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 the final stretch of 2025, 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 heading towards 2026.
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 ii the 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, and now we wait to find out who he elects for the challenge. It is unlikely to be fairytale Brit and WBO mandatory contender Brit Fabio Wardley, after Usyk vacated the belt.
Next fight: tbc
2. Tyson Fury (34-2-1)
The on-off saga that is Fury’s latest mooted boxing comeback continues, with ‘The Gypsy King’ saying last week that not even £1billion could tempt him back out of retirement. Up to that point it had appeared highly likely he would return to action in 2026, with either a third fight vs Usyk or that long-awaited British blockbuster vs Anthony Joshua. Turki Alalshikh has vowed to make that Joshua fight happen in 2026, so our money is still on Fury returning to the ring some time soon.
Next fight: tbc
3. Moses Itauma (13-0)
This might seem a reach to some experts, but are we supposed to deny what our eyes tell us? The 20-year-old prodigy that is Moses Itauma was once again devastatingly unstoppable as he blasted out Dillian Whyte inside two minutes in Riyadh in August. It was another fabulous display of speed, power and finishing from a youngster who also possesses a ring IQ way beyond his tender years. He is quite simply the real deal, and a world title shot cannot now be far away. Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh reportedly wants Itauma to face Usyk, but next up he will take on durable American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester in January.
Next Fight: Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin (January 24, 2026)
4. Agit Kabayel (26-0)
Kabayel has been the division’s biggest revelation in the last 18 months - 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 recent, terrific 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. Will return to action in Germany in early 2026, against the giant Pole Damian Knyba.
Next Fight: Kabayel vs Damian Knyba (January 10, 2026)
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. Now we await the details of his first title defence.
Next Fight: tbc
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.
Next fight: tbc
8. Anthony Joshua (28-4)
Wow, we definitely did not expect this. Joshua will next fight Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul in an eight-round heavyweight fight in Miami in December. That news sent the boxing world into meltdown, but AJ claims it does not signal the end of his time at the very top. The two-time heavyweight world champion, knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his last fight, already has big plans for 2026. He is likely to fight again in Saudi Arabia in February 2026, followed by a blockbuster in London in September. Hopefully, finally, vs that man Fury.
Next fight: Joshua vs Jake Paul (December 19, 2025)
9. Bakhodir Jalolov (15-0)
‘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
