Out of the current crop of heavyweights we're finally getting talent worth watching, assuming Klitchko retires win or loss against Fury, who will emerge on top in the next few years? List them them based on ability/skill and the likelyhood for being crowned the top dog in the division 1. Tyson Fury - 27, proven to be skillful, already defeated a long time champion 2. Deontay Wilder - 30, love him or hate him Wilder is a tough dude with cement blocks in his fists 3. David Haye - 35, not active enough but definitely got speed and power to KO any of the guys on the list 4. Anthony Joshua 26, absolute beast with power in both hands, although a bit predictable 5. Joseph Parker 24, very good mover, jabber ,puncher, young and still getting better 6. King Kong Ortiz 37, old but very good Cuban fighter with power in both hands 7. Alexander Povetkin 36, old and undersized but definitely dangerous for any one on the list As crazy as he is, Tyson Fury came out of nowhere with his win against Klitchko and proven that he can box well and be disciplined when push comes to shove. To me is definitely emerging as the top guy, if he can box the way he boxed against Klitchko he could beat anyone on the list and be the absolute top dog. Deontay Wilder is a big dude, rangy with huge power and always comes in shape, he is second on the list because he is the only guy who can really trouble Fury with his combination of range and power. I would favor Wilder against everyone else on the list, including Joshua who is a bit robotic and would get sparked by Wilder if they fought now. David Haye is small but he is very quick and proven to be an excellent finisher when he hurts his opponent. Although he came up short against Klitchko, its more a testement of how good Klitchko is rather than how bad Haye is. That is why Haye is still on the list being quick, fighting low he can KO almost anyone. Anthony Joshua is a beast and fights like he is the boss in the ring, but we havent seen him against a proven opponent who could take advantage of his predictable movement. Fury and Wilder would definitely beat him getting through with straight shots and Haye would trouble him with his quickness. I would even give Povetkin a decent chance against him, Joshua leaves himself open in close quarters where Povetkin can do some serious damage like he did to Takam and Perez. Joseph Parker is very good fighter but he is yet to show what he is capable of. I would like to see him fight someone like Jennings or Glazkov to see what he can do. I put him on #5 as he is still very young and showing alot of promise. He is a bit undersized though for his style of fighting. Ortiz and Povetkin last two on the list, both are getting old and who knows how far they can go. If Ortiz can land a big fight against Joshua this year he could win with his power. But i got a feeling none of the guys will fight him and just let him get old. Same with Povetkin, if he is not suspended for meldonium then maybe we can see him against a top guy before he becomes too old and irrelevant.
Great thread :happy. If Fury isn't stripped and doesn't lose to Klitschko, he has the style to beat most of these guys.
Talent wise most certainly but I don't think he has the heart and love of the game to still be around in 3 years. I think there's only Wlad out there who has the ability to beat him, but this is a 40yo Wlad. It's a shame that Tyson doesn't live the life as he could be a potential HOF fighter.
He's allegedly only 27, although he looks a bit older. A lot of us where a messs when we were 27, and didn't know what our lives were about. From what someone said on the other thread, the steroids things is not going to hurt him, as it involves accusations from February-March of LAST YEAR. They can take his titles, but his big win will still stand. He only needs a couple of good supporting wins to be an HOF. He might straighten out and make good, or he might go off the rails.
I've always thought Joshua beats Wilder. I just think Joshua has the ability to throw the right punch at the right time, always very heavey handed and particularly accurate. I'm not sure Wilders chin is up to the task of holding him together. He's always got that wild punchers chance though no doubt. Eddie Hearne in an interview said Joshua was actually flat in the Breazeale fight, and that his training camp wasn't all that great. He even said the fight was nearly called off for him being quite unwell at one point. Fury: Providing Tyson gets through this mess, beats Klitschko then who knows if he'll still be boxing in 3 years time, but i do highly rate him. I'd loosely describe him as the sort of Mayweather of the Heavyweight division right now for not being a powerful puncher but being an incredibly rangy, dancing counter puncher, and having just enough pop in his punches to keep people second guessing.
Either Joshua or Tyson. Hughie will never be more than a gatekeeper with all his hilnesses. Usyk is not a superheavyweight, and will take at least two years just to clean cruiserweight. Ortiz is too old. Parker too monodimensional. Wilder willl still be facing sub 30 opposition, or be sparked by some journeyman. Edit: Povetkin never had the tools to be a dominant heavyweight. The only legit superheavy he fought, Wladshko, dominated him, abused and ragdolled him all around the ring. Povetkin was holding for dear life against Wlad, the only reason he didn't get stopped. Joshua, Tyson, even Ortiz or Parker would do the same. Those are no times for 6'2'' fat dwarfs