Boxing’s marquee division is in rude health currently, with some serious talent atop the heavyweight pecking order. Crucially, these men are keen to meet each other - and when the best fight the best, there is still no spectacle quite like it.
Here furyjoshua.com assesses the landscape and ranks the best big men around.
Boxing’s heavyweight division is red-hot as we head deeper into 2025, with Oleksandr Usyk now very much at the top of the pile. And Daniel Dubois riding high as the new kid on the block.
The Ukrainian genius Usyk was sensational again as he defeated Tyson Fury for a second time in their eagerly-awaited rematch in Riyadh on December 21, even if it did not quite deliver the fireworks of their epic first meeting.
Dubois meanwhile holds the remaining heavyweight belt after he topped that incredible Wembley show in September by blasting out Anthony Joshua in an astonishing fight.
Let’s look at how all the major recent fights have impacted our heavyweight rankings, and how things may pan out in the coming months.
Our heavyweight rankings
Such is the influence of the sanctioning bodies in the sport, which sadly often defy logic to push their own agendas, it has never been an easy task to impartially rank the heavyweights. Our list ignores the so-called ‘alphabet’ ratings in favour of a non-partisan system which ranks fighters based purely on their skillset, ring achievements, title victories and potential.
1. Oleksandr Usyk (23-0)
The brilliant 38-year-old Ukrainian proved that nothing is beyond his incomparable skills as he outpointed Fury in a fascinating rematch to retain his WBC, WBA, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal titles just before Christmas. Usyk now holds all of the heavyweight title belts bar one after confirming his supremacy over ‘The Gypsy King’ in a more technical fight than their first blockbusting clash back in May. It appears as though Usyk is in no mood to retire despite winning it all both at cruiserweight and heavyweight. A rematch with Dubois or trilogy showdowns vs Joshua or Fury could theoretically be next.
Next fight: tbc
2. Tyson Fury (34-2-1)
Fury suffered his second defeat by Usyk in that Riyadh chess match, despite executing a more circumspect gameplan than he had done the first time around. The British superstar came in much heavier than he had back in May, and tried to use his size to control the fight. It appears though he has found the one opponent he cannot dominate, and it would be a brave man to pick him to win any future trilogy match between the pair. For now of course ‘The Gypsy King’ says he is retired, but it remains to be seen if he will be tempted back by the potential riches on offer for that long-awaited showdown vs Anthony Joshua. For now he remains in our top 10.
Next fight: tbc
3. Daniel Dubois (22-2)
Dubois produced a quite astonishing performance to knock out Anthony Joshua in front of 96,000 stunned fans at Wembley Stadium to prove beyond doubt that he is now for real. The critics who called him ‘a quitter’ after those losses to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk have been forced to eat their words in spectacular style with Dubois defeating Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and now Joshua - all inside the distance. Dubois was sensational against Joshua - putting the two-time heavyweight champion on the deck in four of the five rounds as he successfully retained his IBF world heavyweight title. Was forced to pull out of a planned February title defence vs Joseph Parker, and now we await his next move.
Next fight: tbc
4. Joseph Parker (36-3)
The former WBO champion has had an astonishing renaissance since that damaging defeat by the then invincible Joe Joyce back in September 2022. All the Kiwi has done is reel off 6 wins on the bounce - including back-to-back decision victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. He had been due to face Dubois for the IBF title in February before the British star pulled out at the 11th hour. Joseph stayed busy by blasting out late replacement Martin Bakole inside two rounds. Surely that next world title shot is just around the corner.
Next fight: tbc
5. Anthony Joshua (28-4)
Joshua is again at the crossroads of a glittering career after a devastating loss to Dubois in his bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. AJ was in trouble early and never really recovered from a heavy knockdown at the end of the first round. He was on wobbly legs and eating leather for most of a quite incredible evening as Dubois landed bomb after bomb. AJ somehow managed to survive to Round 5, but was then floored for the last time by a brutal Dubois counter and counted out by referee Marcus McDonnell. Joshua is currently recovering from an injury and multiple options have been thrown out there for his next fight - anything from that Fury blockbuster to a crossover clash with Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul.
Next fight: tbc
6. Agit Kabayel (26-0)
Kabayel has been the division’s biggest revelation in the last 18 months - claiming terrific wins in Saudi over giant Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov, the Cuban slickster Frank Sanchez and more recently the Chinese man mountain Zhilei Zhang. His brilliant knockout of Sanchez on the Fury vs Usyk undercard also earned him the spot as mandatory contender for the WBC heavyweight title, and it was richly deserved. In all of those recent, terrific wins Kabayel was punch-perfect, executing the ideal gameplan. He is tough and technically sound, and adept at mixing attacks to body and head beautifully. In short, a danger to any top level opponent.
Next Fight: tbc
7. Moses Itauma (11-0)
It’s quite astonishing that the young British sensation Itauma was still just 19 years old when he destroyed tough Aussie Demsey McKean inside two minutes of their rumble on the Usyk vs Fury 2 undercard in Riyadh just before Christmas. ‘Enriko’, frighteningly talented and aiming to beat Mike Tyson’s long-standing record as the youngest world heavyweight champion, was astonishing yet again. He blasted McKean to defeat with another devastating display of punching power and will be expected to step up again next time as he moves towards world level. It’s a big call to include him in our top 10 already, but he has that type of talent and potential. Set to return on the Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman undercard in Scotland on May 24.
Next Fight: tbc
8. Bakhodir Jalolov (14-0)
The ‘The Big Uzbek’ could be the next big thing in heavyweight boxing - once he decides to go all in on the pro game. And that should be now after the man who has already built a 14-0 record in the paid ranks claimed a second Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024. He returns to paid action this Saturday night and we await the results with eager anticipation.
Next Fight: Jalolov vs Ihor Shevadzutskyi (April 5, 2025)
9. Zhilei Zhang (27-3-1)
A few months ago the Chinese giant appeared very much en route to a potential world title shot, but two defeats in his last three bouts have him very much at the crossroads at the age of 41. ‘Big Bang’ has looked really good in blasting out the likes of Joe Joyce and Deontay Wilder in recent times, but losses to Joseph Parker and recently Agit Kabayel have removed much of that lustre. As the name suggests, Zhang is a huge man and he can absolutely bang, but he has been found out by fighters who outwork him and put his suspect stamina to the test as a fight goes on.
Next fight: tbc
10. Andy Ruiz (35-2-1)
The former unified heavyweight king has fought only three times since losing his titles to Joshua in their Saudi rematch in late 2019. Inactivity has cost the Californian what was once a top-five spot in our rankings, but he is in the top 10 thanks to the exits of Wilder and Filip Hrgovic following their damaging defeats on that Hearn vs Warren card in Riyadh last June. There are still questions to be answered by Ruiz though after he failed to impress in fighting out a draw with Jarrell Miller in Los Angeles in August.
Next Fight: tbc
