Top 10 Heavyweights in World Boxing (March 2026)

There is nothing in the world of sport quite like Heavyweight boxing. Nothing can match the pure, violent electricity that it provides – but who are the best Heavyweights in the world at the moment?

To be included in this list, a boxer must have recorded a professional win since January 1, 2025. As such, fighters such as Tyson Fury, Martin Bakole and Zhilei Zhang are not eligible for inclusion.

Please note – we weren’t able to find images of all the fighters on this list. Where pictures were unavailble, we used a generic placeholder image.

10. Richard Torrez Jr.

American Heavyweight boxing is in the doldrums – nevertheless, Richard Torrez Jr. is doing everything he can to resurrect the days of old for the USA.

An Olympic silver medalist, Torrez Jr. already has some decent wins on his resume, including over the likes of Tyrell Herndon, Guido Vianello and Brandon Moore. He’s very technically adept for a Heavyweight – he’s more than capable of outboxing his opponents, but he also carries some serious (and underrated) punching power.

He was scheduled to fight Frank Sanchez in an IBF Heavyweight title eliminator, but the bout was called off after Sanchez suffered a knee injury. Had Torrez won that fight, he would likely find himself in a higher spot.

9. Moses Itauma

Moses Itauma is the most exciting Heavyweight prospect in years – however, for now, he is stuck in the #9 position in our list. He has all the ability in the world, but he’s yet to be given a worthy challenge.

Many thought Dillian Whyte would give him nightmares – instead, he dispatched of the former World Title challenger within a round. Itauma’s hand speed and power are frightening enough, but his intelligent shot selection and nimble footwork are what make him so great.

The rugged and durable Jermaine Franklin Jr. should be able to give him some much needed rounds – let’s see how Itauma deals with his latest test before we get too carried away.

8. Filip Hrgovic

Filip Hrgovic is a difficult fighter to rank. He’s a very talented fighter with brilliant fundaments – he’s also very tough, as we saw in his last fight against David Adeleye. Unfortunately, fitness levels and defensive frailties have always been an issue for ‘El Animal’.

Filip Hrgovic has all the tools to be a world champion in the Heavyweight division. Prior to his professional debut, he was also a top amateur, winning a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Hrgovic also lacks a signature win, despite having been a professional for almost ten years now. He is rumoured to be seeking a showdown with Agit Kabayel – this would present a fascinating clash of styles that could make for an incredibly intriguing contest.

7. Lawrence Okolie

Lawrence Okolie has never been an exciting fighter to watch, but his effectiveness cannot be denied. He has benefitted greatly from the move up to Heavyweight – he has filled his large frame out nicely.

He’s still very clinch-heavy, which doesn’t make for entertaining viewing, but it does make him a very awkward and difficult opponent to fight. Furthermore, his punching power is somewhat underrated – even at Cruiserweight, Okolie was a very heavy hitter.

All in all, Okolie still needs a big win at Heavyweight to shake off the remaining naysayers – there is plenty of scope for him to secure a big domestic clash before the end of the year.

6. Murat Gassiev

Murat Gassiev’s position on this list might be controversial. Yes, he lost to Otto Wallin amid a turgid display back in 2023, but the 32-year-old made up for it when he brutally knocked out Kubrat Pulev late last year.

Gassiev’s left hook, when he is able to deliever it, is one of the best punches in boxing today. He also possesses plenty of power in his right cross, but the explosivity he can generate from his left hook is absolutely terrifying.

He is a bit small for a modern Heavyweight, standing at just (!) 6ft 2 – additionally, his feet are a little flatter than they should be for someone his size. Nevertheless, Gassiev is a very dangerous opponent – you cannot make a mistake whilst on the inside against him, or he will punish you.

5. Joseph Parker

Joseph Parker is somewhat fortunate to maintain a high spot on this list. He was beaten by Fabio Wardley in his last fight – the stoppage might have been premature, but it also probably saved Parker from being on the end of a vicious knockout.

However, the post-fight fallout was much more damning – Parker had tested positive for cocaine after the bout, leaving his professional career in a state of limbo.

Nevertheless, assuming the Kiwi warrior isn’t done with boxing, he’s still a very talented boxer with plenty of feathers to his bow. A durable, hard-hitting fighter with excellent technique, let’s hope he can rebuild after his latest setback.

4. Daniel Dubois

Boxing fans have written off Daniel Dubois more times than we can remember – and, invariably, DDD finds a way to work his way back into the fold. His mentality has been questioned relentlessly, but it takes a strong man to come back after some of the losses he has suffered.

In his last bout, Dubois was taken to school for the second time by Oleksandr Usyk. He perhaps could have carried on, but he had little chance of winning the fight at that stage – boxing fans’ obsession with fighters ‘going out on their shield’ is a cancer that must be cut out of the sport as soon as possible.

But enough about that – let’s talk about why Dubois is in this list. With one of the best jabs in boxing today, Dubois’ power is almost superhuman – his dismantling of Anthony Joshua back in 2024 was one of the greatest nights in British boxing history. He was booed during his entrance, but emphatically cheered as he left the ring.

3. Agit Kabayel

Agit Kabayel seems destined to be one of boxing’s eternal bridesmaids. It’s a shame – Oleksandr Usyk would rather partake in novelty bouts, rather than take on his mandatory challenger. We’re not saying Kabayel would beat Usyk – but he at least deserves a chance.

A ferocious pressure fighter who loves to brutalise the body, Kabayel has been on a serious run in the last few years. He stopped Arslanbek Makhmudov back in 2023, then followed it up with excellent wins over Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang, all coming within the distance.

Kabayel wasn’t quite as impressive in his last fight against Damian Knyba – he got caught far more than he should’ve – but he was still able to get the job done in three rounds.

2. Fabio Wardley

The Fabio Wardley story has been truly fascinating. We remember his first fight, when he asked his corner if they could get a Five Guys on the way home – who thought he would ever be a world champion? This is not a knock on Wardley, by any means – he has forged his career in spite of criticism.

Is Wardley the most technically sound boxer on this list? Absolutely not – but he is a freak athlete with utterly immense punching power. We haven’t seen a puncher in the Heavyweight division like this since Deontay Wilder’s heyday.

With no amateur experience and only four white collar fights to his name before his professional debut, Wardley’s rise to stardom has been unexpected, but nonetheless welcomed.

1. Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk isn’t just the best Heavyweight in the world – he is one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time. Yes, his record in the Heavyweight division isn’t as impressive as, say, Muhammad Ali’s, but whose is? Usyk makes it into the conversation based on the eye test alone.

Usyk remains at the top of our list by a considerable distance, but we must take issue with his current trajectory. If he wants to fight Rico Verhoeven in a crossover bout, that’s fine – but to have the World titles on the line in such a bout is very disappointing.

After a lifetime of fighting, we can’t begrudge Usyk for want to take some easy, money-spinning fights at the end of his career. With that being said, his champion status must be questioned at this juncture.