New Zealanders make it into the top 10
After the recent announcement of former WBC World Heavyweight Champion Martha Salazar retirement, multiple New Zealanders have moved into the top 10 in the boxing rankings on Boxrec.
Aside from WBO World Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker, New Zealanders are slowly taking of the heavyweight division, specifically in Women’s division. Currently there are more more active Heavyweight Women in New Zealand than any other country in the world.
Alrie Meleisea, who just recently won the vacant NZPBA and vacant UBF Asia Pacific Heavyweight titles against Tongan Nailini Helu, has just recently risen to 6th in the world on Boxrec. Meleisea who is now undefeated in both MMA and Boxing. Already there are potential talks for a big fight.
Currently the WBO, WBA and IBF World titles are currently vacant, however the WBC World title is held by Mexican Alejandra Jimenez who won the title this time last year.
Sarah Long, who had a recent win over Brazilian, New Zealand resident and New Zealand Golden Gloves winner Geovana Peres. Long is now climbed the ranks to 8th. Long who is currenlty 5 – 3 – 0 in Kickboxing and 2-2-0 in boxing.
Cheyenne Whaanga, who have been inactive recently due to injury, is now currently ranked 9th. She is a New Zealand Amateur Boxing Champion and in her pro debut, she won her bout against Sarah Long last september.
Outside the Top 10 there are two more boxer in the top 15 including Ange Davis (12th) and Geovana Peres (14th).
There is more good news, Boxrec has a policy where if a boxer is inactive for a full year, their boxrec profile gets changed to inactive mode and gets removed from the world rankings. Due to this, WBC World Champion Jimenez will have profile change to inactive mode on March 19th. This will move Meleisea to 5th, Long 7th, Whaanga 8th, Davis 11th and Peres 13th.
One thing is for sure, New Zealand has taken over the Women’s Heavyweight Division.