Boxing divisional rankings: Hutchinson rises, Billam-Smith falls

Willy Hutchinson defeated Joshua Buatsi by unanimous decision Saturday in Manchester, England, to capture the vacant WBC light heavyweight title.

Hutchinson, who lost a split decision to Buatsi in September 2024, avenged the loss via scorecards of 117-112, 115-113 and 115-113. This is the first world title of Hutchinson's professional career.

With the win, Hutchinson enters the top five at light heavyweight. Buatsi, who struggled to find his rhythm throughout the fight, drops three spots to No. 8.

In London, also on Saturday, Cheavon Clarke scored an upset with a seventh-round TKO victory over Chris Billam-Smith in a cruiserweight bout.

Clarke dropped Billam-Smith in Round 7 and finished him moments later, prompting referee Lee Every to stop the fight at 1 minute, 24 seconds. With the victory, Clarke enters the cruiserweight rankings at No. 6, while Billam-Smith drops three spots to No. 7.

In the co-main event, Denzel Bentley defeated Shane Mosley Jr. by unanimous decision (96-94, 96-93, 95-94) in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Bentley dropped Mosley with a pair of right hands in Round 2 -- the first time Mosley had been knocked down in his career. Mosley recovered well and remained competitive but couldn't pull off the upset. Bentley retains the No. 10 spot in the middleweight rankings.

Also on the card, Umar Dzambekov scored an impressive fourth-round KO of Zach Parker in a light heavyweight bout. Dzambekov landed a left hook to the body that sent Parker to his knees, where he was counted out. With the victory, Dzambekov claims the No. 10 spot, previously held by Parker.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Abraham Perez dominated Yankiel Rivera to retain the WBA interim flyweight title on Saturday.

Perez dropped Rivera with a left hand in Round 2 and controlled the rest of the fight to earn a unanimous decision with scorecards of 118-109, 120-107 and 119-109. Perez retains the No. 5 spot in the flyweight rankings.

Earlier on the card, Pedro Taduran retained the IBF strawweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Moreno. The judges scored the fight 120-108, 115-113 and 115-113. Taduran retains the No. 2 spot in boxing's smallest division.

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 this week's changes: Cruiserweight | Light heavyweight | Super middleweight | Junior featherweight

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)