The WBA’s latest ratings update – released April 1 – includes the installation of five new No. 1 contenders.

At lightweight: William Zepeda, 33-0 (27 KOs) moved into the No. 1 spot, which had been vacant for several months. Zepeda was previously in that same position, only to be removed when he won the interim WBC title in November. 

Zepeda still has that WBC belt by virtue of his majority decision win in his rematch with Tevin Farmer this past weekend. Perhaps that is why there is an asterisk in the WBA’s ratings next to Zepeda’s name indicating “status under review.”

The WBA titleholder is Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

At junior lightweight: Elnur Samedov, 20-1 (9 KOs) defeated the 10-1-1 Saidi Mkola (unranked) in March, and that brought Samedov from No. 2 to No. 1. 

Otar Eranosyan, who hasn’t fought since August 2023, went from No. 1 to No. 3.

Sultan Zaurbek improved from No. 3 into the No. 2 spot.

The WBA titleholder is Lamont Roach Jnr while the interim belt belongs to Albert Batyrgaziev. That means Batyrgaziev is due a fight at Roach, but if Roach were to abdicate, then Batyrgaziev would be upgraded and Samedov would be his mandatory challenger.

At junior featherweight: Ramon Cardenas moved from No. 2 into the previously vacant No. 1 spot. That spot became vacant when Murodjon Akhmadaliev became the interim WBA titleholder at 122lbs.

That means Akhmadaliev is the WBA’s mandatory challenger for undisputed champion Naoya Inoue. But it is Cardenas who will get the first crack at Inoue on May 4. If Inoue wins, he is expected to face Akhmadaliev in September.

At flyweight: Yankiel Rivera, 7-0 (3 KOs), moved from No. 2 into the No. 1 spot, which had been vacant for more than a year. The last person ranked there was Dave Apolinario, who was removed from the rankings in March 2024 when he opted to fight for the IBF title.

At strawweight: The WBA continues to switch its rankings back and forth. Yuni Takada went from No. 1 to No. 2 last month and is now back at No. 1 this month, pushing Ryusei Matsumoto to No. 2.

The WBA’s titleholders and No. 1 contenders in each weight class are:

Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk has the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Kubrat Pulev has the WBA’s secondary “regular” belt; Fabio Wardley is the No. 1 contender. 

Bridgerweight: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov has the WBA title; Julio Cesar La Cruz is his No. 1 contender.

Cruiserweight: Gilberto Ramirez has the WBA and WBO world titles; Yuniel Dorticos is the WBA’s No. 1 contender. 

Light heavyweight: Dmitry Bivol has all four world titles. David Benavidez is the secondary “regular” titleholder and is therefore the WBA’s mandatory challenger, and he is identically situated as the WBC’s interim titleholder. Artur Beterbiev is the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts; Beterbiev similarly sits behind interim WBO titleholder Callum Smith.

Super middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has the WBA, WBC and WBO world titles; Caleb Plant is the WBA interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Canelo. Christian Mbilli is the WBA’s and WBC’s No. 1 contender. Canelo is scheduled to face IBF titleholder William Scull on May 3 for the undisputed championship.

Middleweight: Erislandy Lara has the world title; Yoenli Hernandez is his No. 1 contender.

Junior middleweight: Terence Crawford has the world title; Jermell Charlo is the “champion in recess” and would be in line for a title shot if and when he returns to the division; Yoenis Tellez is the WBA’s interim titleholder. Abass Baraou is the No. 1 contender.

Welterweight: Eimantas Stanionis has the WBA world title and is scheduled to fight IBF titleholder Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a unification match on April 12; Shakhram Giyasov is the WBA’s No. 1 contender.

Junior welterweight: Gary Antuanne Russell has the world title; Andy Hiraoka is his No. 1 contender. 

Lightweight: Gervonta Davis has the world title; William Zepeda is his No. 1 contender and is also the interim WBC titleholder, in line to challenge Shakur Stevenson.

Junior lightweight: Lamont Roach Jnr has the world title; Albert Batyrgaziev is the interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Roach; Elnur Samedov is the No. 1 contender. 

Featherweight: Nick Ball has the world title; Mirco Cuello is his No. 1 contender. 

Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue has all four world titles; Murodjon Akhmadaliev has the WBA’s interim title; Ramon Cardenas is the No. 1 contender. Inoue is scheduled defend against Ramon Cardenas on May 4 in Las Vegas

Bantamweight: Seiya Tsutsumi has the world title; Antonio Vargas is the interim titleholder; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant

Junior bantamweight: Fernando Martinez has the world title; David Jimenez is the interim titleholder and is ostensibly the mandatory challenger for Martinez; Roman Gonzalez is the No. 1 contender for the WBA, WBC and WBO. 

Flyweight: Kenshiro Teraji has the WBA and WBC world titles; Yankiel Rivera is the WBA’s No. 1 contender.

Junior flyweight: Erick Rosa has the world title; the No. 1 slot is currently vacant.

Minimumweight: Oscar Collazo has the WBA and WBO world titles; Yuni Takada is the WBA’s No. 1 contender.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.