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Top 10 heavyweight boxers of the last 20 years ranked including Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua
Home>Boxing>Boxing News
Updated 16:21 14 Jan 2025 GMTPublished 16:14 14 Jan 2025 GMT

Top 10 heavyweight boxers of the last 20 years ranked including Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua

The top 10 heavyweight boxers of the last 20 years have been named and ranked.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

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SPORTbible has ranked the top 10 heavyweight boxers of the last 20 years following Tyson Fury's shock retirement.

Fury stunned the world of boxing after announcing his retirement in the wake of his second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month.

But where does the self-proclaimed 'Gypsy King' rank among the best heavyweight boxers of the last 20 years?

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Well, we've had a go ranking the best heavyweight boxers since 2005.

10 - Deontay Wilder

Wilder went 43 fights unbeaten before his first professional career defeat and beat Bermane Stiverne, Eric Molina and Luis Ortiz, defending his WBC title 10 times including a defence over Fury.

9 - Andy Ruiz Jr

Ruiz Jr ranks above Wilder as he owns the best win between their two pro records. His stunning knockout victory over Anthony Joshua is by far and away more impressive than anything Wilder achieved during his career.

The Mexican-American also boasts wins over Chris Arreola and Oritz.

Andy Ruiz Jr celebrates beating Anthony Joshua. Image: Getty
Andy Ruiz Jr celebrates beating Anthony Joshua. Image: Getty

8 - Alexander Povetkin

Povetkin was seen as the bogeyman of the division, often avoided as he made his name in Germany before running into Wladimir Klitschko.

He went on another impressive run after his first pro career defeat, beating Manuel Charr and Carlos Takam. The Russian also flattened Dillian Whyte when he was flying high.

7 - Daniel Dubois

Dubois showed early promise before being derailed by Joe Joyce. But he has completely turned his career around with huge wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Joshua as he targets a rematch with Usyk.

6 - Joseph Parker

Former world champion Parker is still going strong, having burst onto the scene at a young age. He's enjoying a second wind under the tutelage of Andy Lee and has the chance to become a two-time world heavyweight champion when he faces Dubois next month.

He beat Carlos Takam and Ruiz Jr on his way up the heavyweight ladder and owns recent victories over the likes of Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.

5 - Vitali Klitschko

The older Klitschko brother reigned over the world scene alongside his younger brother, Wladimir, as he was in possession of the WBC belt. Viewed as the more exciting Klitschko brother, he defeated the likes of Arreola, Kevin Johnson, Tomasz Adamek and Manuel Charr.

4 - Wladimir Klitschko

Klitschko resurrected his career under famed trainer Emanuel Steward, who passed away in 2012, and went on a destructive run from 2004 to 2015, collecting the WBA (super), IBF and WBO world titles, beating the likes of Povetkin, who was unbeaten at the time, Ruslan Chagaev, who was also unbeaten when they fought, David Haye and Kubrat Pulev.

The Klitschko brothers dominated the world scene at the peak of their powers. Image: Getty
The Klitschko brothers dominated the world scene at the peak of their powers. Image: Getty

3 - Anthony Joshua

Joshua is a two-time world heavyweight champion and enjoyed a blistering streak before his upset defeat to Ruiz Jr.

He beat the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Parker and Povetkin on his way to unifying the division.

He also avenged his first professional defeat to Ruiz Jr before beating the likes of Pulev and Otto Wallin.

2 - Tyson Fury

Fury will go down as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers, having dethroned not one but two long-standing champions in Wladimir Klitschko and Wilder.

He shocked Klitschko, who hadn't been beaten for 11 years, to claim the unified world heavyweight titles before snatching the WBC belt away from Wilder in February 2020.

1 - Oleksandr Usyk

Usyk tops the list, having enjoyed a remarkable spell in the heavyweight division after moving up from the cruiserweight division.

He has effortlessly transferred his varied skillset to the heavyweight division, outclassing Joshua and Fury on not one but two different occasions.

His body of work in the heavyweight division ranks him among the all-time great heavyweight fighters.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, Boxing, Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz Jr

Nasir Jabbar
Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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@NasJabbar

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