The Gypsy King has been put in a better position to regain one of his former crowns, though he’s unlikely to pursue it in the immediate future.

Tyson Fury, who previously held the WBC title before the first of his two losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, is now rated No. 1 in the sanctioning body’s newest monthly ratings update, which was released on May 6.

In his first reign, Fury was the IBF, WBA and WBO titleholder after dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. Fury then stepped away from the sport, something that has long been a pattern for him, amid accusations of a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing drug, as well as struggles with mental health, and drug and alcohol use.

Fury announced his latest retirement following his second defeat to Usyk. His first fight of this latest comeback saw Fury nearly shut out Arslanbek Makhmudov last month in London.

That brought Fury’s record to 35-2-1 (24 KOs). And that brought Fury not only into the WBC’s rankings, but into a prime spot, even though Makhmudov was unranked. 

Fury bumped the previous No. 1, Lawrence Okolie, down to No. 2, though Okolie’s status could be in limbo due to his recent positive test for a banned PED.

The WBC’s heavyweight title still belongs to Usyk, the two-time former undisputed heavyweight champion, who also has the IBF and WBA belts and remains the lineal and Ring Magazine champion. Usyk is due to face kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt.

The WBC also has a secondary interim beltholder, Agit Kabayel, 27-0 (19 KOs), who ostensibly would get first crack at Usyk. And if Usyk were to vacate the title, Kabayel would either be upgraded immediately or would be ordered to fight the next available ranked contender for the vacant belt. 

Right now, Fury would be the next ranked contender, but he wouldn’t necessarily be available.

That’s because Fury isn’t on a path right now to fight for the WBC belt. He is instead on course for a long-awaited mega-fight with another former heavyweight titleholder from the U.K., Anthony Joshua. 

Fury and Okolie are followed in the WBC’s ratings by Moses Itauma at No. 3, Joshua, Filip Hrgovic, Deontay Wilder, Efe Ajagba, Martin Bakole, Richard Torrez Jnr, Richard Riakporhe, Andrii Novytskyi, Frank Sanchez, Bakhodir Jalolov, Guido Vianello and Labinot Xhoxhaj.

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.