Prior to this ranking, Tszyu defeated Anthony Velazquez via a 10-round unanimous decision on December 17 in Sydney. It’s not a statement performance, but it is steady, controlled and drama-free. That alone is valuable after a difficult period in which Tsiyu lost three of his five fights and saw real damage to his reputation.

Defeats to Sebastian Fundora and Bahram Murtazaliyev exposed the limitations of his approach, especially when opponents refused to trade and instead responded to his pressure with discipline.

The WBO’s decision to promote Tsyu so quickly also reshuffled familiar names. He is now ranked ahead of Keith Thurman and Israel Madrimov, two fighters with recent credibility but less immediate positioning. The ranking brings Tsiyu closer to challenging WBA and WBO champion Xander Zayas, a showdown that will test more than just endurance.

Zayas has shown in recent fights that he can easily slow down fights and rely on movement, clinch and small positional wins, as seen against Abbas Barao and Jorge Garcia Perez. These are the types of battles Tsiyu strives to fight on his own terms.

None of this guarantees Tszyu a championship chance. His position assumes consistent winning and careful matching. His team will need to be selective, especially against opponents who repeat the same problems he has already faced.

A quick rematch against someone like Murtazaliyev, who just lost but is still stylistically awkward, could undo any progress he’s made in the rankings.

This location really stands out. Despite being stopped by Murtazaliyev not long ago, Tsyu now sits above Murtazaliyev. That explanation seems to hinge more on Murtazaliyev’s performance against Josh Kelly than Tsyu’s resurgence. It was a sluggish performance that lacked the sharpness or control that usually keeps a fighter at the top of his game after a loss.

Rankings tend to reflect both past results and recent impressions, and in this case the WBO appears to be relying heavily on the latest tape.

For Tszyu, the path forward is clearer than the destination. He’s close enough to be effective again, but not alone. This ranking gives him room to rebuild rather than allowing him to stumble.