Fury placed behind Usyk, Wardley and Kabayel following Makhmudov win as ranking sparks debate
The Ring has placed Tyson Fury at No.3 in its heavyweight rankings after his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov. The decision has raised questions about how the ranking reflects his current form.
Fury got through twelve rounds, but he looked slow, soft, and short on anything that could keep a top heavyweight honest. The layoff showed, and so did the miles. This wasn’t a version of Fury controlling space or dictating a fight. It was a veteran managing rounds against a limited opponent.
The updated standings keep Oleksandr Usyk as champion, with Fabio Wardley at #1 and Agit Kabayel at #2.
Champion: Oleksandr Usyk
1: Fabio Wardley
2: Agit Kabayel
3: Tyson Fury
4: Daniel Dubois
5: Filip Hrgovic
6: Moses Itauma
7: Martin Bakole
8: Efe Ajagba
9: Richard Torrez Jr.
10: Murat Gassiev
#3 spot given out by The Ring feels more like a lifetime achievement award than a reflection of Fury’s current threat level.
That placement pushes Daniel Dubois down to #4 and Filip Hrgovic to #5, despite both being more active and, at this point, operating at a higher physical level.
It also leaves a wider question around the next tier. Fighters like Moses Itauma and Richard Torrez Jr. haven’t built Fury’s name, but they are quicker and sharper right now. Even Guido Vianello, still developing, is working at a higher pace than Fury showed in his return.
The ranking leans heavily on Fury’s past standing in the division. The version that fought on April 11 doesn’t beat most of the names he’s just been placed above.
The version of Fury we saw against Makhmudov was a shadow of the man who outboxed Klitschko or survived Wilder. He was sluggish, lacked any real snap, and looked like he was just trying to get to the end of the fight without a disaster.
If Fury is #3 and can’t actually beat #4 through #10, the rankings lose their integrity. Filip Hrgovic and even Richard Torrez Jr. would likely overwhelm this version of Fury with pure volume and energy.
While two-time Olympic gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov hasn’t had the pro resume yet, the 6’7″ Uzbek giant is a physical specimen in his prime at 31. The same goes for Frank Sanchez and Guido Vianello. They both have an engine that Fury hasn’t shown in his last four fights.