THERE is not any denying the heavyweight division is on the brink of a sea change. Undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk is now 37 whereas Tyson Fury, who will try and win the {hardware} again at the finish of the 12 months, turned 36 on August 12.
Anthony Joshua, who’s eyeing a crack at 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, nevertheless, 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. Here, Boxing News takes a take a look at the 10 who may be king.
THE AMERICAN HOPE
Jared Anderson
Age: 24
Record: (17-1, 15 KOs)
Jared Anderson had regarded like maybe the most full heavyweight on this listing and, at 24, nonetheless has a lot of time to enhance on his all-round recreation. But, with many individuals falling over themselves handy him the crown already, the Anderson prepare was violently derailed by Martin Bakole in August.
Anderson had barely put a foot incorrect all through his 17 wins as knowledgeable however Bakole was clearly a step too far, too quickly. The American was dropped and stopped in the fifth spherical and now the onus is on him to be taught from the defeat and show he can bounce again.
The fact is he has a lot of time on his palms however the man from Ohio, who has no drawback admitting he has little love for boxing, has spoken brazenly about his want to exit the sport as shortly as attainable. The loss to Bakole could possibly be the making of him – or he might disappear with no hint.
THE PRODIGY
Moses Itauma
Age: 19
Record: (9-0, 7 KOs)
If you wished to purchase shares in anybody on this listing, your finest guess would possibly simply be Moses Itauma. Still solely 19, and with designs on breaking Mike Tyson’s file as the youngest ever heavyweight champ, it’s scary to suppose how significantly better this southpaw can get.
Although a record-breaking world title in the next 12 months can be pushing it, he seems to have all of it; unbelievable shot choice, middleweight velocity, knockout energy and what looks like a complete incapacity to be flustered. However, at simply over 6ft 2ins, Itauma isn’t the largest on this listing and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how his energy and power match as much as some of the heavyweight giants who lie in wait.
THE COMEBACK KID
Daniel Dubois
Age: 26
Record: (21-2, 20 KOs)
The most established heavyweight on this listing, it’s simple to overlook simply how younger Daniel Dubois nonetheless is. He turned over after solely a handful of senior beginner bouts and has been studying on the job ever since.
He got here underneath hearth 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 incorrect 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 a very good tactic in boxing, not to mention at heavyweight, so there’s a lot of room for enchancment however he has time on his facet. Could flip the complete division on its head by beating Anthony Joshua at Wembley on September 21.
THE CHARACTER
Richard Torrez
Age: 25
Record: (10-0, 10 KOs)
A trainee pilot, a Rubik’s dice skilled and a wannabe gardener, the extremely educated Richard Torrez Jr isn’t your common heavyweight. The dangerous information for the relaxation of the division is he also can actually combat.
After profitable super-heavyweight silver at the 2020 Olympic Games, Torrez signed with Top Rank and has raced to 10-0, 10 KOs in slightly over two years as knowledgeable. The moustachioed Californian was crushed by Bakhodir Jalolov (extra on him later) in the remaining in Tokyo and was badly knocked out by him at the worlds, too – and, given they’re each aligned with Top Rank, count on the pair to fulfill in the paid ranks down the line.
What Torrez lacks in top, he makes up for in angles, variation and mixture punching and he prompt the future could possibly be brilliant when he stopped fellow undefeated American Brandon Moore in May. He is but to step up past eight-round stage at the time of writing so the jury continues to be out on whether or not or not he’ll take-off as a reliable world title contender.
THE DARK HORSE
Justis Huni
Age: 25
Record: (10-0, 5 KOs)
What stands out about Justis Huni compared to some of the different names on this listing is how a lot expertise he has managed to glean in simply 10 fights. All however one of these outings as knowledgeable have been 10-rounders and 6 of these went the distance which means he has already executed 74 rounds underneath the lights.
You might argue this implies the 25-year-old would possibly lack the requisite energy to essentially bother these at the prime however the man from Queensland has at all times discovered a strategy 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 maybe the furthest forward of any heavyweight on the planet with 10 fights or much less.
Already ranked inside the prime 10 with the WBO, his allegiance with Matchroom may even open doorways for him throughout the world.
THE ATTRACTION
Johnny Fisher
Age: 25
Record: (12-0, 11 KOs)
Never thoughts the Chinese takeaways, the Insta-famous Dad or the astonishing legion of followers, the backside line is that Johnny Fisher has advanced into a real heavyweight contender. His promoter Eddie Hearn has usually prompt that Fisher’s profession can be a ‘fun 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 in the ring and his profession up to now has been a gentle march via the decrease ranges of the division. His dismantling of Alen Babic in simply 36 seconds, nevertheless, appeared to sign a change in perspective; the apprenticeship is now over and Fisher is prepared for the next step.
Huge challenges await in Britain alone however he has time on his facet and the appropriate mindset to enhance. Oh, and he punches like a mule.
THE AMATEUR
Bakhodir Jalolov
Age: 30
Record: (14-0, 14 KOs)
It can be honest to argue {that a} 30-year-old with 14 skilled wins, gold medals at the Olympics and the worlds (twice) can’t actually be included on an inventory of the finest younger, promising heavyweights. However, regardless of his accomplishments up to now, it feels as if Bakhodir Jalolov has not likely scratched the floor of what he can obtain in the professional ranks but.
This is partly as a result of the large Uzbek simply can not avoid the beginner code and represented his nation as soon as once more at the Olympics in Paris profitable his second successive super-heavyweight gold
He is predicted to focus totally on life punching for pay thereafter and it’s not pushing it to say he has all the instruments to emerge as the most dominant heavyweight on the planet over the next decade. Being succesful of doing it and truly doing it, nevertheless, are two various things.
THE BIG MAN
Gurgen Hovhanisyan
Age: 26
Record: (6-0, 6 KOs)
At 6ft 7ins and the better part of 280lbs, Gurgen Hovhannisyan is the largest specimen on our listing and has been making regular enhancements underneath coach Joe Goossen since relocating to Los Angeles.
As the nickname suggests, ‘Big Gug’ has the measurement to make life uncomfortable for anybody already however he’s no flat-track bully. He is surprisingly nimble on his toes and technically gifted along with his palms. He applies stress sensibly and, inside the ring at the least, 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 at the prime as a heavyweight. He spent the complete of 2023 out of the ring and has boxed underneath a quantity of totally different promotional banners already.
A person of his type, measurement and high quality is at all times welcome in the ‘Who Needs Him? Club’ however given the alternative, can show his price as a headliner.
THE NATURAL
Fabio Wardley
Age: 29
Record: (17-0-1, 16 KOs)
At 29 years outdated, as British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, Fabio Wardley appears completely positioned to take benefit of the change in guard at the prime of the division.
Given his lack of beginner 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 some of 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 combat expertise towards David Adeleye and Frazer Clarke.
The latter of these, nevertheless, was a bloody conflict which led to a break up draw. It was the kind of combat 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
Record: (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 an identical dimensions to his Ukrainian counterpart and bins in such the same type that Tyson Fury known as him in for sparring for his final camp.
Usyk has proven that such a method, notably from a southpaw, will be kryptonite for the division’s largest males and Opetaia appears 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 a lot of time on his facet too. More importantly, he has the kind of tenacious angle required to strive his hand in the weight class above and has the expertise to greater than maintain his personal when he will get there.
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