By Barry Holbrook: In a big surprise to some, Anthony Joshua is rated #1 in Ring Magazine’s updated heavyweight rankings for the division. IBF, WBA & WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk is Ring Magazine’s champion in the division, and he can strengthen that position by defeating WBC belt holder Tyson Fury next year.
The former two-time champion Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) has lost his last two fights and three out of his last four bouts, making him an unlikely fighter for the #1 spot in Ring Magazine’s rankings for the heavyweight division.
At the same time, WBC champion Tyson Fury, who many boxing fans view as the true #1 fighter in the division, isn’t listed on Ring Magazine’s top 10 list for heavyweights.
That said, Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) had previously said he was retired, so it’s understandable why Ring Magazine has chosen not to list him in their rankings at heavyweight.
Joshua has an opportunity to cement his position as the #1 heavyweight by beating a top 20 fighter when he returns to the ring on December 17th.
Ring Magazines’ updated heavyweight rankings
Champion: Oleksandr Usyk
1. Anthony Joshua
2. Deontay Wilder
3. Joe Joyce
4. Andy Ruiz Jr
5. Dillian Whyte
6. Luis Ortiz
7. Joseph Parker
8. Filip Hrgovic
9. Frank Sanchez
10. Zhilei Zhang
Like Joshua, former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has also lost his last two fights. Moreover, Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) hasn’t won a fight since 2019 and has been winless in his last three tries.
For Ring Magazine to rate Wilder so highly, they’re going by what he did in the past during his best years before he ran into Fury.
Wilder is fighting next week against Robert Helenius on October 15th, and how he performs against him should shed light on whether he deserves to be rated #2 by Ring Magazine.
Some boxing fans would argue that Joe Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) should be rated #1 above Joshua and Wilder after his impressive knockout of Joseph Parker.
The way Joyce looked against Parker and in his prior 14 contests, it’s difficult not to see him defeating Joshua & Wilder. However, for Joyce to take the #1 spot in Ring Magazine’s heavyweight rankings, he will need to beat someone more solid than Parker, as he’d already been beaten by Joshua & Dillian Whyte.
Andy Ruiz Jr looks shaky at the #4 because he looked poor in his recent wins over Luis Ortiz and Chris Arreola. #8 Filip Hrgovic is arguably a better fighter than Ruiz and should be ranked higher than him.
