How the European Boxing Union rates British fighters

The European Boxing Union (EBU) publishes ratings every month covering all fights up to the last day of the month previous to the ratings being issued. They have two sets of ratings which affect British boxers. The first is the EBU ratings which list all fighters who are eligible to fight for the EBU title and the second is the European Union ratings which include all of the fighters from the European Union who appear in the EBU ratings plus other fighters from European Union countries who are not yet considered strong enough to be in the EBU ratings.

As the EBU ratings list all fighters, but the EU only those from EU countries (or licenced in one) boxers will usually have a higher EU ranking than they have in the EBU. i.e. David Price is No 19 in the EBU but No 15 in the EU. Fighters who have not fought for ten months or more are considered to be inactive, and any lengthy period of inactivity up to ten months can also impact a fighters rating. Certain fighters, such a world title holders, are not eligible for a rating and are listed separately. There is no such thing as a perfect set of ratings, but in my view the EBU ratings are probably the most fairly produced and representative of the ratings of the sanctioning bodies around the world.

So where do our guys rank in the May rankings covering all fights to April 30th?

Heavyweight:

EBU

No 5-Derek Chisora, No 7-Audley Harrison, No 8-Michael Sprott, No 10-Tyson Fury, No 11-Sam Sexton, No 12-Martin Rogan, No 17-John McDermott, No 19-David Price

EU

All of the above and at No 17 Matt Skelton

David Haye is ineligible

Cruiserweight

EBU

No 8-Enzo Maccarinelli, No 9-Terry Dunstan, No 14-David Dolan.

EU

No18-Ian Timms

Light Heavyweight

EBU

At the time the rankings were last published Danny McIntosh was EBU champion. No 9- Tony Bellew.

EU

No additional

Nathan Cleverly not eligible

Super Middleweight

EBU

No 2-Brian Magee, No 4-James Degale, No 7-George Groves, No 11-Paul Smith,

EU

No additional

Carl Froch ineligible

Middleweight

EBU

Champion-Darren Barker. No 1-Matthew Macklin, No 6-Martin Murray,

EU

No Additional.

Light Middleweight

EBU

No 1-Ryan Rhodes, No 2-Matthew Hatton, No 3-Sam Webb, No 14 Prince Arron.

EU

No 17-Brian Rose

Welterweights

EBU

No 2-Kell Brook, No7-Michael Jennings, No 10-Colin Lynes, No 11-Lee Purdy, No 13- Bradley Pryce, No 14-Craig Watson, No 15-John O’Donnell, No 17-Denton Vassell, No- 19 Kevin McIntyre.

EU

Kevin McIntyre official challenger

Light Welterweight

EBU

No 1-Paul McCloskey, No 5-Lenny Daws, No 6-James Cook, No 7-Nigel Wright, No 11-Frankie Gavin, No 13-Alex Arthur, No 15-Barry Morrison, No 16-Lee McAllister.

EU

No 17-Darren Hamilton, No 18-Steve Williams

Amir Khan is ineligible

Lightweight

EBU

Joint challengers Gavin Rees and Andrew Murray. No 1-John Murray, No 4-Willie Limond, No 6-Anthony Crolla, No 11-Kevin Mitchell, No 12-Derry Matthews, No 13-John Watson,

EU

No additional.

Super Featherweight

EBU

No3-Steve Foster Jr., No 4-Gary Buckland, No 7- Gary Sykes, No 10-Paul Truscott, No 12-Paul Appleby, No 13-Andy Morris.

EU

No 14-Liam Walsh, No 15-Steve Bell.

Ricky Burns is ineligible.

Featherweight

EBU

No 3-Stephen Smith, No 4-John Simpson, No 6-Martin Lindsay, No 7-Joe Murray, No 19-Ryan Walsh

EU