Alexander Povetkin is officially now mandatory contender for Anthony Joshua’s WBA (Super) heavyweight title.

The World Boxing Association released their new rankings today confirming the update for January.

The organisation have previously said that they are committed this year to cleaning up their rankings and not having so many different types of champions.

For example, at heavyweight you have “Regular” champion Manuel Charr and “Super” champion Anthony Joshua, which appears nonsensical to new fans of the sport who do not understand why there has to be so many champions per division.

On one hand this can be seen as a positive in the sense it creates more big events for boxers to earn money from, and in turn larger events for fans to enjoy with the billing “world title” on the poster, so to speak.

But on the other hand, over doing it cheapens the belts, makes it harder for fighters to become unified champions and in general, turns new fans off from what is a sport enjoying a boom time at the moment.

It appears the WBA understand this however and are looking to reduce the number of belts they have. Surely one champion per weight class per governing body is plenty? Lets see what happens in 2018.

Here are today’s WBA rankings at heavyweight, also noting that despite Shannon Briggs now been free from suspension, is also excluded in the rankings.

“Super Champion” Anthony Joshua

“Regular Champion” Manuel Charr

1. Alexander Povetkin
2. Fred Oquendo
3. Jarrell Miller
4. Kubrat Pulev
5. Trevor Bryan
6. Christian Hammer
7. Dillian Whyte
8. Alexander Ustinov
9. BJ Flores
10. Guillermo Jones