Saturday in Miyagi, Japan. As a result, Kimura enters the ratings at No. 5 and Guevara drops to No. 6.

In the Philippines, Milan Melindo (No. 6 last week) defeated Victor Olivo by a split decision. He remains at No. 6. Jonathan Taconing (No. 10 last week) drops out.

STRAWWEIGHT

Wanheng Menayothin (No. 3 last week) retains his position after stopping Young Gil Bae (unrated last week) in nine rounds Tuesday in Chonburi, Thailand.

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