It’s mentioned that youth is a present of nature, however age is a murals and time waits for no man, particularly in boxing. With Usyk weighing up his choices and a possible Wembley showdown between Fury and Joshua, it might appear untimely to debate the division of their absence. However I feel it’s honest to say that 2025 will bid a fond farewell to those males and we should always lengthen that adieu to Deontay Wilder. No matter his dramatic decline, Wilder performed his half, and followers can really feel justifiably aggrieved that we by no means noticed him share a hoop with Joshua. After all, that’s a complete different debate and one finest argued over beer and barbeques.
The way forward for the division might fall into many fingers over the approaching years, and I believe it is going to. The struggle night time on February twenty second will carry some readability to the dialogue and it’s nearly as good a spot as any to start our breakdown of the lads who could be king.
Daniel Dubois: (22-2-0)
As IBF title holder Dubois has already earned his championship wings, and his annihilation of Anthony Joshua was as spectacular because it was sudden. Detractors will look to his defeat by Joe Joyce and his nightmarish opening spherical with Kevin Lerena, however he confirmed an excellent maturity towards Miller and Hrgovic and I assumed his efficiency towards Usyk was commendable.
Dubois has energy, velocity and possesses a good boxing IQ. He throws high quality mixtures and, at 27, time is actually on his aspect. Michael Buffer is a fan, however many will query his coronary heart and that shall be examined on February twenty second when he faces Joseph Parker.
Joseph Parker: (33-3-0)
One may very well be forgiven for pondering that Parker has been round endlessly however, at 32, he’s nonetheless a heavyweight with enormous potential. One other sufferer of the Juggernaut Joe Joyce, it as soon as appeared as if his profession was over, however Andy Lee has reworked the Kiwi, and he’s completely the very best model of himself at this level. Massive wins over Wilder and the person mountain Zhilei Zhang have re-established Parker as a real risk and he’s a gorgeous boxer to observe.
In a latest interview, Lee acknowledged that Parker had by no means been supremely conditioned and that was the constructing block they began with. Energy could also be a difficulty nonetheless, however he compensates with motion and velocity. Any lingering questions shall be answered towards Dubois in a bout that shall be seen as make-or-break for each males.
Agit Kabayel: (25-0-0)
It will be simple to miss Kabayel as he’s solely fought 4 occasions since his mediocre efficiency towards journeyman Kevin Johnson in 2021. Previous to that, his most notable scalp was Derek Chisora in an equally forgettable bout manner again in 2017. However his destruction of Makhmudov and his gorgeous victory over the much-fancied Frank Sanchez has put Kayabel firmly within the heavyweight highlight. The German is an unlikely contender. He’s not an imposing determine to have a look at and I all the time felt he may very well be conditioned significantly higher however, make no mistake, he’s a fantastic boxer and he’s ring sensible to a shocking diploma.
Beating Makhmudov wasn’t earth shattering nevertheless it was the way during which he merely broke him down that impressed, and he was excellent in knocking the gloss off Sanchez. He faces Zhang in Riyadh on February twenty second and the winner will definitely have a say going ahead.
Martin Bakole: (21-1-0)
Each period wants its bogeymen and Bakole ticks all of the packing containers for now. He’s a powerhouse who pummelled US hopeful Jared Anderson over 5 rounds final August and that lopsided affair adopted an equally harmful dismissal of teak-tough Carlos Takam ten months earlier. He’s enjoyable to observe however he’s technically restricted, and he was outboxed by the smaller, smarter Michael Hunter albeit six years in the past.
Bakole is about to struggle Efe Ajagba subsequent in an IBF eliminator nevertheless it’s telling that each Kabayel and Zhang refused to struggle him.
Jared Anderson: (17-1-0)
The decline of the American heavyweight is a speaking level all by itself. Aside from Wilder, the US has had little to supply the division during the last decade and the game cries out for a Holyfield or a Tyson. Jared Anderson is just not that however, at 25, he may but make an impression. He can field, for certain, however I all the time regarded him extra as a Bermane Stiverne slightly than a Massive Daddy Bowe.
On the time of writing, he has no scheduled bout so, possibly, his staff are rebuilding however I’d wish to see him struggle somebody like Andy Ruiz Jr subsequent. I nonetheless charge Ruiz Jr and, if Anderson may take that scalp, he’d actually be on the highway to redemption.
Moses Itauma: (11-0-0)
Some would say I saved the very best for final and it’s arduous to disagree. On the tender age of 19, Itauma stands on the gates of historical past with many anticipating him to take Mike Tyson’s ‘youngest ever’ title. I am going again to the opening line of this text ‘Youth is a present of nature’ and this child is of course gifted, of that there isn’t any doubt. He strikes splendidly, he’s quick on his toes, he has quick fingers and he’s a intelligent fighter. He has energy and confidence in abundance, and he appears to have a maturity about him that may’t be taught.
However, within the hype that surrounds him, let’s have a look at the plain. Wins over Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach imply little and, although he appeared good in these bouts, he’s solely accomplished 9 rounds in his final seven fights, so the opposition is compost. He wants competitors. There’s speak of a British showdown with Fabio Wardley and, no disrespect to Wardley, that’s not more than a stepping stone struggle for Itauma. However the boy may very well be one thing particular, and we will certainly watch this house.
There are, after all, different contenders on the market. Bakhodir Jalolov may have a say in proceedings as may Lawrence Okolie and there’s all the time the hope {that a} new title will emerge. However, as of now, the fighters I listed are in all probability the very best of the remaining when the curtains lastly come down on the careers of Usyk, Fury and Joshua.
