Overview
- Paul disappeared from the WBA’s Dec. 31 cruiserweight top 15 after entering at No. 14 in July and slipping to No. 15 in November.
- Australia’s Liam Callanan moved to No. 14 and Bosnia’s Edin Puhalo entered at No. 15 in the updated list.
- The Dec. 19 heavyweight bout in Miami saw Paul dropped multiple times and stopped in round six, after which he had surgery for a double jaw fracture on Dec. 20.
- Boxers generally must be ranked in a sanctioning body’s top 15 for world-title eligibility, and Paul’s camp says he plans to return in 2026 after a 5–6 week recovery; some outlets report Florida has issued an indefinite medical suspension requiring clearance.
- Joshua is recuperating after the fight and was discharged from a Lagos hospital following a car crash in Nigeria that killed two members of his team, officials said.