Conor Benn's hopes of capturing world championship gold have received a monumental boost after the WBC elevated the British star to number one in their revised welterweight rankings list.
The news means the Matchroom star, who emphatically beat Chris Eubank Jr in their blockbuster rematch last month, is now mandatory challenger for a crack at Mario Barrios' title.
Benn was previously positioned number four on the 147lbs list, but as a consequence of his victory over arch-nemesis Eubank Jr has now propelled himself above Manny Pacquiao, Souleymane Cissokho and Raul Curiel.
The expectation was that WBC 'silver' champion Cissokho would take number one spot after beating Egidijus Kavaliauskas in May, but it appears as though the boxing governing body's president Mauricio Sulaiman has disregarded the unbeaten Senegalese star's climb.
Any imminent hopes of a fight being agreed are of course unlikely given Barrios is scheduled to defend his green and yellow strap against the speedy Mexican-American Ryan Garcia in February.
However, Benn's position now means he will be granted a shot at the winner of that clash - opening the possibility of a long-speculated dust-up with the former WBC 'interim' lightweight champion.
Reacting to the announcement on social media on Tuesday, Benn said: "Just got the news that I have been made No.1 in the new WBC rankings, mandatory for the WBC world title.
I'll be watching Barrios vs Garcia closely. I want the winner early next year.
- Conor Benn (X)
"Q1 God willing that WBC world title is mine. I will be coming for that belt, and Britain will have a new world champion!"
Benn was a keen onlooker at New York City's Times Square earlier this year as talk mounted regarding a potential fight between the two, but any hopes were dashed when Garcia was shockingly beaten by Rolando Romero with the WBA welterweight strap on the line.
But despite that, the 27-year-old remains in the world title picture and has been presented a second chance at capturing 147lbs gold against Barrios, who, of course, fought to a majority decision draw with Pacquaio in July.
The result meant he retained hold of the world title he picked up after being elevated from 'interim' champion to 'full-fledged' champion upon Terence Crawford's decision to move up in weight.
