The heavyweight division is the glory division in boxing. The saying is that as goes the heavyweights, goes boxing as a whole. So… how does it go? For the first time in what seems like an eternity, there’s a new kingpin at the top of the division. World, say hello to Tyson Fury, heavyweight champion.
Heavyweight division rankings last updated June 2018
Credit: BoxRec
Heavyweight Division Champion:
Anthony Joshua
- Record: 21-0, 20 KOs
- Next Fight: Alexander Povetkin
Anthony Joshua is blowing past the competition in his development thus far. Anthony Joshua has taken over the heavyweight division by storm with only 21 fights. Furthermore, Joshua is hoping to dominate the heavyweight division for years to come, is there any in the heavyweight division that can stop the humbled Anthony Joshua?
Top 10 Heavyweight Contenders
- Deontay Wilder – Wilder jumped to the number 1 contender position following his step up win against Bermane Stiverne. While it cost him his all-KO streak, proving he could win a fight over the 12-round distance after never going past 4 rounds was an even bigger statement. A potential future super fight against another all-KO, undefeated Olympic medalist could decide the future of the division. Has had several time killer fights since.
- Alexander Povetkin – It’s been a ways since he defeated Ruslan Chagaev for the (fake) WBA heavyweight title… the one that Wladimir won from David Haye, before the WBA branched off super and regular versions of the strap. Struggled to defeat cruiserweight champ Marco Huck, then had a ridiculous fight against Hasim Rahman. Was game against Klitschko, but couldn’t accomplish anything. Klitschko did all the holding, but Povetkin allowed it to happen. Has since come back to stop Manuel Charr, Carlos Takam and Mike Perez, and most recently, Mariusz Wach. Currently back at the top of the list of “guys Klitschko has thumped.”
- Kubrat Pulev – After defeating Alexander Dimitrenko, Alexander Ustinov, and most impressively, easily handling Tony Thompson, Pulev was the clear top contender for a shot at Anthony Joshua but due to injury Pulev was forced to pull out.
- Dillian Whyte – After defeating Lucas Browne in a brutal fashion he is now in
- Bryant Jennings – Jennings doesn’t have a ton of power, but he’s a technically strong fighter, and he’s been steadily getting better and honing his craft. Made his HBO debut against the undefeated Artur Szpilka, and passed that test with ease. Earned a split nod over Mike Perez, but it was a perhaps questionable point deduction that kept it from being a draw. Somehow found a way around the guys ahead of him straight to Klitschko, and while he has been praised for making it a fight, let’s not go overboard – he hardly won a round. Faces Luis Ortiz next.
- Bermane Stiverne – Took care of business against Chris Arreola, in what was supposed to be a title eliminator. Then he did it again, in a fight for a supposed “heavyweight championship of the world”. Uh, sure thing? He lost his green belt to Wilder in a one-sided affair where durability was his best trait.
- Anthony Joshua – Joshua is blowing past the competition in his development thus far. Does he belong in the top 10 already? Why the hell not? As opposed to another guy who was kayoed by a guy who was kayoed by Klitschko? Blown up cruiserweights or 40 year old retreads? I’ll take Joshua here, thanks.
- Steve Cunningham – Cunningham has been a hard luck fighter his whole career. He’s just never gotten a break. That’s why before the scorecards were even read against Vyacheslav Glazkov, you knew he was getting screwed. You could smell it in the air. There’s no way Glazkov won 8 rounds in that fight. Cunningham, at worse, should have left the ring with a draw, but in my opinion, he won the fight cleanly. Then came the draw against Antonio Tarver, another questionable verdict.
- Vyacheslav Glazkov – Glazkov made a huge statement with a big win over Tomasz Adamek. He was seen as the heavy underdog in that match. Certainly atoned for his lackluster outing against Malik Scott with that effort. Took on Steve Cunningham, and had a slow enough first 6-8 rounds that despite a late rally, he shouldn’t have won that bout. How about a rematch?
- Luis Ortiz – Clearly, Ortiz is raw and his game is full of wholes. Also has a checkered past of failed drug tests. But you can’t deny he’s a powerful force in there. He did at one point wobble Deontay Wilder.
Other Names: Andy Ruiz, Carlos Takam, Derek Chisora, Tony Thompson, Tomasz Adamek, Robert Helenius, Malik Scott, David Price, Johnathon Banks, Seth Mitchell, Odlanier Solis, Alexander Dimitrenko, Chris Arreola, Mariusz Wach, Denis Boytsov, Alexander Ustinov, Edmund Gerber, Artur Szpilka, Lucas Browne, Lateef Kayode, Antonio Tarver, Christian Hammer
More Boxing Weight Class Rankings:
- 175-200 lbs: Cruiserweight Division
