Top-10 heavyweight prospects

Nice write-up.

I wouldn't have Yoka anywhere near the top 10, he's got a glass jaw and has generally looked unimpressive in the pros so far. Also I'd have Joyce lower due to age and Kean higher - his chin and stamina may not have been tested yet but that's better than those guys whose chins have been tested and found wanting.

 

I would agree with your Top 10 but i would order them a bit different i think. Still tough to say as most of them didn't face any significant opposition so far.

Joyce definitely has the best resume so far and looked absolutely great.

Ajagba still looking better overall imo.

Hrgovic didn't impress me at all before the Mansour fight, but there he looked great. Still Mansour is in his mid 40s so no idea.

I think Top 3 should be Hrgovic, Joyce and Ajagba right now.

Then probably Yoka, Jalolov, Dubois, Gorman and Dychko imo.

Then Kean and Sirenko.

But still really hard to say.

I would love to see a WBSS tournament for HW prospects. Imagine 8 of them fighting each other in a tournament and the winner or the finalists get a world title shot vs. Joshua & Wilder/Fury. That would be MASSIVE to say it with the words of Eddie Hearn.

Kuzmin isn't impressive at all tbh. Although he might have the best resume overall so far but he already has 13 bouts. I mean compare this to Ajagba, Hrgovic or Joyce, all of them are way below that number.

 

1. Vlad Sirenko ...A two fisted power puncher with speed and the heaviest handed guy with a lot of amateur background at 24 under Ali Bashir makes him my number one. He cuts off the ring very well and lasting a full 12 with him is going to take the very best fighters, his body shots are punishing.

2. Dan Dubois.. Going on sheer feel here his imposing size and tunnel vision with those sharp digging power shots see me ,seeing him at the very top within 3years ,Another dominator like Sirenko with skill.

3. Nathan Gorman.. The best all around skilled I believe ,a good balance of power speed,ability and the right guys around him as well.

4. Filip Hrgovic .. A V.Klitchko like guy who has great am background. given him the benefit of the doubt since he can be exploited through defense with the right fighter. If he can add more heavy shots to his striking could be a real threat .His main strength really is determination and ability to keep fighting no matter how hard hes pushed.

5. Trey Morrison ..Taking a chance on this one bc he has no am experience but what he has is killer power and very fast , with fast learning abilities and genetics like some on here. I see a very dangerous guy that throws very sharp shots and actually uses the jab to set up his power shots. Maybe small at 6'2 but power is more important at this class.

6. Efe Agjaba .... What seems to be a very hard hitting ,decent skilled talent.one cant think he'll find a top spot some where ,but he has stiff competition .Im not sold on him to think hes the next big thing but we wont know for awhile.

7. A. Usyk ..Placing him here just on some past fights but hes unproving against seasoned HW's bc he actually hasn't fought at HW so he has no pro record when defining him here. Great boxer but not so puncher...his one advantage is he has Klitchkos backing him. and working with him.

8. G.Arias . The smallest of the group ,but I think his Frazier like style with decent power and work rate may get him past some of the giants. Biggest attribute is heart and he'll need it.

9. Izu Ugonoh. Not going to write him off yet, ppl have short term memories here and forget this guy had everything over Parker besides durability. From what I see can make a run still ,but he needs to fight more.

10. M. Bakolie. Just a hunch. Thats it.

These rankings are based on chances of being the best,so I know theres a dozen more we could include. the division is stacked beyond the top with 50 guys we could dissect on here.

I didn't include Joyce bc hes in my top 10 right now. I don't consider him a prospect.

 

My top ten, based on professional potential and what they have shown in the pro ranks, with some consideration for the world series of boxing and major amateur tournaments.

The game has changed. In the jungle of 6'4 to 6'9" men, almost all of whom can hit you'd better have a good chin, some defense, and a jab...otherwise you're going to get whacked sooner or later on the way up

1. Hrgovic - Best all-around talent, and being moved the quickest. Very battle-tested, and robbed of a chance to win gold in the Olympics.

2 ) Usyk, at 6'3" tall with a 78" reach, he's not too handicapped in height and reach. A very durable and mobile type of boxer with a good chin. Power is not his thing, but he should hit a little harder at heavyweight once he adds ten pounds.

3. Joyce - The oldest, he's being moved quickly too. Skills and defense look a little suspect. Power and will to engage is impressive. He'll force a shootout.

4. Arslanbek Makhmudov - A Russian George Foreman. Actually, he's bigger than Foreman, and with a proven chin in the amateurs. This guy has a pair of irons for fists. The defense could use some work. He's lost weight and now appears in ideal shape.

5. Bakhodir Jalolov - A towering southpaw who throws excellent straight punches, Jalolov is supported by legs of steel. If he finds his courage and works on defense a little, watch out.

6. Daniel Dubois. A puncher with some skills, I think he needs refinement, and might not be as durable as he looks. Very young, lacking in experience, though he is in demand as a sparring partner, and hired by the likes of Povektin, Hrgovic, and Joshua. Rumored to have floored Joshua.

7. Efe Ajagba. Amazing power and reach, coving up a suspect chin. He's an older prospect. Ajabga will stand out vs class C competition as well as anyone on the list. Will need careful management once he moves up.

8. Yoka. There is no doubt he's tall, fast, and skilled. There is doubt he'll last in anything close to a firefight as he has a lean build and has already had some trouble in early fights. Yoka was well suited for the three to five round amateur format. Suspended for drug use.

9. Dychko. Very accomplished in the amateurs. Extremely tall, and mobile when he wants to be. Competition has been very weak, so its hard to judge him. He could be a Tyson Fury type on offense, and Octopus type on defense if he wants that style. Power is just above average. Chin in the amateurs was good, not great.

10. Teslenko - A jack of many trades, he lacks an ace. A little small.

Others:

Lippe, and Rock. Let the two American's fight, someone has to win.

Kuzman is not an easy night's for anyone work but is a tad slow with a short reach.

Evgeny Tishchenko - Tall, fast, skinny, and skilled. He boxes well and moves well. Not an easy guy to out point.

Joseph Goodell - The best Assuie heavyweight I ever saw in the amateurs. A bit uneven in performance, though he has very good ability.

Gorman - Not a true believer, though he's decent for sure.

Kean - A square cut powerful man who can punch. Just a fair boxer.

Plechko -An angry looking individual with some wicked knockouts. Untested as a pro. Is the Hype real or set up?

Sirenko - Looks good on offense, I don't think he's good on defense and has average durability. Did not stand out big time as an amateur

 

He might flame out quick, but he had to been dedicated to keep winning gold at 91K in the amateurs.

The 10th spot could go to any number of men. 6 months from now things can quickly. Tishchenko needs to add 10-12 pounds. On further thought, Tishchenko has a lot to prove. Teslenko is better. Give him my 10th spot

 

Rossi defeated Stiverne in 2015...OFF the scorecards.

Didn't think Sirenko would take a journeyman name yet..its name that throws Sirenko in now beyond who hes been fighting. Thought they would go the slower route,that tells me Bashir decided to fast track him outside not having 10 fights now.

He probably saw him out doing everyone in the Povetkin camp, and gave him that nudge.

Sirenko has already held his own against Joyce as well, those saying hes not much...THINK again.

 

@GALVATRON, this one: http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/385460

 

Great write-up! Anyone mention him, but Oscar Rivas was a good prospect, but he was injured to an eye and he needs more activities, not the tallest HW, but he's fast and explosive.