Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk
Ben McCrum
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been removed from the top 10 rankings in a controversial reshuffle.
Four years ago, British boxing icon Joshua lost his unified heavyweight titles for the second time as he fought current champion Oleksandr Usyk in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Joshua lost the bout via a lopsided unanimous decision, before losing the rematch in the Jeddah Superdome by a closer majority decision.
Since then the Brit has entered the ring five times, with his latest fight being the brutal knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in Wembley Stadium in September last year.
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Now, nearly a year after the loss, Joshua has been dropped out of the top 10 in the heavyweight rankings for the first time in years.
With multiple different boxing promotions and organisations, there are several different sets of rankings for the heavyweight division which all differ slightly.
However, it's safe to say that the Ring magazine rankings are perhaps currently the most respected of the bunch, something that will frustrate Joshua after their latest rankings had him outside of the top 10.
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Explaining the decision, the magazines's social media account said that Joshua's inactivity reaching over a year is what led to him falling out of the top 10.
In their previous set of rankings, published in August, Joshua was listed as the fifth best heavyweight in the world.
The former champion has been replaced by Efe Ajagba who, coming off a draw with 8th ranked Martin Bakole, has re-entered the rankings in 10th.
However, not everyone is happy with the explanation for Joshua's removal, with many fans pointing out that Tyson Fury, who retired nine months ago, is still in place a the 2nd ranked heavyweight.
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It's unclear when Joshua plans to return to the ring, with several different boxers rumoured to be his next opponent.
Controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul was reportedly top of the list, but he is now set to fight lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis in a 10 round exhibition bout in November.
Instead, fans may finally get the superfight between Joshua and fellow countryman Fury, should the latter decide to, once again, come out of retirement.
Champion - Oleksandr Usyk
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1 - Tyson Fury
2 - Joseph Parker
3 - Agit Kabayel
4 - Daniel Dubois
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5 - Filip Hrgovic
6 - Fabio Wardley
7 - Zhilei Zhang
8 - Martin Bakole
9 - Moses Itauma
10 - Efe Ajagba