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🏠Home📊Rankings🔍Search🏆Champions

Cruiserweight Boxing Rankings — May 2021

Official Cruiserweight rankings for May 2021.

Presented as a historical snapshot for that month. Use the weight-class arrows to move up or down divisions, the month controls to jump between updates, and click any fighter's name to see their ranking history across the four organisations.

Division
Period
Org
RankWBAMay 2021WBCIBFMay 2021WBOMay 2021
🏆France flagArsen Goulamirian
Super Champion
Not available for May 2021
Latvia flagMairis Briedis
Champion
United Kingdom flagLawrence Okolie
Champion
🏆Belgium flagRyad Merhy
World Champion

1Nigeria flagEfetobor Apochi
Vacant
Montenegro flagDilan Prasovic
2Cuba flagYuniel DorticosPoland flagMichal Cieslak▲+6Russia flagMurat Gassiev
3South Africa flagKevin LerenaAustralia flagJai OpetaiaSouth Africa flagThabiso McHunu
4Ireland flagTommy McCarthy▲+1United Kingdom flagTommy McCarthy▲+1New Zealand flagDavid Light
5United Kingdom flagChris Billam-Smith▲+1New Zealand flagDavid Light▲+1Australia flagJai Opetaia
6Germany flagFirat Arslan▲+2Kazakhstan flagArtur Mann▲+1Russia flagAleksei Papin
7United States flagRaphael Murphy▲+2Italy flagFabio Turchi▲+2Poland flagMichal Cieslak
8Bulgaria flagTervel Pulev▲+2Poland flagMateusz Masternak▲+2Germany flagArtur Mann
9Poland flagMichal CieslakNEWUnited Kingdom flagChris Billam-Smith▲+4Russia flagAleksei Egorov
10United Kingdom flagRichard Riakporhe▼-3Russia flagAleksei PapinNEWPoland flagMateusz Masternak
11United States flagDeon NicholsonSouth Africa flagKevin LerenaBulgaria flagTervel Pulev
12Malaysia flagMuhamad FarkhanBelgium flagBilal LaggouneRussia flagYury Kashinsky
13Albania flagJurgen UldedeajPoland flagPawel StepienNEWAlbania flagJurgen Uldedeaj
14Kazakhstan flagSerik MusadilovRussia flagEvgeny TishchenkoIreland flagTommy McCarthyNEW
15Hungary flagImre SzelloItaly flagLuca D'OrtenziNEWUnited States flagAnthony Martinez

Source: WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO

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About the Cruiserweight Division

Weight Limit: 175-200 lbs (79.4-90.7 kg)

The Cruiserweight division, also known as Junior Heavyweight in some organizations, sits between Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight. Established in 1979, it has become one of boxing's most competitive divisions.

Division Characteristics

Cruiserweights combine the speed and athleticism of lighter divisions with significant power. Fighters in this division often have the best of both worlds - quickness and knockout ability.

Notable Facts

The Cruiserweight division has produced many fighters who have successfully moved up to Heavyweight, including Evander Holyfield and David Haye. The division is known for exciting, action-packed fights.

Historical Context

Originally created to provide opportunities for fighters too small for Heavyweight but too large for Light Heavyweight, Cruiserweight has developed into a respected and competitive division in its own right.

Learn more about how boxing rankings work or explore current world champions across all divisions.

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Month-over-month changes since April 2021

WBAMay 2021 vs April 2021

Entered the top 10

  • PL flag
    Michal CieslakNow ranked #9

Dropped out of the top 10

  • RU flag
    Yury KashinskyWas #4 last month

Biggest risers

  • DE flag
    Firat ArslanClimbed from #8 to #6
    ▲+2
  • US flag
    Raphael MurphyClimbed from #9 to #7
    ▲+2
  • BG flag
    Tervel PulevFrom #10 to #8
    ▲+2

Biggest fallers

  • GB flag
    Richard RiakporheNow #10 after #7 last month
    ▼-3

IBFMay 2021 vs April 2021

Entered the top 10

  • GB flag
    Chris Billam-SmithJumped from #13 into the top 10
  • RU flag
    Aleksei PapinNow ranked #10

Dropped out of the top 10

  • RU flag
    Yury KashinskyWas #4 last month

Biggest risers

  • PL flag
    Michal CieslakImproved from #8 to #2
    ▲+6
  • GB flag
    Chris Billam-SmithUp 4 places to #9
    ▲+4
  • IT flag
    Fabio TurchiFrom #9 to #7
    ▲+2