World Ranked Irish Fighters
15 Irish fighters start 2023 with a coveted top 15 world rankings.
In order to challenge for a world strap a fighter must have a top 15 ranking with the organisation whose belt they plan to challenge for.
Considering Katie Taylor, ranked #1 across the board at lightweight, holds all the belts in her division she isn’t hunting down titles, leaving 14 world title-eligible fighters moving into the new year.
Michael Conlan, who is in talks re a shot at IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto Lopez for St Patrick’s Day, is ranked by all the organisations at 126lbs. The Belfast star is #7 with the WBA, WBC, and WBO and #9 with the IBF.
IBO light heavyweight world champion Padraig McCrory is the only fighter ranked at two weights. The Irish Boxing Fighter of the Year and Performance of the Year nominee appears in the light heavy and super middleweight rankings. The Belfast fighter is #3 with the WBA at super middle and #9 and #15 with the WBA and IBF respectively further up the scales.
Australiam-based Conor Wallace also populates the light heavyweight rankings at #10 with the WBC and just outside the WBC top 10 at #11. Another Australian-based fighter, TJ Doheny, is #13 with the WBC.
At lightweight, Gary Cully is #13 with the WBA ahead of a big year while his Pete Taylor stablemate Sean McComb is #14 with the WBO up at light welterweight.
There are also two Irish fighters ranked in the cruiserweight and super featherweight divisions. Former European champion, Tommy McCarthy, WBA #13, appears alongside Cuban Rebel Mike Perez, WBA #6 and WBC #13 at cruiser, while IBO champion Anthony Cacace and Jono Carroll make interesting super featherweight bedfellows.
King Kong is ranked #4 with the WBA and ‘The Apace’ is #11 in WBC and WBA rankings, #5 with the IBF and #15 with WBO.
Connor Coyle holds a WBA #6 ranking that should open middleweight doors for him in 2023 while at light middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko is #13 with the WBA. Dennis Hogan is another #13-ranked fighter at light middleweight, with the Kildare man being listed with the WBC.
Finally, Katelynn Phelan is the only female fighter outside of Katie Taylor to hold a ranking. The Kildare World Youth title winner is #9 with the WBA despite not being active of late.
