The IBF rankings for April have been released and there are top 15 positions for 28 British fighters with 17 of them in the top 10 across 13 divisions.
While Joe Joyce waits on a possible interim title/eliminator bout against Oleksandr Usyk, the 35-year-old ‘Juggernaut’ is now ranked at number 10 with the IBF moving up one spot. Brit based Congolese heavy Martin Bakolie is a new entry at 15.
There continues to be a Brit pack at light heavyweight as a quartet of 175lb fighters find themselves in the top 15. While recent WBA world title challenger Craig Richards has dropped out of the IBF top 15 there is good news for Callum Johnson who is straight in at number nine. Joshua Buatsi, Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde remain at three, four and 12 respectively.
At super middleweight there is a stark contrast to seven pounds north with only one British fighter in the top 15. Zach Parker, who remains the WBO number one contender, drops down one spot with the IBF to 13.
The in-form British super welterweight champion Ted Cheeseman has held his ground at number five in the IBF’s 154lb ratings. Troy Williamson goes up one to 12 while Anthony Fowler stays at 14.
Conor Benn continues to take small steps in his career as the 24-year-old ‘Destroyer’ moves up two places to number 12 in the IBF’s welterweight division.
Lewis Ritson is still at number six in the super lightweight ratings as he waits for a world title eliminator while at lightweight former IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby stays at number four. James Tennyson drops out of the top 15 altogether.
There is a triple threat at super featherweight with Martin J Ward who still has the four spot, Zelfa Barrett won’t be budged from seven and Joe Cordina can smell the top ten at number 11.
Kid Galahad (1) and Jazza Dickens (3) continue to wait for their shot against one another for the vacant IBF featherweight title. Michael Conlan, who was at number nine, leaves the top 15 group completely as his focus is now at super bantamweight. Leigh Wood has joined the party at 14 with Isaac Lowe (11) and Jordan Gill (12), who move closer to the top ten, and Ryan Walsh remains at 15.
Thomas Patrick Ward is down one position to number eight in the IBF super bantamweight rankings. Gamal Yafai, who defends his European title this Saturday against Jason Cunningham, keeps his ten spot with Brad Foster two behind at 12.
Lee McGregor and Paul Butler are at three and four in the IBF bantamweight rankings. Could we see a world title eliminator between the pair soon?
Charlie Edwards goes into the top five in the super flyweight rankings as his brother, and new IBF flyweight champion Sunny, leaves the scene.
Jay Harris was due to fight Ricardo Sandoval this weekend in an IBF flyweight final eliminator, but the show will now be rescheduled. The Welshman moves down to number eight in the rankings.
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