Boxing divisional rankings: Kuse enters strawweight top five with WBC title win

          Siyakholwa Kuse, right, beat Melvin Jerusalem, left, by unanimous decision to earn the WBC strawweight title and enter ESPN's divisional rankings. Wasim Mather/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
          • Andreas HaleMay 23, 2026, 07:49 PM ET
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              Andreas Hale is a combat sports reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and pro wrestling. In Andreas' free time, he plays video games, obsesses over music and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He is also a host for Sirius XM's Fight Nation. Before joining ESPN, Andreas was a senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News. He started his career as a music journalist for outlets including HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z's Life+Times. He is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker as a producer for the animated short film "Bridges" in 2024.
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          Although several ranked fighters were active over the weekend, only one division saw significant movement.

          Siyakholwa Kuse avenged his October 2025 loss to Melvin Jerusalem, outpointing Jerusalem in the rematch to claim the WBC strawweight title. Kuse showed maturity during exchanges, taking the fight to Jerusalem in the middle rounds and extending a lead on the scorecards. It all nearly came crashing down for Kuse in Round 11, when Jerusalem knocked him down with a right hook. But Kuse composed himself and fought to the final bell, winning with scores of 116-112, 116-111 and 115-112.

          Kuse moves up to No. 4 in the rankings while Jerusalem falls to No. 5.

          Also on Saturday, Keyshawn Davis dominated Nahir Albright to hold his spot at No. 3 in the junior welterweight rankings and Filip Hrgovic maintained his No. 9 slot at heavyweight by smashing through David Allen in three rounds.

          Brian Norman Jr. bounced back from his decision loss to Devin Haney with a second-round stoppage of Josh Wagner to retain the No. 2 spot at welterweight.

          ESPN's divisional boxing rankings highlight the best in the sport in every weight class. Rankings will change based on recent results and performances. Fighters who have announced they are moving to a different weight class will be ranked in that new division, if warranted, only once they fight in that weight class. Fighters who currently own titles in two divisions can be ranked in both.

          Fighters who haven't competed in the past 12 months -- and don't have a fight scheduled -- will be dropped from the rankings until they fight again. Any fighter who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed. That boxer will be eligible to reenter the rankings after his next bout.

          For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For ESPN women's divisional rankings, click here.

          Jump to weight classes with changes: Strawweight

          HEAVYWEIGHT (UNLIMITED)

          CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)

          LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)

          SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)

          MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 154 POUNDS)

          WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 147 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 140 POUNDS)

          LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 135 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 130 POUNDS)

          FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 126 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 122 POUNDS)

          BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 118 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 115 POUNDS)

          FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 112 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 108 POUNDS)

          STRAWWEIGHT (UP TO 105 POUNDS)