Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur is the new number one contender in the WBO light heavyweight rankings.
The recently released monthly ratings saw the 29-year-old move up two places to find himself in pole position for a shot at Joe Smith Jr’s recently acquired world title.
Umar Salamov (2), Gilberto Ramirez (3) and Ricards Bolotniks (5) are the non-Brits in the top 10 who have new significant rankings.
Arthur, the Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental champion, hasn’t been in action since defeating former world title challenger Anthony Yarde last December. The split decision victory caused uproar in Yarde’s camp who believed their man had done enough to win. Arthur controlled proceedings with his jab having barely thrown a punch with his right hand which he injured.
‘King Arthur’ is due to return this summer but lately has been gracing our TV screens as a pundit for BT Sports. Arthur’s promoter Frank Warren remains keen on making the Arthur-Yarde rematch. Yarde sits just outside the top ten rankings with the WBO as well as the IBF and WBC.
Other Brits on the move with the World Boxing Organisation include Joshua Buatsi (now at number seven at light heavyweight), Danny Dignum (up one to number four at middleweight), Michael McKinson (moves two spots to number four at welterweight), Lewis Crocker (climbs three spaces to number eleven also at 147lbs) and Jay Harris (also goes up three notches to number five but at flyweight).