Tony Yoka has appeared in the latest WBA heavyweight rankings just in time for his July 11 title fight with Murat Gassiev in Moscow, while Rico Verhoeven has also entered the top 15 after his controversial stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt.
Yoka is now listed at No. 14 in the WBA’s May 2026 rankings, which clears the most obvious issue around his fight with Gassiev for the WBA “regular” heavyweight title. Before the update, the French Olympic gold medalist had not appeared in the WBA’s heavyweight top 15 since 2022, despite winning four straight fights after a three-fight losing streak.
The timing is what makes the move stand out. Yoka was confirmed for a title shot while still outside the rankings, only to reappear once the fight was already in place. The question is not whether Yoka should accept the opportunity, as any fighter would, but why the ranking arrived after the title fight had already been announced.
Verhoeven’s arrival at No. 15 brings a different kind of intrigue. The Dutch kickboxing star pushed Usyk far harder than expected before the debated 11th-round stoppage, and the WBC had already said he would be ranked after that performance. Now the WBA has followed by placing him inside its own top 15, which could make him eligible for a voluntary title route if a Usyk rematch becomes realistic.
Image Credit: DAZN