When Ring Magazine updated its heavyweight ratings on 14 May, social media erupted. The storied publication kept Tyson Fury at No. 1 contender behind champion Oleksandr Usyk. Many fans called the move “nostalgia over merit,” pointing to Fury’s back-to-back defeats to Usyk and a 16-month lay-off.
Critics argue Ring’s policy of allowing fighters 18 months of inactivity before removal no longer fits an era of twice-a-year super-cards. Fury has hinted at a comeback on Instagram but remains unlicensed and has no bout scheduled. Meanwhile active names like Daniel Dubois - fresh off knockouts of Anthony Joshua and Jarrell Miller - and power broker Joseph Parker continue to climb without cracking the magazine’s top three.
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Ring editor Tom Gray defended the list on X, citing Fury’s 2023 résumé and the razor-close first Usyk fight, but admitted “the panel will revisit” if Fury stays inactive past September. Panelist Tim Dahlberg voted to drop Fury to fifth, telling FIGHT SPORTS the division is “too dynamic to reward sabbaticals.
Bookmakers have noted the shift: Dubois has overtaken Fury as second-favorite to beat Usyk should the undisputed champ return in December. Even so, Saudi stakeholders reportedly dangled nine-figure offers to lure Fury back - proof his box-office pull still sways decision-makers from rankings boards to broadcast giants.
Until the “Gypsy King” finally confirms his future, the disconnect between legacy credentials and current form will fuel the debate.
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