Moses Itauma is now ranked at No.1 by two of the four major sanctioning bodies.
The Chatham southpaw was already in pole position in the WBO ratings, and he has now been elevated to the top spot with the WBA as well.
WBA interim champion Fabio Wardley sits ahead of him in the pecking order for a world title shot.
However, the Ipswich puncher is likely to be stripped of his belt if a fight with WBO mandatory Joseph Parker gets over the line.
Regardless, Itauma finds himself in an extremely strong position with both the WBA and WBO to campaign for a shot at Oleksandr Usyk‘s undisputed crown.
Itauma was ranked at No.2 in July but he has since swapped positions with the previous No.1, Michael Hunter, in the most recent rankings update.
Hunter is due to face Kubrat Pulev for the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt on October 4, meaning there could be further movement at the top.
Itauma’s ranking boost comes just over two weeks after he blasted away Dillian Whyte inside the opening stanza in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Whyte, a former world title challenger, was expected to be Itauma’s toughest test to date.
However, the precocious 20-year-old dispatched his compatriot with ease.
Could Oleksandr Usyk vs Moses Itauma happen next?
After the fight, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh expressed his desire to stage a fight between Itauma and Usyk next.
But Itauma’s handlers are keen for their man to bank some more rounds before being thrown in at the deep end.
Jermaine Franklin and Filip Hrgovic have both been named as potential opponents for Itauma while he continues his development.
The youngster is expected to climb back between the ropes in December before turning his attention to Usyk sometime in 2026.
Usyk, meanwhile, recently requested an extension to the negotiations for his WBO mandatory title defence against Parker due to an apparent back injury.
This has been met with scepticism from the major sanctioning body, which has ordered Usyk to supply an updated medical prognosis after a video emerged online of him dancing and playing football.
A letter from WBO Championship Committee Chairman Luis Batista Salas, sent to Usyk’s attorney John Hornewer, insisted that, “The medical update must be detailed and thorough, and must certify to the WBO Mr. Usyk’s present medical condition, prognosis, estimated recovery timeline and any other supporting medical evidence deemed relevant.
“The committee cannot allow further delay or uncertainty without satisfactory clarification.
“Failure to comply with this request will leave the committee with no alternative but to take appropriate action in accordance with the rules and regulations of the WBO.”
The ‘appropriate action’ Salas is referring to would be the removal of Usyk’s recognition as WBO heavyweight world champion.