The modern heavyweight division is reaching its peak, with a long-awaited new champion and some of the biggest names in boxing facing off against each other.
The belt belongs to a worthy champion in Oleksandr Usyk, and behind him is a group of established and up-and-coming heavyweight challengers, led by Tyson Fury, all looking to land a knockout blow.
So where do we stand and what's next?
Fury and Usyk II
Let's start at the top of the heavyweight division: Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. It's incredible that they fought each other twice.
Usyk defeated Fury by split decision in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, completing a 20-year mission to become the first unbeaten heavyweight champion of the four-belt era since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999, further cementing his status as one of the greatest fighters of his generation following his dominance at cruiserweight.
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Highlights of Usyk becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after a dramatic fight with Fury
The talented Ukrainian withstood a ferocious Fury onslaught in a tough first half of the bout before finding a breakthrough in the middle and scoring a stunning victory in the ninth round, coming within seconds of stopping the shaken Gypsy King.
It's no secret that the contract contains a rematch clause, and it was announced this week that the two will rematch on December 21. If he wins again, Usyk won't have to prove anything. As for Fury, we could be in for another AJ-style domino to fall, regardless of the outcome later this year.
AJ is waiting… but with who?
The explosive Anthony Joshua has shaken off the effects of his back-to-back losses to Usyk and reignited his knockout success to return to title contention.
Joshua is set to watch Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois fight as part of a five-on-five event in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, with the winner potentially set to face the former unified world champion later this year. But that could also depend on whether Usyk has to vacate his IBF belt, making it more likely that Joshua will face either Hrgovic or Dubois for the belt.
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Watch Anthony Joshua's stunning knockout punch that ended his bout with Francis Ngannou from every angle
Olympic champion Dubois is riding the momentum of a stunning knockout win over Francis Ngannou and also has impressive stoppage wins over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin to close out 2023. Hrgovic has compiled a perfect 17-0 record as a pro since knocking out Mark de Mori in the first round back in December, while Dubois is 20-2 since winning a 10th round stoppage victory over Jarrell Miller late last year.
Joshua will take on either challenge, especially with the chance to become a three-time world champion, but he will also feel there is a more important task at hand.
And…Fury?
If the Battle of Britain were to happen, 2025 would seem to be the chance. Both Joshua and Fury have long harboured a desire to bring fans one of the biggest heavyweight clashes in British boxing history, but multiple attempts to make the bout happen have all failed.
Joshua and Fury had reportedly signed a contract and were due to meet in 2021, but Fury was ordered to face Deontay Wilder in the third fight of a dramatic trilogy. After Joshua lost the rematch to Usyk in 2022, the pair verbally agreed to face each other, but the bout never materialised as the London-born fighter underwent a recovery period.
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Jonny Nelson believes Tyson Fury needs to tweak his camp if he is to avenge his loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua reiterated his intention to face Fury after beating former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou earlier this year. Fury was in Saudi Arabia to watch the Usyk bout and even hinted at facing Joshua next in the build-up. It feels closer than ever, but first the task of a must-fight rematch later this year must be addressed.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum recently said: Sky Sports Fury is keen to fight Joshua in 2025 and has highlighted Wembley Stadium as the ideal venue. We'll see what happens.
Where does Wilder fit in?
It feels like something of a climactic moment for the current heavyweight contenders, including Deontay Wilder, as their challengers hang on for the last time in the fight.
The Bronze Bomber has no illusions about what's at stake for him when he takes on the devastating punching power of Zhang Zhilei this weekend. A loss could be the end of it. A win, and a big one, could see him secure another showdown with Anthony Joshua, which was derailed following a shock loss to Joseph Parker.
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Relive Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder's incredible fight trilogy
A tough triple-bout with Fury, combined with a lengthy hiatus that saw Wilder lose a unanimous decision to the New Zealander, has overshadowed his destructive nature and left many questioning whether he could match the threat of Zhang, but the right-hander has built a reputation that deserves the utmost respect and should never be taken lightly.
Top Rank boss Arum has named Wilder as Jared Anderson's next opponent in a bid to further the young American star's promising career, but beating Zhang is no formality and they know it.
The Parker Party Continues
Hello, resurrected Joseph Parker. The world of heavyweight is rarely blessed with simplicity and logic, but Parker has once again found himself an obstacle to his plans as he seeks another world title shot.
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Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker recreates a famous scene from 'The Office'
The 32-year-old announced his return with the best performance of his career to beat Wilder in December and then overcame a knockdown to win a majority decision against Zhang to become the WBO mandatory challenger.
Parker has criticised both Joshua and Dillian Whyte on social media in recent months and is keen to return to the form he was in at the peak of his career, and given his form and still young age, it's hard not to feel he's on his way to another title shot.
The Rise of Kabael
Agit Kabayel might be one to watch. The German boxer is fresh off of knockouts of both Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez to improve to 25-0, with Sanchez losing in the WBC finals and Kabayel rising to a position to compete for a world title.
Logic would dictate who would win if a rematch between Fury and Usyk were to take place, but logic doesn't always apply in boxing, especially when you consider that Fury and Usyk's careers could move on to other fights, either Joshua or retirement.
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Watch highlights from Ipswich-based fighter Fabio Wardley's defence of his British and Commonwealth heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London.
What else is going on?
Joe Joyce is in the midst of a fight back after consecutive losses to Chang and has ambitions of regaining momentum on the world stage this summer against Dereck Chisora, while Martin Bacall is the No. 1 challenger in the WBA rankings and Dillian Whyte is also gearing up for a return.
At Bridgerweight, Lawrence Okolie is coming off a commanding first-round win over Lukasz Rozanski in Poland and is looming over the heavyweight division. A former cruiserweight world champion, Okolie seems destined to step up, likely facing mandatory Bridgerweight challenger Kevin Lerena.
While Fraser Clarke and Fabio Wardley await word on their next steps following their Fight of the Year contender, 19-year-old Moses Itauma is just getting started as one of boxing's most fearsome prospects with ambitions of becoming the youngest ever heavyweight world champion.
