Bellew is NOT #1 WBC at 175lbs, he’s #2; faces Chilemba on March 30th

By Boxing News - 02/05/2013 - Comments

bellew45By Scott Gilfoid: For some reason the loyal fans of WBC Silver light heavyweight champion Tony Bellew (19-1, 12 KO’s) have got it in their heads that Bellew has been moved to #1 by the World Boxing Council in their new February rankings. Well, I hate to drizzle all over their parade but I’m looking at the new WBC rankings right now it shows the 30-year-old Bellew at #2 WBC, not #1. What is it with these fans giving Bellew a nonexistent ranking?

I’m not sure who started the crazy rumor that Bellew is number #1, but whoever it is they need put on their glasses before they check out the rankings because Bellew is CLEARLY not #1 in the February rankings. The No.1 position is still occupied by Eduard Gutknecht despite his loss this past weekend to Jurgen Braehmer.

What this means is instead of Bellew being in position for a title shot if he can get past his March 30th fight against Isaac Chilemba (20-1, 9 KO’s) at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom.

I don’t have too much respect for the WBC’s rankings. I mean, look at how they ranked Amir Khan at #2 at 147 for their new rankings. Khan loses two fights at light welterweight, and then beats at 135 lb. fighter in Carlos Molina, and the WBC sits down and decides to make Khan their #2 contender at welterweight.

Does that make sense? I like Bellew as a fighter, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t see him as being better than Jurgen Braehmer, who the WBC has ranked #22, Ismayl Sillakh (#11), Sergey Kovalev (#5), Denis Grachev (#6) or Jean Pascal (#3). I think Bellew should be ranked below all of those fighters, and to see him ranked above them makes me lost any respect I ever had for the WBC. The WBC’s ranking of Khan at #2 at 147 takes the cake.

Bellew will get his chance at a title at some point if he keeps winning, but the process can’t be hurried along by people making up rankings for him.



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