Boxing’s marquee division is in rude health currently, with some serious talent atop the heavyweight pecking order. Crucially, these men are keen to meet each other - and when the best fight the best, there is still no spectacle quite like it.
Here furyjoshua.com assesses the landscape and ranks the best big men around.
Boxing’s heavyweight division is red-hot as we head into 2026, with Oleksandr Usyk still very much at the top of the pile and a new sensation now ready to usher in the next great era.
Let’s look at how all the major recent fights have impacted our heavyweight rankings and the world heavyweight title picture. And how things might shake out in the coming months.
Our heavyweight rankings
Such is the influence of the sanctioning bodies in the sport, which sadly often defy logic to push their own agendas, it has never been an easy task to impartially rank the heavyweights. Our list ignores the so-called ‘alphabet’ ratings in favour of a non-partisan system which ranks fighters based purely on their skillset, ring achievements, title victories and potential.
1. Oleksandr Usyk (24-0)
The brilliant 38-year-old Ukrainian proved that nothing is beyond his incomparable skills as he destroyed Daniel Dubois to become undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time. The Ukrainian genius showed once again that age is just a number as he looked better than ever in an incredible demolition job which left the young Brit floundering on the Wembley Stadium canvas as 90,000 fans looked on in awe. Boxing is struggling to find anybody to give Usyk a real test, so the Ukrainian is now heading into crossover territory by putting his WBC title on the line against Dutch kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt
Next fight: Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven (May 23)
2. Tyson Fury (34-2-1)
After 16 months of speculation, Tyson Fury is back with that all-British blockbuster vs Anthony Joshua now finally likely to happen in 2026. Per Netflix, the UK in the autumn will be the landing spot for a fight which will still be a huge draw, even though there are likely to be no titles at stake. ‘The Gypsy King’ is now 37 years old, but showed he still has plenty left in the tank when he returned with a convincing points defeat of Arslanbek Makhmudov in London in April.
Next fight: tbc
3. Moses Itauma (14-0)
This no longer seems a reach, Itauma is absolutely for real and nobody can tell us otherwise. On Saturday night in Manchester the 21-year-old phenom from Kent was again devastating as he blasted out durable American Jermaine Franklin inside five rounds. Itauma - precocious beyond his tender years - appears to have it all, from devastating speed in both hands to uncanny ring savvy and chilling power. The brutal uppercut which closed the show in Round 5 was a thing of beauty and now surely a world title shot awaits later in 2026.
Next Fight: tbc
4. Agit Kabayel (27-0)
Kabayel has been the division’s biggest revelation in the last two years - claiming terrific wins in Saudi over giant Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov, the Cuban slickster Frank Sanchez and more recently the Chinese man mountain Zhilei Zhang. His brilliant knockout of Sanchez on the Fury vs Usyk undercard also earned him the spot as mandatory contender for the WBC heavyweight title, and it was richly deserved. In all of those big wins Kabayel was punch-perfect, executing the ideal gameplan. He is tough and technically sound, and adept at mixing attacks to body and head beautifully. In short, a danger to any top-level opponent. Started 2026 with a third-round stoppage of Damian Knyba in Oberhausen, and will now head on to bigger things.
Next Fight: tbc
5. Fabio Wardley (20-0-1)
The Fabio Wardley fairytale is complete - the former white collar fighter with no amateur experience is now a world heavyweight champion. He ascended the throne when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the WBO title in November 2025, having claimed the position as interim champion by stopping Joseph Parker in October. That win over Parker had a controversial ending but it once again proved what we know about Fabio - he may have limitations as a stylist but he does have a massive right hand, a granite chin and a massive heart. He had earlier displayed those qualities again back in June when producing a punch from the heavens to knock out Justis Huni. Wardley will make the first defence of his title against fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in Manchester in May.
Next Fight: Wardley vs Daniel Dubois (May 9)
6. Joseph Parker (36-4)
It has been a tortuous couple of months for the New Zealander, as he first lost his position as mandatory challenger for the WBO world title in that controversial loss to Wardley. It was a fight Parker arguably did not need to take, and ultimately it cost him a title he would have picked up when Usyk subsequently vacated it. There was worse news still to come when a drug test taken by Parker on the day of the Wardley fight returned traces of cocaine. Joseph denies taking banned substances and says he is confident he will be cleared. We must now wait for due process to play out.
Next fight: tbc
7. Daniel Dubois (22-3)
Dubois finally looked the real deal heading into his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on July 19, following that incredible demolition job on Anthony Joshua last September. Usyk though stripped away that mirage in a one-sided beatdown in front of a packed Wembley crowd. There is much speculation about Daniel’s preparation for the fight, notably fight day itself, but he is still young enough to come again. While it was disappointing to see him schooled once more by Usyk, there is no shame in that and he remains an exciting talent with dynamite in both fists. Dubois had been lined up to face Cuban Frank Sanchez in an IBF eliminator next, but he has now pulled out of that fight. Now instead he gets another world title shot when he challenges fellow Brit Fabio Wardley for the WBO strap in Manchester in May.
Next fight: Dubois vs Fabio Wardley (May 9)
8. Anthony Joshua (29-4)
Joshua returned to action from a 15-month layoff to knock out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their much-hyped blockbuster on Netflix last December. The thudding right hand which closed the show (and broke Paul’s jaw) was vintage AJ, but it came after five rounds of dire viewing as the Brit chased the fleeing American around the Miami ring. Just 10 days after that fight, Joshua suffered injuries in the tragic car crash in Nigeria which claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and team members. That blockbuster vs Fury is waiting later this year if he wants it, and while he failed to officially accept the challenge ringside in London last Saturday, the sense is the fight will now happen. Any talk of a warmup vs the dangerous Deontay Wilder though, should be shelved immediately. Way too much risk when the bag is this close.
Next fight: tbc
9. Bakhodir Jalolov (16-0)
‘The Big Uzbek’ could be the next big thing in heavyweight boxing now he has decided to go all in on the pro game. Jalolov has already built a 16-0 record in the paid ranks as well as claiming a second Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024. He returned to paid action in April with a decision victory over Ihor Shevadzutskyi, and more recently outpointed Vitaly Kudukhov in Russia in early October. We now await a step up in class for the exciting amateur standout.
Next Fight: tbc
10. Zhilei Zhang (27-3-1)
A few months ago the Chinese giant appeared very much en route to a potential world title shot, but two defeats in his last three bouts have him very much at the crossroads at the age of 41. ‘Big Bang’ has looked really good in blasting out the likes of Joe Joyce and Deontay Wilder in recent times, but losses to Joseph Parker and recently Agit Kabayel have removed much of that lustre. As the name suggests, Zhang is a huge man and he can absolutely bang, but he has been found out by fighters who outwork him and put his suspect stamina to the test as a fight goes on.
Next fight: tbc