The top 10 heavyweight rankings

From the time I started working as the boxing writer at USA Today in early 2000 until leaving ESPN in April 2020, one of my responsibilities was to provide divisional rankings for each outlet. At USA Today, I updated the rankings once a month until leaving in early 2005. At some point during my time at ESPN they became weekly, but I have not done a set of divisional rankings since.

But given the long gap and Dillian Whyte’s knockout of Alexander Povetkin in their highly significant rematch this past Saturday, I figured it was time to update the heavyweight rankings. The new top 10:

Note: Results through March 28

Heavyweights (201 pounds and up)

1. Tyson Fury (30-0-1)

Last: W (TKO7) Deontay Wilder, Feb. 22, 2020

Next: TBA vs. Anthony Joshua

Rafael’s remark: Although Fury and Joshua have signed some sort of document committing to a two-fight deal for the undisputed title, their promoters have just a few more weeks to get the date and site – and a massive site fee acceptable to both fighters – sorted out or we will not see the fight for awhile. They hope to put it on by early July, but with the pandemic making it hard to have a massive crowd difficult, it wouldn’t be a shock to see it delayed until the fall.

2. Anthony Joshua (24-1)

Last: W (KO9) Kubrat Pulev, Dec. 12

Next: TBA vs. Tyson Fury

Rafael’s remark: Although Fury and Joshua have signed some sort of document committing to a two-fight deal for the undisputed title, their promoters have just a few more weeks to get the date and site – and a massive site fee acceptable to both fighters – sorted out or we will not see the fight for awhile. They hope to put it on by early July, but with the pandemic making it hard to have a massive crowd difficult, it wouldn’t be a shock to see it delayed until the fall.

3. Dillian Whyte (28-2)

Last: W (TKO4) Alexander Povetkin, March 27

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Although Whyte got KO’d by Povetkin in the fifth round in their first fight in August, he dominated the entire bout other than that one big punch. In the rematch, Whyte dominated once again and this time impressivley finished the deal. Promoter Eddie Hearn would love to match Whyte with Deontay Wilder in what would be a very big fight. I’d love to see it.

4. Deontay Wilder (42-1-1)

Last: L (TKO7) Tyson Fury, Feb. 22, 2020

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Wilder is still licking his wounds — mental and emotional as opposed to physical — since Fury dominated and stopped him to take his WBC title in their rematch last year. He still holds out hope for a third fight with Fury and is trying to enforce a contract whose rematch clause may or may not have expired. It depends on which side you ask. It’s up to an arbiter.

5. Joseph Parker (28-2)

Last: W (UD12) Junior Fa, Feb. 27

Next: May 1 vs. Dereck Chisora

Rafael’s remark: Since back-to-back decision losses in 2018 to Anthony Joshua, which cost him a world title, and Dillian Whyte, Parker has won four fights in a row, three by knockout, including a long-simmering all-New Zealand rivalry fight with Fa. Next, Parker will head back to the United Kingdom, the site of his two defeats, to face another Brit in Chisora, which figures to be an entertaining fight.

6. Andy Ruiz Jr. (33-2)

Last: L (UD12) Anthony Joshua, Dec. 7, 2019

Next: May 1 vs. Chris Arreola

Rafael’s remark: Ruiz scored a massive upset by knocking out Anthony Joshua to take his three title belts in June 2019 but he gave them right back when he didn’t bother to train in any meaningful way for the rematch and lost a neat-shutout decision for which he showed up in terrible condition. Ruiz is now ready for his return, having joined all-star trainer Eddy Reynoso’s camp, where he seems to be taking things far more seriously for his upcoming bout with former contender Chris Arreola.

7. Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (32-2)

Last: W (KO1) Alexander Flores, Nov. 7

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Ortiz’s only two losses have come by knockout in a world title fights to Deontay Wilder in 2018 and 2019. Ortiz is 41 (at least that’s what he claims) but he can probably still give any heavyweight a problem given that he is a southpaw with tremendous power and skills.

8. Joe Joyce (12-0, 11 KOs)

Last: W (KO10) Daniel Dubois, Nov. 28

Next: TBA vs. Oleksandr Usyk

Rafael’s remark: Joyce won’t wow anyone with his skills or speed but he is a big, big man with good power and a seemingly very good chin. He has notched some solid wins, including knockouts of former titlist Bermane Stiverne and Alexander Ustinov and a decision over Bryant Jennings. But Joyce scored his biggest win in his last fight when he impressively chopped down the favored Dubois in a major fight to win the vacant European title. The vacant interim title bout against Usyk is a fascinating clash of styles.

9. Oleksandr Usyk (18-0)

Last: W (UD12) Dereck Chisora, Oct. 31

Next: TBA vs. Joe Joyce

Rafael’s remark: Usyk became the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018, but since his move up to heavyweight in 2019 he has had injury issues and been limited to only two fights, a knockout of Chazz Witherspoon and a close decision against Chisora. Usyk is one of Anthony Joshua’s mandatory challengers but agreed to instead face Joyce for an interim title while Joshua and Fury do their business. However, there have been issues finalizing Usyk-Joyce.

10. Michael Hunter (19-1-1)

Last: W (KO4) Shawn Laughery, Dec. 18

Next: TBA

Rafael’s remark: Since losing a decision to Oleksandr Usyk challenging him for a cruiserweight title in 2017, Hunter is 7-0-1 since moving up to heavyweight with the draw a heavily disputed one against Alexander Povetkin in December 2019. Hunter has been ordered to meet up-and-comer and fellow Olympian Filip Hrgovic in an IBF title eliminator but it remains to be seen if the fight will be made. Hopefully, it will be. That would be a very interesting bout.

Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank