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Ranking of the best heavyweight players of the 21st century

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As we prepare for Saturday’s clash between IBF heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London, it seems like a good time to take a step back in time and remember the greatest heavyweights of the last 24 years.

The fight, which is set to air on pay-per-view, may go unnoticed in the States, but make no mistake — this is a significant fight with huge implications. So sit back, relax, and take in the heavyweight landscape of the century so far. Whether you’re a seasoned boxing fan or just here for the spectacle, we’re going to dive in. Grab your keyboard, channel your inner historian, and leave a comment, good or bad.

Let’s take a closer look at one of the most intriguing heavyweight fights in recent years.

Level I – Legends of the era

Lennox Lewis He’s in a class of his own — and probably a top-five heavyweight of all time. His punch? Think Larry Holmes, but with an upgrade and always on repeat. Lewis wasn’t about showing off; he wanted to do it. At 6’5” with an 84” reach, he combined size, power and the tutelage of the delayed Emanuel Steward to dominate his era, which, in retrospect, was a good one. And let’s not forget his resilience: Knocked out by Oliver McCall in ’94, he came back to stop McCall three years later. The same goes for Hasim Rahman — Lewis avenged that knockout with one of the greatest comeback performances of all time. His resume is robust: Frank Bruno, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko, David Tua, Shannon Briggs, Razor Ruddock and, a little after his prime, Mike Tyson were among his most decorated victims. In a crowded, heavyweight lineup, Lewis reigned supreme.

Alexander Usyk may be the greatest junior boxer of all time, and the only possible rival for that mythical crown is Evander Holyfield. Usyk swept all the junior belts, then shocked Anthony Joshua in 2021 to win three of the four major heavyweight titles, a victory he repeated the following year. His progression in 2024 reinforces the legend, as he defeated the undefeated Tyson Fury in a war to cement his status as the best in the division. Usyk’s legacy? Built on determination. Never one to shy away from a challenge, his career has been one for the history books, and he has won many of his biggest fights in his opponent’s backyard.

This The Klitschko Brothers They were like the San Francisco Giants of the early 2010s — a dynasty. Vitali and Wladimir dominated, each in their own way. Vitali was more electrifying, while Wladimir’s reign defined consistency. Vitali retired with the WBC belt in 2013 after two undefeated reigns, while Wladimir held his titles from 2006 to 2015, when he was dethroned by Tyson Fury. Together, the Klitschkos defined an era, as many consider them the best of the century.

And then there is Tyson Fury — the division’s enigma. He dethroned Wladimir Klitschko when no one thought he could, disappeared after failing a drug test, then returned to fight Deontay Wilder after two inconsequential wins in 2018. Fury fought Wilder to a draw and knocked him out twice in their trilogy. But Fury has been inconsistent of delayed, and after a needy run — including a loss to MMA fighter and boxing newcomer Francis Ngannou — he finally got to fight Usyk in what could be the fight of the year. Despite the loss, it was an era-defining fight that reminded us why Fury belongs at the top.

Level II – Not quite the best, but close

Anthony Joshua. After winning Olympic gold, he won three of his four belts, beating the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin along the way. A shock knockout defeat to Andy Ruiz in 2019 was avenged, with Kubrat Pulev being defeated before losing twice to Usyk. Now with Ben Davison in his corner, Joshua will be hoping a win over Daniel Dubois will aid cement his legacy, as he looks as good as ever on his current four-fight win streak.

Joseph Parkerthe comeback kid. He won the vacant WBO title by beating the unbeaten Andy Ruiz, knocked down Anthony Joshua and lost to Dillian Whyte after a headbutt changed the fight. When he lost to Joe Joyce in 2022, it looked like his top-flight career was over… Then he came back with a bang, beating Deontay Wilder in December 2023 and Zhilei Zhang four months later. A few more signature wins would have seen his profile rise.

Chris Byrdforgotten genius. Byrd outboxed Evander Holyfield, David Tua and is one of only two to have defeated the great Vitali Klitschko, all while being a petite man. He didn’t have the knockout power, but he had the brains — and that allowed him to beat some of the biggest names in the division.

From Middleweight Champion to Heavyweight Champion (Thanks, John Ruiz), Roy Jones Jr.’s career was legendary. His fall was just as dramatic, however, as he was knocked out by Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson as he returned to a lower weight class. Yet his genius remains undeniable, and although his stint as a heavyweight was brief, he never lost in that division.

Level III – Pursuit Pack

The biggest surprise may be Deontay WilderHis brutal knockouts and trilogy with Fury have defined his career, and while his reign has been tumultuous and his recent form needy, his place as one of the most powerful boxers is secure.

David Haye He may not have matched the cruiserweight success of the heavyweight division, but he was a box office hit in the UK before Anthony Joshua came along. When he moved up to heavyweight, Haye impressed, beating the solid titleholder Nikolai Valuev by a majority decision away in Germany, and did what many popular heavyweights do – knocking out the ‘monotonous but effective’ John Ruiz. His loss to Wladimir Klitschko was a gut punch for British fans, and while no one will point to his fight with Audley Harrison as a standout in terms of quality, it certainly seemed to matter at the time. He also sold out a football stadium when he knocked out Derek Chisora ​​in an entertaining bout. In tiny, Haye was a star.

Daniel Dubois enters Saturday night’s fight with a chance to elevate his status. Stopped by Joe Joyce and Usyk, Dubois has rebounded with victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic. Saturday will be the defining moment.

Martin Cole is one of the best kept secrets of the era. His only loss to Michael Hunter is no shame, and his knockout of Jared Anderson has everyone waiting to see what comes next.

Hasim Rahman will forever be remembered for that devastating knockout of Lennox Lewis in 2001. Although Lewis got his revenge, Rahman etched himself into heavyweight history with that one punch.

Andy Ruiz Jr. is well on his way to becoming the ultimate “what could have been” in boxing. After Joshua’s shocking knockout, Ruiz’s lack of focus led to his rematch loss. His recent comeback ended in a draw with Jarrell Miller, and his once-stellar career has faded.

Alexander Povetkin he is an Olympic gold medalist who has never escaped Wladimir Klitschko’s shadow. A failed drug test didn’t aid, but Povetkin’s influence is still felt.

Zhilei Zhang made waves with two knockout victories over Joe Joyce. His knockout of Deontay Wilder in March was brutal, though his earlier loss to Parker may prove to be the most telling.

Level IV – Solid but dim

Luis Ortiz He was often on the verge of heavyweight glory, but Deontay Wilder denied him twice, ending his dreams of becoming world champion. Each time he faced Wilder, Ortiz came close, but was ultimately stopped by Wilder’s strength. Ortiz’s legacy is further tarnished by his habit of failing PED tests.

David Tuaa fearsome fighter who never quite made it huge. His best moments are impressive, but they don’t include those 12-round fights where he got knocked out. He was probably at his best towards the end of the last century.

Michael Hunter flirted with the top, with his only loss coming against Usyk at cruiserweight. But now he seems to be fading away, with his career in need of a decisive victory before time runs out completely.

John Ruiz he was the archetypal solid but unspectacular heavyweight. His grappling, grappling style was not pleasant to watch, and his knockout losses damaged his legacy.

Nikolai Valuev, with a reach of 85 inches – longer than (I’m almost certain) a video game he would even let you create — he was no tiny man. Nicknamed the “Russian Giant,” Valuev was a seven-foot imposing figure who held the WBA heavyweight title in two separate reigns.

Ruslan Chagaevtechnically gifted fighter who never got what he deserved. He may be remembered if fellow countryman Bakhodir Jalolov makes a splash.

Lamon Brewster went from promising to forgotten, but was one of the few to defeat Wladimir Klitschko.

Corrie Sanders he was different. He could punch, but his beard couldn’t hold up, and all his losses came by knockout to huge names.

Level V – Rising Stars

Bakhodir JalolovThe résumé screams Hall of Fame potential, but his professional career still seems to have stalled. Jalolov is the only two-time Olympic gold medalist in the super heavyweight division, and oddly enough, he won both while still a professional boxer. That alone overshadowed his dominance in amateur boxing, where he was considered the best for nearly six years — while also cashing in pro paychecks. Weird, isn’t it? At 30, Jalolov boasts a perfect record (14-0, 14 KOs), but his professional career hasn’t panned out the way you’d expect for a boxer with his pedigree. Time is running out…

Richard Torrez Jr. He carried the torch as America’s best amateur heavyweight for years after the 2016 Rio Olympics. At just 6’2”, he looks more like a state-of-the-art super middleweight than a true heavyweight. On Friday night, he’ll face Philadelphia veteran Joey Dawejko in the co-main event, a step forward in his adolescent professional career. While Torrez has yet to face elite competition as a pro, his amateur record suggests he could thrive in the huge leagues — except for one glaring memory: In 2019, before the Olympic qualifiers, Jalolov brutally knocked him out, a moment that still resonates with some fight fans nearly five years later.

Moses Ituama he is only 19 years senior, but his potential is the subject of rumors. Undefeated and headed for greatness, he is on the list for his promise.

Jared Anderson he may have lost to Bakole, but he’s not done yet. His future will depend on how he does against the bigger guys in the division, as well as his motivation to fight in the first place.

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Boxing

Edgar Berlanga Gives Terence Crawford a Chance to Beat Canelo

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Image: Crawford Bitter After Losing Canelo Fight Opportunity

Edgar Berlanga believes Terence Crawford can’t be counted out in a 168-pound fight with Canelo Alvarez. Even though Crawford is older and would have to give up weight to middleweight champion Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs), the recently defeated Berlanga believes he would have a chance.

Crawford turns 37 this Saturday, September 28, and has to start thinking about retirement if a fight with Canelo doesn’t fall into his lap.

It would be great to see Crawford get back on his feet and fight for the title against Canelo, while competing against four talented killers: David Benavidez, Osley Iglesias, David Morrell and Christian Mbilli.

Sorry Berlanga. At 168 you are not in my book one of Crawford’s top four fighters to fight Canelo. Jeweled, counterfeit fighters with tender resumes don’t count.

If His Excellency Turki Alalshikh offers Canelo $150 million to make the fight happen, Crawford will move up two weight classes from 154 to challenge him for the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles.

Turki recently joined Crawford in challenging Canelo on September 14 following his one-sided 12-round unanimous decision win over the hopelessly outmatched Berlanga. However, when asked about the bout at the post-fight press conference, Canelo seemed uninterested, saying, “No comment.”

The way Canelo delivered that remark was clear: “Stop bothering me.” Crawford needs to take the hint and move on, because Canelo won’t assist him in his quest to get generational money for his golden parachute retirement fund. David Benavidez has already offered Crawford a fight, and other top fighters like Jaron “Boots” Ennis are also interested in fighting him.

“I really believe that anything can happen in boxing, and Terence Crawford is a legend. He’s a great fighter. The only thing I see that speaks in Canelo’s favor is his weight, and he’s a lot bigger. That’s the only thing,” Edgar Berlanga told Rocks the universe on his thoughts on a potential Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez fight at 168 pounds.

“As far as skill and IQ, Crawford can match anyone and probably be better. Crawford is a legend, man. You can’t count him out,” Berlanga said.

Is this the biography of a legend?

– Errol Spence: *After a car accident
-Shawn Porter:
-Kell Brook:
-Amir Khan
– Wiktor Postol
-Ricky Burns
-Yurikis Gamboa
–Israil Madrimov
-Felix Diaz
-Jeff Horn
-Julius Indongo

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“You’re an arrogant f**k!” The Truth About Hearn vs. Haney

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Eddie Hearn has revealed details of his ringside altercation with “arrogant f**k” Devin Haney, which was caught on camera on Saturday night.

Hearn and Haney enjoyed a great relationship when the American was a member of the Matchroom stable, but that relationship has deteriorated in recent months.

The situation came to a head over the weekend when Haney tweeted that Hearn had rejected his request for tickets to Saturday’s Riyadh season opener at Wembley Stadium.

However, Haney entered the arena and was booed when he was shown on the gigantic screen. Conor Benn later posted a video on Instagram of Hearn and Haney arguing at ringside.

In an exclusive interview with Boxing News, Hearn revealed what he told his former client.

“It was heated,” Hearn said. “Remember the relationship I have with Devin, remember everything we’ve been through, I couldn’t believe he would just throw it out there on social media.

“I got a text from him at 6 a.m. the day of the fight saying, ‘I need tickets to Joshua.’ He texted me 24 hours before the fight saying, ‘yo,’ but I was so busy I didn’t text him back. When I texted him Friday night, he texted me back Saturday morning asking for tickets.

“First of all, all the tickets for the inner ring were pre-allocated to His Excellency and all those people, and we had a few months to notify our fighters who had made requests, which we reviewed. At that point, we just didn’t have the tickets. So I said, ‘It’s not just our show, we’re just working on the event, you might have to ask Riyadh Season for the tickets.’ I didn’t get a response.

“So I was sitting there at the show and he said, ‘Wow, Eddie Hearn didn’t buy me tickets, he’s so two-faced.’ So I just said, ‘You’re an arrogant, f**king asshole.’ I pulled him up at the show and said, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ He said, ‘Hey, hey,’ and I said, ‘No, no, hey, hey… what are you doing?’

“I said, ‘First of all, you couldn’t be more arrogant, second of all, why don’t you write to me and ask if I can’t solve something? Instead, you tweet? You’re like a little kid.’

“I said, ‘You used to be a good kid, but now I don’t like this arrogance I see in you. Don’t ever do that again.’ He said I said something about him in the media, but I was just answering a question.

“I don’t represent him, so if someone asks me about Devin Haney, I’ll tell you what I think. I never said anything rude, but I said, ‘You did this, so don’t ever disrespect me again.’

“I was reluctant to do so. I told him directly.”

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Be careful what you wish for: Oleksandr Usyk and the unfortunate rematches

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There are some things in life that a person will only try once and then swear they will never try again: having a baby, getting married, running a marathon, drugs, shoplifting, skydiving, a fistfight, a suicide attempt, love.

There are things in life that you try and then decide to try again: having a baby, getting married, running a marathon, mind-altering drugs, shoplifting, skydiving, a fistfight, a suicide attempt, love.

In boxing, you would think that spending time in the company of Oleksandr Usyk would be considered a one-night stand. However, because the Ukrainian is such an enigma, and people tend to think they can fix things or other people, there is a constant feeling that someone at some point will be able to solve that enigma and defeat the huge left-hander. As a result, both because of that belief and Usyk’s current status in the heavyweight division, the line to fight him is growing. Few in the lineup seem prepared, at the moment, to beat Usyk, but that won’t stop them from believing, nor will it be enough to stop them from lining up and waiting their turn.

On Saturday, Wembley Stadium had a novel contender in the round. This man, like one or two others, has shared the ring with Usyk before, so he knows exactly what it takes to beat him and how far he falls tiny of that requirement. That man is, of course, Briton Daniel Dubois, who stopped Anthony Joshua in impressive fashion with a tiny right hook in front of 96,000 fans at the weekend. While merciless, the performance spoke volumes about Dubois’ recent progress and heralded his arrival as one of the best heavyweights in the world. It also built on previous wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic and showed the pace of his development since losing to Usyk in nine rounds last August.

That night, in the Usyk fight, he was sent to school, like many of Usyk’s opponents, and didn’t find “success” – if you can call it that – until the fifth round, when a low blow left Usyk writhing on the canvas for several minutes. That blow, of course, had no bearing on the fight, nor did it ruin Usyk’s lesson, but now, 13 months later, it is being used as evidence that these two men, Usyk and Dubois, should meet again. Relying on knockout victories over Miller, Hrgovic and now Joshua, clearly isn’t enough to make a rematch with Usyk worthwhile. But where there’s controversy in boxing, there’s a case, and Dubois and his team certainly believe they have one.

Fair enough, they believed they were right at the time and made quite a splash about the incident; both during the fight and especially after it, when Dubois lost. Whether feeble or not, the controversial nature of that moment in the fifth round allowed those involved to take the narrative and twist it however they wanted. For Dubois and his team, that meant presenting a different picture than what we witnessed in Poland in August. That meant exaggerating the success Dubois had in the fight, both before and after that flashpoint, and asking the question, “If, as we believe, that wasn’t a low blow, did Daniel Dubois essentially knock out Oleksandr Usyk in the fifth round?”

Without a doubt, if the blow was low, that’s true and a fair interpretation of things. Usyk, after all, was on the canvas for a lot longer than 10 seconds and seemed to be in more physical pain from that Dubois punch than he ever had before. He was hurt by it, there’s no doubt about it, but that still doesn’t mean the punch was justified, nor does it mean that the controversy over the low blow should be enough to bring two fighters who have yet to prove themselves equals together for a second fight.

The last time this happened in Usyk’s career, we were left with a similar feeling and the same question: why? Back then, Anthony Joshua was chasing Usyk for a rematch, a contracted one, and there was probably more of an argument for it then, simply because Joshua was the champion that Usyk had dethroned and because in the process he had at least managed to last 12 rounds. It didn’t matter that he won very few of those 12 rounds. Joshua wanted the rematch and felt he would do better the second time around.

As it turned out, that was both true and ultimately irrelevant. It’s true that Joshua fared marginally better in the pair’s rematch, even hurting Usyk in the ninth round, but there was a persistent sense throughout that Usyk was always in control, both of the pace of the fight and the opponent in front of him. In the end, it was just more of the same. Usyk was given a chance to assert his superiority, while Joshua returned to the place of trauma and went through it all again, this time exacerbating his insecurities and self-destructive beliefs. So it was no surprise when Joshua took the microphone after all that and expressed too much of himself to a global audience. In many ways, he had been exposed twice in one night: first by Usyk, and then by his own demons.

The next British heavyweight to try again with Usyk will be Tyson Fury on December 21. He outperformed Joshua and Dubois when he boxed Usyk in May, but like Joshua and Dubois, he still couldn’t figure out the former cruiserweight champion. Down in the ninth round, Fury pulled off a huge victory, reaching the final bell, the sound of which would have been not only a relief but a reminder that a rematch was on the table. Had that not sounded and Fury been stopped in the ninth, any demands for a sequel would have been greatly and rightly reduced.

As it is, because Fury had a decent period early on and because he is a man with some physical advantages, the Usyk rematch is significant and will be engaging when it comes. It is clearly more intriguing than Usyk vs. Joshua II and the same can be said for the Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois rematch, despite Dubois’ progress. The truth is that Usyk vs. Fury II is still a clash of the two best heavyweights in the world and nothing we have seen from the others since their first meeting has changed that.

Even Dubois, as good as he looked on Saturday, isn’t quite there yet. In fact, given his age (27) and recent form, it would almost be a shame if he was brought back to that level so quickly when he’s been developing so well. “I want to have my rematch (against Usyk),” Dubois said after beating Joshua, “and right the wrong.”

Meanwhile, Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports: “You never know, but why not? Some people had questions about the (first) fight. There was one moment in the fight that left some doubts about the low blow. Why not if Dubois is still ready? Double no-debate, triple no-debate? Oh come on, that makes history.”

The exile of Oleksandr Usyk after three huge wins is evidence of Daniel Dubois’ ambition and willingness to test himself, and he deserves nothing but applause for that. But it could also be argued that the very thing that makes the heavyweights believe they’re the ones to dethrone Usyk – his age: 37 – should be precisely what Dubois and his team should be looking at as a reason to wait. After all, with Dubois 10 years younger than Usyk and currently in great shape, there’s every chance Dubois could pick up the mantle in the next year or two, without risking what Anthony Joshua experienced with Usyk in Saudi Arabia. That is, at a time when his self-belief has never been greater, perhaps the last thing Daniel Dubois needs is to be brought back into line and reminded once again of the flaws he’s managed to hide with concealer in recent fights. Perhaps true success in boxing is a byproduct of timing; that is, skipping the bad fights and taking the right ones. This is the typical ethos of most boxers on their way up, when avoidance is often the name of the game, and that only changes, this approach, when the huge money finds its way to the table and the boxer is surrounded by men ready and willing to share it. Then the boxer hears only what he wants to hear and what his team feels that hear. Then even a punch below the belt can become a knockout blow. Then even defeat can become a victory.

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