BoxRec

Who will be the next undisputed champion of the world ?
I predict at least two in 2018 - Usyk will become the first, after him I expect Joshua.

Is Denis Lebedev likely to face Oleksandr Usyk anytime soon, since the WBA’s super champion had no interest in participating in the WBSS? Probably not. The Ukrainian's schedule is tied up until at least summer 2018 and he'll likely make the jump to heavyweight (assuming he wins the WBSS).

Sergey Kovalev isn’t allowed to have any of his bouts televised by ESPN or Showtime, due to his exclusive contract with HBO. So there’s absolutely no chance of him unifying the titles.

Assuming that Krusher captures the WBO strap, since that’s the only organisation he’s the mandatory challenger for, coupled with the fact that Oleksandr Gvozdyk won’t fight his friend and Artur Beterbiev is targeting the IBF title, then the 175lbs division won’t be unified anytime soon (Showtime + HBO + ESPN = No title unification!)

I doubt that Jeff Horn will be allowed to face any of the PBC guys, since Top Rank is trying to reserve his WBO title for either Manny Pacquiao or Terence Crawford, then I doubt the 147lbs division is likely to be unified earlier than the 2019, though it’ll be good to see Keith Thurman face Errol Spence Jr. next year to unify the WBC, WBA & IBF straps.

I can’t see Mikey Garcia unifying the 140lbs division or Vasyl Lomachenko gaining all of the 130lbs titles within the next 18 months, since they both have to face three other champions within their respective weight classes.

The clear favourite to unify their weight division is Anthony Joshua, since he’s supposedly targeting a WBO title unification bout next July, leading to a potential showdown against fellow Showtime stablemate, Deontay Wilder next autumn.

There is absolutely no way that the heavyweight division will have an undisputed champion by 2018.

Lackeos wrote:There is absolutely no way that the heavyweight division will have an undisputed champion by 2018.

If there is a will, there is a way.

Joshua already is one, Wilder is a fraud, and Parker has 0 chances of beating Josh

Golovkin is the only guy with a chance of this

ValMar wrote:

Lackeos wrote:There is absolutely no way that the heavyweight division will have an undisputed champion by 2018.

If there is a will, there is a way.

Eddie has the will, AJ has the skill, Matchroom have the $$$. It's entirely possible by the end of next year, and it may be AJ, or not, but someone will have all the belts.

Ossyrules wrote:Golovkin is the only guy with a chance of this

Huh? The cruiser winner will have it. Lebedev doesn't count. Of course dorticos isn't part of the poll, so I won't vote.

Usyk. It was rather stupid that Gassiev didn't get the belt from Lebedev. I forgot why that was, but I wouldn't count Lebedev's belt for anything. Gassiev is the real champ. Usyk wins the tournament, and he's undisputed.

AJ has no chance of becoming undisputed as the WBC is held hostage by Wilder.

Golovkin will have an even smaller chance as he has to face his mandatory, Derevyanchenko, at some point. If he doesn't fight Derevyanchenko soon, he'll get stripped of his IBF. WBC also has Charlo lined up as his mandatory; although, they are very likely not to strip him as they wouldn't want to give up the money Golovkin/Canelo: II would bring.

Golovkin is undisputed. Everyone knows he’s the best Middleweight and has been for a very long time.

Lomachenko is undisputed... NO CHAMPS at Featherweight would fight him and NO CHAMPS at 130 will fight him...

Spence is pretty much undisputed at Welterweight... Thurman begged off because of injuries and Horn or Pac sure as Hell don't want to fight him.

Mikey Garcia is pretty much undisputed at Lightweight... Everyone knows he’s the best.

Joshua only needs to put Wilder out cold to be undisputed.

Crawford is undisputed at 140.

Lackeos wrote:There is absolutely no way that the heavyweight division will have an undisputed champion by 2018.

The ABC boys only care about sanctioning fees, they will get the biggest if AJ holds there belt.