Would you agree that Usyk, Fury, Joshua, Dubois and Parker are the top five heavies of the era?

Era ain't over yet, Itauma is coming

 

Probably....Parker is the only debate, but that's more a case of me not rating him rather than their being a legitimate replacement.

I think he gets the 5th spot based on timing and beating an old Zhang. I think Zhang destroys Parker if they were the same age.

 

I will agree with you if Usyk makes it past Verhoeven. Otherwise, I've got to go with Wardley to round out the top five.

 

Looking at those lists Dubois is essentially already the equal of AJ. AJ has a long list but I'd say only Ruiz, Whyte and Wallin were around their prime. I guess Martin and Brezeale too but neither were a real threat.

 

Lol, why do people still worship Parker?

Only Fury and Usyk are good. Others are mediocre.

 

Just to remind you, Wardley has 1 top 10 win. (Maybe 2 if you count Huni, but he could very easily be ranked lower than 10).

Don’t get me wrong, he’s a miraculous overachiever, but he’s not even the best heavyweight of the year if you count only Brits, nevermind a top 5 of the era.

 

Well, I certainly wasn't being facetious.

 

Op sounds about right

 

THat's a hell of a Top 10 win tho. Parker was seen as the number 1 contender to Usyk.

 

Solid win for sure, but marred by it being an early stoppage. Dubois’ win over AJ is objectively better. And Kabayel beating Makhmudov, Sanchez and Zhang in the fashion he did back to back is arguably better than wins over Clarke, Huni and Parker, especially considering Wardley was well behind in both the Huni and Parker fights, and was very fortunate to get a draw against Clarke the first time IMO. There are far better candidates for 5th place than Wardley.

 

YES! About time someone cited Kabayel properly on this thread. He needs to be in this conversation ... if fighters (and alphabet soup governing bodies) would stop ducking him.

 

I don't like doing this type of threads because the era is far from over yet.

It's highly debatable Dubois would beat Kabayel.

And seeing as how Dubois has had major problems vs southpaws.

If Itauma has a solid enough chin on paper stylistically he looks like he would be a nightmare for Dubois.

 

Usyk and Fury have/had elite boxing skills and unique abilities that rank against ATG heavies. The rest have gifts but nothing special. AJ was manufactured. Dubious hits hard but has many lapses in boxing very much a plodder and this applies to most others.