What's next for boxing's heavyweight division?

With Oleksandr Usyk stepping aside, a new era begins as champions, contenders, and rising stars battle for heavyweight supremacy.

The heavyweight division has just undergone its biggest shakeup in years. In June, Oleksandr Usyk , who remains undefeated and is the only boxer to have become a three-time undisputed world champion in two weight classes, voluntarily relinquished his titles (WBA, WBC, IBF).

He had already relinquished the WBO title in 2025. Although Oleksandr Usyk has announced that he is not retiring for the time being and will fight one last bout, for the first time since 2024 there is no longer a boxer who stands undisputed at the top.

Who holds the belts now?

The vacant titles were quickly reassigned. Agit Kabayel, who had long been the WBC interim world champion, has now officially been awarded that title and is the new champion. Daniel Dubois secured the WBO title with a victory over Fabio Wardley and now stands at the top of that division.

As a result, for the first time in quite a while, the heavyweight scene is once again split among multiple titleholders, and the debate over who is truly the best boxer in the division is back in full swing.

The Next Big Fights

This division continues to feature some of the biggest fights fans are dying to see. Among them is the bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Everyone has been hoping for this showdown for years, and now it could actually become a reality. Both won their warm-up fights to get back into the swing of things, and now nothing really stands in the way of the showdown. If everything goes according to plan, the fight is set to take place later this year, though we’ll have to wait and see.

In addition, Deontay Wilder is still looking for the final fight of his career. He’s coming back after a difficult phase in his career and is now trying to end it on a high note with one last fight. He has openly challenged Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk to fight him, but there hasn’t been a concrete response yet. For Anthony Joshua, it depends somewhat on how the plans with Tyson Fury pan out, and for Oleksandr Usyk, the question is what kind of fight he would like as his final one.

The New Generation

But the new generation is quickly catching up. No up-and-coming boxer is currently attracting as much attention as Moses Itauma. He’s only 21 years old and is undefeated with a record of 14-0, including 12 knockouts. He has consistently dominated his recent opponents and is currently ranked number one by the WBA and WBO. On August 29, he’ll face Filip Hrgović, who many consider to be his final test.

Behind him, Agit Kabayel has made the leap to world champion, while Fabio Wardley remains a serious threat at the top of the WBO rankings.

Who will be the next heavyweight superstar?

The honest answer: it’s completely up in the air.

If the fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury happens, it will definitely be the fight that dominates the headlines. But really, the future of boxing rests on Moses Itauma, Agit Kabayel, and Daniel Dubois.

If Moses Itauma passes his test against Filip Hrgović, the pressure for a unification bout between Daniel Dubois and Moses Itauma, who are both under contract with the same promoter, will be impossible to ignore.

So the heavyweight division is entering a new era. The old stars are fighting for a worthy finale, while the young ones are slowly making their way to the top.