Two Uzbek Fighters Top the WBA Rankings: A New Name Joins Them

Uzbekistan’s professional boxing scene continues to strengthen its position on the world stage. The WBA’s updated July rankings include nine representatives from the country.

Bektemir Melikuziev and Muhammad Shekhov remain the No. 1 contenders in their respective weight classes. Ruslan Abdullaev entered the WBA’s official top-15 rankings for the first time in his professional career.

Two Uzbeks Make the Top Three in One Division

The most notable situation is in the junior featherweight division. Muhammad Shekhov retained first place, while former world champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev is ranked third.

The WBA super-champion belt in this division belongs to Japan’s Naoya Inoue. This means two Uzbek boxers are simultaneously ranked in the division’s top three.

Shekhov moved into first place in May after defeating Yeru Betancourt on points in a 12-round final eliminator. He retained his status as the leading contender in the July rankings.

However, being ranked first does not mean that a title fight will be scheduled immediately. The WBA Championship Committee must issue a separate order for a mandatory defense and set a negotiation period for the parties.

Melikuziev’s Status Is Even Clearer

Bektemir Melikuziev remained No. 1 at super middleweight. The WBA’s official rankings list the designation OC — Official Challenger, next to his name.

This is a more significant status than simply holding first place. It shows that Melikuziev is the leading candidate for a title fight.

The WBA world champion at super middleweight is Mexico’s Jaime Munguia. In May 2026, he won the belt by defeating Jose Armando Resendiz on points.

Thus, the most likely major target for Melikuziev is a title fight against Munguia. However, no official announcement has yet been made regarding the bout’s date, location or negotiations.

Ruslan Abdullaev Enters the Top 15

One of the main developments in the July rankings concerns Ruslan Abdullaev. He was ranked 13th at junior welterweight, entering the WBA’s official top 15 for the first time.

Abdullaev was ranked 16th in the expanded internal list in June. Therefore, his current achievement should not be described as being ranked for the first time, but rather as entering the official top 15 for the first time in a more precise description.

Achieving such a result so early in his professional career is particularly significant. According to the WBA, Abdullaev’s official record consists of four wins with no defeats, including two victories by knockout.

The champion in this division is American Gary Antuanne Russell. Abdullaev is not yet in a position close to a title fight, but every top-15 victory could move him higher in the rankings.

Uzbek Boxers’ Complete Rankings

The following places were held by Uzbek boxers in the WBA’s official July rankings:

In the official list, Sirochbek Ismoilov’s name appears in abbreviated form as Siro Choi . He is ranked 13th in the lightweight division, where the championship belt is currently vacant.

Dusmatov Remains Steady in the Rankings

Hasanboy Dusmatov retained sixth place in the WBA rankings. The official list places him not in the minimumweight division, but in the flyweight division. The WBA champion at this weight is Ricardo Rafael Sandoval.

Dusmatov has held this position steadily since the beginning of 2026. A victory over a highly ranked opponent or a WBA eliminator could now bring him closer to a title shot.

Kholmatov and Giyasov Remain in the Top 10

Otabek Kholmatov retained eighth place at featherweight. The champion in this division is American Brandon Figueroa, who stopped Nick Ball in the 12th round in February 2026 to win the WBA belt.

Shakhram Giyasov also remained eighth at welterweight. The WBA super title in this division belongs to Rolando Romero, while the regular world title is held by Jack Catterall.

Since both boxers are in the top 10, one or two important victories could bring them closer to an eliminator. However, opponent selection and the status of the fight will be decisive in this process.

Madrimov Remains Seventh

Israel Madrimov retained seventh place at super welterweight. The WBA champion in the division is Jaron Ennis.

Madrimov has more experience than many other contenders in the rankings because he was previously a WBA world champion and has fought elite opponents.

However, to return to the higher positions, he will need a victory over a highly ranked opponent in the super welterweight division.

Two of the Nine Boxers Are Very Close to a Title Fight

The new rankings show that Uzbek professional boxing has developed not only individual stars but also a competitive group of boxers across various weight classes.

At present:

• two boxers are ranked first;

• another boxer is in the top three;

• four representatives are in the top 10;

• two young boxers are in the top 15.

The greatest attention will be on Bektemir Melikuziev and Muhammad Shekhov. Melikuziev holds official challenger status, while Shekhov leads the rankings in the division where Naoya Inoue is champion.

Ruslan Abdullaev’s entry into the top 15 shows that the number of Uzbeks on this list could grow further in the coming years.

Who do you think will be the first Uzbek boxer to fight in the next WBA title bout—Melikuziev or Shekhov? Leave your opinion in the comments and share the article with sports fans on Telegram or other social networks!