THE CHAMPION
DONโT let the sanctioning bodies fool you, there is only one king here. Britainโs Tyson Furyโs win over Ukraineโs long-term leader Wladimir Klitschko was a true passing of the torch moment in the divisionโs history. His short-term future โ besides fending off the ferocious British media โ appears to be tied up in an immediate rematch with the ageing former champion. Win that, and a world of opportunity and riches opens up before him. Despite his recent coronation, his fluent yet unorthodox skills remain underrated, and the WBA Super and WBO champ, still only 27, should be made favourite over anyone.
BELT HOLDERS
WBC boss Deontay Wilder, 30, notched two entertaining but flawed defences following the Alabama sluggerโs belt-winning effort over Bermane Stiverne last year. He defended his belt with a mammoth knockout against Polandโs Artur Szpilka on January 16โฆ On the same bill, Charles Martin beat Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov for the vacant IBF strap that was stripped from Furyโฆ The WBAโs spurious โregularโ titlist, 37-year-old Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev, defends against Aussie Lucas Browne in March… Cubaโs 36-year-old Luis Ortiz is threatening, but his Interim WBA bauble carries little value.
TOP CONTENDERS
WHAT does Wladimir Klitschko have left at 39? Logic would say not much, but plenty of fading stars have turned in one last great showing to cement legacies. Donโt bet against the studious Klitschko doing just thatโฆ Former WBA โregularโ champion Alexander Povetkin is arguably the most skilled in the division, carries hellacious power when in range, and even at 36, is a danger to allโฆ Kubrat Pulev, 34, was made to look ordinary by Klitschko in 2013 yet the Bulgarian, though lacking worldwide appeal, would represent an excellent scalp for any names above him.
LEADING PROSPECTS
BRIT Anthony Joshua is arguably the most promising heavy starlet since the 1990s, yet the 26-year-oldโs second-round stumble against Dillian Whyte proved he is not invincibleโฆ Like Joshua, New Zealandโs Joseph Parker is ranked highly by the governing bodies, carries serious power, and at 23, is improving rapidlyโฆ Despite his lofty family ties, Hughie Fury largely flies under the radar, but his skillset is admirable and the 21-year-old looks set for a big futureโฆ Swedish banger Adrian Granat, 24, is feasting on ageing names, and Californiaโs 26-year-old Andy Ruizโs nimble boxing belies his hearty frame.
GATEKEEPERS
THE division is loaded with fringe contenders clamouring for one last shot at the big time, and as a consequence, they remain dangerous. Philadelphiaโs โFastโ Eddie Chambers is perhaps the most talented, and ambitious, but at 33 probably lacks the youth, and power, to be a factorโฆ Californian Chris Arreola, 34, will soon be fed to a rising prospect, though his efforts could prove funโฆ Hard to forgive Phillyโs 35-year-old Malik Scott for his farcical 2014 loss to Wilder, but his recent win over perennial contender and fellow American Tony Thompson, 44, allowed him to regain some relevance.
WILDCARDS
THOSE with longer memories would have raised their eyebrows when Ike Ibeabuchi โ a true terror in his prime โ announced his plans to return to the ring at the age of 42. The Nigerian has been out of the ring since 1999, and spent most of that time imprisonedโฆ 35-year-old Brit David Haye has a far better chance of regaining his former standing, but success is not guaranteed after three-and-a-half years outโฆ Injury-ravaged EBU champ Robert Helenius, 32, remains unbeaten, but the Finn has a long way to go to fulfil early promise.
BRITISH BULLDOGS
THE Sauerlands have two faltering British big men they retain hope for: Finchleyโs Dereck Chisora, 32, has won four since he was trounced by Fury in their 2014 rematch (made almost respectable by Tysonโs rise to the top), and can be a factor at European level at least; Liverpoolโs David Priceโs future is less secure but news that Erkan Teper was doping before knocking him cold last year offers the heavy-handed 32-year-old a route backโฆ Letโs not forget Brixtonโs Dillian Whyte, 27, who proved against Joshua he has the potential, if managed correctly, to join his conqueror on the world scene.
DINOSAURS
BROOKLYNโS Shannon Briggs, 44, has been trying to goad a lucrative opponent into a contest for years โ his latest target is Fury after Wilder and Klitschko ignored him โ but has done nothing, bar the odd entertaining social media post, worthy of attentionโฆ A professional since 1986, hammered by Tony Tucker, Michael Moorer, and Frans Botha in the 90s, and coming in at over 300lbs, Arizona-born 51-year-old โBroncoโ Billy Wright has somehow secured a top 20 ranking with the WBC. If boxing wasnโt such a dangerous sport, his presence would be laughable.
This article was first published in the January 14 issue of Boxing News
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