The World Boxing Council (WBC) today proclaimed the American Deontay Wilder fighter of the month for his successful defense of the heavyweight title on January 17 against the Polish Artur Szpika.
Wilder defeated Szpika via knockout in the ninth round of the fight at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, and completed his third defense of the title for the Mexico-based WBC.
The entity also awarded an honorable mention to American Danny García in recognition of his victory over Robert Guerrero that allowed him to win the welterweight championship.
= Rankings for the month of February:
– Full Weight Champion: Deontay Wilder (USA)
. Challengers:
.one. Alexander Povetkin (RUS)
.two. Anthony Joshua (GBR)
.3. Bermane Stiverne (CAN)
.4. Kubrat Pulev (BUL)
.5. Carlos Takam (CMR).
– Cruiser Weight: (90,719 Kilos)
. Champion: Grigory Drozd (RUS)
. Challengers:
.one. Ilunga Makabu (CGO)
.two. Olanrewaja Durodola (NGR)
.3. Ola Afolabi (GBR)
.4. Mairis Briedis (LAT)
.5. Marco Huck (GER)
– Semicomplete Weight (79,379 KG)
. Champion: Adonis Stevenson (HAI-CAN)
. Challengers:
.one. Eleider Alvarez (COL)
.two. Andrzej Fonfara (POL)
.3. Isaac Chilemba (RSA)
.4. Edwin Rodríguez (RDO)
.5. André Ward (USA)
– Super Medium Weight (76,204 kilograms)
. Champion: Badou Jack (SEW)
. Challengers:
.one. Callum Smith (GBR)
.two. George Groves (GBR)
.3. Antonhy Dirrel (USA)
.4. Alexander Brand (COL)
.5. Andre Dirrell (USA)
– Medium Weight (72,575 kilograms)
. Champion: Saúl Álvarez (MEX)
. Challengers:
.one. Jorge Sebastián Heiland (ARG)
.two. Arif Magomedov (RUS)
.3. Michel Soro (FRA)
.4. Chris Eubank Jr (GBR)
.5. Ryota Murata (JPN)
– Superwelterweight (69,853 kilograms)
. Champion: Vacant
. Challengers:
.one. Jermell Charlo (USA)
.two. John Jackson (ISV)
.3. Demetrius Andrade (USA)
.4. Vanes Martisoyan (ARM)
.5. Charles Hatley (USA)
– Welterweight (66,678 kilograms)
. Champion: Danny García (USA)
. Challengers:
.one. Amir Khan (GBR)
.two. Lamont Peterson (USA)
.3. Andre Berto (USA)
.4. Omar Figueroa (MEX)
.5. Konstantin Ponomarev (RUS)
– Superlight Weight (63,503 kilograms)
. Champion: Viktor Postol (UKR)
. Challengers:
.one. Luca Giacon (ITA)
.two. Mauricio Herrera (USA)
.3. Ruslan Provodnikov (RUS)
.4. Lucas Matthysse (ARG)
.5. Antonio Orozco (USA)
– Lightweight (61,235 kilograms)
. Champion: Jorge Linares (VEN)
. Challengers:
.one. Dejan Zlaticanin (MNE)
.two. Emiliano Marsili (ITA)
.3. Ivan Redkach (UKR)
.4. Algenis Mendez (RDO)
.5. Franklin Mamani (BOL)
– Super featherweight (58,967 kilograms)
. Champion: Francisco Vargas (MEX)
. Challengers:
.one. Takashi Miura (JAP)
.two. Juli Giner (ESP)
.3. Miguel Roman (MEX)
.4. Orlando Salido (MEX)
.5. Jonathan Barros (ARG)
– Featherweight (57,153 KG)
. Champion: Gary Russell Jr. (USA)
. Challengers:
.one. Robinson Castellanos (MEX)
.two. Abner Mares (MEX)
.3. Josh Warrington (GBR)
.4. Ronny Rios (USA)
.5. Oscar Valdez (MEX)
– Super Bantamweight (55,338)
. Champion: Julio Ceja (MEX)
. Challengers:
.one. Rey Vargas (MEX)
.two. Qiu Xiao Jun (CHN)
.3. Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB)
.4. Alexis Kabore (BUR)
.5. Yukinori Oguni (JAP)
– Bantamweight: (53,524 kilograms)
. Champion: Shinsuke Yamanaka (JPN)
. Challengers:
.one. Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (THA)
.two. Anselmo Moreno (PAN)
.3. Liborio Solis (VEN)
.4. Rodrigo Guerrero (MEX)
.5. Petch Sr. Chitpattana (THA)
– Super flyweight (52,163 kilograms)
. Champion: Carlos Cuadras (MEX)
. Challengers:
.one. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (THA)
.two. Oleydong Sithsamerchai (THA)
.3. Zolani Tete (RSA)
.4. Takuma Inoue (JAP)
.5. Sho Ishida (JAP)
– Flyweight (50,802 kilograms)
. Champion: Román González (NCA)
. Challengers:
.one. Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai (THA)
.two. Noknoi Sitthiprasert (THA)
.3. Juan Hernandez (MEX)
.4. Edgar Sosa (MEX).
.5. Brian Viloria (USA)
– Light flyweight (48,988 kilograms)
Champion: Yu Kimura (JPN)
. Challengers:
.one. Jonathan Inguito Taconing (PHI)
.two. Pedro Guevara (MEX)
.3. Rey Loreto (PHI)
.4. Ricardo Pérez (MEX)
.5. Ganigan Lopez (MEX)
– Minimum Weight (47,627 kilograms)
Champion: Wanheng Menayothin (THA)
.one. Saúl Juárez (MEX)
.two. Janiel Rivera (PUR).
.3. Xiong Chao Zhong (CHN).
.4. Leroy Estrada (PAN)
.5. Osvaldo Novoa (MEX).
WBC names Wilder “boxer of the month” for retaining heavyweight title
