Over the past few years or so, the shape of boxing’s heavyweight division has gone through several changes, and in recent years, there seems no signs of that stopping.
Ever since Britain’s Tyson Fury came onto the scene, closely followed by Anthony Joshua, who both had career-defining fights against Wladimir Klitschko, the Ukrainian who ruled the heavyweight division for the best part of a decade.
Combined with the explosive one-punch knockout power of Deontay Wilder, boxing’s heavyweight division has looked interesting.
Now there seem to be challengers and prospective title fights in every corner you look, which bolds well for the public.
However, with promoters and managers desperately trying to get their guy a piece of heavyweight pie, is it just smoke and mirrors and are we being sold and false dream?
I say this because after Anthony Joshua’s second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk via split decision (which was generous to Joshua). Usyk, a former cruiserweight champion bested Joshua now over 24 rounds, and to me it wasn’t even close.
Joshua had been built up as this English superstar, although many saw him as a manufactured champion, who is an Eddie Hearn cash cow to milk for how long Matchroom can.
There is no doubt that Usyk has superior boxing skills and movement, but at heavyweight, he just does not possess that one-punch concussive power most heavyweight champions have.
Is this an issue? Being the smaller guy, he will have to box his way to victory, and that tactic is a risky one in heavyweight boxing, as often, he will be giving up weight and size advantage.
It’s not like he is a Mike Tyson, with that equalising power to compensate for his size. That said, I am not saying he does not have power. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to fend off Joshua, and the 18-stone Brit would have walked through him.
He certainly showed power at cruiserweight when he knocked out Tony Bellow in his last fight at cruiserweight. However, heavyweight is a much different prospect altogether.
The issue I have with Usyk as champion is, although a fight with Fury would be an intriguing one, Fury is just too big for him. You’ve seen what Fury did to Dillian Whyte in his last outing.
Whyte had trouble getting to Fury’s 6ft 6-inch stature, and Fury has power behind that, as he showed with his devastating sixth-round knockout.
Even against a much bigger and heavy puncher, Fury showed what he can do in his three thrilling fights with Deontay Wilder, which had everything.
Fury not only showed his power, strength, size, and durability. But also, his powers of recovery.
Looking at all three of those fights, seeing what Fury is capable of, do you really see Usyk doing anything against Fury? If he does, it would be a monumental achievement. So now you can imagine the disappointment in Fury announcing a third fight with Derek Chisora.
What? Chisora? Where did this come from? The same Chisora that Fury handed his first loss to in 2011. Then handed him his fifth loss in 2014, after Chisora had already lost to Robert Helenius, Vitali Klitschko and then stopped by David Haye.
Credited after the Haye loss, Chisora went on a five-fight winning streak, before losing to Fury for a second time. But since then, Chisora has lost six more times in his last 15 fights to Dillian Whyte twice, the second, a devastating ko.
Kubrat Pulev (although he avenged that loss in July) Usyk, and twice to Joseph Parker in a row.
This is the guy Fury is trying to sell to us for a title fight. Give us a break Tyson.
I am not even convinced he went all out for the Joshua fight, not that Joshua did his utmost to make the fight himself. And this is where the disappointment comes in.
After a thrilling few years, I feel the heavyweight division is petering out.
Unless Deontay Wilder, after an explosive return with his first-round ko of Robert Helenius, has a second, great performance on his comeback trail, and pushes for a fourth fight. But will it be any different?
For me, the only saviour in this division is Joe Joyce. He has the size, strength, punching power and surprisingly, the movement to trouble anyone, I feel he is the only fighter who could give Fury a run for his money.
The way he dispatched Joseph Parker in the 11th round to hand the Kiwi his third loss in 33 fights, but more importantly, the first to stop Parker, and Joyce did it in emphatic style. In that victory, Joyce showed just what he brings to this heavyweight division.
Similar to what he showed in the battle of the upcoming Brits two years ago, when he pummelled Daniel Dubois’ left eye into submission.
Joyce’s plodding, almost robotic-looking style is deceivingly effective. Some may say he takes too many shots, but he seems to have a granite chin, and I have yet to see him in any real trouble. Joyce is a big guy at 6 foot 6inch, with extremely heavy hands.
An Olympic silver medallist from Rio 2016, he has stopped 14 of his 15 opponents. However, at 37, with just 15 pro fights, he knows there is no time to waste, and his time is now.
I feel when Fury rolls over Chisora in December. Considering Joyce beat Parker in September. Forget Joshua, a Fury vs Joyce fight is a possibility.
Naturally, after beating Chisora, Fury will look for a unification fight with Usyk. Though I have played down Usyk’s chances against Fury, a unification bout makes sense.
In the division, you still have the likes of a rejuvenated and still a very capable Wilder. Also, Anthony Joshua still can have a say. I feel that should be their next fight. A Joshua v Wilder bout will still be a massive spectacle and carry much interest.
Although I have talked up Joyce’s opportunity at fighting Fury, it would make sense for Fury and Usyk to fight in a unification bout. As far as Joyce, a title eliminator against Andy Ruiz Jr, who recently beat Luiz Ortiz on points this past September, would make sense also.
In terms of the up and comers, Daniel Dubois now holds a version of the WBA title he won against Trevor Bryan in June. He will defend that title in December on the Fury vs Chisora card against Kevin Lerena. Who?
Don’t even get me started. Anyway, presumably Dubois gets through that. He will next need a much sterner test, and if not a Dillian Whyte fight or the unbeaten Filip Hrgovic, maybe even Michael Hunter, would be a good step up.
Nevertheless, as I said previously, for me, Joe Joyce is the possible saviour of this division, and everything happens around him or through him in terms of keeping this heavyweight division alive.
Fury is just too big for everyone; Wilder has limited options for real interest. Joshua needs a Fury or Wilder fight or nothing,
Usyk is interesting, but for me, he will struggle against the bigger guys. A Joe Joyce bout makes intriguing sense against them all. Let the games begin (hopefully).
