Boxing’s heavyweight division is in rude health right now, and the rankings continue to ignite debate every time they are updated.
Our latest top 10 comes ahead of tonight’s massive Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin showdown in Manchester, England.
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Itauma is without doubt the most exciting thing in the sport right now, and every time he steps between the ropes the expectation is huge.
It’s a big time for the division right now with Tyson Fury also returning in a couple of weeks and the peerless Oleksandr Usyk about to defend his WBC title once again.
Latest 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 at Wembley in July 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, and therefore the Ukrainian legend is going crossover to defend his WBC title against kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven.
Next fight: Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven (May 23)
2. Tyson Fury (34-2-1)
After 12 months of speculation, Tyson Fury is on the way back and all set to finally have that all-British blockbuster vs Anthony Joshua in 2026. Wembley Stadium in September looks possible for a fight that 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 he will come back fresh after a long break following those back-to-back defeats by Usyk. He officially confirmed his return in a social media post on Sunday January 4, 2026 and will return against giant Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.
Next fight: Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov (April 11)
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 tonight (Saturday March 28).
Next Fight: Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin (March 28, 2026)
4. Agit Kabayel (27-0)
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. Returned to action with an easy defeat of Damian Knyba in his homeland in January and bigger tests await.
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 his first title defence against fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in what should be an absolute barnburner 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. Instead he gets an even juicier assignment, a WBO world title challenge against fellow Brit Wardley.
Next fight: Dubois vs Fabio Wardley (May 9)
8. Anthony Joshua (29-4)
Joshua returned to action after a 15-month layoff to knock out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their much-hyped blockbuster on Netflix. 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. That did nothing to change our view on where Joshua should be ranked, how could it? A few days after knocking out Paul, AJ was injured in a car crash which killed two of his closest friends and team members in Nigeria. Three months on and AJ is back in the gym, training with team Usyk in the Ukraine. He appears on target for a return to the ring sooner rather than later and that eagerly-awaited Fury showdown may yet still happen.
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
Good question, and it is never a simple answer. Right now, Oleksandr Usyk owns all of the titles except one. That one – the WBO belt – is owned by fairytale Brit Fabio Wardley after Usyk vacated it late in 2025.
The answer, at last, appears to be a resounding yes. Both men are reportedly signed up to face each other in 2026 in that long-awaited British blockbuster. The likely landing spot is London’s Wembley Stadium in September, though the bout would take place under the Riyadh Season banner.
Usyk had been expected to fight Deontay Wilder, but that is now not happening. Instead he defends his WBC heavyweight title vs kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven in Giza on May 23 (live on DAZN).
The brilliantly talented Kent prodigy will face American Jermaine Franklin in a non-title match in Manchester on Saturday March 28, 2026 (live on DAZN).
