ESPN Boxing Rankings: Hutchinson and Clarke Rise After Wins

Willy Hutchinson and Cheavon Clarke have made significant moves in ESPN’s latest divisional boxing rankings following impressive victories over highly ranked opponents. Hutchinson captured the vacant WBC light heavyweight title by defeating Joshua Buatsi, while Clarke delivered an upset seventh-round stoppage against former cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith.

The latest results from Manchester and London have reshaped the rankings in two weight divisions. Hutchinson has climbed into the light heavyweight top five, while Clarke has entered the cruiserweight top 10. Meanwhile, Buatsi and Billam-Smith have both dropped three positions following their defeats.

Willy Hutchinson Enters Light Heavyweight Top Five After Beating Joshua Buatsi

Hutchinson produced an important performance on Saturday in Manchester, England, defeating Joshua Buatsi by unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBC light heavyweight championship.

The victory also allowed Hutchinson to avenge his previous defeat against Buatsi. The two fighters first met in September 2024, when Hutchinson suffered a split-decision loss. This time, he secured the win through scorecards of 117-112, 115-113 and 115-113.

It was the first world championship of Hutchinson’s professional career and a major achievement in his boxing journey. His latest victory has moved him from No. 9 to No. 5 in ESPN’s light heavyweight rankings.

Buatsi, who struggled to establish his rhythm throughout the contest, has fallen from No. 5 to No. 8 following the unanimous-decision defeat.

Cheavon Clarke Stops Chris Billam-Smith in Cruiserweight Upset

Another major rankings change came in London, where Cheavon Clarke defeated Chris Billam-Smith by seventh-round technical knockout in a cruiserweight contest.

Clarke dropped Billam-Smith during the seventh round before continuing his attack and forcing the referee to stop the fight. Referee Lee Every officially ended the contest at 1 minute and 24 seconds of the round.

The upset victory has earned Clarke the No. 6 position in ESPN’s cruiserweight rankings, entering the top 10 for the first time in the supplied rankings. Billam-Smith, previously ranked No. 4, has dropped three places to No. 7.

Clarke now holds a professional record of 13-2, including 10 knockouts. Billam-Smith’s record stands at 22-3, with 14 knockouts.

Denzel Bentley Retains Middleweight Ranking After Beating Shane Mosley Jr.

Denzel Bentley also recorded a significant victory on the London card, defeating Shane Mosley Jr. by unanimous decision in a 10-round middleweight contest.

The judges scored the fight 96-94, 96-93 and 95-94 in Bentley’s favour. One of the key moments came in the second round, when Bentley dropped Mosley with two right hands. It was the first knockdown of Mosley’s professional career.

Mosley recovered from the knockdown and remained competitive throughout the contest, but he could not turn the fight around. Bentley secured the decision and retained his No. 10 position in the middleweight rankings.

Umar Dzambekov Enters Light Heavyweight Top 10

Umar Dzambekov delivered another impressive performance on the same card, recording a fourth-round knockout victory over Zach Parker in a light heavyweight bout.

Dzambekov landed a powerful left hook to Parker’s body, sending his opponent down to his knees. Parker was unable to beat the count, giving Dzambekov the knockout victory.

The result has moved Dzambekov into the No. 10 position in the light heavyweight rankings. He replaces Parker in the top 10 and now holds a professional record of 15-0, with 11 knockouts.

Abraham Perez Retains Interim Flyweight Title

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Abraham Perez successfully defended his WBA interim flyweight championship against Yankiel Rivera.

Perez controlled the contest after dropping Rivera with a left hand in the second round. He maintained his advantage over the remaining rounds and secured a unanimous-decision victory.

The judges scored the fight 118-109, 120-107 and 119-109. With the win, Perez improved his professional record to 16-0 and retained his No. 5 position in the flyweight rankings.

Pedro Taduran Keeps IBF Strawweight Championship

Pedro Taduran also came away with a successful title defence, defeating Brandon Moreno by unanimous decision to retain his IBF strawweight championship.

The judges scored the 12-round contest 120-108, 115-113 and 115-113. The victory allowed Taduran to maintain his position at No. 2 in the strawweight division.

Taduran’s latest result keeps him among the leading fighters in boxing’s smallest weight class, with Oscar Collazo occupying the No. 1 position in the supplied rankings.

Latest Boxing Divisional Rankings: Major Changes

The latest results have produced several important movements across the cruiserweight, light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. The most notable changes include:

• Willy Hutchinson: Climbs from No. 9 to No. 5 at light heavyweight and becomes the WBC champion.
• Joshua Buatsi: Drops from No. 5 to No. 8 after losing to Hutchinson.
• Cheavon Clarke: Enters the cruiserweight rankings at No. 6 after stopping Billam-Smith.
• Chris Billam-Smith: Falls from No. 4 to No. 7 following his seventh-round TKO defeat.
• Umar Dzambekov: Enters the light heavyweight top 10 at No. 10.
• Denzel Bentley: Retains his No. 10 middleweight position.
• Abraham Perez: Remains No. 5 in the flyweight rankings after retaining his interim title.
• Pedro Taduran: Holds the No. 2 position in the strawweight division after defending his IBF championship.

Updated Cruiserweight Rankings

Cheavon Clarke’s victory has brought a major change to the cruiserweight top 10. Jai Opetaia remains at No. 1, while David Benavidez occupies second place. Clarke’s entry at No. 6 comes at the expense of Billam-Smith, who moves down to seventh.

Updated Light Heavyweight Rankings

Hutchinson’s championship victory has moved him into the fifth position in the division. Dmitry Bivol remains at the top, followed by David Benavidez and Imam Khataev. Buatsi has fallen to eighth, while Dzambekov has entered the top 10.

How ESPN’s Divisional Boxing Rankings Work

ESPN’s divisional boxing rankings identify leading fighters across the sport’s different weight classes. Rankings are adjusted based on recent results and performances, meaning major victories and defeats can significantly affect a boxer’s position.

Fighters who announce a move to another weight division will be considered for rankings in their new category when warranted, but only after competing in that weight class. Boxers who currently hold championships in two divisions can appear in both rankings.

The rankings also include inactivity rules. A fighter who has not competed during the previous 12 months and does not have a scheduled bout will be removed until returning to action. Any boxer who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed and can become eligible for re-entry after completing their next fight.

What the Latest Results Mean for Boxing

The latest rankings changes highlight how quickly the competitive picture can shift following major fights. Hutchinson has turned a previous defeat into a world championship victory, while Clarke has used an upset stoppage to break into the cruiserweight top six.

Buatsi and Billam-Smith now face the challenge of rebuilding their positions after significant defeats. Meanwhile, Dzambekov’s knockout victory has opened the door to a place among the light heavyweight division’s top 10.

With several other divisions remaining highly competitive, upcoming fights will continue to influence the rankings and shape potential championship matchups across Professional Boxing.