Barry McGuigan MBE has revealed his top 10 heavyweight contenders, singling out one fighter for special praise.
A mixed pack of unbeaten talents, former champions and seasoned veterans are all jostling for a shot at undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
McGuigan, 64, one of the sport’s most respected voices, included five British heavyweights in his rankings: Anthony Joshua (10), Tyson Fury (6), Daniel Dubois (5), Moses Itauma (2) and Fabio Wardley (1).
In his Daily Mirror column, McGuigan defended his decision to place Wardley, 20-0-1 (19 KOs), at the top.
“He deserves the ranking. As he often is, Wardley was behind against Joseph Parker yet, as I predicted, found a way to win. That’s the beauty of the old equaliser, you need pull it out of the bag only once.”
However, it was one of Wardley’s gym-mates who McGuigan believes truly has the world at his feet — unbeaten 20-year-old Moses Itauma.
“A southpaw with hands like lightening, Itauma is the most exciting prospect on the planet. He punches accurately as well as hard, the combination of speed and power [is] an explosive cocktail. Can he go the distance flat out? Can he take an elite punch? They are the only questions left to answer.”
Itauma’s rapid rise has seen him compile 13 wins, including 11 knockouts, across just 26 rounds. Last time out, the WBA’s number one contender destroyed Dillian Whyte in a single round. His second fight of 2025 may yet be his last of the year, as a proposed December return appears to have fallen through.
