Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has been placed at number one in the latest World Boxing Organisation ratings as a shot at new champion Joseph Parker draws near.

Haye was ordered to face the winner by the WBO prior to Parker fighting and defeating Andy Ruiz for the vacant belt left behind by ex-unified king Tyson Fury.

As the Briton prepares for a UK grudge match with Tony Bellew on March 4 in London, Haye can then look forward to a mandatory chance against Parker in the summer.

An upset victory for Bellew would put Haye’s rating in jeopardy though and force the WBO to potentially allow number two Hughie Fury to take his place.

A request from Parker’s team to defend his belt in the meantime should be looked up favorably by President Paco Valcarcel, unless promoters Duco want to thrash out a deal with Fury.

Here’s the new WBO Top 15 at heavyweight:

CHAMPION – JOSEPH PARKER NZ

1 David Haye UK

2 Hughie Fury (Int-Cont) UK

3 Wladimir Klitschko UKR

4 Jarrell Miller (NABO) USA

5 Andy Ruiz USA

6 David Price UK

7 Tom Schwarz (WBO Youth) GER

8 Edmund Gerber KAZ

9 Kubrat Pulev BA

10 Andrey Fedosov USA

11 Izuagbe Ugonoh NIG

12 Christian Hammer (WBO Europe) GER

13 Michael Wallisch GER

14 Andrzej Wawrzyk POL

15 Andriy Rudenko UKR

See the full WBO rankings here