Boxing News selects the next generation of heavyweights

THERE isn’t 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 to win the {hardware} again at the finish of the yr, 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, 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 News takes a have a look at the 10 who is perhaps king.

THE AMERICAN HOPE

Jared Anderson

Age: 24

File: (17-1, 15 KOs)

Jared Anderson had seemed like maybe the most full heavyweight on this record and, at 24, nonetheless has loads of time to enhance on his all-round sport. However, 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 mistaken all through his 17 wins as an expert 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 reality is he has loads of time on his arms however the man from Ohio, who has no drawback admitting he has little love for boxing, has spoken overtly about his want to exit the sport as shortly as potential. The loss to Bakole may very well be the making of him – or he might disappear with out a hint.

THE PRODIGY

Moses Itauma

Age: 19

File: (9-0, 7 KOs)

Should you wished to purchase shares in anybody on this record, your finest guess would possibly simply be Moses Itauma. Nonetheless solely 19, and with designs on breaking Mike Tyson’s document as the youngest ever heavyweight champ, it’s scary to assume how a lot better this southpaw can get.

Though a record-breaking world title in the next yr will probably 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 is just not the greatest on this record and it is going to 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

File: (21-2, 20 KOs)

Essentially the most established heavyweight on this record, it’s straightforward 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 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 mistaken 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 facet. Might flip the total 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 is just not your common heavyweight. The unhealthy information for the relaxation of the division is he may also actually combat.

After profitable super-heavyweight silver at the 2020 Olympic Video games, Torrez signed with Prime Rank and has raced to 10-0, 10 KOs in slightly over two years as an expert. The moustachioed Californian was overwhelmed by Bakhodir Jalolov (extra on him later) in the last in Tokyo and was badly knocked out by him at the worlds, too – and, given they’re each aligned with Prime Rank, anticipate the pair to fulfill in the paid ranks down the line.

What Torrez lacks in peak, he makes up for in angles, variation and mixture punching and he prompt the future may very well be vibrant when he stopped fellow undefeated American Brandon Moore in Might. He’s 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 official world title contender.

THE DARK HORSE

Justis Huni

Age: 25

File: (10-0, 5 KOs)

What stands out about Justis Huni compared to some of the different names on this record is how a lot expertise he has managed to glean in simply 10 fights. All however one of these outings as an expert have been 10-rounders and 6 of these went the distance that means he has already completed 74 rounds underneath the lights.

You possibly can argue this implies the 25-year-old would possibly lack the requisite energy to actually bother these at the prime however the man from Queensland has at all times discovered a technique 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 prime 10 with the WBO, his allegiance with Matchroom will even open doorways for him throughout 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 backside line is that Johnny Fisher has advanced into a real heavyweight contender. His promoter Eddie Hearn has usually prompt that Fisher’s profession will probably 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 to this point has been a gentle march by 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 next step.

Big challenges await in Britain alone however he has time on his facet 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 at the Olympics and the worlds (twice) can’t actually be included on a listing of the finest younger, promising heavyweights. Nonetheless, regardless of his accomplishments to this point, it feels as if Bakhodir Jalolov has not likely scratched the floor of what he can obtain in the professional ranks but.

That is partly as a result of the large Uzbek simply can’t keep away from 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’s anticipated to focus totally on life punching for pay thereafter and it isn’t 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 really doing it, nonetheless, are two various things.

THE BIG MAN

Gurgen Hovhanisyan

Age: 26

File: (6-0, 6 KOs)

At 6ft 7ins and the better part of 280lbs, Gurgen Hovhannisyan is the greatest specimen on our record and has been making regular enhancements underneath coach Joe Goossen since relocating to Los Angeles.

As the nickname suggests, ‘Big Gug’ has the dimension to make life uncomfortable for anybody already however he’s no flat-track bully. He’s surprisingly nimble on his ft and technically gifted together with his arms. He applies strain 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 actually make a dent at the prime as a heavyweight. He spent the entire of 2023 out of the ring and has boxed underneath a quantity of completely different promotional banners already.

A person of his model, dimension and high quality is at all times welcome in the ‘Who Needs Him? Club’ however given the alternative, can show his value 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 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 record.

An unorthodox and explosive fighter, Wardley has made nice strides since linking up with Ben Davison and has banked large combat 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 type of combat which might change a person so the onus on Wardley is to win the rematch and press on for larger 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 record. The Australian has nearly an identical dimensions to his Ukrainian counterpart and containers in such the same model that Tyson Fury referred to as him in for sparring for his final camp.

Usyk has proven that such a mode, notably from a southpaw, could be kryptonite for the division’s greatest 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 facet too. Extra importantly, he has the type of tenacious perspective required to attempt his hand in the weight class above and has the expertise to greater than maintain his personal when he will get there.