No ring. No punches. Just numbers, rankings, and the verdict of sports analysts. Yet sometimes, the shift in status can hit harder than a jab. That’s what just happened in world heavyweight boxing: Anthony Joshua, once perennially perched among the sport’s elite, has been dropped from the Top 10 in recent heavyweight rankings, while Efe Ajagba, Nigeria’s hard-hitting contender, climbed into that space.
For Ajagba, it’s not just a win on paper—it’s validation. Each victory, each knockout, each resilient performance adds up.
Meanwhile, Joshua’s absence from the rankings underscores how inactivity and losses can quickly erode even the mightiest reputations. In boxing, as in life, status is as much about showing up as it is about dominating.
What’s Behind the Change
Ajagba’s New Position: The French publication L’Équipe recently placed Efe Ajagba in its Top 10 heavyweights list ahead of a marquee rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. Ajagba was ranked 10th on that list.
Joshua’s Drop: Joshua has been excluded from various heavyweight ranking lists (such as IBF) due largely to prolonged inactivity following his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024 and subsequent elbow surgery.
Ajagba’s Recent Record: Since losing to Frank Sánchez in 2021, Ajagba has put together a run of wins and shown improved form, including a recent draw with Martin Bakole.
More Than a List, It’s a Shift
Efe Ajagba stepping into the heavyweight Top 10 isn’t just about one Nigerian fighter gaining ground—it’s about boxing’s power balance shifting. It’s about effort, consistency, and seizing moments.
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Anthony Joshua’s name not being there underscores how high the stakes are—even for those with storied legacies.
In boxing, as in life, you have to keep fighting—not just in the ring, but in narrative. And right now, Ajagba has done just that.
