At age 41, most heavyweights are chasing that last paycheck. However, Albanian brute Nelson Hysa is chasing the title.
The heavyweight fighter has a record of 24-0 with 22 knockouts – a KO rate of 91%, which is not normal at any age, let alone later in his career. He also ranks fourth in the WBA rankings as of January 2026.
This puts him at arm’s length and makes him impossible to ignore, even if he’s not a headline-grabbing name.
The problem is, at 41 years venerable, he doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for the division to normalize.
Rankings don’t make you elite; they just give you a seat at the table.
Built on activity, not hype
Hysa didn’t jump the ladder thanks to one lucky victory. He rose to the top by staying dynamic and knocking people out.
He has stopped his last 18 opponents. Twenty of his victories came against fighters who entered the competition with winning records. A few were undefeated.
This is not a resume based on opponents brought in simply to break the record. But what’s missing is clear: there’s no top-flight player in history yet.
Some will question number four in the ranking with the World Boxing Association, but Hysa doesn’t have time to slowly win over doubters.
Two realistic paths
Hysa is the WBO world champion. Despite the name, it is a regional belt. Thanks to this, he will have an appropriate position in the rankings of this organization, but it does not guarantee anything.
If he stays on this route, the only solemn game will be the eliminator. Oleksandr Usyk is unlikely to volunteer him. An arranged fight would be a clear path forward if the opportunity presented itself.
The most realistic option is for the WBA. Usyk is the super champion and Murat Gassiew is the WBA “World” title holder. If Hysa gets a chance soon, that second belt would be a more reasonable target.
Whether this will materialize is another matter. Heavyweight fighters with high knockout rates are rarely the easiest to accept.
@nelsonhysa
Time is the real adversary
Hysa, 41, doesn’t have two years to wait for politics to unravel.
He did everything he could at his level: stay dynamic, collect belts and constantly stop his opponents. The next fight must answer the only question left – can he defeat the established heavyweight number ten?
Sparring with Tyson Fury strengthens his position, and the Albanian Eagle is waiting for the right moment.
“21 rounds with the king. 15 full rounds of sparring with Tyson Fury – a champion in and out of the ring,” Hysa said of their sessions at the end of 2025.
“Today was work, today was a test, because when you stand in front of the best, you find out exactly how ready you are for the throne.
“I promise to all Albanians: we are on the right track to the world title. Work, heart, dedication. The Albanian Eagle does not end.”
If given the chance, his power will make him a living threat to everyone. If he doesn’t, there’s a risk that this story will become a ranking story rather than a title story.
He’s in position, but the fight has to come soon.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN), boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Tyson Fury is set to take part in the long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua, but first he needs a warm-up. Now another challenger has been added to the fight, and Fury is “very interested” in the proposed fight.
The long-awaited clash between Fury and Joshua has finally been signed and will take place pending success in their tune-up fights. While Joshua is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga next month, Fury remains without an opponent for his August outing.
Promoter Frank Warren promised a “good” opponent but he recently ruled out the possibility of the “Gypsy King” facing Joshua’s former defeater Andy Ruiz Jr., who is believed to have priced himself out of the fight.
I’m talking to Play UKJoshua’s other rival, Jarrell Miller, has revealed that Fury is “very interested” in fighting him as he discusses a potential all-American clash with Deontay Wilder.
“I’ve been one of the most avoided heavyweights for a long time. We’re seeing it now. We’re trying to get Deontay Wilder out there. There’s no fight in front of him. I’m the top heavyweight in America right now, so we’re trying to make certain things happen. Let’s see if he can take control.”
“Tyson Fury is also very interested. I would love to fight these guys. Deontay or Tyson would be a wonderful fight for me. Let’s see if we can make it happen.”
Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, recently confirmed both fighters’ desire to make the fight happen, but said Miller would likely not be able to complete a full training camp on time.
The American has already scored two victories in 2026, defeating both Kingsley Ibeh and Lenier Pero, and the 37-year-old hopes those triumphs will earn him another chance on the huge stage.
Zuffa Boxing has announced that its first event in Ireland, branded Zuffa Boxing 10, will take place on Saturday, August 8 at the 3Arena in Dublin. Organizers of the promotion, headed by Dana White, said details about the main event, joint performance and ticket sales will be announced soon.
DUBLIN, ARE YOU READY?? 🇮🇪 #ZuffaBoxing10 is coming to you LIVE from @3ArenaDublin! | August 8
According to the promotion, the card will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and streamed on Paramount+ in the US and Canada. Its broadcasts in the UK and Ireland are covered by a long-term contract with Sky Sports announced in March.
The expected headliner of the Cork middleweight gala will be Callum Walsh (16-0, 11 KO). according to 42 and Irish boxing, although Zuffa has not confirmed this card. Walsh won Zuffa Boxing’s debut event on January 23 in Las Vegas with a unanimous decision over Carlos Ocampo and has not fought since. The Cobh native, trained by Freddie Roach, fought mainly in the United States, but once boxed in Dublin, headlining the 3Arena gala after his victory over Przemysław Runowski.
The 42 reports that Monaghan’s Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KO) is set to be the main support for an IBF middleweight world title fight against Italian Etinosa Oliha (22-0, 10 KO). Both pairs are expected to fight for the vacant belt that became available after Janibek Alimkhanuly was stripped of his belt following a failed anti-doping test. McKenna is third in the IBF rankings and Oliha is second.
Dublin will be Zuffa Boxing’s second card outside the United States. The first event, Zuffa Boxing 07, will take place this Saturday at the Bournemouth International Center in England, where former world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith will face Ryan Rozicki in a 10-round cruiserweight main event.
The August 8 date means the Dublin gala will take place a week after Queensberry Promotions’ show at the same venue, headlined by Pierce O’Leary against Mark Chamberlain, with Tyson Fury scheduled to appear.
Frank Warren believes Tyson Fury will not only beat Anthony Joshua when the long-awaited heavyweight clash finally happens, but also stop him.
The All-British clash is scheduled for November, after a delay from its earlier summer date. Warren confirmed that Fury signed a contract for the fight in January, and both men are expected to undergo interim fights before the fight becomes official.
When asked how he sees the fight developing, Warren made it clear he expected Fury to win and pointed to Joshua’s knockout loss to Daniel Dubois as a major factor.
“I think Tyson will win,” Warren told Secondsout, predicting a Tyson Fury knockout over Joshua.
“I think Tyson will stop him.
“Did you see him fight Daniel Dubois? That gives me that confidence. I was sure Daniel Dubois would do it and he did it, and I’m sure Tyson will do the same in brief order, no matter what catches him.”
Earlier in the interview, Warren also suggested that Joshua was still feeling the effects of the Dubois defeat.
“He has the specter and cloud of what happened when he fought Daniel Dubois hanging over him. So, you know, he’s vulnerable if he gets caught now,” Warren said.
Joshua is scheduled to return on July 25 against Kristian Pregna, while Fury is scheduled to fight his own warm-up fight before November. Warren said the location for the proposed blockbuster has yet to be determined, though he confirmed the fight remains signed and will likely take place later this year, provided both heavyweights win their fights.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most crucial fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
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