Boxing Rankings: Navarrete Unifies, Davis Out – ESPN’s Latest Updates (March 2026)
A quiet weekend in boxing was highlighted by Emanuel Navarrete’s dominant performance, unifying the WBO and IBF junior lightweight titles with an eleventh-round stoppage of Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez in Glendale, Arizona on .
The highly anticipated clash between the two Mexican fighters proved to be largely one-sided. Navarrete consistently landed the cleaner, more impactful punches, establishing a lead early and extending it throughout the fight. Known for his aggressive starts, Navarrete outworked Nunez in the initial rounds, setting the tone for the remainder of the bout. As the fight progressed, Navarrete’s relentless pressure and a particularly effective uppercut began to take their toll on Nunez.
By the ninth round, Nunez was visibly struggling, his right eye rapidly swelling shut. He attempted to rally, but Navarrete continued to land blistering combinations, further exacerbating the damage. The ringside doctor ultimately intervened before the eleventh round, halting the contest due to Nunez’s severely compromised vision.
The victory solidifies Navarrete’s position as the top fighter in the junior lightweight division, while Nunez remains ranked at number six. The result did not alter the divisional rankings significantly.
Elsewhere, Gervonta Davis has been removed from the lightweight rankings due to a year of inactivity and a lack of scheduled fights.
Heavyweight
Oleksandr Usyk remains at the top of the heavyweight rankings, with a record of victory over Daniel Dubois. He is scheduled to face Rico Verhoeven on .
Daniel Dubois sits at number two, following his loss to Usyk. He is slated to fight Fabio Wardley on .
Fabio Wardley holds the third spot, coming off a win against Joseph Parker on , and will face Dubois on .
Joseph Parker is ranked fourth, after his loss to Wardley. His next fight is currently unconfirmed.
Anthony Joshua remains at number five, following his victory over Jake Paul on , with his next bout yet to be announced.
Agit Kabayel is ranked sixth, having secured a win over Damian Knyba on . His next opponent is still to be determined.
Filip Hrgovic occupies the seventh position, after defeating David Adeleye on , with his next fight yet to be scheduled.
Moses Itauma is ranked eighth, following his win against Dillian Whyte on , and is scheduled to fight Jermaine Franklin Jr. On .
Richard Torrez Jr. Is ninth, after a win over Tomas Salek on , and will face Frank Sanchez on .
Frank Sanchez rounds out the top ten, having defeated Ramon Olivas Echeverria on , and is scheduled to fight Richard Torrez Jr. On .
Cruiserweight
Jai Opetaia leads the cruiserweight division, with a win over Huseyin Cinkara on . He is scheduled to fight Brandon Glanton on .
Gilberto Ramirez is ranked second, following his victory over Yuniel Dorticos on , and will face David Benavidez on .
Chris Billam-Smith holds the third spot, after defeating Brandon Glanton on . His next fight is yet to be announced.
Noel Mikaelian is ranked fourth, having won against Badou Jack on . His next opponent is still to be determined.
Badou Jack is ranked fifth, following his loss to Mikaelian on , with his next fight yet to be scheduled.
Looking Ahead
The boxing landscape continues to evolve, with several key matchups on the horizon. The upcoming fights featuring Usyk, Dubois, and Ramirez promise to be significant events in their respective divisions. The removal of Gervonta Davis from the lightweight rankings underscores the importance of consistent activity in maintaining a competitive position.