Top 10 Current Heavweights

[TBEwasLangford]

Thought I'd do my list, sure people will have varying opinions!

1. Tyson Fury
Lineal champ. Gave Chisora a one sided beating before breaking Klitschko’s reign with relatively comfortable win in ugly fight. Still improving, expected to handle Klitschko again in rematch. Clear number one.
2. Wladimir Klitshcko
Looked a shot fighter against Fury, could prove doubters wrong in rematch. Just one defeat since 2004, looked formidable in poor heavyweight division prior to Fury loss. Holds victories against many on this list, still number 2 in division.
3. Alexander Povetkin
Distinguished amateur career, just the one loss to date to Klistchko as pro. Holds impressive list of victories against the likes of Perez, Takam and Chagaev. Expect to have too much for Wilder if/when they meet for WBC Crown.
4. Luis Ortiz
Very talented Cuban. Stoppage win against Jennings was very impressive, shame career has been stalled with drug bans. Arguably the hardest hitting boxer in the division as shown by stoppage victories against unbeaten Kayode (subsequent NC) and Jennings. Potentially could become number 1 in division but time not on side. Expect KO win against Tony Thompson.
5. Deontay Wilder
Impressive when beating Stiverne in his one test to date against decent level opposition. Below par against both Molina and Szpilka but got the job done, showing he can keep his KO power into later rounds. Question marks whether he has technical ability to beat very best in division, expect tough night against Povetkin (if they fight)
6. David Haye
Ranking based on past exploits in division. Showed he still possessed speed and power when outclassing a poor de Mori. Questionable chin in division but fine boxing skills. Hopefully will step back up in class when returning in May against top 10 contender.
7. Kubrat Pulev
Transferred impressive record from long amateur career with good successes against limited opposition. Highlighted fast jab and good movement in wins against unbeaten Ustinov, Dimtrenko and gatekeeper Thompson. Since being blown away by Klistchko, expect to get back into title contention with victory in EBU match up with Dereck Chisora.
8. Bermane Stiverne
Former WBC champ with impressive power. Was very flat when outworked by Wilder, failing to cut the ring off and utilise his impressive hand speed. Needs to improve on his comeback fight, has talent to get back in the title mix.
9. Bryant Jennings
Showed top 10 potential with strong wins against Fedosov, Szpilka and Perez. Ultimately came up short against Klitschko and Ortiz. Still however a relatively strong contender in weak division. Would like to see him matched against David Haye next.
10. Carlos Takam
Good French based boxer with all round skills including decent jab. Unlucky not to get nod against Perez, he had too much for Thompson before being caught by Povetkin when performing well. 3 marking time wins in 2015, potentially could meet winner of Martin and Joshua for IBF belt.

Unbeaten prospects and Nearly rans

There are a numerous unbeaten upcoming fighters who need to start testing themselves, in no particular order;
Anthony Joshua (Olympic champ looked impressive to date, interesting match-up with Martin)
Charles Martin (Untested IBF champ, potentially very difficult night ahead with Joshua)
Lucas Browne (Padded Record, good match up with ageing Chagaev)
Joshua Parker (Beginning to get noticed, needs to step up. Would be great to see matched up with Hughie Fury)
Hughie Fury (See Joseph Parker above)
Andy Ruiz Jnr (Lacks power punch, done nothing of note yet)
Robert Helenius (Stop start career. Judged to have been very lucky against Chisora, angling for high WBC ranking.. doesn’t look anything above average to date)
Dominic Breazeale (Unimpressive against Mansour, looks limited)
Jarrell Miller (Decent prospect, interesting to see how he’s matched)
Erkan Teper (banned for drug use, career on hold)
Michael Wallisch (angling for WBO ranking, extremely padded record to date, needs to start testing himself)
Arnold Gjergjaj (see Wallisch, ridiculous padded European record)
Óscar Rivas (Good to see matchup with Gerald Washington on 27th. Fancy Rivas to come out on top)

Other Contenders
Chris Arreola (skilful operator but lazy and lucky to get nod against limited Kauffman. Subsequent ND after failed drugs test)
Mike Perez (talented, not looked the same since Abdusalamov fight and once stepped up in class)
Vyacheslav Glazkov (Unlucky to suffer injury against Martin, lacks punch power, unlikely to make impact except through alphabet rankings)
Artur Szpilka (performed well and had fight level with Wilder before being caught. Nice win against Adamek, would be good fight for many of the unbeaten prospects)
Ruslan Chagaev (Solid if very unspectacular holder of irrelevant alphabet minority title, looked well past his prime against Oquendo. Interesting to see how he gets on against Lucas Browne)
Dereck Chisora (Holds good wins at European and fringe level. Expect Pulev to have too much for him. If he continues will always be good gatekeeper)
Malik Scott (Similar to Chisora… Good wins and top 20-30 fringe contender. Probably lacks as much resistance as Chisora who beat him following misjudged count)

Becoming an interesting division with Fury as champion and the number of decent matches that can be made. Hope to see more between the unbeaten upcoming fighters risking their “0” and testing themselves against the best.

[HyacinthusTurnipseed]

It's not an awful list. I and (I think) most on here would question the placement of Bermane Stiverne who hadn't done all that much outside the Arreola fights and has done almost nothing since (limply losing his title to Wilder, labouring to a points win over Rossy) to suggest he is one of the ten best heavyweights out there right now. David Haye is a contentious figure but I'd say a compelling case can be made for him. Other than that it looks like most of the guys who are in everyone's top ten - most everyone has that top five (some in a slightly different order) and has Pulev, Takam and Jennings making the bulk of the rest.

[winnie_de la_pooh]

awful list

[jezzamundo]

Good list and reasoning.

I would have Haye outside the tip 15 until he faces a live body - accomplishments 3.5 years ago only get you so far.

Stiverne should probably be lower given his last two performances.

Pulev seems low but we should hold judgement until he fights Chisora. Jennings is low too IMO.

[asdfjkl]

Haye and especially Stiverne shouldn't be that high indeed, I think you can better replace them with AJ and Parker.
Also, I don't see Arreola as a real contender any more, I think Whyte for example is a lot better as pretty much any of those contenders.

[fightfan95]

Very good thread, good reasoning behind this list. I agree with most of the list but, I wouldn't place stiverne in the top 10 - I think both AJ and Parker beats him with ease.

1. Fury
2. W.Klitschko
3. Ortiz
4. Povetkin
5. Wilder
6. Pulev
7. Joshua
8. Martin
9. Takam
10. Parker

That's my 10 at the moment, the good thing with HW is one result can completely change the rankings e.g. if Klitschko beats Fury in rematch I'm sure he will go back to #1 - If Wilder faces Povetkin and wins does he go #1 or #2. If Pulev losses to Chisora I'm sure he will drop out the top 10. Joshua or Martin will move up after the IBF match-up. Then you have Haye - we all know back in 2010/2011 he would easily be in the top 10, if he fights a good active opponent in his next fight does he go back in the top 10?

The HW division is splitting decisions for the first time in a while, so as a massive boxing fanatic I don't mind if someone completely disagrees with my top 10. I'm sure most people on here has a completely different top 10. I'm actually excited when a HW match-up is being made or talked about!

[jezzamundo]

awful list

Care to elaborate?

[Taansend]

Thought I'd do my list, sure people will have varying opinions!

4. Luis Ortiz
Very talented Cuban. Stoppage win against Jennings was very impressive, shame career has been stalled with drug bans. Arguably the hardest hitting boxer in the division

Is it a shame that his career has been stalled with drug bans or is it a shame that he's been caught using performance enhancing drugs?

Is he the hardest hitter in the division because of his natural strength/timing/etc or the drugs?

If it's the latter is he really Number 4? If he's been caught more than once should he be allowed to continue boxing?

[jockpunk]

Here is mine:

1. Fury
2. Klit
3. Wilder
4. Ortiz
5. Povetkin
6. Pulev
7. Haye
8. Chagaev
9. Martin
10. Joshua

[TBEwasLangford]

Thought I'd do my list, sure people will have varying opinions!

4. Luis Ortiz
Very talented Cuban. Stoppage win against Jennings was very impressive, shame career has been stalled with drug bans. Arguably the hardest hitting boxer in the division

Is it a shame that his career has been stalled with drug bans or is it a shame that he's been caught using performance enhancing drugs?

Shame his career was stalled. Talented boxer and from own selfish point of view would liked to see more of him in action.

Is he the hardest hitter in the division because of his natural strength/timing/etc or the drugs?

He underwent VADA testing against Jennings prior knocking him out and came back clean. I would suggest his power is natural strength and technique, of course his PED issue will leave a cloud and no definitive answer.

If it's the latter is he really Number 4? If he's been caught more than once should he be allowed to continue boxing?

i/ Yes I think he is no. 4. ii/ How many times has he been banned? No I think a boxer should be banned for life after been found guilty twice..although without one official governing commission for boxing this is doubtful it will happen.. look at Tarver!

[Tony1244]

Excellent list. Good summary, especially for those learning the field.

[Taansend]

Thought I'd do my list, sure people will have varying opinions!

4. Luis Ortiz
Very talented Cuban. Stoppage win against Jennings was very impressive, shame career has been stalled with drug bans. Arguably the hardest hitting boxer in the division

Is it a shame that his career has been stalled with drug bans or is it a shame that he's been caught using performance enhancing drugs?

Shame his career was stalled. Talented boxer and from own selfish point of view would liked to see more of him in action.

Is he the hardest hitter in the division because of his natural strength/timing/etc or the drugs?

He underwent VADA testing against Jennings prior knocking him out and came back clean. I would suggest his power is natural strength and technique, of course his PED issue will leave a cloud and no definitive answer.

If it's the latter is he really Number 4? If he's been caught more than once should he be allowed to continue boxing?

i/ Yes I think he is no. 4. ii/ How many times has he been banned? No I think a boxer should be banned for life after been found guilty twice..although without one official governing commission for boxing this is doubtful it will happen.. look at Tarver!

Thanks for your response. I have no idea how many times he's been banned. I was going from your line "shame career has been stalled with drug bans."

I took the plural "bans" to mean it has happened more than once. And once is once too many so if it's more than that then he shouldn't be fighting in my humble opinion.

Drug cheat once & a ban (year or two depending on severity), again & you can find another profession.

Great list, by the way

[winnie_de la_pooh]

awful list

Care to elaborate?

Haye has been inactive for a few years and just fought a bum,so he shouldn't even be on this list. Ortiz should not be in front of Wilder and somehow Martin doesnt even place? Yet Jennings,who has lost his last 2 fights,does place?

[jezzamundo]

awful list

Care to elaborate?

Haye has been inactive for a few years and just fought a bum,so he shouldn't even be on this list. Ortiz should not be in front of Wilder and somehow Martin doesnt even place? Yet Jennings,who has lost his last 2 fights,does place?

I agree Haye shouldn't be in yet, but based on ability he probably is top 10.
On record, I agree Ortiz should be lower, but I and many think he's better than Wilder (although I do rank Wilder higher).
Many view Martin as a titlist, but not a real champion. He fought a fairly average heavyweight in Glazkov and only won because his knee imploded.
Jennings is far more proven than Martin and I would pick him in a fight between the two.

[Cap]

There are very few heavyweights I'd pay to see fight. Povetkin is one. Parker and Joshua are two others. Maybe Wilder if he fights Tyson Fury, just so I can see one of them get knocked out. I think Klitschko is probably past his best before date. If Ortiz is a drug cheat he needs to be banned, along with any other fighter caught doing it. Stiverne had his chance and blew it. Most of the rest are boring.

[funso banjo baby]

id have Haye and Pulev above Wilder

[TBEwasLangford]

awful list

Care to elaborate?

Haye has been inactive for a few years and just fought a bum,so he shouldn't even be on this list. Ortiz should not be in front of Wilder and somehow Martin doesnt even place? Yet Jennings,who has lost his last 2 fights,does place?

Why would Martin be in the top 10? Other than beating Glazkhov due to injury who's he actually beat? Just because he hold's an alphabet title doesn't automatically give him passage to the top 10..I haven't seen him on any top 10 lists prior to winning the belt, why would a three round injury win over Glazhkov suddenly give him that right?

Also Jennings has proven wins over Perez, Szpilka, Fedosov, he's a solid top 10 fighter. No shame losing to Klitschko or Ortiz. Again why would Martin be above him?