Heavyweight boxing rankings – is Tyson Fury better than Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder?
The Ring Magazine is the longest-running, most-revered publication in boxing, renowned for taking a subjective view of the sport.
The California-based supplement awards its own championship to fighters who they perceive to be the lineal champion in that weight class.
Fury was awarded the iconic Ring magazine strap after beating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 but stripped of it during his 34-month, addiction-induced hiatus.
Due to inactivity, Fury was also removed from the magazine’s rankings but his three fights since returning to the ring have catapulted him back to the summit, because of Joshua’s loss to Ruiz Jr.
The Gyspy King, who maintains he is the lineal champion even though the WBC belt was not on the line against Klitschko, edges Wilder, Ruiz Jr and Joshua in the most recent list.
Given Fury’s unbeaten record, along with the fact many believe he beat Wilder, the 30-year-old is seen as the champion without a belt.
He is set to rematch Wilder (41-0-1) next year which should give a definitive answer as to the division’s king.
As Ruiz, who lost a contentious decision to former WBO champion Joseph Parker in December 2016, and Joshua have both recorded defeats, they currently are left chasing Fury, despite the three straps they will contest in a rematch later this year.