Nakatani, Ford, Tanaka, more: Divisional rankings for March 4

The following replace will come on Monday, March 11. Usually we would not flip round so shortly with so few fights in a coming week, however there are a few large ones at heavyweight that may decide two spots and a few positioning within the prime 5.

Ranked fights coming this week:

Upcoming Fights: (3) Zhilei Zhang vs (5) Joseph Parker, Mar. 8 … (4) Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou, Mar. 8 … (8) Jared Anderson vs Ryad Merhy, Apr. 13 … (1) Oleksandry Usyk vs (2) Tyson Fury, Might 18

Upcoming Fights: (8) Arsen Goulamirian vs Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, Mar. 30 … (1) Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis, Might 18 … (2) Chris Billam-Smith vs (3) Richard Riakporhe, TBA

Upcoming Fights: (1) Dmitry Bivol vs (2) Artur Beterbiev, June 1

Notes: Everyone seems to be ready to see how issues shake out with Canelo proper now. Even David Benavidez’s seemingly pending transfer to 175 to combat Oleksandr Gvozdyk is ready for Canelo to formally do one thing.

Upcoming Fights: (10) Kevin Lele Sadjo vs Giovanni De Carolis, Mar. 9 … (8) Diego Pacheco vs Shawn McCalman, Apr. 6 … (1) Canelo Alvarez vs TBA, Might 4

Upcoming Fights: TBA

Notes: Jermell Charlo now not holds a single belt at 154 lbs, and he hasn’t fought on the weight since Might 2022, so 22 months. It’s fairly potential, even seemingly, that he gained’t combat on the weight once more, and much more seemingly that he gained’t achieve this any time quickly. So he’s not going to be ranked at 154 anymore. Each Charlos floating within the wind in the mean time, unclear of their combating weight and solely semi-active.

That brings in Caoimhin Agyarko. It may have been another person — JJ Metcalf, Serhii Bohachuk, Abass Baraou, and Michel Soro acquired some actual consideration, and Vergil Ortiz Jr is lurking if he will get really energetic and truly makes 154 for a combat.

Upcoming Fights: (1) Tim Tszyu vs Keith Thurman, Mar. 30 … (3) Sebastian Fundora vs Serhii Bohachuk, Mar. 30

Upcoming Fights: TBA

Upcoming Fights: (1) Devin Haney vs (7) Ryan Garcia, Apr. 20 … (4) Jack Catterall vs Josh Taylor, Apr. 27

Upcoming Fights: (4) William Zepeda vs (7) Maxi Hughes, Mar. 16 … (10) Raymond Muratalla vs Agustin Quintana, Mar. 29 … (1) Vasiliy Lomachenko vs (9) George Kambosos Jr, Might 11

Notes: Emanuel Navarrete plans to maneuver to 135 and combat Denys Berinchyk for a vacant title, so he’s out at 130. With Navarrete out, Andres Cortes enters the highest 10.

Eduardo Nunez upset Shavkat Rakhimov through eleventh spherical stoppage on Feb. 16, so Nunez shoots into the highest 10 at No. 3, whereas Rakhimov tumbles right down to No. 7.

O’Shaquie Foster beat Abraham Nova on Feb. 16 in stable vogue, and nonetheless has his argument for No. 1 within the division, he and Joe Cordina the intense claims.

Upcoming Fights: (5) Oscar Valdez vs (10) Liam Wilson, Mar. 29 … (1) Joe Cordina vs Anthony Cacace, Might 18

Notes: Raymond Ford hits the highest 10 along with his title-winning stoppage of Otabek Kholmatov, who I believed fought fairly nicely, too, and he stays at No. 10. The room for each of these items is made potential by Mark Magsayo’s elimination from the rankings, as Magsayo will likely be campaigning at 130 now, it appears.

Ford’s keep could also be short-lived, as he mentioned he struggled making weight and may need to go to 130 himself. That might be comprehensible, however we’ll see — they could see extra worth in being extra cautious and having a world title to defend at 126 when the times go by.

Upcoming Fights: (4) Rey Vargas vs (8) Nick Ball, Mar. 8

Upcoming Fights: (6) Sam Goodman vs Mark Schleibs, Mar. 13 … (1) Naoya Inoue vs (2) Luis Nery, Might 6

Notes: A brand new and clear No. 1, as Junto Nakatani got here in, took a belt from Alexandro Santiago by power, and introduced with no query that he’s the brand new prime canine at this weight. There are clear unification alternatives for him, very notably Jason Moloney.

With the following 4 within the prime 5 being, in my view, nonetheless very close-run as a gaggle, I’m going with Takuma Inoue at No. 2 within the refreshed have a look at the division. He regarded good in a aggressive combat on the identical card the place Nakatani beat Santiago, and acquired a uncommon stoppage, placing Jerwin Ancajas away in 9.

Upcoming Fights: TBA

Notes: Juan Francisco Estrada and Chocolatito Gonzalez at the moment are formally inactive and out. Estrada could return to the division to combat Bam Rodriguez, who is anticipated to maneuver again up. Chocolatito reportedly will combat once more, however at bantamweight.

The final of the “previous guard” left are Kazuto Ioka, who’s now No. 1 — and a advantageous No. 1, even when it was form of backdooring into the place — and the warrior Carlos Cuadras. There’s nonetheless expertise right here. Kosei Tanaka claimed one other title, that’s 4 weight courses for him! His solely loss was to Ioka. So, you understand, fairly good fighter.

But it surely’s a division turning over, sure. It occurs. When you may have a batch of fellows who run up prime for so long as this one did — we’re speaking over seven years right here — that has to occur sooner or later.