ANTHONY JOSHUA has moved up to No2 in Ring Magazine’s heavyweight rankings – just underneath champion Tyson Fury.
AJ received the elevation after emphatically knocking out Kubrat Pulev, 39, to close out 2020.
The win sets the WBA, IBF and WBO champion up with a mammoth undisputed title decider against long-time rival Fury next year. `
The Gypsy King, 32, won his WBC title against American Deontay Wilder, 35, in February.
And as the pair were ranked No1 and No2 with the Ring Magazine, the vacant belt was on the line.
It meant Fury had become the first heavyweight to win the title since he vacated it following his upset over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Despite Wilder’s first career defeat, he has only dropped down to No2.
Alexander Povetkin, 41, slots in at No3 following his stunning knockout over Dillian Whyte, 32, in the summer.
The pair were due to rematch in November but Povetkin’s battle against coronavirus has backdated the fight.
Luis Ortiz, 41, is the fifth ranked contender with 31-year-old Andy Ruiz Jr – who has not fought since defeat to AJ last year – just behind the Cuban.
Former WBO champion Joseph Parker, 28, is No7 with Michael Hunter, 32, No8.
Oscar Rivas, 33, is just in front of No10 Oleksandr Usyk, also 33, who is Joshua’s current mandatory challenger.
