The landscape of the heavyweight division is changing as champions and former champions approach retirement, so who can we expect to see involved in the biggest fights in the future?

Some of the huge names are still looking for a shot at a title or a huge payday. Both of those chances will be at stake when WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker takes on Fabio Wardley on Saturday in London, with the winner set to fight for the 2026 title against undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Since Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, became the most powerful figure in boxing a few years ago, fights that make sense to fans no longer remain fantasy and take place thanks to heavyweight purses.

Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) holds all four heavyweight titles (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO), but before 2026 the division could have a number of vital fights – not just title fights – that will attract the attention of fight fans.

Here are some of the best heavyweight fights to come in 2026.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joseph Parker

Let’s start with the king, who recently said that he intends to fight until he is 41. The 38-year-old Usyk defeated former IBF champion Daniel Dubois with a clinical fifth-round knockout in July, once again securing the title of undisputed champion to Usyk. Former champion Tyson Fury (37) can’t wait for the next confrontation with Usyk, but the first one may be Usyk vs. Parker, assuming Parker beats Fabio Wardley on Saturday.

Parker, 33, a former WBO champion, has looked great in recent appearances and is the mandatory challenger for the WBO title. Parker (36-3, 24 KO) has been waiting for a title fight for some time and it looks like he will most likely face Usyk first in 2026. Parker could have fought Usyk now, but Usyk suffered a back injury, causing Parker to take the fight to Wardley instead.

Can Parker, with his cleverness, which he showed in victories over Deontay Wilder (2023) and Zhilei Zhang (2024), hinder Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) and cause him some discomfort? Usyk, who will bring much more movement and boxing skills than Zhang or Wilder, will be heavily favored to defeat Parker. If Wardley, a boxer with virtually no amateur experience, ruins his chances against Parker, will he be Usyk’s surprise next opponent?

Whether it’s Parker or Wardley next, watching Usyk – perhaps the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis – is a live event not to be missed.

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua

While Usyk vs. Fury 3 may happen, the fight that is getting the most attention and likely to generate the most pay-per-view revenue is Fury vs. Joshua.

This fight has been five years in the making and we still hope that we will see Fury vs. Joshua in 2026. But what happens if Fury decides to fight Usyk next year instead, and then retires for good – win or lose – after the fight? Despite its appeal and value, we still can’t be sure.

Subsequent attempts to match Fury and Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) have failed since 2020, and the megafight has lost its luster now that neither is a world champion. However, interest in the clash between English rivals is still huge. Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, recently said Fury wants to return next year, but Fury hasn’t boxed since Usyk passed him in December.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN that 36-year-old Joshua wants a fight with Fury, but a lot needs to happen before we can be sure it will happen. Heavyweight boxing is unpredictable and in a dream scenario, Fury vs. Joshua will be next.

Deontay Wilder vs. Francis Ngannou

Listen to me. The Wilder vs. Ngannou fight would be a very fascinating spectacle and would appeal to boxing and MMA fans. Here’s why: These two are far from title contention (Wilder has lost four of his last six fights – three by KO, and Ngannou has fought just once in MMA since his last UFC fight in January 2022) as they near the end of their careers. But their firepower means they still thrill. There will be no shortage of demanding blows, thrills and leaks in this inventive fight.

They recently had an argument on social media and Ngannou posted it “It’s time to finally settle the debate.” and Wilder responded “Get in the ring…”. And both have reason to opt for KO if this fight becomes a reality to revitalize their careers.

Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, suffered a painful second-round KO defeat to Joshua in a March 2024 boxing match. However, he was better in his second boxing appearance when he lost a split decision to Fury, the then WBC champion, two years ago. Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KO), a former WBC world champion, looked frail after last year’s defeat to Zhilei Zhang, but in June he recorded a stoppage victory in his last match against little-known Tyrrell Herndon.

Both Wilder and Ngannou have the ability to land powerful punches, and many fans would love to see who landed the knockout punch because it certainly wouldn’t make the scorecards.

Anthony Joshua vs. Martin Bakole

With Joshua returning from elbow surgery and having not fought since being knocked out by Dubois in September 2024, Hearn says the two-time champion will likely face someone other than Fury for the first time early next year.

Bakole (21-2-1, 16 KO) has recently been linked with Joshua in a fight that would take place in Nigeria. Joshua, who is of Nigerian descent and lived in the African country for a low period of his childhood, was interested in the experience of fighting in Africa, which would give him a chance to rejuvenate his career after the most devastating defeat.

Bakole (33 years aged) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo seems to be a good opponent for Joshua, who can prepare for a huge fight in 2026 and end it with a spectacular victory. Parker removed Bakole within two innings in February, although Bakole stepped in as a substitute opponent who was fielded too tardy. Bakole also drew with Efe Ajagba in May.

Moses Itauma vs. Filip Hrgovic

Itauma, one of the most exhilarating heavyweight fighters, is scheduled to fight on December 13, but he is still looking for an opponent.

Some have already ruled themselves out of facing the 6-foot-4 Itauma. Usyk said last week that he did not expect to fight Itauma before his retirement, while Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, the “regular” WBA heavyweight champion, opted to face Murat Gassiev on December 12 instead.

Hrgovic (19-1, 14 KO) won’t be standing in Itauma’s opposite corner on December 13, but next year will be a perfect step up in class for the 20-year-old Itauma, who recorded his eighth first-round KO victory earlier this year.

We have yet to see Itauma’s chin seriously tested and perhaps Hrgovic’s experience, movement and deft boxing will provide that.

Dillian Whyte (31-4, 21 KO), a veteran who fought a six-round fight with Fury for the WBC title in April 2022, was destroyed in a round by Itauma (13-0, 11 KO) in August, and the youthful fighter could survive longer fights in which he faced greater challenges. Hrgovic has suffered cuts in recent fights, but if his skin can withstand his power, experience and boxing smarts should give Itauma more rounds than he is used to.

Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Daniel Dubois

Yalolov, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Uzbekistan, is another contender who could potentially climb to the top of the heavyweight division after Usyk, Joshua and Fury leave the sport.

The 6-foot-11 Jalolov, 31, is currently under the radar and needs a huge win to break into the top five. The fight that could raise his profile would be against fellow KO specialist Dubois.

This will be a high-risk match for both of them: Jalolov (16-0, 14 KO) is undefeated and close to fighting for the title, and Dubois lost to Usyk in the 5th round by KO and cannot afford another defeat. Dubois, who knocked out Joshua in his first and only IBF title defense just over a year ago, has not fought since his defeat to Usyk in July and may be tempted by the chance to make up ground against another challenger.

This matchup could be a fun close fight between two powerhouse fighters with a chance to go to the top.