Boxing
Tim Tszyu is ranked 2nd in the WBO rankings
The rankings follow Tszyu’s December 17 10-round unanimous decision win over Anthony Velazquez in Sydney. It wasn’t a spectacular performance, but it was steady, controlled and free from drama. That alone had value after a challenging period in which Tszyu lost three of five fights and saw his reputation take a earnest hit.
Losses to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev exposed the limitations of his approach, especially when opponents refused to trade and instead tried to manage his pressure with discipline.
The WBO’s decision to promote Tszyu so quickly also causes a reshuffle of well-known names. Now he is ahead of Keith Thurman and Israil Madrimov, players with recent credibility but less immediate standing. The ranking brings Tszyu closer to a potential chance to fight the unified WBA and WBO champion Xander Zayas, and this fight will be a test of more than just endurance.
In recent fights, Zayas has shown that he is comfortable slowing down the fight, relying on movement, clinching and compact positional victories, as seen in his matches against Abass Baraou and Jorge Garcia Perez. These are the kinds of fights Tszyu tried to impose on his own terms.
None of this guarantees Tszyu a title shot. Its place involves constant victories and careful selection of players. His team will have to be selective, especially when dealing with opponents who repeat the same problems he has already faced.
A quick rematch with someone like Murtazaliev, fresh off a defeat but still stylistically awkward, would risk undoing the progress his ranking suggests.
This placement really stands out. Tszyu is now sitting above Murtazaliev, even though he was recently detained by him. The explanation appears to be based less on Tszyu’s resurgence and more on how Murtazaliev looked after his loss to Josh Kelly. It was a restrained performance that lacked the sharpness and control that usually keeps a player on top after defeat.
Rankings often reflect recent impressions as much as past performance, and in this case the WBO appears to have relied heavily on recent tape.
For Tszyu, the path forward is clearer than the destination. The ranking gives him room to rebuild, not permission to stumble.
Jai Opetai’s fight against Brandon Glanton is still moving forward, but veteran reporter Dan Rafael says the issue that caused the IBF title to be removed from the fight had to do with how the belt was presented during fight week. Rafael reported that IBF president Daryl Peoples believes that the organization’s title was shown as secondary to Zuffa’s belt during a recent press conference.
This explanation makes the argument about the presentation rather than the match itself. Rafael wrote that Peoples objected to the way the belts were arranged at the press, with Zuffa’s belt posed for the cameras while Opetaia held the IBF title rather than raising it in the usual manner towards the audience.
“The IBF withdrew sanctions and sent the overseer home after the journalist because IBF President Daryl Peoples felt disrespected by the belt being placed secondary to Zuffa’s,” Rafael wrote on social media.
Fight week photos reflect the arrangement Rafael described. At the final press conference on Friday, Zuffa’s belt was centered and Opetaia held the red IBF title at his side. Saturday’s weigh-in had a similar effect. Zuffa’s belt was raised over the fighters on the restart, while Opetaia continued to hold the IBF Championship on his chest. This sequence appears to have irritated the sanctioning authority.
Rafael also reported another unusual detail related to the fight. Even after the IBF dropped its sanctions, Opetai and Glanton were still expected to adhere to IBF weight rules ahead of the morning fight. Rafael said that no competitor can weigh more than ten pounds over the cruiserweight weight limit of 200.
Rafael later noticed that the IBF belt continued to appear in promotion for the event. Opetaia held the title at media events and discussed it publicly, and graphics broadcast by Zuffa covered the championship. Rafael’s account points to the dispute that raged over Zuffa’s title belt relationship during press events.
Opetaia entered fight week as the IBF cruiserweight champion after regaining the belt in a rematch victory over Mairis Briedis in 2024. The Australian continues to wear the physical belt while promoting his fight against Glanton. Once he steps into the ring and takes part in an unsanctioned fight, the IBF Championship will no longer move forward with him.
The fight remains scheduled, and reports from Rafael indicate that the split was due to belt politics and presentations at public events. The episode shows how rigorously sanctioning bodies guard the status of their championships as modern promoters introduce competitive titles.
Click here to sign up for our FREE newsletter
Related boxing news:
Last update: 2026/03/07 at 15:51
The Inoue-Nakatani title fight will take place on May 2 at the Tokyo Dome
Dan Rafael says IBF president opposed Jai Opetaia Presser
Conor Benn WANTS Eddie Hearn In His Corner!
-
Opinions & Features1 year agoPacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
-
MMA1 year agoDmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
-
Results1 year agoStephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
-
Results1 year agoKeyshawn Davis Ko’s Berinchyk, when Xander Zayas moves to 21-0
-
Video1 year agoFrank Warren on Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin – ‘I THOUGHT OTTO WOULD GIVE DEREK PROBLEMS!’
-
Analysis11 months agoRobert Garcia discusses the debate on the greatest Mexican warrior in history
-
Video1 year ago‘DEREK CHISORA RETIRE TONIGHT!’ – Anthony Yarde PLEADS for retirement after WALLIN
-
Results1 year agoLive: Catterall vs Barboza results and results card