WBA Cruiserweight Rankings Archive | January 2021

Rank	WBAJanuary 2021
	Arsen Goulamirian Super Champion
	Ryad MerhyNEW World Champion
1	Yuniel Dorticos+3
2	Kevin Lerena
3	Richard Riakporhe
4	Mike Wilson+1
5	Ahmed Elbiali+1
6	Deon Nicholson+1
7	Raphael Murphy+1
8	Tervel Pulev+1
9	Yury Kashinsky+1
10	Tommy McCarthy+1
11	Chris Billam-Smith+3
12	Imre Szello
13	Muhamad Farkhan
14	Jurgen Uldedeaj+1
15	Serik MusadilovNEW

Source

January 2021 archive

Box-Rank presents each published list in a consistent format. Browse this division and its archive, read the methodology, or see how Box-Rank differs from BoxRec.

Month-over-month changes since December 2020

There is a new World Champion: Ryad Merhy(previously Beibut Shumenov)

Became champion: 29 January 2021

Promoted from interim champion after Beibut Shumenov was stripped.

First shown in January 2021 rankingsView source

Entered the top 10

Tommy McCarthyPreviously #11, enters at #10

Biggest risers

Yuniel DorticosJumped from #4 to #1
+3
Chris Billam-SmithUp 3 places to #11
+3
Mike WilsonFrom #5 to #4
+1

WBA Cruiserweight Title History

Champions who have held each belt, from oldest to most recent. Title history only goes back as far as our earliest WBA monthly rankings (February 1982).

WBA Cruiserweight - Super Champion

David Benavidez

2 May 2026Current

6 months

Became champion: 2 May 2026

Won the title by knocking out Gilberto Ramirez in the sixth round in Las Vegas, also taking his WBO title.

First shown in May 2026 rankingsView source

Gilberto Ramirez

4 November 20242 May 2026

1 year 7 months

Became champion: 4 November 2024

Listed as Super Champion in the WBA October 2024 ratings posted on 4 November.

First shown in November 2024 rankingsView source

Arsen Goulamirian

1 September 201930 March 2024

4 years 7 months

Became champion: 1 September 2019

Promoted to Super Champion on the WBA August 2019 ratings posted on 1 September.

First shown in September 2019 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

April 2019June 2019

3 months

Oleksandr Usyk

21 July 201827 March 2019

9 months

Became champion: 21 July 2018

Won the title by unanimous decision against Murat Gassiev in Moscow.

First shown in July 2018 rankingsView source

Murat Gassiev

3 February 201821 July 2018

6 months

Became champion: 3 February 2018

Won the unified title by defeating Yuniel Dorticos.

First shown in February 2018 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

21 May 20163 February 2018

1 year 10 months

Became champion: 21 May 2016

Won the super title by defeating Victor Ramirez while already holding the regular title.

First shown in May 2016 rankingsView source

David Haye

10 November 200719 June 2008

8 months

Became champion: 10 November 2007

Won the title by defeating Jean Marc Mormeck.

First shown in November 2007 rankingsView source

Jean Marc Mormeck

17 March 2007September 2007

7 months

Became champion: 17 March 2007

Regained the title by defeating O'Neil Bell.

First shown in March 2007 rankingsView source

O'Neil Bell

7 January 200617 March 2007

1 year 3 months

Became champion: 7 January 2006

Won the title by defeating Jean Marc Mormeck.

First shown in January 2006 rankingsView source

Jean Marc Mormeck

2 April 2005November 2005

8 months

Became champion: 2 April 2005

Won the unified title by defeating Wayne Braithwaite.

First shown in April 2005 rankingsView source

WBA Cruiserweight - World Champion

Jai Opetaia

12 September 2026Current

2 months

Became champion: 12 September 2026

Won the WBA world title by stopping Norair Mikaeljan in the ninth round in Las Vegas.

First shown in September 2026 rankingsView source

Gilberto Ramirez

30 March 20244 November 2024

9 months

Became champion: 30 March 2024

Won the title by unanimous decision against Arsen Goulamirian in Inglewood.

First shown in March 2024 rankingsView source

Ryad Merhy

29 January 202112 August 2022

1 year 8 months

Became champion: 29 January 2021

Promoted from interim champion after Beibut Shumenov was stripped.

First shown in January 2021 rankingsView source

Beibut Shumenov

1 September 201929 January 2021

1 year 5 months

Became champion: 1 September 2019

Reinstated as regular champion when Arsen Goulamirian was promoted to Super Champion.

First shown in September 2019 rankingsView source

Arsen Goulamirian

31 May 2019July 2019

3 months

Became champion: 31 May 2019

Promoted from interim champion after Beibut Shumenov was stripped.

First shown in May 2019 rankingsView source

Beibut Shumenov

7 July 201831 May 2019

11 months

Became champion: 7 July 2018

Won the regular title by defeating Hizni Altunkaya.

First shown in July 2018 rankingsView source

Yuniel Dorticos

20 June 20173 February 2018

9 months

Became champion: 20 June 2017

Promoted from interim champion after Beibut Shumenov vacated the regular title.

First shown in June 2017 rankingsView source

Beibut Shumenov

21 May 2016April 2017

1 year

Became champion: 21 May 2016

Won the regular title by defeating Junior Anthony Wright.

First shown in May 2016 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

18 October 201321 May 2016

2 years 8 months

Became champion: 18 October 2013

Reinstated as champion after Guillermo Jones was stripped for a positive drug test.

First shown in October 2013 rankingsView source

Guillermo Jones

17 May 2013August 2013

4 months

Became champion: 17 May 2013

Won the title by knocking out Denis Lebedev in the eleventh round in Moscow.

First shown in May 2013 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

30 October 201217 May 2013

8 months

Became champion: 30 October 2012

Promoted from interim champion after Guillermo Jones was placed champion in recess.

First shown in October 2012 rankingsView source

Guillermo Jones

27 September 200830 October 2012

4 years 2 months

Became champion: 27 September 2008

Won the title by defeating Firat Arslan.

First shown in September 2008 rankingsView source

Firat Arslan

24 November 200727 September 2008

11 months

Became champion: 24 November 2007

Won the regular title by defeating Virgil Hill.

First shown in November 2007 rankingsView source

Virgil Hill

27 January 2006September 2007

1 year 9 months

Became champion: 27 January 2006

Won the regular title by defeating Valery Brudov.

First shown in January 2006 rankingsView source

Jean Marc Mormeck

23 February 20022 April 2005

3 years 3 months

Became champion: 23 February 2002

Won the title by defeating Virgil Hill.

First shown in February 2002 rankingsView source

Virgil Hill

9 December 200023 February 2002

1 year 3 months

Became champion: 9 December 2000

Won the title by defeating Fabrice Tiozzo.

First shown in December 2000 rankingsView source

Fabrice Tiozzo

8 November 19979 December 2000

3 years 2 months

Became champion: 8 November 1997

Won the title by defeating Nate Miller.

First shown in January 2000 rankingsView source

Nate Miller

22 July 1995November 1997

2 years 5 months

Became champion: 22 July 1995

Won the title by defeating Orlin Norris.

First shown in rankingsView source

Orlin Norris

6 November 1993July 1995

1 year 9 months

Became champion: 6 November 1993

Won the vacant title by defeating Marcelo Figueroa.

First shown in rankingsView source

Bobby Czyz

8 March 1991October 1993

2 years 8 months

Became champion: 8 March 1991

Won the title by defeating Robert Daniels.

First shown in rankingsView source

Robert Daniels

27 November 1989March 1991

1 year 5 months

Became champion: 27 November 1989

Won the vacant title by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

First shown in rankingsView source

Taoufik Belbouli

25 March 1989August 1989

6 months

Became champion: 25 March 1989

Won the vacant title by defeating Michael Greer.

First shown in rankingsView source

Evander Holyfield

12 July 1986December 1988

2 years 6 months

Became champion: 12 July 1986

Won the title by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

First shown in rankingsView source

Dwight Muhammad Qawi

27 July 1985July 1986

1 year 1 month

Became champion: 27 July 1985

Won the title by defeating Piet Crous.

First shown in rankingsView source

Piet Crous

1 December 1984July 1985

8 months

Became champion: 1 December 1984

Won the title by defeating Ossie Ocasio.

First shown in rankingsView source

Ossie Ocasio

13 February 1982December 1984

2 years 11 months

Became champion: 13 February 1982

Won the title by defeating Robbie Williams.

First shown in rankingsView source

WBA Cruiserweight - Interim Champion

Yoan Pablo Hernandez

12 February 2011September 2011

8 months

Became champion: 12 February 2011

Won the interim title by knocking out Steve Herelius in the seventh round.

First shown in February 2011 rankingsView source

Steve Herelius

3 July 201012 February 2011

8 months

Became champion: 3 July 2010

Won the vacant interim title when Firat Arslan retired at the end of the eleventh round.

First shown in July 2010 rankingsView source

Firat Arslan

16 June 200724 November 2007

6 months

Became champion: 16 June 2007

Won the interim title by split decision against Valery Brudov.

First shown in June 2007 rankingsView source

Valery Brudov

2 December 200616 June 2007

7 months

Became champion: 2 December 2006

Won the interim title by stopping Luis Andres Pineda in Paris.

First shown in December 2006 rankingsView source

WBA Cruiserweight Title History

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WBA Cruiserweight boxing rankings- January 2021

Month-over-month changes since December 2020

Entered the top 10

Biggest risers

WBA Cruiserweight Title History

WBA Cruiserweight - Super Champion

WBA Cruiserweight - World Champion

WBA Cruiserweight - Interim Champion

WBA Cruiserweight Title History

WBA Cruiserweight Title History

WBA Cruiserweight - Super Champion

WBA Cruiserweight - World Champion

WBA Cruiserweight - Interim Champion