The Best British Heavyweights: Ranking the Top 10 Fighters Right Now
Introduction
In recent years, British heavyweights have dominated the boxing scene, with fighters like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Dillian Whyte making waves in world title fights. The last decade has been particularly impressive for British heavyweights, surpassing the success of the 1990s. In this article, we will rank the top 10 British heavyweights based on their current performances and potential for future success.
10. David Adeleye
David Adeleye, a 6ft 4in Londoner, has an impressive record of 12-0 with 11 knockouts. While he looks the part and has natural power, his one distance fight against Kamil Sokołowski in 2021 raised some concerns about his rawness. However, Adeleye has bounced back with five straight knockout wins and has the potential to develop further with the support of the Frank Warren machine.
9. Frazer Clarke
Frazer Clarke, a Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, may not have turned pro with the same hype as Anthony Joshua or Joe Joyce, but he has vast amateur experience and stands at 6ft 5in. At 31 years old, Clarke is likely to be fast-tracked in his professional career. While a highly anticipated clash with another fighter on this list did not materialize, Clarke gained valuable experience by defeating Mariusz Wach and banking 10 important rounds.
8. Fabio Wardley
Unlike his domestic rival Frazer Clarke, Fabio Wardley did not have a medal-filled amateur career and only took up boxing at the age of 20. However, the 28-year-old Ipswich native has made significant strides as a professional, winning all 16 of his bouts, with 15 of them ending in knockouts. His biggest win came against Nathan Gorman, where he reversed expectations and claimed the British heavyweight title. Wardley has already won fans with his crowd-pleasing style and may continue to upset the odds.
7. Hughie Fury
Hughie Fury, cousin of Tyson Fury, is a 6ft 6in heavyweight who has never been stopped in his career. Despite frustrating health issues that have kept him out of the ring since October 2021, Fury has built a solid record of 26-3 with 15 knockouts. While his three defeats have been close and against top opposition, Fury has yet to get over the line at the world level. At only 28 years old, he still has time to make another attempt at stepping up by securing a long-awaited fight with Michael Hunter.
6. Derek Chisora
Derek Chisora, often referred to as “Del Boy,” is a 39-year-old cult hero in the boxing world. While some may argue that he should consider retirement after 46 action-packed fights, Chisora has proven his toughness by going the distance with top fighters like Oleksandr Usyk and beating Kubrat Pulev. Although his third fight against Tyson Fury was one-sided, Chisora lasted until round 10. If he chooses to continue fighting, he will undoubtedly bring his trademark bravery and determination to the ring.
5. Daniel Dubois
Daniel Dubois rebounded well after his sole loss to Joe Joyce in 2020, winning four bouts by knockout and earning the WBA “regular” title. However, his three-round war against Kevin Lerena on the Fury-Chisora III undercard highlighted some durability concerns. Dubois has power and looks terrific when his punches flow, but questions remain about his ability to withstand punishment.
4. Dillian Whyte
Dillian Whyte, known as “The Bodysnatcher,” has had mixed success in his career. While he was outclassed by Tyson Fury in his one attempt at a world title, Whyte has notable wins over Joseph Parker, Oscar Rivas, and Alexander Povetkin in their rematch. At 35 years old, time is running out for Whyte to secure another big opportunity, possibly a rematch with Anthony Joshua. He will need to find a way to win and prove himself at the world level.
3. Joe Joyce
Joe Joyce was considered the heavyweight division’s danger man until he suffered a badly damaged eye and was stopped by Zhilei Zhang in an upset in April. However, if not for that injury, Joyce’s ability to battle back and secure victories would have likely been on display once again. Despite his slow speed and leaky defense, Joyce has impressive stoppage wins over Dubois, Parker, and Carlos Takam. If the 37-year-old can defeat Zhang in a rematch, he will be back on track for future success.
2. Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua’s recent career has been met with mixed reviews. While he has only won one of his past three fights and hasn’t scored a knockout since 2020, his losses have come against the likes of Oleksandr Usyk, a modern great in the sport. Joshua’s performance in the rematch against Usyk showed improvement and resilience. At 33 years old, Joshua remains a two-time world champion and a favorite against any heavyweight not named Fury, Usyk, or Deontay Wilder. The question now is whether he can regain his confidence and earn a shot at becoming a three-time champion.
1. Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury is undoubtedly Britain’s best boxer and one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Standing at around 6ft 9in, Fury possesses a unique combination of boxing skills, power, and remarkable recovery abilities. With an unbeaten record of 33 fights, including wins against Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko, Fury has already established his legacy. The question now is whether he has the appetite to unify the heavyweight division by facing Usyk and potentially having the long-awaited all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Conclusion
The current era of British heavyweights is undoubtedly a golden one, with talented fighters like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Dillian Whyte leading the way. However, the rankings of the top 10 British heavyweights are subject to change as fighters continue to prove themselves in the ring. With rising stars like David Adeleye and Frazer Clarke on the horizon, the future looks bright for British boxing in the heavyweight division.