After an unfortunate 2025 that may have been even worse than his 2024, Ryan Rozicki is entering the second month of 2026 in a better position – as the WBC’s first-ranked cruiserweight.

That spot most recently belonged to Noel Mikaelyan, a former cruiserweight titleholder who won back the WBC belt in December, topping Badou Jack via unanimous decision in their rematch. Jack had won a disputed split decision in their first meeting last May.

Mikaelyan’s ascension left a vacancy, and Rozicki, who had been seated at No. 2, moved up to fill it in the WBC’s latest ratings update, which was released on February 3.

Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), had previously been ranked No. 1 through last April but was bumped down when Mikaelyan lost to Jack. 

Rozicki was originally supposed to be Jack’s opponent on that May 3 date in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rozicki was also originally supposed to face Mikaelyan in 2024. Both of those bouts would have been for the WBC cruiserweight title.

This will require some explanation, though that explanation might cause more confusion rather than less. 

Jack initially won the WBC cruiserweight title by defeating Ilunga Makabu in February 2023. He went more than two years without defending it, however – and without fighting altogether. Instead, he was named “champion in recess” as he pondered a move to the bridgerweight division. 

Mikaelyan won the vacant WBC title in November 2023, also with a win over Makabu. But he was unable to defend against Rozicki in 2024 – the bout was postponed on several occasions, and then Mikaelyan pulled out one last time. Jack, meanwhile, wanted to return to the ring. So Mikaelyan and Jack changed places, Jack being reinstated while Mikaelyan became the “champion in recess” ahead of their initial bout last year.

Rozicki was out for the entirety of 2025, pulling out of the Jack bout because of a biceps injury, and then another injury caused him to withdraw from an October bout in his hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, against Akani Phuzi.

Rozicki is scheduled to return on March 7 in Sydney against the 12-4 Gerardo Mellado.

Last June, Michal Cieslak defeated Jean Pascal to win the WBC’s vacant interim belt at 200lbs. Rather than Cieslak getting the next shot at the primary title, however, the WBC had ordered the winner to defend against Yamil Peralta. 

If that remains the case, then Rozicki may indeed get his shot at the title – that’s if he can finally get Mikaelyan in the ring.

Rozicki is followed in the WBC’s cruiserweight ratings by Peralta, Chris Billam-Smith, Mateusz Masternak, Leonardo Mosquea, Jack, Makabu, Brandon Glanton, Kevin Ramirez, Yuniel Dorticos, Viddal Riley, Floyd Masson, Aloys Youmbi, Mike Perez and Efetobor Apochi.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.