It’s stated 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 could appear untimely to debate the division of their absence. However I believe it’s truthful to say that 2025 will bid a fond farewell to those males and we should always prolong 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 could fall into many palms over the approaching years, and I think it would. The combat 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 in opposition to Miller and Hrgovic and I believed his efficiency in opposition to Usyk was commendable.
Dubois has energy, pace and possesses an honest boxing IQ. He throws high quality combos and, at 27, time is definitely 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 considering that Parker has been round ceaselessly however, at 32, he’s nonetheless a heavyweight with enormous potential. One other sufferer of the Juggernaut Joe Joyce, it as soon as regarded as if his profession was over, however Andy Lee has remodeled the Kiwi, and he’s completely the perfect model of himself at this level. Huge wins over Wilder and the person mountain Zhilei Zhang have re-established Parker as a real menace and he’s a fantastic boxer to look at.
In a current 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 pace. Any lingering questions shall be answered in opposition to 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 in opposition to journeyman Kevin Johnson in 2021. Previous to that, his most notable scalp was Derek Chisora in an equally forgettable bout method 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 take a look at and I at all times felt he may very well be conditioned significantly higher however, make no mistake, he’s a fantastic boxer and he’s ring good to a shocking diploma.
Beating Makhmudov wasn’t earth shattering however 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 look at 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 combat Efe Ajagba subsequent in an IBF eliminator however it’s telling that each Kabayel and Zhang refused to combat him.
Jared Anderson: (17-1-0)
The decline of the American heavyweight is a speaking level all by itself. Excluding 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 just isn’t that however, at 25, he may but make an impression. He can field, for positive, however I at all times regarded him extra as a Bermane Stiverne reasonably than a Huge Daddy Bowe.
On the time of writing, he has no scheduled bout so, perhaps, his group are rebuilding however I’d prefer to see him combat somebody like Andy Ruiz Jr subsequent. I nonetheless charge Ruiz Jr and, if Anderson may take that scalp, he’d definitely be on the street to redemption.
Moses Itauma: (11-0-0)
Some would say I saved the perfect for final and it’s onerous 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’m 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 is no such thing as a doubt. He strikes splendidly, he’s quick on his toes, he has quick palms 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 take a look at the plain. Wins over Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach imply little and, although he regarded 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 discuss of a British showdown with Fabio Wardley and, no disrespect to Wardley, that’s not more than a stepping stone combat for Itauma. However the boy may very well be one thing particular, and we will certainly watch this area.
There are, in fact, different contenders on the market. Bakhodir Jalolov may have a say in proceedings as may Lawrence Okolie and there’s at all times the hope {that a} new identify will emerge. However, as of now, the fighters I listed are in all probability the perfect of the remainder when the curtains lastly come down on the careers of Usyk, Fury and Joshua.
