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The top five hottest heavyweight boxing prospects

There is no division more exciting or important to the sport of boxing than the heavyweight division, as the top weight fighters duel it out to become the ‘baddest man on the planet’.

There is a power vacuum to be filled in the heavyweight division with current WBC Champion Tyson Fury, who is undefeated, claiming he will only come out of retirement for £500 million.

Oleksandr Usyk shows no signs of slowing down, having won his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles when defeating Anthony Joshua in spectacular fashion in 2021. But one man cannot reign forever, and soon these contenders will be jumping at the chance to take the titles should Usyk win the rematch against Joshua.

Let’s look at the top up and coming heavyweights who will be eager to challenge for the title in the next few years.

Joe Joyce 14-0-0

Known for his punching power, Joe Joyce has held the British, Commonwealth, WBC Silver, and WBO International heavyweight titles since 2020. His record currently stands at 14-0 after he finished his last fight against Christian Hammer in the fourth round.

The Brit originally earned his way onto the scene as an amateur by winning gold at the 2014 Commonwealth and 2015 European Games, and then racking up a silver medal for the UK in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

Joyce seems a good a contender as any to be the next big thing in the heavyweight division, especially if he can replicate his past performances since turning pro.

Daniel Dubois 18-1-0

Fellow Brit Daniel Dubois was knocked out by Joe Joyce in his only defeat in November 2020. Since the loss Dubois has reasserted his dominance with three knockout wins against Bogdan Dinu, Joe Cusumano and Trevor Bryan. His victory against Bryan landed him the WBA heavyweight belt, which he is yet to defend.

Should the 24-year-old be able to defend his title he can certainly think about taking on the WBA Super Champion Oleksandr Usyk in the years to come. Of his wins, just one was left to the judge’s scorecards, and although knockouts may be commonplace in heavyweight boxing, Dubois specifically has a reputation for his show stopping power.

Jared Anderson 11-0-0

In 2017 and 2018 Ohio native Jared Anderson won the US National Championships, before signing with Top Rank as a professional in 2019. Since turning pro Anderson is undefeated in 11 fights, ending all of them by KO/TKO, proving his dominance and power.

WBC Champion Tyson Fury’s father John Fury mentioned that he fancies Anderson to replace Tyson once he has fully departed, as did the champ himself. It is high praise coming from both Furys, and it makes sense considering Anderson’s average fight time is just 2.2 rounds, having only had to fight 24 rounds in those 11 bouts.

Filip Hrgovic 14-0-0

As with the others, Filip Hrgovic had a successful amateur career before turning professional, including winning gold at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in 2010, another gold at the European Championships and a bronze at the Olympics in 2016.

Since turning professional Hrgovic is undefeated with five successful defences of the WBC International heavyweight title which he won in 2018, and two successful defences of the IBF International titlethat he won from Rydell Booker in 2020.

The Croatian is certainly a strong prospect for future champion, however Hrgovic did lose to Joyce as an amateur, and if they ever meet again, it would certainly be interesting to see the progress made by each fighter since their last bout.

Croatian Filip Hrgovic before the boxing event “Battle of the Giants” against Marko Radonjic at the Woerthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Frank Sanchez 20-0-1

Frank Sanchez also known as ‘The Cuban Flash’ has left the heavyweight division in tatters. Sanchez is currently undefeated with one no-contest, where his opponent Lamont Capers was pushed out of the ring and left unable to continue.

Sanchez currently holds the WBO-NABO heavyweight title as well as the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title. Of his 20 wins, Sanchez has won on the judges’ scorecards seven times, with 13 wins by knockout.

Sanchez recently left his trainer Eddy Reynoso, who has also coached Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, and has chosen veteran coach Joe Goossen as the new man in his corner. With Goossen’s experience it’s likely Sanchez will continue fighting at a high calibre and could potentially challenge for the other heavyweight titles.

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