Heavyweight Boxers - Who's The Best?
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Football might hold the title of most popular sport across the globe, but boxing might as well be right up there. This historic and lucrative sport dates back at least 3 000 years, being included as an Olympic sport back in 688 BC. Since this time, boxers have had their eye only on one thing, the Heavyweight World Title.
What Are the Boxing Weight Divisions?
You can’t enter the ring of boxing betting without understanding the rules, the first of which is understanding the different weight divisions. There were traditionally only eight weight divisions in men’s boxing, but more and more have been added over the years with a total of 17 now recognised divisions.
The divisions and their upper limits are:
- Minimumweight: 105 pounds (48 kg)
- Light flyweight: 108 pounds (49 kg)
- Flyweight: 112 pounds (51 kg)
- Super flyweight: 115 pounds (52 kg)
- Bantamweight: 118 pounds (53.5 kg)
- Super bantamweight: 122 pounds (55 kg)
- Featherweight: 126 pounds (57 kg)
- Super featherweight: 130 pounds (59 kg)
- Lightweight: 135 pounds (61 kg)
- Super lightweight: 140 pounds (63.5 kg)
- Welterweight: 147 pounds (67 kg)
- Super welterweight: 154 pounds (70 kg)
- Middleweight: 160 pounds (72.5 kg)
- Super middleweight: 168 pounds (76 kg)
- Light heavyweight: 175 pounds (79 kg)
- Cruiserweight: 200 pounds (91 kg)
- Heavyweight: unlimited
Who’s in the Wannabe Heavyweight Ring?
The heavyweight title is generally the most celebrated and widely covered of all weight divisions. Here’s who we think are the potential titleholders and their stats.
Results: 42 Wins, 41 KOs, 2 Losses and 1 Draw(s)
Age: 36
Country: USA
The American held onto the WBC heavyweight title between 2015 and 2020 and is currently ranked by ESPN as the third-best active heavyweight. He only got into boxing at the age of 20, but quickly made a name for himself, taking bronze in the heavyweight division of the 2008 Olympics. He’s renowned for his exceptional punching power – as evidenced by his knockout stats – but will have to come back from a savage defeat against Tyson Fury.
Andy Ruiz Jr
Results: 36 Wins, 22 KOs, 2 Losses and 0 Draw(s).
Age: 32
Country: USA
Andy is a Mexican-American boxer, who famously knocked Anthony Joshua to the canvas in their first bout. Ruiz is the first male boxer of Mexican heritage to win a world heavyweight championship. He took the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles in 2019 and in 2021. The boxer was ranked fifth-best active heavyweight by ESPN. He’s had two poor performances, but ‘The Destroyer’ might still have it in him to take the title in the future.
Results: 32 Wins, 23 KOs, 0 Losses and 1 Draw(s)
Age: 33
Country: England
The current orthodox heavyweight champion is Tyson Fury. The Gypsy King has a very impressive record with wins over the famous Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and then the win after 3 high profile fights against the previously unbeaten Deontay Wilder. Fury won 2 out of the 3 fights with one decision, after getting knocked down by Wilder. He retained the title the following year in fight 3, after a TKO against Wilder. In 2022 Fury comfortably beat fellow Brit Dillion Whyte, before announcing his retirement from boxing.
Joseph Parker
Results: 30 Wins, 21 KOs, 2 Losses, 0 Draw(s)
Age: 30
Country: New Zealand
This powerful Kiwi held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018, with several other regional heavyweight championships to his name - WBO Oriental, Africa, Oceania, PABA, OPBF, and New Zealand titles. After turning professional in 2012, Parker defeated Ruiz for the WBO title, becoming the first heavyweight boxer from New Zealand or the Pacific Islands to take such a championship.
Dillian ‘The Bodysnatcher’ Whyte
Results: 28 Wins, 19 KOs, 2 Losses, 0 Draw(s)
Age: 33
Country: England
A former kickboxer and mixed martial artist turned boxer, The Bodysnatcher has held the WBC interim heavyweight title since March 2021 – having previously held it in 2019 and 2020. He’s come up against a number of tough contenders and certainly looks the part to take the title next year. Whyte challenged Tyson Fury on April 23rd 2022 at Wembley Stadium which Fury won with ease, by TKO in the 6th round.
Results: 24 Wins, 22 KOs, 2 Losses, 0 Draw(s)
Age: 32
Country: England
Joshua is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles from December 2019 to September 2021, as well as between 2016 and June 2019. He also held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles between 2015 and 2016. In 2011, he represented England at the World Championships in the super-heavyweight division where he took silver, winning gold at the Olympics the following year. His 2017 fight against Wladimir Klitschko was named Fight of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association. Joshua has 2 losses against Ruiz Jr and Usyk. Both were massive upsets as Joshua was the heavy favourite for both bouts.
Oleksandr Usyk
Results: 19 Wins, 13 KOs, 0 Losses, 0 Draw(s)
Age: 35
Country: Ukraine
As an amateur, he won gold at the 2011 World Championships and 2012 Olympics in the heavyweight division. The intimidating Ukrainian made a proper name for himself in 2022 by causing a big upset when he beat the champ Anthony Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, rocking and outboxing the Brit several times over 12 rounds. Although many doubted whether Usyk would have the power or the size to face Joshua. Usyk has excellent movement and an impressive straight left hand. He’s ranked the world’s second-best active boxer.
With all the information at hand, you might be tempted to start your boxing betting journey with Sportingbet today. That’s perfect, but we’re going to help you a bit further with some quick betting boxing tips.
Research: You’ve already started, but try to do as much research on the various boxers as possible before placing your bets. Check their knockout ratio and skills match against the opponent.
Physique: When it comes to boxing, looking at each boxer’s physique makes a big difference – especially in heavyweight titles. The bigger the boxer, the more likely he is to win. This isn’t always true for other classes.
Personal life: If boxers are out partying and not training, they might not be in top form. Keep an eye on social media and news!
