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Anthony Joshua has lost his spark, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte are still searching for opponents, Joe Joyce has been beaten… What’s next for Britain’s once-glittering heavyweights?

Wind the clock back two years and Britain’s heavyweight division was booming.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury held all four major world titles between them, Dillian Whyte had moved into mandatory position for the Gypsy King’s WBC belt and Joe Joyce was breaking onto the world stage.

There were even talks of Joshua and Fury fighting each other to finally crown an undisputed champion in boxing’s blue-riband division for the first time in two decades.

Alas, we are still waiting for that fight to be made. And plenty has changed since those days when Britain dominated the heavyweight scene.

Joshua has been beaten twice by Oleksandr Usyk, Whyte blew his shot against Fury, and now Joyce has tasted defeat for the first time as a professional after being stopped inside six rounds by China’s Zhilei Zhang on Saturday.

Joe Joyce became the latest top British heavyweight to suffer a setback after losing to Zhilei Zhang last weekend

Fury, to his credit, remains unbeaten, but his last fight against Derek Chisora in December was a mismatch and he hasn’t fought since, after failing to agree an undisputed fight with Usyk earlier this year.

The first part of 2023 has not gone to plan for Britain’s heavyweights, but can they turn it around? Sportsmail takes a look at what could lie in store for them over the coming months.

 Tyson Fury

Fury delivered a one-sided beatdown of Chisora at the end of 2022 in a fight no one was particularly keen on watching in the first place.

Tyson Fury is still unbeaten but his last fight against Derek Chisora was a mismatch

Yet many viewed it simply as a keep-busy bout, and when Fury went face-to-face with Usyk afterwards there was genuine optimism that the two premier heavyweights in the world would face each other in early 2023.

That showdown has been put on hold, though, after Usyk’s team pulled out of negotiations having grown frustrated with Fury’s demands.

This has left Fury looking for an alternative opponent, and he seems to have a couple of options on the table for a summer fight.

One is Andy Ruiz Jr, who the Gypsy King’s promoter Bob Arum has mentioned as a potential foe.

Ruiz Jr is best remembered for stunning Anthony Joshua in June 2019 at Madison Square Garden before losing the rematch six months later. Since then he has fought only twice, winning on both occasions.

A fight with Joyce’s conqueror, Zhang, could be next for the Gypsy King later this year

Then you have Joe Joyce’s conqueror Zhilei Zhang. The 39-year-old looked very impressive in taking out his British rival and called for a fight with Fury next.

Zhang has a huge following back in China, and a big-money fight at the Bird’s Next Stadium in Beijing could appeal to Fury. Zhang has also shown he’s not afraid to travel, making a clash in the UK, potentially at Wembley Stadium, a possibility.

Looking later into the year, there is the exciting prospect of Fury finally taking on Usyk, with Anthony Joshua meeting Deontay Wilder on the same night. Eddie Hearn has revealed talks have been held over staging a potentially epic night of boxing in the Middle East in December.

 Anthony Joshua

Joshua returned to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin at the start of the month but it was hardly the dominant display fans were hoping for.

The 33-year-old adopted a safety-first approach on his way to a unanimous decision victory, but insisted he wanted to remain active this year to gel with new trainer Derrick James.

He has since had a change of heart, announcing on social media that he will not be back in the ring again until December, but long-term rival Whyte is not convinced Joshua is telling the truth.

Should AJ keep his word and return at the end of the year, it appears likely that he will go straight into a mouthwatering fight with Deontay Wilder after Eddie Hearn’s bombshell about a potential double-header that would involve Fury and Usyk going head to head on the same card.

Anthony Joshua failed to impress in his last outing against America’s Jermaine Franklin

But Hearn has also admitted he would like to see Joshua have one more fight before testing himself against the division’s elite. This could mean a rematch with Whyte after they first fought each other as professionals in 2015.

The Olympic gold medallist came out on top back then, delivering a spiteful performance to stop Whyte in the seventh round. Perhaps stepping back in the ring with his arch-nemesis could get the juices flowing once more after he appeared to have lost his spark in that forgettable Franklin win.

 Dillian Whyte

Whyte finally got his title shot against Fury in April of last year, but failed to make the most of it.

After bizarrely starting the fight in a southpaw stance, the Body Snatcher struggled to get into the contest and was stopped by a vicious uppercut in the sixth round.

He returned with a razor-thin points win over Franklin in November, but has so far failed to line up another fight since.

Whyte was at ringside for Joyce’s defeat by Zhang on Saturday and was calling for a fight with his domestic rival.

Dillian Whyte was unable to beat the count after being sent to the canvas by Tyson Fury

Whyte beat Franklin last time out but is still yet to announce his next opponent since

Joyce subsequently lost, but that match-up could still make sense. It would be a crossroads fight for both men, with the winner moving back into the title picture while the loser likely edges towards retirement.

He could also challenge Zhang. The giant Chinese southpaw has burst onto the scene pretty much overnight despite being just weeks away from his 40th birthday, and Whyte may fancy showing Joyce how it’s done.

Then there’s the Joshua rematch. Whyte has plenty of options, but he needs to pick one quickly to get his career moving again.

 Joe Joyce

A win over Zhang would have left Joyce in prime position for a title tilt, but he is now back to square one.

While he is known for his toughness and showed plenty of it on Saturday night, the Juggernaut was completely outboxed and looked very one-dimensional.

At 37, he does not have time to rebuild and must go straight back into a big fight. He does have a rematch clause with Zhang and may feel he could do better the second time around.

Joyce does not have time on his side when it comes to rebuilding after his loss to Zhang

Yet Zhang’s style gave him nightmares as he could not miss with the left hand, and Joyce may be better advised to steer clear of going back in for another try.

An all-British showdown with Whyte would still be a very watchable fight, and the winner would put themselves in the mix for more big fights down the line.

Joyce made no excuses after his defeat and it is not hard to figure out where he went wrong. Now it’s just about whether he is capable of making the necessary adjustments to hang with the best the division has to offer.

 Daniel Dubois

Dubois is the exception when it comes to Britain’s top heavyweights as his career has moved forward over the past two years.

Back then, he was reeling after his first career loss to Joyce, but he has since turned things around with four straight wins by knockout.

There are still some concerns about his lack of head movement that proved a major issue in the defeat against Joyce, and he was sent to the canvas three times in his last fight with Kevin Lerena in December.

Daniel Dubois has bounced back from losing to Joyce, but will be a heavy underdog if he gets to fight Usyk

Dubois suffered a serious knee injury in that fight but still fought on and forced a third-round stoppage.

He is now in mandatory position for a shot at Usyk, and that encounter has been teased for late summer in the UK.

Dubois has improved since losing to Joyce, but would still enter the ring as an underdog against Usyk if that bout gets made.

Yet it’s a huge opportunity for Dubois and one that can’t really go wrong for him. If he wins, he becomes one of the best heavyweights on the planet. A loss would be a setback, but would show him exactly how far below the elite he really is, and at 25 he still has time on his side to work his way back into title contention.

Anthony Joshua has been training with Tyson Fury‘s former coach in recent times, Eddie Hearn has revealed.

Hearn, AJ’s promoter, spilled the beans on how top trainer Ben Davison has crossed camps between the British heavyweights.

Davison lived with Fury for 14 months as he fought mental demons, helped him lose 100 pounds and return to the ring in 2018, and drilled him to within a couple of scorecards of the WBC title against Deontay Wilder.

Fury dropped Davison after five fights ahead of his rematch with Deontay Wilder, where he finally won the belt in 2020, and years later Davison is working with one of his rivals.

Hearn told Boxing Social: ‘Ben is a small part of the team. They get on very well.

Ben Davison (right), Tyson Fury’s former trainer, has been working to help Anthony Joshua

Joshua is preparing for a fight in December – but it is not yet known who he will face in the ring

Eddie Hearn said that Davison has been ‘working behind the scenes tactically with AJ’

Davison worked with Fury for five fights, helping him return to the ring after a tricky period

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‘Whilst he is in the UK he will train with Ben and I think he’s very happy to do that. Derrick James at the moment remains the coach, happy with him. Couple of performances and building on that, no change in that respect.

‘Ben has been working behind the scenes tactically with AJ, he’s a fantastic coach and I think AJ feels comfortable whilst he’s in the UK working with him.

‘Ben is a fantastic coach, and I think that has the kind of mind that AJ would tick with.

‘AJ is the kind of guy who doesn’t like to be out of camp for too long, and there is a chance he fights in December. So if that’s the case, he wanted these couple of weeks just to sharpen his tools before he heads into camp in Dallas with Derrick [James].’

While Joshua usually works with Derrick James, he still has time to learn off Davison.

It is not yet confirmed who he will fight next.

Boxing fans have been craving the chance to see him in action against Fury or Wilder, while a rematch against Dillian Whyte collapsed in fight week earlier this year.  

Joshua is still without an opponent for his protracted December fight after being linked to facing Filip Hrgovic, Otto Wallin or Agit Kabayel.

Would he fight Fury one day? ‘It’s a challenge – but one I’ll be up for,’ he recently told Louis Theroux.

Hearn has also revealed how there has been contact with Francis Ngannou’s camp after he impressed against Fury in Riyadh.

Derrick James is Joshua’s principal trainer and will oversee his progress at a camp in Dallas

Davison has gained experience working with boxing’s brightest and most brutal competitors

Speaking on Mail Sport’s boxing podcast The Hook, Charlotte Daly said she felt that the heavyweight division has become ’embarrassing’ this year with a lack of blockbuster fights.

She said: ‘I think it’s really disappointing because this year has not been exciting for the heavyweight division as it has for the lighter weight classes.

‘I think the division gets in its own way because of contractual disputes and then even failed drugs tests now are coming into play as another factor.

‘I think years ago, the heavyweight division was kind of the bread and butter of boxing and now it’s become somewhat embarrassing. I think that fight with Ngannou, whether you liked it or not, has caused a lot of the backlog.

‘Boxers are being greedy because they want the biggest purse and the biggest money and that’s all they’re focused on.’

Tyson Fury has taken a swipe at Oleksander Usyk and the WBO, saying the governing body shouldn’t have chosen ‘some cruiserweight bum’ to top their heavyweight rankings ahead of him.

Fury is preparing for a huge rematch with WBC champion Deontay Wilder on February 22 in an attempt to win back one of his world titles that he gave up while he spent nearly three years out of the ring due to mental health problems.

His decision to fight the American has seen him removed from the WBO rankings completely, with Ukrainian Usyk instead claiming top spot shortly after stepping up from cruiserweight last year.

Tyson Fury has hit out at the WBO for making Oleskandr Usyk their No 1 challenger

Fury called Usyk ‘some cruiserweight bum’ having only recently stepped up to heavyweight

In a post on Twitter, WBO president Paco Valcarcel suggested that Fury should soon fight up-and-coming heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov after seeing a video of the Uzbekistan fighter in action.

Fury responded, saying he might have considered had he not been ‘removed as the No 1 ranked WBO’.

‘Maybe if you hadn’t removed me from No 1 ranked WBO! And put some cruiserweight bum with one fight at heavyweight then you could have a say!’, the 31-year-old said.

WBO president Paco Valcarcel said Usyk was their top fighter because Fury was ‘not available’

Valcarcel replied to Fury, saying: ‘Champ we respect you a lot, but you aren’t available… that’s the reason WBO removed you from the rankings. By the way champ, good luck.’

Usyk has only had one fight at the top-weight division, a stoppage win against Chazz Witherspoon in October, but was awarded the mandatory position due to being the undisputed cruiserweight champion. And holding the WBO ‘super’ world title belt allowed him to jump ahead of rivals such as Dillian Whyte.

His position now puts him in pole position to face off against the WBO champion Anthony Joshua, who won all four of his world title belts back by outpointing Andy Ruiz Jr in their December rematch in Saudia Arabia.

The British fighter faces Deontay Wilder in a crucial rematch in Las Vegas on February 22

The winner could face off against Anthony Joshua should he overcome a fight with Usyk

There has been some confusion over who Joshua will face with his mandatories queuing up to fight him, but it looks likely that IBF’s top-ranked fighter Kubrat Pulev will be first in line.

Usyk is thought to be in talks for a fight with Derek Chisora first, before possibly taking on Joshua later on in the year if he emerges victorious.

Fury’s first fight with Wilder ended in a draw, as he survived to hear the final bell despite being floored by a huge left hand in Los Angeles.

If he wins the rematch in Las Vegas, a third fight between the pair has been mooted, with the eventual winner set to square off against Joshua for an undisputed clash, should the British star come through his mandatories unscathed.

Anthony Joshua has made a significant intimation that he may face Tyson Fury in September.

When AJ was asked by the BBC when he may return to the ring, he was supporting runners at the London Marathon.

Anthony Joshua stated that he might return to the ring in September.

AJ said he will ‘definitely’ get another shot at a world title.

He is waiting for the winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua acknowledged that he is standing by to take on the victor of Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk.

On May 18, the undisputed heavyweight title match will take place.

Furthermore, the world champion and AJ may be matched for a possibly £200 million megafight.

“Boxing is changing a lot, there is a new player who is taking the world by storm, Turki Alalshikh,” stated Joshua.

“He is doing what he wants for the fans, it’s amazing.

So if the fans demand it, I know that he will deliver. I know the fans want me and Fury, I want that.

“I’m not going to give away plans, but he is a man of action.

“It’s coming, most definitely it’s coming.”

Asked if that is going to be his next fight, Joshua replied: “To be honest, he said be ready for September.

“Why he said that is because they have got a fight on June 1, all the heavyweights, five vs five, Eddie Hearn vs Frank Warren.

“And they have got Fury vs Usyk in May. And then they will have me in September. It’s unbelievable.”

Joshua’s latest update on the potential bout comes just days after meeting up with Saudi promoter Alalshikh.

Again teasing the blockbuster bout, they posed for a photo which was shared on X alongside the caption: “We are waiting for the result of Usyk vs Fury.”

Supporters have long been desperate for the two British heavyweights to go head-to-head – but AJ’s defeats to Usyk in 2021 and 2022 halted the chance of it happening.

However, talks appear to be alive again with the 34-year-old now on the comeback trail.

He has won his last four fights, including a demolition of Francis Ngannou back in March.

The UFC star-turned-boxer knocked Fury to the canvas in a narrow defeat just four months earlier.

SunSport understands Alalshikh and events group Sela – who sponsors Newcastle – could branch out to the UK and potentially host Fury vs Joshua at Wembley.

The chief was dubbed the “most powerful” person in boxing by Eddie Hearn.

Otto Joshua, the promoter from Saudi Arabia, Turki Alalsikh, said he is waiting to take on Tyson Fury or Erik Usyk.

Some of the biggest battles in the sport in recent years have been arranged by the boxing head.

Anthony Joshua and Turki Alalsikh teased a blockbuster fight.

AJ is ready to take on Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk.

And he teased another blockbuster bout after meeting up with Joshua.

The pair posed for a photo which was shared on X alongside the caption: “We are waiting for the result of Usyk vs Fury.”

Joshua, 34, is back in frame for a title fight after winning four on the bounce since his second defeat to Usyk.

He most recently dismantled Francis Ngannou in devastating fashion to spark talk of a potential all-Brit clash with Fury.

The Gyspy King takes on Usyk first on May 18 and if successful he could later defend his unified heavyweight belts against AJ.

That fight could be worth £200million thanks to Alalsikh, who has bankrolled a brilliant resurgence of the sport, funding and demanding recent bouts between AJ, Fury, Ngannou, Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker.

His influence and finances have blown apart the usual excuses for mega-bouts not being made – like broadcast and promotional rights and rows – and allowed Riyadh to host a gluttony of elite pugilism.

And SunSport understands Alalshikh and the events group Sela – which sponsors Newcastle – will branch out into the UK and potentially host Joshua vs Fury at Wembley.

Will AJ vs Fury actually happen?

Could we finally see Fury vs AJ this year?

Simply: Yes.

Before the Saudi takeover of boxing – spearheaded by Turki Alalshikh, would we have seen Fury vs Francis Ngannou, AJ vs Ngannou, Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn working together and shaking hands for photos?

Simply: No.

The rules, rankings, sanctioning bodies and broadcast and promotional disputes are all irrelevant when this much money is thrown at prize fighting.

How would it work?

It feels like the winner of Fury vs Usyk on May 18 will fight AJ as soon after as possible.

There is a rematch clause in the current deal for Britain’s WBC champ and Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO king to meet and decide the first undisputed ruler for 25 years.

But it seems certain the belts will fragment afterwards – with a string of mandatory challengers due their crack at the four separate belts – so the clamour for AJ vs the winner might be bigger than the demand for a rerun for fewer belts.

Where would it happen?

It feels like every major fight is now going to happen in Saudi Arabia.

But don’t rule out a potential Fury vs Ngannou clash taking place at Wembley stadium.

It seems like the Saudis are keen to eventually host shows in the UK and that fight, at the home of football, would be some debut.

If Usyk topples the Gypsy King then the hype for him to face AJ for a third time will be far less intense.

Why this time?

It feels like we have twice come close to seeing the clash but there were simply too many hurdles and disputes in the way – similar to the way AJ vs Wilder still hasn’t happened.

But with Alalshikh now making Hearn’s Matchroom and Warren’s Queensberry play nice and letting Sky Sports, TNT and DAZN share the shows, there is far less to fight over in the boardroom and loads on to battle for in the ring.

And if Fury beats Usyk and rightfully demands a huge percentage of an overdue Joshua meeting, then the Saudi’s have the cash and the clout to hand him 99 per cent of the pie – to massage his ego and bank balance – and hand AJ as much extra dough as needed to keep everyone sweet.

Who wins?

If Fury sets up an AJ clash by beating Oleksandr Usyk – the mathematics and stats make it clear only a maniac would back Joshua to triumph in the all-English clash.

Usyk dominated AJ over two one-sided fights, on foreign soil.

The Watford man has enjoyed a spike in form and respect since linking up with new trainer Ben Davison but a 20st 6ft 9in Fury – who has just slayed the gap-toothed southpaw – would be almost invincible.

But in any major football derby or cup final the formbook is often aimed out of the window. And perhaps a rejuvenated hungry AJ could be too much for an undisputed and fulfilled Fury to handle.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has described Alalsikh as the “most powerful man in boxing”, and he has claimed the world will want to see AJ take on Fury if the Gpysy King beats Usyk.

Fury and Usyk have agreed a two-fight deal but Hearn is confident Alalsikh will be able to broker an agreement if Usyk loses.

He said: “I never thought I would be OK saying I am not the most powerful man in boxing but I am not, Turki Alalshikh is.

“He is the biggest fight fan I have ever met and all he wants is the biggest fights and the biggest moments.

“Fury and Usyk have a two-fight deal. But if Tyson Fury beats Oleksandr Usyk in the first fight, the whole world is going to say ‘please don’t do the second fight’.

“It’s worth north of £100m for each guy. It’s the richest fight ever, the biggest fight ever.”

This is the luxury new £1.7m house which World Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has moved into with his family.

And appropriately for the ‘Gypsy King’, hundreds of his new neighbours live in caravans, which virtually surround the back of his property in Lancashire.

Tyson, 33, and his 31-year-old wife Paris and their six children recently moved from a £550,000 house overlooking Morecambe Bay to their new home over looking fields.

While the property is ringed by caravan sites, most of them are short lets, and occupied by seasonal holiday makers, rather than members of the traveller community which Tyson is proud to hail from.

Lavish: This is Tyson Fury’s new home on the Lancashire coast which he paid £1.695million to buy through his firm Tyson Fury Ltd

New home: Fury’s imposing new property built from salmon stone-cladding is built on a plot surrounded by a static caravans

Before: Two years ago the previous owner knocked down the static caravan he’d bought for £400,000 and built Fury’s new property

Champion: Fury, 33, beams for the camera alongside wife Paris after defeating Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas during Sunday’s epic fight

Until two years ago, his own plot was occupied by a static caravan-style bungalow surrounded by decking and on the market for around £400,000.

But the previous owner knocked it down and put in its place the new, stone-clad salmon-coloured palace.

With a castellated front wall, the wrought-iron black and gold fence features lion motifs and four eagle sculptures on the gate posts. Signs also warn would-be intruders that the property is covered by CCTV.

The house was bought by the boxer’s firm Tyson Fury Ltd last December for £1.695m, according to Land Registry Records.

It adds to his property portfolio, which includes the modest family home in Morcambe. In 2018 Fury boasted that he had bought a mansion in Marbella, Spain, for around £6million, it was claimed. And back in May he suggested that he had purchased a sprawling property in Las Vegas, it was reported.

Fury and Paris share daughters Venezuela, 12, Valencia, three, and two month old Athena, and sons, Prince John James, nine, Prince Tyson II, four, and Prince Adonis, two.

KO: Fury defeated fierce rival Wilder for the second time during their trilogy by knocking out his opponent in the 11th round

Return: Fury and Paris returned from Vegas on Tuesday and got a taxi to the imposing new home (above) they have bought together

New abode: The Furys’ family home was previously bought for £400,000 by the old owner who knocked it down and re-built it

Hometown glory: The couple have previously spoken about their love for the Lancashire coast, having shunned more glamorous cities to live

Fury and his wife headed back to their new home on Tuesday morning following his epic victory over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas at the weekend.

The boxer and his family are wedding to the less glamorous Lancashire coast than the glitzy party cities of LA or Las Vegas.

Speaking on an ITV documentary last year, Tyson said: ‘People say to me ”why don’t you live in California or America?” – why would I?’

‘Why would I abandon my own country for a bit of money and some fame?’

‘I love it. I would never leave Lancashire. It’s true beauty. If the weather was better, every house here would be a million quid.’

Residents in the town where Fury lives gush about their famous neighbour.

Party: Fury, Paris and the boxer’s rowdy entourage painted Las Vegas red by partying until 3am after his famous victory over Wilder

Yay: The self-styled Gypsy King and Paris sipped celebratory drinks and danced the night away as the boxer retained his WBC title

Brood: The pair have six kids – Venezuela, 12, Valencia, three, and two month old Athena, and sons, Prince John James, nine, Prince Tyson II, four, and Prince Adonis, two

Pauline Wade, 75, said Fury ran over to help when he saw her take a tumble outside her home earlier in the year.

She explained: ‘He came straight over and asked ‘are you ok’ and he helped me up. He is a lovely man. He will always say ‘I’m going to the shops do you want anything?’

Christine Thornton, 72, added: ‘What he has achieved is fabulous and the whole town is proud of him, as it should be. You see him walking around, going shopping, and he always stops and talks to people.’

Old home: Before the Furys moved into their new home they lived in this modest £550,000 place in the town of Morcambe

Property empire: In 2018 Fury boasted about having purchased a property (above) in Marbella, Spain, for around £6million

Property portfolio: The Brit boxing hero also bragged back in May that he had bought a sprawling place (above) in Las Vegas

Meanwhile Lancaster’s Mayor Mike Greenall said on Tuesday: ‘On behalf of the whole district I’d like to send my whole hearted congratulations to Tyson on this magnificent achievement.’

He added that the residents were ‘proud’ to have a ‘champion in our midst’.

Paris revealed during an appearance on Loose Women last year that the family were in the process of moving house.

The future looks bright for boxing’s marquee weight class.

As Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk near the end of their respective careers the debate over who will reign supreme among the next generation of heavyweight stars is more prevalent than ever.

Fury, Joshua and Usyk have dominated the heavyweight division, but are all in the back end of their careersCredit: GETTY

All three men are in their mid to late thirties and have been competing at the peak of the sport for several years.

Boxing needs fresh heavyweight contenders to take the reins from the big three once they inevitably hang up their gloves in the not-so-distant future.

And luckily for fans, there are plenty of exciting prospects who look destined to achieve big things in years to come.

Here, talkSPORT.com looks at five of the very best up-and-coming stars the glamour division has to offer.

Bakhodir Jalolov

Jalolov won Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 games (which took place in 2021)Credit: Getty

Jalolov is usually the first name on people’s lips when discussing possible future contenders for the heavyweight throne.

The towering Uzbeki southpaw stands 6ft 7in tall and has a monstrous 81-inch reach.

However, he doesn’t move like a man of his size.

The 29-year-old is light on his feet and has outstanding boxing fundamentals that have paved the way for a phenomenal amateur career.

In the unpaid ranks, Jalolov has won gold medals at two World Championships, three Asian Championships and the Tokyo Olympic Games.

He is expected to achieve similar heights in the pros after building up an impressive 14-0 undefeated record without the vest.

Frank Sanchez

Sanchez is is fighting in a WBC final eliminator next monthCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Sanchez is the furthest along in his career among the names on this list.

The Cuban counterpuncher faces Agit Kabayel in a WBC final eliminator bout on Fury and Usyk’s undercard next month.

A win there will put him in a primed position to box whoever emerges victorious from the four-belt shootout.

And he looks to be a handful for either man.

Sanchez is a thinking man’s fighter who possesses excellent boxing IQ, composure and enough tricks to keep his opponent guessing.

At 31 years old he is now in his prime years as a heavyweight and has progressed well during his 24-fight (24-0) run in the paid ranks.

Jared Anderson

Anderson is America’s top heavyweight prospectCredit: Getty

The United States has a rich history of producing top-quality heavyweights but in recent years there has been a severe shortage of talented prospects.

American fans will be hoping that worrying trend ends with Anderson.

The 24-year-old has barely put a foot wrong in his undefeated 17-0 career (besides a wobbly moment against Charles Martin last year) and oozes quality.

However, legal problems outside of the ring threaten to mar his career in it.

In November 2023, Anderson was booked for improperly handling firearms in a vehicle while being knowingly under the influence and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The following month, the OVI charge was dropped and he was fined $200 and handed a 180-day suspended sentence.

Four months later, on Saturday, March 2, 2024, Anderson was charged with fleeing a police officer and leading them on a six-mile chase.

He appeared before court on Monday, two days after his unanimous decision win over Ryad Mehry.

Moses Itauma

Itauma has been dubbed ‘the future of the heavyweight division’ by FuryCredit: Getty

Teenage sensation Itauma is Britain’s most exciting young heavyweight for our money.

He comes highly-thought after by Fury, who believes the 19-year-old starlet is the ‘future of the heavyweight division’ – and it’s easy to see why.

Itauma has never lost either as an amateur or a professional.

The Chatham-based boxer has got off to a perfect 8-0 start to his pro career and went 24-0 during a brief but impactful amateur stint that saw him pick up gold medals at the Youth European Championships and Youth World Championships.

Itauma’s explosive all-action style has led to him being branded ‘Britain’s Mike Tyson’ in the national press while the Brit has eyes firmly set on breaking ‘Iron Mike’s’ record as the youngest heavyweight champion of all time (20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old).

Justis Huni

Huni has the intangibles needed to become a world championCredit: GETTY

Huni has gone under the radar somewhat when it comes to the next generation of heavyweight stars.

The Aussie technician is a classy boxer with a world-class amateur pedigree having won gold at the Youth World Championships and bronze at the senior version of the tournament.

Many fans have begun to write Huni off after his nip-and-tuck affair with Kevin Lerena last month.

But that fight, which saw Huni caught on unsteady legs on a couple of occasions, proved that he can battle through serious adversity to win a fight – a key attribute needed by any boxer who intends to reach the upper echelons of the sport.

At 25 years old there is still plenty to come from the Queensland boxer, who is still in the early stages of his pro career at 9-0.

Anthony Joshua ranked current and former heavyweight boxing champions, however he did not include Tyson Fury in the elite group of prior champions.

The 34-year-old has been nominating his selection of the greatest boxers in the history of the division in an effort to put himself in the running for another world title shot when he takes on Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on Friday, March 8.

Joshua, a two-time world champion himself, hopes to add another record to his collection by going up against the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua was given a list of heavyweight fighters and instructed to sort them into five groups, ranging from GOAT [greatest of all time] to sparring partner, before to his matchup with former UFC star Ngannou.

The Englishman ranked seven competitors in the GOAT category, with the remaining boxers ranked in the champion, world, and mid levels.

British fighter Anthony Joshua ranked heavyweight boxing stars from past and present

There was no space for reigning heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in Joshua’s top tier rankings

An honest and modest Joshua started by immediately thrusting former heavyweight superstar Muhammad Ali into the top tier who was later joined by Derek Chisora, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko, Joe Lewis, Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano.

Joshua previously beat former Ukrainian champion Klitschko to claim his first WBA title at the age of 27 in front of 90,000 spectators at Wembley in 2017.

A matchup against Fury has been touted ever since and looked to be close to coming to fruition before he was surprisingly beaten in two separate bouts by Usyk.

Joshua and Fury would be one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing, but there was only space for the Gypsy King and Usyk amongst the champion rankings.

Mike Tyson was one heavyweight icon to be crowned the ‘GOAT’ title

Deontay Wilder, Frank Bruno and Joseph Parker also made it into the grouping with Joshua placing himself in the group of superstar boxers as well alongside his peers.

Meanwhile, upcoming opponent Ngannou who floored Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout last year was added into the third ‘world level’ tier by Joshua.

Joshua placed his upcoming opponent Francis Ngannou in the ‘world level’ tier of fighters

Wladimir Klitschko was given a ‘GOAT’ ranking by Joshua despite previously being knocked out by the Brit

The Cameroonian has displayed his outrageous power in the build-up to Friday’s fight, but remains the underdog for the big-money clash in Riyad.

David Haye, Dillian Whyte and Daniel Dubois were also place in the same group.

A host of other heavyweight contenders including one of Joshua’s most recent opponent Robert Helenius and fellow Brit Joe Joyce were put into the mid level tier.

George Groves believes Tyson Fury could still pull out of the undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk and claims the WBC will do nothing about it.

Fury and Usyk will finally meet in the ring as part of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

The winner of the highly-anticipated bout will also unify the division for the first time since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in March 1999.

The highly-anticipated bout between Fury and Usyk had been scheduled to take place on February 17 but was postponed after Fury sustained an injury during camp.

The Gypsy King suffered a severe cut above his right eye while sparring, forcing the Saudi Arabian bout to be pushed back until May 18.

However, Groves is concerned Fury could still put out of the bout – claiming the postponement gave him a ‘feeling that the fight will never happen’.

George Groves believes Tyson Fury could still pull out of the undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk and claims the WBC will do nothing about it

Fury sustained a nasty laceration above his right eye which has postponed his fight until May

Groves also took a swipe at the WBC – claiming they wouldn’t ‘pressure’ Fury or penalise him for pulling out of the fight.

However, Fury is adamant the fight will take place on May 18 – insisting he is focused on beating the Ukrainian boxer.

When speaking to Betway, the former Super-Middleweight World Champion said: ‘I’ve said since the start – I’ll believe it when I see it.

‘I don’t think Fury has ever fancied the Usyk fight. He’s talking about having 10 more fights, but if he loses to Usyk how does that work?

‘It’s a massive risk for him to fight Oleksandr Usyk. He’s probably really hoping that Usyk can’t take a body shot.

‘When the fight got postponed after the cut, I wasn’t surprised. It gave me the feeling that this fight will never happen.

‘I’d be interested to know whether the media have paid upfront for their flights and hotels, or whether they’re holding off.

‘We saw Eddie Hearn almost say that Joshua-Fury trumps Fury-Usyk after AJ beat Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.

Fury – who required 15 stitches after getting caught by Agron Smakici’s elbow in training – finished his conditioning in Saudi before returning to the UK

‘I thought to myself, I bet Fury would rather have a bit of Joshua than Usyk because he’ll see that as an easier fight.

‘People are starting to consider that AJ beats Fury after both of their performances against Ngannou, so it would not be a surprise if Fury wants to set the record straight and fight Joshua next and leave Usyk out.

‘The Saudis or the WBC aren’t going to pressure Fury to fight Usyk, so maybe he’s thinking he will go down the Ngannou route again, or fight Joshua.

‘That’s the fight everyone really wants to see. I don’t believe if he pulls out he’s going to have to pay a $10million fine.

‘Usyk is probably thinking ‘I don’t know if this guy is going to show up’ because there’s still a chance Fury pulls out.’

Groves went on to speak about Anthony Joshua’s quality, claiming he could have beaten prime David Haye.

He said: ‘Joshua would have beaten David Haye. Haye has massive one punch power, but look at their resumes at heavyweight – they are night and day.

‘Joshua would win. Haye would want to keep it double distance and look to strike. Joshua has been a bit static, but I’d have to go AJ.’

Conor McGregor shared his thoughts on the heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.

The highly anticipated match on Saturday night saw Fury retain his unbeaten run as he was announced the winner by split decision.

McGregor, renowned for his achievements in MMA, expressed his admiration for the fight. \

He lauded Tyson Fury for his performance: ‘Lovely shot that caught him on the back of the head, a bit off balance as well.

‘Fair play to Tyson he’s a tough man as well. Strong chin.

Francis Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury during the third round of the heavyweight fight

Ngannou and his team celebrated prematurely after thinking they had won the fight

Conor McGregor looks on from ringside prior to the ‘Battle of the Baddest’ in Saudi Arabia

Conor McGregor shared his thoughts on the heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou

‘And Jesus, Ngannou is a powerful boy as well. Tyson couldn’t hold him. He was just missing with that backhand.

After being knocked down in round three, things were hotting up in Boulevard Hall in Riyadh as the crowd started to turn.

‘Great fight, great to watch. Heavyweight boxing is exciting! Especially from the ringside. Add Usyk into that and it’s going to be a tough ask for Fury as well.’

McGregor discussed whether the Usyk v Fury clash is likely to still happen: ‘You think he’s going to dip out of that one? You never know.

The UFC fighter wished all the fighters well and acknowledged the unpredictability of the boxing world, calling it ‘a crazy game,’ before revealing his plans to hit the gym.

‘I wish them all well, fair play to them. It’s a crazy game and I’m off to the gym.’

Fury, speaking in his post-fight interview, said ‘That definitely wasn’t in the script,’ he said. ‘Francis is a hell of a fighter, strong, a big puncher and a lot better boxer than we all thought he would ever be.’

‘He’s a very awkward man, a good puncher and I respect him a lot. He wasn’t coming forward, standing back and waiting for me to land my punches and then trying to counter – he’s a good fighter.

Tyson Fury heaped praise on his opponent who he called ‘one of the toughest fights’

After a split decision, Fury was ruled as the winner in a close score of 94-95, 96-93, 95-94

‘He’s given me probably one of my toughest fights in the last ten years.’

However, despite his bruised body and face, Fury defended his performance and highlighted how he got the job done.

He added: ‘(The knockdown was) nothing. it’s a part of boxing. I got caught behind the head again. My legs didn’t hurt or anything and I got back up and I was fine.