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Who are the next generation of heavyweight contenders?
This fight is indicative of a new wave of heavyweights taking the stage, a slow transition from largely unchanged names at the top of the heavyweight division in the last five years – Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and, most recently, Daniel Dubois.
All but Dubois are 35 or older. As this era of heavyweights comes to an end, who is waiting in the wings?
Agit Kabayel
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
- Age: 32
- Record: 26-0 (18)
- Nationality: Germany
- Height: 6’3”
As the most established on this list, Kabayel has been plugging away at the heavyweight division since 2011, rising through the ranks under the radar. He claimed a notable win against Derek Chisora in 2017 to win the EBU European title.
After a period of relative quiet, the German has catapulted his name into the world title conversation by beating two of his highly ranked heavyweight classmates – Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang. He also won the European title two years ago in a torrid bout against Agron Smakici in Bochum, Germany. As of 2025, he also holds the WBC interim title.
His high-level body punching and engine make him a genuine threat at world championship level. However, Kabayel is a little small for the division at 6'3" and fighting generally beneath 240lbs, despite this, he is ranked as number four in the heavyweight division by The Ring.
Richard Torrez Jr
- Age: 25
- Record: 13-0 (11)
- Nationality: USA
- Height: 6’2”
Torrez Jr has some of the best amateur pedigree on this list, winning an Olympic Silver medal at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021. He lost to Bakhodir Jalolov, who also appears on this list, via unanimous decision in the final.
Since turning over with Top Rank, Torrez has raced to 13-0, winning eleven of his bouts by knockout. At 6’2”, some might suggest he is an undersized heavyweight in the modern era, but his impressive speed and combination punching might be enough to draw him into the fray.
His last fight was his first ten-rounder against Guido Vianello, which he won by a unanimous decision. He is currently ranked in the top fifteen with all the governing bodies aside from the WBA, and is ranked number nine with the WBC.
Fabio Wardley
Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
- Age: 30
- Record: 18-0-1 (17)
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Height: 6’5”
Wardley has taken an untraditional route as a fighter: with no amateur background and only four white-collar fights to his name, he has demonstrated knockout power and natural ability.
The Ipswich native has won all of his fights by knockout, other than his debut and a majority draw with Frazer Clarke in 2024. The Clarke draw was quickly righted by a first-round knockout of the Olympic bronze medallist in the rematch.
Wardley is the former British and Commonwealth champion, beating some of the best the British scene has had to offer, including David Adeleye. He has since vacated these titles, but is the number one ranked heavyweight by the WBA and is in the top ten according to The Ring.
Moses Itauma
Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
- Age: 20
- Record: 12-0 (10)
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Height: 6’ 2 ½“
The youngest on this list, Itauma had a short-but-successful amateur career, winning gold at the European and World Championships in 2022 before quickly turning professional with Queensberry Promotions.
The Brit had dreams of beating Mike Tyson's record and becoming the youngest-ever world heavyweight champion, fighting seven times in his first year as a professional, showcasing his hand speed and knockout power.
Recently knocking out long-time heavyweight gatekeeper Mariusz Wach, Dempsey McKean and Mike Balogun within two rounds, Itauma has positioned himself comfortably in the world title conversation in his twelve eleven fights, now ranked number one by the WBO.
Mourad Aliev
- Age: 29
- Record: 13-0 (10)
- Nationality: France
- Height: 6’ 7 ½ “
Aliev is a giant southpaw heavyweight who, as an amateur, claimed a silver medal at the European games and represented France at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
He turned pro shortly after crashing out of the Olympics, suffering a disqualification against eventual bronze medallist Frazer Clarke in the quarter-final.
The Frenchman has remained active since turning pro, claiming the WBC international silver title in 2023 and currently sits at number ten in their rankings. His next fight is against Labinot Xhoxhaj on Saturday for the European heavyweight title.
Bakhodir Jalolov
GettyImages
- Age: 30
- Record: 15-0 (14)
- Nationality: Uzbekistan
- Height: 6’ 7”
The towering Uzbek has the best amateur pedigree of anyone on this list with two world championships and two Olympic Gold medals, claiming victories over both Torrez Jr and Aliev as an amateur.
Jalolov turned pro initially in 2018 but returned to the amateur ranks twice to claim his Olympic golds. This slowed his progress as a professional, but with fourteen knockouts in fifteen wins, he will be hoping to start taking on more challenging opposition.
He currently has no fights scheduled, having won on April 5 in the first points victory of his career over ten rounds. He is currently ranked number twelve with the IBF and number seven with the WBC.
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