Which up-and-coming HW is most likely to become champ?

Freedom2013 · Post by **Freedom2013** » 12 Oct 2014, 14:33

What I mean is to become the REAL champion like Wladimir, not just a beltholder.

Wladimir Klitschko, whose significant other is expecting a baby girl soon, says he will be retiring soon. Who is most likely to replace him as the HW champ?

Which of these is most likely to become champ:

Deontay Wilder
Anthony Joshua
Bryant Jennings
Andy Ruiz
Joseph Parker
Vyacheslav Glazkov
Tyson Fury
Luis Ortiz

SFW · Post by **SFW** » 12 Oct 2014, 15:02

I would say Anthony Joshua for sure

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 12 Oct 2014, 15:13

Joshua

ikorolev · Post by **ikorolev** » 12 Oct 2014, 15:34

indeed

Freedom2013 · Post by **Freedom2013** » 12 Oct 2014, 16:18

2015 will be an interesting year for the HW division.

I just hope the promoters, managers, and fighters are willing to make the kind of matchups fans want to see.

And I hope there won't be all the cancelling/postponing we've suffered through in 2015.

northern · Post by **northern** » 12 Oct 2014, 16:40

I'd say Wilder is the closest to becoming a heavyweight champion, but as for becoming 'THE' champion I'd say Joshua in the long run

Badhusker · Post by **Badhusker** » 13 Oct 2014, 07:35

It is truly too early to tell. Most of the guys listed have not proved anything of significance yet. If I had to choose, I would choose to agree with what WLad and the late E. Steward said in the past...Wilder. Wilder seems raw still, but is developing a good jab and we all know about his power. How he takes the big punch to me is the only big question mark. He is a gym rat, is always in great shape, so don't think that is a factor but he has to go rounds in matches other than sparring to show us that too.

Ricky_ · Post by **Ricky_** » 13 Oct 2014, 08:34

that's a sorry bunch.

edgey2009 · Post by **edgey2009** » 13 Oct 2014, 08:40

Are Fury and Wilder still classed as up-and-coming?

Freedom2013 · Post by **Freedom2013** » 13 Oct 2014, 10:21

Joshua is easily the best up-and-coming heavyweight. He seems to be a well-rounded fighter: size, speed, technical skills, power, reach, footwork, etc. He still needs a bit of work on his defense.

There's a very good chance he will become the next heavyweight champion after Wladimir retires (the real champion, not just a titleholder).

HomicideHenry · Post by **HomicideHenry** » 13 Oct 2014, 12:32

Of the young guys, my eyes are more on Gerald Washington than Anthony Joshua.

Fury and Wilder are no longer "up and coming", they are "on the cusp"... and their next few fights will more or less determine their overall value and worth in the division. They will either sink or swim, and either wind up fringe contenders or potential multi-time title challengers.

When he first broke out, Joseph Parker was the kid I was most impressed with, when he stopped Botha. However, since that time, it seems the momentum has been lost. Or it could be, he's being kept under wraps, so he isnt pushed too fast. But I would love to see Parker take on someone like Hughie Fury or some other young kid.

Freedom2013 · Post by **Freedom2013** » 13 Oct 2014, 16:38

HomicideHenry wrote:Of the young guys, my eyes are more on Gerald Washington than Anthony Joshua.

I'm surprised you mention Gerald Washington, he isn't anything special.

However, Charles Martin has potential.

TheBeast · Post by **TheBeast** » 13 Oct 2014, 18:39

Parker also looks like a solid future top heavy so far... Very fast hands, pop and reach... Little guy type of mobility.

tiny_acres · Post by **tiny_acres** » 14 Oct 2014, 10:47

fergusg wrote:I wonder if Wladimir Klitschko will try to fulfil his promise of claiming a second super heavyweight gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which means 2015 may be his final year competing as a professional?

My guess is that he’d probably try to add the WBC title to his collection by eventually facing the winner of the Wilder-Stiverne bout, before he retires.

This means that there’ll be five vacant titles for these guys to compete for (WBC, WBA Super, IBF, WBO & IBO) within the next twelve months or so, as well as the mythical Ring Magazine and Lineal championships.

If this is the scenario that is played out, then there’s a very good chance that most of these guys will hold at least one of these alphabet titles at some point in their careers.

I still can not believe that they would allow Wlad to compete in the Olympics.

Matt in a hat · Post by **Matt in a hat** » 14 Oct 2014, 11:33

I'm shocked at all the Wilder votes!
10 people think he will become a dominant champ?
I voted for Joshua, but it crossed my mind for a second to vote for Parker.

Tony1244 · Post by **Tony1244** » 14 Oct 2014, 14:36

I voted for Joshua, but Joseph Parker deserves some votes.

Tony1244 · Post by **Tony1244** » 14 Oct 2014, 14:38

Ricky_ wrote:that's a sorry bunch.

Really? I think about 3 of them are quite good. One is a total mystery (Wilder), and a couple are basket cases.

lefty · Post by **lefty** » 14 Oct 2014, 18:51

I dont think any of them will end up reining like Wlad has. I reckon the belts will switch amongst a certain bunching of them. They'll not be 'the heavyweight champion' IMO.

tiny_acres · Post by **tiny_acres** » 14 Oct 2014, 19:25

lefty wrote:I dont think any of them will end up reining like Wlad has. I reckon the belts will switch amongst a certain bunching of them. They'll not be 'the heavyweight champion' IMO.

It should make things interesting for a while.

Lackeos · Post by **Lackeos** » 14 Oct 2014, 19:38

HomicideHenry wrote:Of the young guys, my eyes are more on Gerald Washington than Anthony Joshua.

You think a 32-year-old who has never cracked the top 25 is going to be the division's champion? Why not Amir Mansour?

Lackeos · Post by **Lackeos** » 14 Oct 2014, 19:57

My predictions would be...

1) Anthony Joshua
2) Tyson Fury
3) Joseph Parker
4) Thabisco Mchunu
5) Yoan Pablo Hernandez
6) Marco Huck
7) Oleksandr Usyk
8) Andy Ruiz Jr.
9) Artur Szpilka
10) Deontay Wilder
11) Christian Hammer
12) Mike Perez
13) Edmund Gerber
14) Bilal Laggoune
15) Murat Gassiev
16) Akhror Muralimov

The names at the bottom are less recognizable, but they aren't simply unsupportable "dark horse" picks. They have reasonable potential given their age and present level of accomplishment.

lefty · Post by **lefty** » 14 Oct 2014, 22:32

Lackeos wrote:
HomicideHenry wrote:Of the young guys, my eyes are more on Gerald Washington than Anthony Joshua.
You think a 32-year-old who has never cracked the top 25 is going to be the division's champion? Why not Amir Mansour?

Mansour is 9 years older. It's more feasible for a 32 yr old to become the undisputed heavyweight champion than a 41 yr old. Obviously Washingtons chances would of been a lot greater if he was at an earlier stage in terms of age but it's not totally out of the question if he was good enough. For a 41 yr old though it is pretty damn impossible.

dominik · Post by **dominik** » 15 Oct 2014, 03:46

Joshua is very likely, I think wilder will get a belt too but I'm not sure how Long he can retain it. his power is huge and he can KO anyone but likely he can be KOed too.

Joshua does not hit quite as hard (he stops his opponents but usually more due to accumulation of punches) he he has good power too, is a good boxer with an extensive Amateur Background and seems to be more solid than wilder.

not sure what usyk can do if he decides to step up. he is probably the best boxer out all of those guys but is he big and powerfull enough for the HW?

Gnome · Post by **Gnome** » 17 Oct 2014, 10:08

Everyone is saying Joshua while dismissing Wilder as (likely) having no chin, yet what do we know about Joshua's whiskers (I voted Joshua btw).

Freedom2013 · Post by **Freedom2013** » 17 Oct 2014, 13:17

fergusg wrote:Also, Anthony Joshua was hurt multiple times when he lost to Magomedrasul Majidov in the World Amateur Championships, especially in the third and final round.

I was hoping Magomedrasul Majidov would turn pro.

He has an exciting style and would become very popular.