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          Boxing divisional rankings: Fury is back at heavyweight, where does he land?

          Tyson Fury, above, returned after a 16-month layoff and delivered a dominant win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, earning his place back in the ESPN rankings. Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images
          • Andreas HaleApr 16, 2026, 11:41 PM
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              Andreas Hale is a combat sports reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and pro wrestling. In Andreas' free time, he plays video games, obsesses over music and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He is also a host for Sirius XM's Fight Nation. Before joining ESPN, Andreas was a senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News. He started his career as a music journalist for outlets including HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z's Life+Times. He is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker as a producer for the animated short film "Bridges" in 2024.
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          Tyson Fury ended his short-lived retirement by routing Arslanbek Makhmudov and earning a unanimous decision win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

          The win allows Fury to return to the rankings at heavyweight after a brief absence due to his retirement and "The Gypsy King" slots in at No. 2 behind the only man to have beaten him in his pro career, Oleksandr Usyk. While a rematch with Usyk is unlikely, Fury has turned his focus to a long overdue opponent: Anthony Joshua.

          Following the fight, Fury called out Joshua, who was seated ringside. While Joshua didn't immediately accept, a fight between the two appears close.

          Conor Benn dominated Regis Prograis to earn a wide unanimous decision in a 150-pound catchweight bout. Because Benn hasn't fought at 147 pounds since 2022, he'll remain unranked as a welterweight until he competes in the weight class.

          ESPN's divisional boxing rankings highlight the best in the sport in every weight class. Rankings will change based on recent results and performances. Fighters who have announced they are moving to a different weight class will be ranked in that new division, if warranted, only once they fight in that weight class. Fighters who currently own titles in two divisions can be ranked in both.

          Fighters who haven't competed in the past 12 months -- and don't have a fight scheduled -- will be dropped from the rankings until they fight again. Any fighter who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed. That boxer will be eligible to reenter the rankings after his next bout.

          For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For ESPN women's divisional rankings, click here.

          Jump to weight classes with changes: Heavyweight, bantamweight

          HEAVYWEIGHT (UNLIMITED)

          CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)

          LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)

          SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)

          MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 154 POUNDS)

          WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 147 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 140 POUNDS)

          LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 135 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 130 POUNDS)

          FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 126 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 122 POUNDS)

          BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 118 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 115 POUNDS)

          FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 112 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 108 POUNDS)

          STRAWWEIGHT (UP TO 105 POUNDS)