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Boxing’s 25 best under-25s: which British fighters made the list?

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ESPN’s annual ranking of the top 25 players under 25 is here. As always, British interest in the full list is high, and this year’s ranking is special considering who will take the top spot.

Since March 2024, Moses Itauma has fought six fights, nine rounds in total. In August, he advanced in the competition by defeating veteran Dillian Whyte, whom he finished in less than two minutes. His next fight is the American Jermaine Franklin Jr. on January 24, during which he wants to silence any questions about the hype.

Itauma is one of the most invigorating heavyweights in boxing, whom former champion Tyson Fury believes is the future of the division.

“Moses Itauma will eliminate all the venerable guys in the division,” Fury said in an Instagram story after Itauma’s victory over White. “[Oleksandr] Usyk, [Anthony] Joshua, [Jarrell] Miller. Whoever is there is so venerable. [Zhilei] Zhang, whoever the hell else is out there, Luis Ortiz. All these great names from the past.

“Even the one who took my belts [Usyk]. Moses will destroy it, because it is a fight between a juvenile man and an venerable man. And an venerable man can’t mess with a juvenile man.”

So who else is on the list of a mighty group of British fighters under the age of 25? Andreas Hale and Nick Parkinson look at this and provide some analysis.

1. Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KO)

Heavyweight rival
20 years
Ranking 2024: 10

Warrior: Itauma, an ESPN 2024 prospect, is not a person who can legally drink alcohol in America, but after a speedy and brutal 2025, she found herself at the top of this year’s list. Competing in the land of giants, the 6-foot-10 southpaw isn’t necessarily bigger than the top heavyweights, but he’s undoubtedly the future with his unique combination of size, speed and power.

Most significant moment or achievement: Heading into the White fight, the biggest question surrounding Itauma was whether his remarkable finishing prowess would continue once he started competing. That question was definitively answered when he defeated Mike Balogun and two-time interim heavyweight champion Whyte in 2025. Itauma stopped Balogun in two rounds – the third-longest fight of his career – in May and was assigned to fight Whyte, who was considered his toughest opponent to date. The fight against “The Body Snatcher” was not competitive.

Future prospects: To properly transform from a prospect to a contender to being the man everyone wants to see against Usyk in just two years is a huge testament to his potential. Itauma will begin his 2026 campaign against the hard-wearing Jermaine Franklin on January 24 and will try to do what Anthony Joshua couldn’t: stop Franklin. Then you will have to wait to see which heavyweight fighter will want to enter the ring with him. The scary thing is that Itauma still has four years to make this list.

10. Adam Azim (14-0, 11 KO)

Junior welterweight fighter
23 years venerable
Ranking 2024: 9

Warrior: The junior welterweight has a fan-friendly style, quick hands, a risky left hook and lightning-fast reflexes. He only had two appearances this year, but he did well in both. He stopped veteran Sergei Lipinets, who briefly held the IBF world title in 2017 and 2018, in nine rounds in February, then patiently broke down Kurt Scoby’s stubborn resistance in round 12 on November 15.

Most significant moment or achievement: At the most significant stage of Azim’s career, during the Chris Eubank Jr. match. vs. Conor Benn 2, which took place on November 15 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Azim was too skillful and experienced in the ring for Scoby. Azim dominated the early rounds with his jab and dropped his hands from round 8 onwards. He put Scoby under grave pressure in round 11 and ended the fight in the next round by landing a series of precise punches to the head and body. Dealing with Scoby’s nonsense during fight week was also a good learning experience for Azim as he moved on to bigger fights.

Future prospects: Azim is making steady progress and will face better opponents in 2026. The two governing bodies are ranked 9th and 10th, so he likely needs more wins to secure a title shot. One fight that would be popular: against English rival Dalton Smith, who challenges Subriel Matias for the IBF title on January 10.

12. Caroline Dubois (11-0-1, 5 KOs)

WBC women’s lightweight world champion
24 years venerable
2024 position: 16th

Warrior: Dubois defended his WBC lightweight title twice this year. She was promoted from interim champion to full world champion in December 2024 after Katie Taylor vacated the belt. Dubois previously complained that Taylor was holding back her career by refusing to fight her. She had a frustrating technical draw in January when Jessica Camara was deemed unable to continue following a cut. Dubois then passed Bo Mi Re Shin by majority vote in March, but has not boxed since.

Most significant moment or achievement: Dubois has a mighty arm, but she hasn’t stopped any of her previous six opponents. Her best performance remains a unanimous victory over Maira Moneo, whom she knocked down with a left hook in round 6 and thus won the interim WBC title in August 2024.

Future prospects: Dubois has been inactive since March while her promoter Boxxer signs a fresh UK television deal, with no confirmation of her next fight. The fight Dubois wants is a title unification fight with WBO lightweight champion Terri Harper, which would be one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing in 2026, if it happens.

18. Callum Walsh (15-0, 11 KO)

Junior middleweight fighter
24 years venerable
2024 position: 22nd

Warrior: The six-foot southerner hails from Ireland but has fought almost exclusively in the US. Walsh, who is trained by Freddie Roach in Los Angeles, says working on fishing boats at the age of 16 gave him a mighty work ethic, and that same challenging work has seen him make steady progress in 2025. After a stunning first-round knockout of Dean Sutherland in March, he scored a fifth-round technical decision win over Elias Espadas in June and won a unanimous decision. over Fernando Vargas Jr. in September. Vargas’ victory in front of a Netflix audience and headlining a card headlined by Terence Crawford’s victory over Canelo Alvarez helped raise Walsh’s prestige. Vargas stopped all but two of his 17 previous opponents, but Walsh showed skillful and skilled boxing to win by four rounds on the judges’ scorecards in the title fight.

Most significant moment or achievement: His quick victory over Sutherland, sealed with a left hand followed by a powerful right hook, highlighted Walsh’s potential. Sutherland was on the canvas after Walsh’s speed and arm strength proved too much for him.

Future prospects: IBF world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev will defend his belt against Josh Kelly in early 2026, and Walsh could be well prepared to fight the winner.

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Derek Chisora Slams Dana White Regarding Fighter Treatment Issues

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Derek Chisora Slams Dana White Regarding Fighter Treatment Issues

Derek Chisora accused Dana White of operating like a “slave owner,” but Conor Benn’s lucrative move to Zuffa Boxing offers a substantial counterpoint to the heavyweight’s attack.

Chisora’s complaint centered on White turning fighters away from his platform. That hardly explains the comparison, especially with Benn reportedly collecting $15 million for his first Zuffa appearance alone.

“Dana White is not my cup of tea, to be honest with you,” Chisora said in an interview with Fight Hub TV following the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua press conference. “Because the way he operates is just, he operates like a slave owner, man. You know, fighters want to fight on his platform. He tells them, ‘You’re not good enough for me, so go away.’ What is a fighter going to do? What is he going to do after that? That’s not right.”

Benn’s experience makes that accusation difficult to defend. His reported $15 million purse for facing Regis Prograis was followed by a world-title opportunity against Ryan Garcia. White’s platform has delivered both substantial money and a major fight for the British welterweight.

One boxer’s earnings cannot answer every question about a promoter’s treatment of fighters. But Chisora supplied no named example to support his accusation. Benn gives readers something concrete to weigh against it.

Chisora also argued that a fighter who performs poorly one night can improve the next time. Fair enough. Promoters still have to decide whom to sign, how many places they can offer, and which fights they want to stage. Wanting a contract does not create an entitlement to one.

His example concerns access to White’s platform, rather than restrictions imposed on someone already fighting there. Those are different issues, and Chisora never explained how rejection justified his language.

Asked about the dispute between Eddie Hearn and White, Chisora made his personal dislike clear. What he failed to provide was an argument strong enough to carry such a loaded accusation.

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Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Live London Press Conference Showdown

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"Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Live London Press Conference Showdown"

The long-awaited, all-British heavyweight blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is officially set for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Backed by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, the defining clash will see both men pocket a career-high purse and settle the debate – to a degree – of this generation’s best UK heavyweight.

After more than a decade of false starts and fractured negotiations, the two former heavyweight champions will finally settle their rivalry in what promises to be the biggest commercial event in British boxing history. Broadcast rights have been secured by Netflix for a global audience and Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao may appear on the undercard, despite turning 49 one week after the event.

Crucially, Joshua’s camp held firm during negotiations to ensure the bout remained on domestic soil. Despite the potential for more lucrative offers overseas, ‘AJ’ refused to budge on the location, and the pair meet today in London to make it official.

Fans can watch live via the stream below, with the proceedings expected to kick off at 6 PM – though delays and gamesmanship may be a factor.