THERE isn’t any denying the heavyweight division is getting ready to a sea change. Undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk is now 37 whereas Tyson Fury, who will try and win the {hardware} again on the finish of the yr, turned 36 on August 12.
Anthony Joshua, who’s eyeing a crack on the winner of that rematch, is the youngest of the three at 34 however his promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that the 2012 Olympic champion might effectively retire in simply 18 months’ time.
The excellent news, nonetheless, is that there’s a wave of heavyweights prepared and ready for the three most vital large males of the present period to stroll off into the sundown. Right here, Boxing Information takes a have a look at the ten who may be king.
THE AMERICAN HOPE
Jared Anderson
Age: 24
File: (17-1, 15 KOs)
Jared Anderson had regarded like maybe essentially the most full heavyweight on this listing and, at 24, nonetheless has loads of time to enhance on his all-round recreation. However, with many individuals falling over themselves at hand him the crown already, the Anderson prepare was violently derailed by Martin Bakole in August.
Anderson had barely put a foot flawed all through his 17 wins as an expert however Bakole was clearly a step too far, too quickly. The American was dropped and stopped within the fifth spherical and now the onus is on him to be taught from the defeat and show he can bounce again.
The reality is he has loads of time on his arms however the man from Ohio, who has no downside admitting he has little love for boxing, has spoken overtly about his want to exit the game as rapidly as doable. The loss to Bakole could possibly be the making of him – or he might disappear and not using a hint.
THE PRODIGY
Moses Itauma
Age: 19
File: (9-0, 7 KOs)
Should you wished to purchase shares in anybody on this listing, your finest guess may simply be Moses Itauma. Nonetheless solely 19, and with designs on breaking Mike Tyson’s document because the youngest ever heavyweight champ, it’s scary to assume how a lot better this southpaw can get.
Though a record-breaking world title within the subsequent yr will likely be pushing it, he seems to have all of it; unbelievable shot choice, middleweight velocity, knockout energy and what looks like a complete incapability to be flustered. Nonetheless, at simply over 6ft 2ins, Itauma shouldn’t be the largest on this listing and will probably be fascinating to see how his energy and power match as much as among the heavyweight giants who lie in wait.
THE COMEBACK KID
Daniel Dubois
Age: 26
File: (21-2, 20 KOs)
Probably the most established heavyweight on this listing, it’s simple to neglect simply how younger Daniel Dubois nonetheless is. He turned over after solely a handful of senior novice bouts and has been studying on the job ever since.
He got here below fireplace after each his defeats – to Joe Joyce after which Oleksandr Usyk – as a result of he was accused of ‘quitting’ in each however proved the doubters flawed with back-to-back stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller after which Filip Hrgovic. He additionally confirmed an almighty chin in each fights, when he was caught flush a number of instances.
That’s by no means tactic in boxing, not to mention at heavyweight, so there may be loads of room for enchancment however he has time on his aspect. Might flip your complete division on its head by beating Anthony Joshua at Wembley on September 21.
THE CHARACTER
Richard Torrez
Age: 25
File: (10-0, 10 KOs)
A trainee pilot, a Rubik’s dice skilled and a wannabe gardener, the extremely educated Richard Torrez Jr shouldn’t be your common heavyweight. The unhealthy information for the remainder of the division is he can even actually struggle.
After profitable super-heavyweight silver on the 2020 Olympic Video games, Torrez signed with High Rank and has raced to 10-0, 10 KOs in slightly over two years as an expert. The moustachioed Californian was crushed by Bakhodir Jalolov (extra on him later) within the closing in Tokyo and was badly knocked out by him on the worlds, too – and, given they’re each aligned with High Rank, anticipate the pair to fulfill within the paid ranks down the road.
What Torrez lacks in peak, he makes up for in angles, variation and mixture punching and he advised the longer term could possibly be shiny when he stopped fellow undefeated American Brandon Moore in Could. He’s but to step up past eight-round stage on the time of writing so the jury continues to be out on whether or not or not he’ll take-off as a official world title contender.
THE DARK HORSE
Justis Huni
Age: 25
File: (10-0, 5 KOs)
What stands out about Justis Huni compared to among the different names on this listing is how a lot expertise he has managed to glean in simply 10 fights. All however a type of outings as an expert have been 10-rounders and 6 of these went the gap that means he has already performed 74 rounds below the lights.
You could possibly argue this means the 25-year-old may lack the requisite energy to essentially bother these on the prime however the man from Queensland has at all times discovered a approach to win regardless. In two of his final three fights, he has outpointed two very succesful opponents in Andrew Tabiti and Kevin Lerena, suggesting that Huni is probably the furthest forward of any heavyweight on the planet with 10 fights or much less.
Already ranked inside the highest 10 with the WBO, his allegiance with Matchroom can even open doorways for him everywhere in the world.
THE ATTRACTION
Johnny Fisher
Age: 25
File: (12-0, 11 KOs)
By no means thoughts the Chinese language takeaways, the Insta-famous Dad or the astonishing legion of followers, the underside line is that Johnny Fisher has developed into a real heavyweight contender. His promoter Eddie Hearn has typically advised that Fisher’s profession will likely be a ‘enjoyable one’ which belies the seriousness of the Romford Bull’s ambitions to succeed in the very prime.
He has an unbelievable humility which has underpinned huge enhancements within the ring and his profession to this point has been a gentle march by means of the decrease ranges of the division. His dismantling of Alen Babic in simply 36 seconds, nonetheless, appeared to sign a change in perspective; the apprenticeship is now over and Fisher is prepared for the following step.
Big challenges await in Britain alone however he has time on his aspect and the right mindset to enhance. Oh, and he punches like a mule.
THE AMATEUR
Bakhodir Jalolov
Age: 30
File: (14-0, 14 KOs)
It will be truthful to argue {that a} 30-year-old with 14 skilled wins, gold medals on the Olympics and the worlds (twice) can’t actually be included on an inventory of one of the best younger, promising heavyweights. Nonetheless, regardless of his accomplishments to this point, it feels as if Bakhodir Jalolov has probably not scratched the floor of what he can obtain within the professional ranks but.
That is partly as a result of the large Uzbek simply can not steer clear of the novice code and represented his nation as soon as once more on the Olympics in Paris profitable his second successive super-heavyweight gold
He’s anticipated to focus totally on life punching for pay thereafter and it isn’t pushing it to say he has all of the instruments to emerge as essentially the most dominant heavyweight on the planet over the following decade. Being able to doing it and really doing it, nonetheless, are two various things.
THE BIG MAN
Gurgen Hovhanisyan
Age: 26
File: (6-0, 6 KOs)
At 6ft 7ins and one of the best a part of 280lbs, Gurgen Hovhannisyan is the largest specimen on our listing and has been making regular enhancements below coach Joe Goossen since relocating to Los Angeles.
Because the nickname suggests, ‘Large Gug’ has the scale to make life uncomfortable for anybody already however he’s no flat-track bully. He’s surprisingly nimble on his toes and technically gifted together with his arms. He applies stress sensibly and, contained in the ring not less than, has made serene progress to 6-0 with all of them fast. The query is whether or not Hovhannisyan will get the backing required to essentially make a dent on the prime as a heavyweight. He spent the entire of 2023 out of the ring and has boxed below quite a few completely different promotional banners already.
A person of his type, dimension and high quality is at all times welcome within the ‘Who Wants Him? Membership’ however given the chance, can show his price as a headliner.
THE NATURAL
Fabio Wardley
Age: 29
File: (17-0-1, 16 KOs)
At 29 years outdated, as British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, Fabio Wardley seems to be completely positioned to benefit from the change in guard on the prime of the division.
Given his lack of novice expertise, with solely a handful of white collar fights earlier than he turned professional, he additionally has few miles on the clock regardless of his advancing years compared to among the pups on this listing.
An unorthodox and explosive fighter, Wardley has made nice strides since linking up with Ben Davison and has banked large struggle expertise in opposition to David Adeleye and Frazer Clarke.
The latter of these, nonetheless, was a bloody battle which led to a cut up draw. It was the kind of struggle which may change a person so the onus on Wardley is to win the rematch and press on for greater and higher issues thereafter.
THE PROBLEM
Jai Opetaia
Age: 29
File: (25-0, 19 KOs)
Given Oleksandr Usyk’s ascent to the undisputed heavyweight crown it might be remiss to exclude cruiserweight Jai Opetaia from this listing. The Australian has nearly equivalent dimensions to his Ukrainian counterpart and packing containers in such the same type that Tyson Fury referred to as him in for sparring for his final camp.
Usyk has proven that such a method, significantly from a southpaw, might be kryptonite for the division’s largest males and Opetaia seems to be effectively set to make a splash at heavyweight if that’s the place he needs to ply his commerce.
Usyk was almost 33 when he made his heavyweight debut so at 29, Opetaia has loads of time on his aspect too. Extra importantly, he has the kind of tenacious perspective required to attempt his hand within the weight class above and has the expertise to greater than maintain his personal when he will get there.
