Good WBA rankings update for James Tennyson and other Irish fighters

James Tennyson [20(16)-2(2)] has taken a step closer to an unlikely world title fight.

The Belfast super featherweight found himself at the heady heights of #5 in the WBA rankings recently, and Tennyson has moved up further in the October ratings which were released yesterday.

The Poleglass puncher defended his WBA International belt for the first time with a third round stoppage of Scot Darren Traynor and has now been moved up to #4 in the 130lbs ladder.

Former #4 Alberto Machado is now the champion, having defeated Jezreel Corrales last week in New York – with the Panamanian having been stripped of his belt beforehand due to missing weight. Corrales now occupies the #5 spot.

Those ahead of Tennyson at the minute include former Pajo Hyland opponent Javier Fortuna at #3 and Argentine Jesus Cuellar at #1 – but it is the #2-ranked boxer that catches the eye.

Ghanaian Rafael Mensah [31(23)-0] occupies this spot and the unbeaten Africa could perhaps provide opposition for a Commonwealth title fight which doubles as a world title eliminator. Martin J Ward is the current holder of the rainbow belt, however promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested that it will be vacated soon.

Tennyson isn’t the only Irish boxer to feature in the rankings either.

Kildare light middleweight Dennis Hogan [26(7)-1(0)-1] enters the 154lbs ladder at #14 following his impressive win over Yuki Nonaka – although the Aussie-based boxer looks set to target the WBO title.

Portlaoise super bantam TJ Doheny [17(13)-0] is #4 at 118lbs however, like Hogan, he has his eyes set on another organisation’s belt, with an IBF final eliminator versus Evgeny Gradovich set for Russia in December.

At middleweight, the recently returned from injury Jason Quigley [13(10)-0] has moved up to #10 ahead of his comeback.

Following a fourth defence of his WBA Oceania title, Darragh Foley [13(8)-2(0)] has been moved up to #12 at light welterweight.

The organisation’s former featherweight champ Carl Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] remains at #3 at 126lbs.