The WBC world heavyweight title is probably the most hallowed prize n the sport of boxing – and Agit Kabayel and Zhilei Zhang are the latest contenders fighting for a shot at the crown.
The great Oleksandr Usyk remains title holder in boxing’s marquee weight class after once again defeating the now-retired Tyson Fury in their rematch in Riyadh just before Christmas 2024. Only the IBF belt held by Daniel Dubois is not within his steely Ukrainian grip.
Now the question is who will be the next mandatory contender for that title, with a final eliminator between Kabayel (25-0) and Zhang (27-2-1) set to go down at the Kingdom Arena (live on DAZN PPV worldwide, plus Sky Sports Box Office in the UK). That is set for Saturday February 22, the same night Dubois will defend his IBF strap against tough Kiwi Joseph Parker.
WBC heavyweight rankings February 2025
The latest WBC rankings are now out for February, with the unbeaten and peerless Usyk at the top of the pile as champion, while Kabayel and Zhang follow next in the number 1 and 2 spots. Both men have improved their positions with stellar victories in the last 12 months.
German star Kabayel has come for virtually nowhere (Europe is just that most of the time from a heavyweight perspective) by bursting two huge unbeaten bubbles – those of fearsome Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov and Cuban slickster Frank Sanchez. Zhang meanwhile bounced back from a points defeat by Joseph Parker to pummel the fading force that is Deontay Wilder.
Next up after Kabayel and Zhang are the emerging forces that are Lawrence Okolie and Martin Bakole. Then it’s Anthony Joshua at #5 – a man who seemingly has no place to go right now after that devastating loss to Daniel Dubois and the retirement of the man mooted as his next opponent – a certain Tyson Fury.
Another Brit in Fabio Wardley is at 6, while Nigerian Efe Ajagba and Cuban Frank Sanchez follow next. The top 10 is rounded out by Uzbek slugger Bakhodir Jalolov and Sweden Otto Wallin. Otto of course fights the British warrior Dereck Chisora in Manchester tonight (Saturday February 8).
Croat Filip Hrgovic sits at 11 after seeing his world title dreams demolished for now by Dubois last summer, while Aussie Justis Huni is at 12. French prospect Mourad Aliev is 13 while the once feared Wilder is at 14. The top 15 is completed by Andy Ruiz, a man whose hopes of more title glory appear to be fading thanks to long periods of inactivity.
Full rankings
The full top 15 for the WBC in February 2025 is as follows:
- Champion: Oleksandr Usyk
- 1. Agit Kabayel
- 2. Zhilei Zhang
- 3. Lawrence Okolie
- 4. Martin Bakole
- 5. Anthony Joshua
- 6. Fabio Wardley
- 7. Efe Ajagba
- 8. Frank Sanchez
- 9. Bakhodir Jalolov
- 10. Otto Wallin
- 11. Filip Hrgovic
- 12. Justis Huni
- 13. Mourad Aliev
- 14. Deontay Wilder
- 15. Andy Ruiz Jr
