Top 10 Current Heavweights
Posted: 16 Feb 2016, 20:15
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.
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.
