As part of their ongoing clarity, the World Boxing Council has updated on all divisions’ situations.
At 175 and 200 pounds respectively, the mandatory obligations are set to be cleared up shortly.
With cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk looking set to move up, a new number one could be crowned soon.
Ilunga ‘Junior’ Makabu or Dmitry Kudryashov could earn the right to face Usyk. Although it’s more likely the winner will be put forward for the vacant title.
At light-heavyweight, Marcus Browne has earned himself a shot at Oleksandr Gvozdyk by defeating Badou Jack.
The pair will collide at some point in the second half of 2019.
Cruiserweight:
What happened?
Champion Oleksandr Usyk, who won the World Boxing Super Series, will fight Emeritus champion Tony Bellew on November 10 in Manchester.
Tarik Saadi requested that his boxer Ilunga Makabu be approved to fight a semifinal fight against Dmitry Kudryashov – it was approved.
The champion is in a voluntary stage.
WBC will support WBSS Season II with Diamond belt.
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tony Bellew by KOT 8 on November 10 in a voluntary defense of champion.
Mairis Briedis defeated Noel Gevor by UD12 for the Diamond on November 10 in Illinois.
Maxim Vlasov vs. Krzysztof Glowacki. Vlasov fought for the title of another organization, and the silver title was declared vacant.
What’s next?
WBC supports unified champions and will look into the mandatory situation with all organizations.
To try to find a common mandatory contender and avoid multiple mandatories.
WBC Top 15 Ratings:
1 Murat Gassiev (Russia)
2 Andrew Tabiti (US)
3 Yuniel Dorticos (Cuba)
4 Ilunga Makabu (Congo) INTL
5 Dmitry Kudryashov (Russia)
6 Andrzej Fonfara (Poland)
7 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (Poland)
8 Yury Kashinsky (Russia)
9 Noel Gevor (Armenia/Germany)
10 Mike Perez (Cuba)
11 Olanrewaju Durodola (Nigeria/US)
12 Mateusz Masternak (Poland)
13 Imre Szello (Hungary)
14 Ruslan Faifer (Russia)
15 Thabiso Mchunu (South Africa) ABU
Light heavyweight:
What happened?
In a mandatory and unification fight, Champion Adonis Stevenson will fight interim champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk on December 1, 2018.
Badou Jack is the mandatory contender and will fight the winner of the unification fight.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk defeated Adonis Stevenson by KO11 and won the undisputed title on December 1, 2018.
Badou Jack vs. Marcus Browne will fight for the silver title, and the winner will be mandatory.
What’s next?
Oleksandr Gvozdyk will make a voluntary defense vs. TBA in March.
Marcus Browne defeated Badou Jack by UD12 on January 19, capturing the WBC silver, and is now the division’s mandatory challenger.
Top 15 Ratings:
1 Badou Jack (Gambia/Sweden)**
2 Marcus Browne (US)
3 Igor Mikhalkin (Russia)
4 Dominic Boesel (Germany) EBU
5 Sullivan Barrera (Cuba)
6 Isaac Chilemba (Malawi)
7 Blake Caparello (Australia)
8 Doudou Ngumbu (Congo/France)
9 Sven Fornling (Sweden)
10 Sean Monaghan (US)
11 Enrico Koelling (Germany)
12 Humberto Velazco (Mexico)
13 Felix Valera (Dom. R.) LATINO
14 Mehdi Amar (France)
15 Ali Akhmedov (Kazakhstan) YOUTH/NABF Jr. * CBP/P
**Will drop down in the February rankings
More on the WBC mandatories will follow this week.
