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Who are the big players in heavyweight boxing?

7th February, 2016
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British boxer Anthony Joshua is the main man in boxing. (AFP / Justin Tallis)
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7th February, 2016
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Ever since Tyson Fury’s shock victory over long-time heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko, boxing’s heavyweight division has received the most attention since Lennox Lewis’ heyday.

With Klitschko’s stranglehold over the division over, there is now a renewed excitement within the division and an abundance of heavyweights preparing to claim a spot at the top of the heap.

From the current reigning lineal heavyweight champion of the world to exciting young prospects, here is a look at the present state of heavyweight boxing.

Tyson Fury
To quote professional wrestling legend Ric Flair, “To beat the man, you’ve got to beat the man”, and undefeated British heavyweight Fury did just that in November 2015 when he defeated Klitschko by unanimous decision.

In defeating Klitschko, Fury collected all the major heavyweight titles except the WBC’s version (currently held by Deontay Wilder). But he has relinquished the IBF belt in favour of a contracted, big-money rematch with Klitschko.

Although that is the biggest match currently available to the division, Fury appears to be already looking past Klitschko as judged by his post-fight antics following Wilder’s latest title defence where the two engaged in trash talk to pump up a potential unification bout.

Outside that, Fury also has possible big-money all-British fights against Anthony Joshua and David Haye available to him. Whomever he chooses to fight, if he gets past Klitschko again, Fury is undoubtedly the man in the division and the guy everyone else should be gunning for.

Wladimir Klitschko
The former undisputed heavyweight kingpin has only one fight in his sights. A rematch with Fury is contractually obligated with only the venue and an exact date in May to be sorted out.

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Originally thought to be taking place in Klitschko’s home base of Germany, it now looks to be taking place either in neutral venues of Qatar, UAE or Fury’s home base of the United Kingdom, pending large bids from backers in the Middle East who are reportedly desperate to host the rematch.

For Klitschko personally the rematch will hopefully solve questions from the first fight about if the division has finally passed him by or if his loss to Fury was just a case of an off-night for the long-time champion.

If it is the former and Klitschko loses to Fury again, expect the Ukranian legend to call time on his storied career.

Deontay Wilder
American Wilder is currently the holder of the WBC’s version of the heavyweight crown. The undefeated 2008 Olympic bronze medallist is a powerful knockout artist boasting a record of 35 stoppages in 36 victories, but questions remain about his overall boxing ability.

The quality of his opponents has been brought up with Wilder’s last three victories being more competitive than expected in bouts he should have dominated with ease.

Fans and pundits alike are waiting for Wilder to face the cream of the crop of the division and he will soon be facing the toughest test of his career in the once-beaten mandatory WBC contender, Alexander Povetkin.

Should Wilder and Fury both be victorious in their next two title fights expect a unification bout to happen in late 2016 as pressure mounts on the American to take on the biggest fights possible.

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Anthony Joshua
Dubbed by some as the next Lennox Lewis, 2012 Olympic gold medallist Joshua is the biggest heavyweight prospect of the last decade. While he is still largely untested, his fan-friendly power punching style has gained him quite a following in his native Britain and abroad, and he is being called out by everyone from veteran and fellow Brit David Haye to another young prospect, Kiwi Joseph Parker.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is in no rush to throw Joshua to the likes of Wilder and Fury, but will be building towards a title fight most likely against IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin who is regarded as the easiest path to a piece of the heavyweight crown.

A proposed fight with Dereck Chisora was targeted for April prior to contractual disagreements, but Joshua is still expected to fight that month.

David Haye
David Haye’s first round knockout of Aussie Mark de Mori signalled the return of the ‘Hayemaker’ after a three-year layoff for the former WBA heavyweight champion.

Klitschko’s loss provided his defeated opponents such as Haye a second chance at glory in the division and Haye put the whole division on notice with his demolition of De Mori.

Haye has been pushing hard for fights against fellow Brits Fury and Joshua, but a fight against the former seems unlikely due to Fury’s agitation with two prior bouts against Haye being scrapped and Joshua’s camp not willing to take such a risk just yet in his career.

Haye is a legitimate and serious threat to anyone in the division but with a May date tentatively being planned for his next fight he may have to have another tune-up bout while his camp negotiates a big-name fight for the 35-year-old.

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Other notables
IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin (23W 0L 1D), WBA interim heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz (24W 0L 2NC), Alexander Povetkin (30W 1L), and Joseph Parker (18W 0L).

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