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.
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.
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.
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).
Darren
Roar Rookie
I was thinking the same thing exactly. Then when his knees wobbled after one on the chin in his last fight it struck me he may be Franks love child! Seriously though - he will be found wanting when some of the big boys take his punches and come straight back at him
Jarrod
Guest
Most of these guys are pretty ordinary compared to the heavyweight champions up to and including Lennox Lewis. There are some characters in there though and some decent punchers and there's little value in always looking backwards. Wilder's possibly the best of the lot and Joshua and Parker could be successful. I don't really rate Fury as a boxer, he looked terrible against Klitchko (who was even worse on the night), Klitchko could possibly win the rematch. I hope Fury does though because he does bring some life to the division. Haye is a bit flaky. Browne has an outside chance to win because he's tall and tough and actually has a go. Leapai barely threw a punch against Klitchko and the same when De Mori fought Haye. I just hope that all these guys choose to fight each other over the next couple of years and we might see some decent contests and some interesting champions.
KingKongBundy
Guest
Oh give him a break I'm assuming he wants to be one of those cool kids at his school lol god bless the little fella
Julian T
Guest
MMA is one governing body?? lol
Julian T
Guest
I don't know why Luis Ortiz was just classfied as "other notable". The Real King Kong is a beast. He would beat Fury, Wilder and Martin easy. Pity he is already 36 years old.
lao hu
Guest
the sport has become a bit irrelevant these days. all the cool kids watch MMA which has one governing body. that is crucial false claim of fact obviously yiu aren;t familiar with MMA, I can name a bunch of active MMA sanctioning organizations One FC, Road FC to name just two. I have been involved in Boxing , Muay Thai, Sambo and Catch Wrestling all good sports in their own way, have their own particular merits. MMA is simply q combination of these and other combat sports. It always amuses me when UFC fans in particular talk about MMA as a specific style in fact I can watch a typical MMA bout tell you the technique and the sport it originate from. Almost every coach I have encountered hace a particular disliking for UFC fans their ignorance of the technical, tactical and conditioning aspects of the sport , emphasis sorely on the personalities so on it's the pound and ground mob. Strangely enough while there are cross over athletes corssover coaches are a rarity at least good ones are. Any decent MMA fighter should study Boxing along with his grappling standing and ground control etc All these sports actully complement each other not contradict each other. Denigrating other combat sports illustrates a narrow mind closed to possibilites.
Farqueue
Guest
Anthony Joshua reminds me of Frank Bruno, very musclebound but he seems very easy to hit. I really like the young kiwi kid and think he can go all the way. The funny thing about the MMA fans is that the fights they love are the stand up toe to toe battles( just like boxing) . If you had told me in the 80,s and 90,s when Tyson, holyfield, Holmes, Lewis etc were dominating boxing that soon it would change to big white Russians becoming the major force I would have thought you were crazy.
KingKongBundy
Guest
Why bring MMA into this? Go and comment on a MMA thread if you love it so much. Its not everyone's cup of tea watching 2 guys roll around on the floor clamping onto each other or knocking a guy down then pouncing on his defenceless body and start hammer fisting his head I,d much prefer a good old fashioned stand up punch up any day so each to there own. As for commenting on what this article is about I would love to see Joshua fight Haye with the winner fighting Fury even if he loses his rematch to Klitschko witch I think he will.It will also be interesting to see how Joseph Parker from NZ turns out to can see him earning a title shot by 2017 Last one I hate to say it but cannot see Lucas Browne winning his title fight next month I feel Chagaev Is more skilful with to much experience for him.
Petar Alavanja
Roar Pro
I love MMA but it has its fair share of sideshow bouts too look at the recent fight in bellator between kimbo slice and ken shamrock and even in the UFC this past weekend two guys fighting for the right to fight 0-0 former pro wrestler cm punk
turbodewd
Guest
boxing?! the sport has become a bit irrelevant these days. all the cool kids watch MMA which has one governing body. that is crucial. People cant dodge fights and set up joke bouts like Danny Green did vs the geriatric in Perth a few yrs ago.