Boxing
Biggest winners and losers of WBC ratings update May 2025
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The World Boxing Council (WBC) has updated its ratings this week, with a shock entry to their welterweight rankings.
Each of the major four organisations’ rankings are important for fighters, with boxers rated higher in line for bouts against bigger names – and possibly world title fights.
New mandatory challengers can emerge, whilst inactive fighters can see their title shots fade as they drop down the ratings.
Following the latest ratings from the WBC, we have taken a look at the fighters that are the biggest winners – and biggest losers.
Winners
Manny Pacquiao
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Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao ranks highly on many boxing fans’ all-time lists, but few would have him in the upper echelons of their current ratings for the welterweight division.
With rumours circulating that Pacquiao is set to end his retirement from the sport four years after his last fight to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, the organisation has installed the Filipino as number five in its rankings.
Pacquaio will have to shake off a lot of ring rust to prove he is still worthy of being a contender for a world title.
Richard Riakporhe
Richard Riakporhe’s debut as a heavyweight was a positive experience, working the body of Kevin Nicolas Espindola to produce a fourth-round retirement on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s subdued win over William Scull in Saudi Arabia.
Aside from gaining experience of fighting amongst the big boys, Riakporhe has also found a footing in the WBC rankings, entering the organisation’s heavyweight ratings at number 19.
The former cruiserweight will likely be buoyed by the news, with further victories as a heavyweight likely to bring him within striking distance of the top 10.
Hamzah Sheeraz
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Hamzah Sheeraz has lost his number-two ranking in the middleweight division; instead, he is now number nine in the super middleweight class. That is even though the Briton is yet to fight at his new weight.
Sheeraz’s promoter, Frank Warren, indicated that his client was set to move up in weight following his draw with WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames out in Riaydh back in February.
Many felt that Sheeraz had been lucky to claim a draw, and there will be a few that believe his luck has continued with an immediate entry into the top 10 of his new division.
Sheeraz has a confirmed fight at his new weight of 168 pounds, with a tough bout against Edgar Berlanga on Saturday July 12, which will be shown live on DAZN.
Aaron McKenna
Irishman Aaron McKenna must have felt his stock rise when he eased to a decision win over former world champion Liam Smith on the undercard of Eubank Jr vs Benn last month.
It certainly has risen in the eyes of the WBC, who have moved McKenna from 33rd in the middleweight division up to ninth, leaving the Irishman as one of the biggest winners of the update.
Losers
Jose Carlos Ramirez
Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images
A former WBC world champion at super lightweight, Jose Carlos Ramirez now finds himself unranked by the organisation.
The American stepped up to welterweight to face Devin Haney on the Times Square card that failed to live up to expectations. Despite also making his debut at 147 pounds, Haney was ranked at number one by the WBC heading into the contest, with his unconvincing win enough to maintain his perch.
Loser of the fight, Ramirez also proved to be a loser in the rankings. Rated at eighth in the super-lightweight division in April, Ramirez has not been ranked in the WBC’s top 40 for the welterweight tier.
Mihor Nistor
Famed for knocking out Anthony Joshua as an amateur, Mihor Nistor has dropped out of the WBC’s rankings for bridgerweight. Boxing’s newest division, Nistor had been ranked by the WBC in the division over the last four years.
However, the Romanian’s inactivity, having last fought in April 2024, has led to the 15th best bridgerweight in April, according to the WBC, being left out of their May rankings.
With the weight limit still gaining traction, there are currently not enough boxers to fill out the top 40 list the WBC provides for each weight class, suggesting that once Nistor returns to the ring, he will shoot straight up the rankings.
