A once promising heavyweight career took a terrible hit on Saturday when Joe Joyce dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to beloved veteran Derek Chisora at the O2 Arena in London.
Joyce retained a No. 8 position in the ratings following back-to-back stoppage losses to Chinese goliath Zhilei Zhang last year. However, this latest setback sees the Olympic silver medalist from Rio 2016 exit the top 12.
The void in the ratings is filled by hard-hitting Nigerian Efe Ajagba, who debuts at No. 12. In the wake of Joyce's exit, Martin Bakole, Filip Hrgovic, Jared Anderson and Frank Sanchez all move up one space.
Heavyweight rankings: The Sporting News' top 12
| Rank | Fighter | Titles | Record | Movement (July 29, 2024) |
| 1 | IBF, WBA, WBC WBO, Ring | 22-0 (14 KOs) |
- | |
| 2 | 34-1-1 (24 KOs) |
- | ||
| 3 | 28-3 (24 KOs) |
- | ||
| 4 | 35-3 (22 KOs) |
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| 5 | 27-2-1 (22 KOs) |
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| 6 |
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25-0 (16 KOs) | - | |
| 7 | 21-2 (20 KOs) | - | ||
| 8 | Martin Bakole | 20-1 (15 KOs) |
+1 | |
| 9 | 17-1 (14 KOs0 | +1 | ||
| 10 | 17-0 (15 KOs) |
+1 | ||
| 11 | 24-1 (17 KOs) |
+1 | ||
| 12 | 20-1 (14 KOs) | NEW |
The best in the world at heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk
As Ukrainian wizard Oleksandr Usyk was cutting a swathe through the cruiserweight division, the undisputed champ was tipped to achieve big things at heavyweight. He didn't disappoint, scoring two memorable points triumphs over Anthony Joshua.
Due in part to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Usyk has suffered periods of inactivity. The 37-year-old technician returned to action last August and battered Britain's Daniel Dubois to a ninth-round stoppage defeat before targeting undisputed glory.
Usyk's triumph over Tyson Fury is arguably the finest performance of his Hall of Fame career. Sublimely skilled, but with the courage of a soldier, Usyk is now firmly established as an all-time great in the sport.