Is This the Healthiest the Heavyweight Has Been in Decades?

The heavyweight division is going through a golden period in boxing which has helped revive interest in the biggest hitters in the sport. We are set for a unified heavyweight clash in May, while there is now strong depth to the rankings. With such healthy competition, the next couple of years could be a golden period for the division. Boxing fans are already putting a list together of the fights they’d like to see later in 2024.

Joshua Set for Ngannou Test

When he was the heavyweight champion in the UFC in 2021-2022, Francis Ngannou was known as the biggest puncher in the Octagon. The Nigerian then transferred that power to the boxing ring, flooring Tyson Fury on his professional debut last year.

See you in Riyadh #JoshuaNgannou pic.twitter.com/15QX92Nt1g

— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) January 15, 2024

The Predator will now take on another former world champion in Anthony Joshua. He is 11/4 in the latest odds on Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou to pick up his first success in professional boxing. Ngannou had a big disagreement with the UFC in 2022 which means his future could remain in boxing. If he can put up a strong performance against the British boxer, he can prove he belongs at the highest level in his new sport.

Usyk Holds Three of the Four Belts

Oleksandr Usyk currently holds three of the major four belts in the heavyweight division. He won the WBA, IBF and WBO titles when he defeated Joshua in 2021. The Ukrainian will be hoping to claim the WBC belt when he takes on Fury in May in a unification contest.

Usyk was the undisputed cruiserweight champion earlier in his career and he is now looking to be the first boxer in history to hold all four major belts at the same time in the heavyweight division.

In Fury, Usyk will be coming up against his toughest opponent yet. Both men are unbeaten as professionals, with the Gypsy King having impressive victories over Deontay Wilder (twice), Wladimir Klitschko and Dillian Whyte. The winner of this bout will go down as one of the great heavyweight boxers of their generation.

Parker-Zhang Clash Has a Lot Riding on It

Zhilei Zhang became the first man to send Joe Joyce to the canvas, and what a shot it was #ZhangJoyce pic.twitter.com/S36LKVte1i

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) September 25, 2023

Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang both come off one of the biggest victories of their careers in the heavyweight division. Parker defeated former WBC champion Wilder, while Zhang had success against British boxer Joe Joyce.

Parker and Zhang are set to meet in the ring later this year and there will be a lot riding on this contest. They are both well-placed across the rankings in the division, and the winner could meet the new undisputed heavyweight champion this summer.

New Zealand’s Parker is a former WBO champion and has only lost once in his last 11 bouts. Zhang, on the other hand, currently holds the interim title, and his only defeat in the professional ranks came against Filip Hrgovic.

If all the big names stay fit and healthly over the next couple of years, this period has the potential to be one of the greatest in the division’s history.