There is NO denying that the heavyweight division is on the verge of a sea change. Undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk is now 37 years old and Tyson Fury, who will try to win the hardware back at the end of the year, turned 36 on August 12.
Anthony Joshua, who is looking to win the rematch, is the youngest of the three at 34 but his promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that the 2012 Olympic champion could retire in just 18 months.
The good news, however, is that there is a wave of heavy metal ready and waiting for the three main men of the current era to ride off into the sunset. Here, Debate News looks at 10 possible kings.
AMERICAN HOPE
Jared Anderson
Age: 24
Record: (17-1, 15 KOs)
Jared Anderson looked like the most complete safety on the roster and, at 24 years old, still has plenty of time to develop throughout his game. But, with many people falling over themselves to give him the title, Anderson’s train was violently derailed by Martin Bakole in August.
Anderson was unbeaten during his 17 professional wins but it was clear that Bakole was far, far away. The American player was suspended in the fifth round and now it is up to him to learn from the defeat and show that he can bounce back.
The truth is that he has a lot of time on his hands but this man from Ohio, who has no problem admitting that he has a little love for boxing, has gone public about his desire to leave the sport soon. Losing Bakole could be his creation – or he could disappear without a trace.
A PRODIGY
Moses Itauma
Age: 19
Record: (9-0, 7 KOs)
If you wanted to buy shares from anyone on this list, your best bet would be Moses Itauma. Still only 19 years old, and with plans to break Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion, it’s scary to think how much better this southpaw can be.
Although the world title that will record next year will push us, but he seems to have everything; Amazing shot selection, middleweight speed, takedown power and what appears to be a complete inability to convert. However, at just over 6ft 2ins, Itauma is not the biggest on this list and it will be interesting to see how his strength and power stack up against the other heavyweight giants in waiting.
THE CHILD IS BACK
Daniel Dubois
Age: 26
Record: (21-2, 20 KOs)
The most established heavyweight on this list, it’s easy to forget just how young Daniel Dubois is. He turned up after just a few sessions of Novice High and has been learning on the job ever since.
He came under fire after his two losses – to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk – because he was accused of ‘quitting’ in both but he proved the doubters wrong with back-to-back wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic. He also showed a strong chin in both fights, where he was caught in multiple strikes.
That’s hardly a good strategy in boxing, let alone heavyweight, so there’s room for improvement but he’s got time on his side. He could turn the whole team on its head by beating Anthony Joshua at Wembley on September 21.
AN ACTOR
Richard Torrez
Age: 25
Record: (10-0, 10 KOs)
Trainee pilot, Rubik’s cube expert and wannabe farmer, the well-educated Richard Torrez Jr is not your average heavyweight. The bad news at this stage is that he can really fight.
After winning super-heavyweight silver at the 2020 Olympic Games, Torrez signed with Top Rank and is on a 10-0, 10 KO run in just over two years as a pro. The mustachioed Californian was beaten by Bakhodir Jalolov (more on him later) in the finals in Tokyo and was badly knocked out – and, with both being top ranked, expect the two to meet at Top Rank. paid grades down the line.
What Torrez says in height, he makes up for in angles, versatility and combination striking and he suggested the future could be bright when he stopped unbeaten American Brandon Moore in May. He is yet to go up to eight rounds at the time of writing so the jury is out on whether or not he will emerge as a legitimate world title contender.
THE DARK HORSE
Justice Huni
Age: 25
Record: (10-0, 5 KOs)
What stands out about Justis Huni when compared to other names on this list is how much experience he has been able to gather in only ten fights. All but one of those who went out as professionals were 10 rounders and six of them went the distance which means he has done 74 rounds under the lights.
You might argue against the suggestion that the 25-year-old might lack the energy needed to trouble the top but the Queensland man has always found a way to win regardless. In two of his last three fights, he has outpointed two talented opponents in Andrew Tabiti and Kevin Lerena, suggesting that Huni probably goes the furthest of any heavyweight in the world in 10 fights or less.
Already ranked in the top 10 in the WBO, his loyalty to Matchroom will open doors for him around the world.
ATTRACTION
Johnny Fisher
Age: 25
Record: (12-0, 11 KOs)
Never mind the Chinese takeovers, the Insta-famous Dad or the amazing army of fans, the bottom line is that Johnny Fisher has evolved into a true heavyweight contender. His promoter Eddie Hearn has always suggested that Fisher’s career will be ‘fun’ which belies the seriousness of the Romford Bull’s ambitions to reach the top.
He has incredible humility which has greatly improved the ring and his career thus far has been a steady march down the lower levels of the division. His takedown of Alen Babic in just 36 seconds, however, seemed to signal a change in perception; the apprenticeship is over and Fisher is ready for the next step.
Great challenges await Britain alone but he has time on his side and the right mentality to improve. Oh, and he punches like a mule.
AMATEUR
Bakhodir Jalolov
Age: 30
Record: (14-0, 14 KOs)
It would be fair to argue that a 30-year-old who has won 14 professional, Olympic and world gold medals (twice) can’t really be listed among the best young, promising heavyweights. However, despite his accomplishments thus far, it feels like Bakhodir Jalolov hasn’t quite scratched the surface of what he can achieve in the professional ranks just yet.
This is because the big Uzbek can’t stay away from the ateur code and he also represented his country at the Olympics in Paris winning his second consecutive super-heavyweight gold.
He is expected to fully focus on paying for life after that and it is no stretch to say that he has all the tools to become the best heavyweight in the world in the next decade. Being able to do it and actually doing it are two different things.
BIG MAN
Gurgen Hovhanisyan
Age: 26
Record: (6-0, 6 KOs)
At 6ft 7ins and the best part of 280lbs, Gurgen Hovhannisyan is the biggest model on our list and has been making steady progress under coach Joe Goossen since moving to Los Angeles.
As the nickname suggests, ‘Big Gug’ has the size to make life uncomfortable for anyone but he’s no flat-track bully. He is incredibly gifted on his feet and skilled with his hands. He applies pressure sensibly and, inside the ring at least, has quietly improved to 6-0 at all speeds. The question is whether Hovhannisyan will get the support he needs to make a name for himself as a heavyweight. He spent all of 2023 out of the ring and has performed under a number of different promotional banners.
A man of his style, size and quality is always welcome at ‘Who Needs Him? The Club’ but given the chance, could prove its worth as a news manager.
NATURAL
Fabio Wardley
Age: 29
Record: (17-0-1, 16 KOs)
At the age of 29, as British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, Fabio Wardley looks set to take advantage of the changing of the guard at the top of the division.
Given his lack of rookie experience, and few white collar fights before becoming a champion, he also has a few miles on the clock despite his advanced age compared to the other guys on this list.
An unconventional and explosive fighter, Wardley has made huge strides since linking up with Ben Davison and is banking on considerable experience against David Adeleye and Frazer Clarke.
The last of those, however, was a bloody battle that ended in division. It was the kind of fight that can change a man so the job for Wardley is to win the rematch and move on to bigger and better things after that.
THE PROBLEM
Jai Opetaia
Age: 29
Record: (25-0, 19 KOs)
Given Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed rise to the heavyweight crown it would be a mistake to leave cruiserweight Jai Opetaia out of this list. The Australian is almost the same size as his Ukrainian counterpart and boxes in such a way that Tyson Fury called him to play in his final camp.
Usyk has shown that that kind of style, especially from a southpaw, can be kryptonite for the division’s big men and Opetaia looks set up to make it to heavyweight if that’s where he wants to be.
Usyk was almost 33 when he made his heavyweight debut so at 29, Opetaia has plenty of time on his side. More importantly, he has the tenacity necessary to try his hand at the upper weight class and has the talent to more than hold his own when he gets there.
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