Usyk Retains Titles Amidst Scare
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) faced a challenging bout but managed to keep his titles in the main event against a kickboxing legend, whose reputation has drastically improved despite the loss.
Champion’s Status and Rankings
The Ukrainian boxer continues to be a leading figure in the heavyweight division and holds second place on the pound-for-pound list following a strong finish. Meanwhile, Frank Sanchez made headlines with a spectacular second-round knockout of Richard Torrez, moving into the top 10 as the Olympic silver medalist drops out.
Sheeraz Crowned in Super Middleweight
Hamzah Sheeraz (23-0-1, 19 KOs) marked his return from a 10-month hiatus by defeating Alem Begic in two rounds, thus claiming the vacant WBO super middleweight title.
New Champions Emerge
This victory completes a cycle of new titleholders following Canelo Alvarez’s loss to Terence Crawford last year. The Mexican great is set to face WBC champion Christian Mbilli in Saudi Arabia on September 12 soon.
Shifts in Rankings Across Divisions
Additionally, there are newcomers in the junior middleweight and welterweight categories. The junior middleweight changes were driven by an unexpected decision win in Germany, while the welterweight shifts stem from various factors, including Jack Catterall’s impressive victory over Shakhram Giyasov.
Examining Rankings Adjustments
The changes span five different divisions, so be sure to check the breakdown below. Bold/italics highlights indicate movement within each division.
