5 heavyweights to watch this year
Here are some fighters who represent the next generation
With some of the heavyweight elite in the latter stages of their careers, it is time for a new generation.
Oleksandr Usyk is 37, Tyson Fury is 36 and Anthony Joshua is 35.
Despite not announcing official plans for retirement, it’s fair to say Usyk, Fury, and Joshua are now past their peak.
Therefore, the younger talents in the division will eventually take over.
Here are five heavyweights to watch this year.
Moses Itauma
Moses Itauma is one of the most exciting prospects in boxing.
A 20-year-old from Kent, Itauma has previously stated he would like to break Mike Tyson’s record and become the youngest heavyweight world champion ever.
At the time of writing, Itauma only has four months to complete the historic feat, which means he would have to fight for a world title in his next bout and this is not looking likely considering Usyk holds three out of four belts.
Regardless, we can expect Itauma to start facing world-class opposition this year and potentially pick up a world title if one of the versions becomes vacant.
In his last fight on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2, Itauma destroyed Demsey McKean in one round - an opponent who almost went 12 rounds with Olympic bronze medallist Filip Hrgovic.
Blistering hand speed, explosive punch power, and beautiful fluidity, Itauma is going to be in entertaining contests no matter who he fights, and becoming a world champion seems inevitable.
Fabio Wardley
Fabio Wardley has exceeded expectations since becoming a professional boxer.
A former white-collar fighter with no amateur experience, some predicted Wardley would become unstuck at British level.
However, Wardley stopped David Adeleye in seven rounds in late 2023, despite Adeleye being a national amateur champion.
Then, following a war with former Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke, Wardley annihilated his rival in the rematch seven months later with one of the most brutal knockouts of 2024.
Logically, Wardley shouldn't be defeating boxers with significantly more amateur experience. But the Ipswich native makes up for his technical imperfections with aggression, heart, punching power, and athleticism.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Wardley challenge for a version of a world title this year, albeit against a suitable opponent.
Kubrat Pulev is the WBA ‘Regular’ world heavyweight champion and this could make sense for Wardley when you realise the Bulgarian is 43 years old.
Martin Bakole
Martin Bakole is one of the scariest heavyweights in the world.
The 33-year-old from Congo is famous for his sparring sessions with elite fighters like Usyk and Daniel Dubois, whom his trainer Billy Nelson claimed he got the better of behind closed doors.
Whether you believe the sparring stories or not, Bakole displayed his ferocity when beating the highly touted Jared Anderson last August and dropping him three times en route to a fifth-round knockout.
Bakole is listed at six foot six and has weighed in as high as 299 pounds, yet possesses the work rate to constantly come forward and let his hands go. He’s extremely fluid for such a big man, with power in both hands and the punch variety to match.
The sole loss on his record came against Michael Hunter in 2018 who stopped him in the tenth round of a phenomenal fight. All Bakole needs is a chance to showcase his talent against the upper echelon of the heavyweight division.
Currently ranked number two in the WBO rankings and WBA rankings and number three by the IBF, it’s possible Bakole will be involved in a final eliminator this year for a shot at a world title.
Agit Kabayel
Agit Kabayel has become a dark horse in the heavyweight division.
Many expected the German to get obliterated by Arslanbek Makhmudov on the Day of Reckoning Card in late 2023 and others were unsure if he could overcome Frank Sanchez five months later.
And yet, Kabayel steamrolled through with two stoppages while showcasing his excellent body punching.
The 32-year-old went into obscurity for a few years after defeating Derek Chisora in 2017 via majority decision in Monte Carlo.
Nevertheless, Kabayel has cemented himself as a top contender and will face Zhilei Zhang on February 22 in a final eliminator for the WBC World Heavyweight Championship.
It will be interesting to see if Kabayel’s outstanding movement and elusiveness can conquer the dynamite in both hands of Zhang.
Daniel Dubois
Daniel Dubois proved a lot of fans and pundits wrong in 2024.
‘Triple D’ claimed the best win of his career in September when dropping Anthony Joshua four times in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium and winning via fifth-round knockout to retain the IBF Heavyweight World Championship.
This was after he powered through Filip Hrgovic in June 2024 with an eighth-round stoppage and became the first man to defeat Jarrell Miller in December 2023.
Things were looking bleak for Dubois when he lost to Joe Joyce in 2020 and then Usyk in 2023, but the Londoner has made a remarkable comeback.
Blessed with a formidable jab, fast feet, power in both hands, and a good work rate for someone so muscular, Dubois is a hard man to beat.
However, on February 22, Dubois is set to defend his world title against Joseph Parker and many are predicting a very competitive fight.
But if the 27-year-old blows past Parker he is well on his way to becoming a dominant force at heavyweight.
Dubois has openly said he would like a rematch with Usyk following the low blow controversy in their bout so this could be the next step for the Brit if everything goes to plan against Parker.
