Rating recent heavyweight wins, Parker, Kabayel, Itauma etc

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Kiwi Fish, Aug 21, 2025.


  1. Kiwi Fish

    Kiwi Fish Active Member Full Member

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    I'm kind if sick of having this discussion and talking around in circles, so i thought I'd just rate where I thought each of these fighters recent opponents actually sat actually sat when they fought with all the power of hindsight and irrespective of their published rankings at the time.

    Starting with Parker who is the current top contender who gets a lot of praise and criticism for his recent wins.

    Simon Keane - top 50
    Deontay Wilder - top 20
    Zhilei Zhang - top 5
    Martin Bakole - top 10

    Agit Kabayel, who is the second top contender atm and also on a good win streak.

    Arslanbek Makhmudov - top 30
    Frank Sanchez- top 20
    Zhilei Zhang - top 5

    Then i think its actually a bit of a tie between Chisora and Hrgovic if we go by recent wins.

    Gerald Washington - top 50
    Joe Joyce - top 20
    Otto Wallin - top 20
    David Adeleye - top 20

    And finally Itauma, the heir apparent

    Dempsey McKean - top 30
    Mike Balogun - top 100
    Dillan Whyte - top 30

    What do you all think? Agree, disagree?
     
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  2. gollumsluvslave

    gollumsluvslave Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Not sure what the actual ranking was but I think Wilder was still in most folks top 10 - if not top 5 when Parker beat him.

    Outside of that I'd agree, and shows that Itauma needs a step-up to a current top 10 fighter. Context matters!
     
  3. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold Hype Jobs will be hype jobs until proven so. Full Member

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    Demsey McKean was defo not top 30. Genuinely about top 75-100 at best.

    Whyte, I'd say then was still top 15-20.
     
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  4. Kiwi Fish

    Kiwi Fish Active Member Full Member

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    Yeah I agree, but with hindsight most people seemed to have enough downgraded him to around the top 2p level after the Parker fight.
     
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  5. Kiwi Fish

    Kiwi Fish Active Member Full Member

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    You reckon? I thought he was a bit better than that after hanging in there with Hrgovic for nearly 12 rounds.
     
  6. Overhand94

    Overhand94 Active Member Full Member

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    1) Parker's opposition
    Keane : didn't follow the guy so I can't really say. Let's go with top 40.
    Wilder : top 10-15 but inactive.
    Zhang : top 5.
    Bakole : top 10 but out of shape.

    2) Kabayel's opposition
    Makhmudov : top 20.
    Sanchez : top 10-15.
    Zhang : top 5-10.

    3) Itauma's opposition.
    Wach : old washed-up former contender.
    McKean : top 30.
    Balogun : over top 50.
    Whyte : top 25-30.

    4) Hrgovic's opposition.
    Joyce : top 20.
    Adeleye : top 20.

    5) Chisora's opposition.
    Joyce : top 15.
    Wallin : top 20.

    So I pretty much agree with you.
     
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  7. Kiwi Fish

    Kiwi Fish Active Member Full Member

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    Yeah, I just wanted to put it altogether so we could be a bit clearer on what the division looks like now with all the contenders starting to line up as Usyk looks close to dropping titles.

    Oh, I forgot Wardley though, he doesn't have the same hype as Itauma and hasn't had a top 10 win yet, but his wins over Adeleye, Clarke and Huni are all top 20 imo, with Huni being borderline top 10.
     
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  8. Overhand94

    Overhand94 Active Member Full Member

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    I agree 100%.
    Good idea of topic by the way.
     
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