Ranking the best heavyweights of the 21st century

As we gear up for Saturday’s clash between IBF heavyweight titleholder Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London, it feels like the right time to take a trip down memory lane and reflect on the best heavyweights of the past 24 years.

The bout, set to air on pay-per-view, might be flying under the radar in the U.S. but make no mistake — this is a significant fight with big implications. So, sit back, relax, and take in the heavyweight landscape of the century to date. Whether you’re a seasoned boxing fan or just here for the spectacle, we’re diving deep. Grab your keyboard, channel your inner-historian, and leave a comment, good or bad. 

Let’s contextualize one of the most intriguing heavyweight matchups in recent history.

Tier I – The Legends of the Era

Lennox Lewis is in a class of his own — and arguably an all-time top-five heavyweight. His jab? Think Larry Holmes, but with an upgrade and always on replay. Lewis wasn’t about showboating; he was about getting it done. At 6’5″ with an 84″ reach, he combined size, power, and the tutelage of the late Emanuel Steward to dominate his era, which, in retrospect, was a good one. And let’s not forget his resilience: knocked out by Oliver McCall in ’94, he came back to stop McCall three years later. Same story with Hasim Rahman — Lewis avenged that KO with one of the all-time great rematch performances. His resume is very strong: Frank Bruno, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko, David Tua, Shannon Briggs, Razor Ruddock and a slightly past-his-prime Mike Tyson were among his most accomplished victims. In a crowded heavyweight landscape, Lewis reigned supreme.

Oleksandr Usyk might be the best cruiserweight ever, with only Evander Holyfield a possible rival for that mythical crown. Usyk grabbed all cruiserweight belts then shocked Anthony Joshua in 2021 to win three of the four major heavyweight titles, a victory he repeated the following year. His progress in 2024 is legend-enhancing as he edged the unbeaten Tyson Fury in a war to solidify his status as the division’s finest. Usyk’s legacy? Built on grit. He never ducked a challenge, making his career one for the ages, and won many of his most meaningful bouts in his opponent’s backyard. 

The Klitschko brothers were like the San Francisco Giants of the early 2010s — a dynasty. Vitali and Wladimir dominated, each in their own way. Vitali was the more exciting, while Wladimir’s reign defined consistency. Vitali retired with the WBC belt in 2013 after two unbeaten reigns, while Wladimir held his titles from 2006 to 2015, when he was dethroned by Tyson Fury. Together, the Klitschkos defined an era, as many see them as the best of this century.

Then there’s Tyson Fury — the division’s enigma. He dethroned Wladimir Klitschko when no one thought it possible, disappeared after failing a PED test, and then came back to fight Deontay Wilder after two nondescript wins in 2018. Fury fought Wilder to a draw and knocked him out twice in their trilogy. But Fury has been inconsistent lately, and after a lackluster stretch — including getting dropped by MMA fighter and boxing debutant Francis Ngannou — he finally faced Usyk in what may be the fight of the year. Despite losing, it was an era-defining showdown that reminded us why Fury belongs at the top table.

Tier II – Not Quite The Best, But Close

Anthony Joshua. After Olympic gold he went on to win three of the four belts, beating the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin along the way. A shocking knockout loss to Andy Ruiz in 2019 was avenged, Kubrat Pulev was then beaten before he lost twice to Usyk. Now, with Ben Davison in his corner, Joshua’s hoping a win over Daniel Dubois will help him cement his legacy as he looks as good as ever on his current four-fight win streak.

Joseph Parker, the comeback kid. He won the vacant WBO title against an undefeated Andy Ruiz, pushed Anthony Joshua, and lost to Dillian Whyte after a headbutt shifted the fight. When he lost to Joe Joyce in 2022 it looked like his topflight career was over… Then he bounced back with aplomb, outboxing Deontay Wilder in December 2023 and Zhilei Zhang four months later. A few more signature wins would see his standing soar.

Chris Byrd, the forgotten genius. Byrd outboxed Evander Holyfield, David Tua and is one of only two to beat the great Vitali Klitschko, all while being undersized. He didn’t have knockout power, but he had brains — and that got him past some of the biggest names in the division.

From middleweight to heavyweight champion (thanks, John Ruiz), Roy Jones Jr.’s career was legendary. His downfall, however, was just as dramatic, getting knocked out by Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson when moving back down in weight. Still, his brilliance remains undeniable and, though his heavyweight adventure was brief, he never lost in the division.

Tier III – The Chasing Pack

The ultimate wildcard might be Deontay Wilder. His brutal knockouts and trilogy with Fury define his career, and while his reign was rocky and his recent form poor, his place as one of boxing’s hardest hitters is secure.

David Haye may not have matched his cruiserweight success at heavyweight, but he was box office in Britain before the rise of Anthony Joshua. When he moved up to heavyweight, Haye made an impact by defeating a solid titleholder in Nikolai Valuev via majority decision on the road in Germany, and he did what many popular heavyweights do — knocked out the ‘boring but effective’ John Ruiz. His loss to Wladimir Klitschko was a gut punch to British fans and while no one will point to his fight against Audley Harrison as a standout for its quality, it certainly seemed to matter at the time. He also sold out a football stadium when he knocked out Derek Chisora in a fun affair. In short, Haye was a star.

Daniel Dubois is entering Saturday night’s fight with a chance to elevate his status. Stopped by Joe Joyce and Usyk, Dubois rebounded with wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic. Saturday will be a telling moment.

Martin Bakole is one of the era’s best-kept secrets. His only loss to Michael Hunter is no shame, and his knockout of Jared Anderson has everyone watching for what is next. 

Hasim Rahman will always be remembered for that one massive knockout of Lennox Lewis in 2001. Though Lewis got revenge, Rahman etched his name in heavyweight lore with that single punch.

Andy Ruiz Jr. is on track to become boxing’s ultimate “what could have been.” After his shocking knockout of Joshua, Ruiz’s lack of focus saw him lose the rematch. A recent comeback resulted in a draw with Jarrell Miller, and his once-blazing career has dimmed.

Alexander Povetkin is the Olympic gold medalist who never quite escaped Wladimir Klitschko’s shadow. A failed drug test didn’t help, but Povetkin’s impact is still felt.

Zhilei Zhang made waves with two knockout wins over Joe Joyce. His KO of Deontay Wilder in March was brutal though his loss before that to Parker might prove the most revealing.

Tier IV – The Solid, But Outshined

Luis Ortiz was frequently on the brink of heavyweight glory, but Deontay Wilder denied him twice, halting his dreams of becoming a world champion. Both times he faced Wilder, Ortiz came close, but Wilder’s power ultimately stopped him. Ortiz’s legacy is damaged further by his habit of failing PED tests. 

David Tua, the fearsome hitter who never quite made it. His highlight reel makes for impressive viewing but won’t include those 12-rounders in which he was outboxed. Likely at his very best at the tail end of the last century.

Michael Hunter has flirted with the top, with his only loss coming to Usyk at cruiserweight. He now seems to be fading away, however, and his career needs a defining win before time completely runs out.

John Ruiz was the archetypal solid but unspectacular heavyweight. His jab-and-grab style wasn’t easy on the eyes, and knockout losses hurt his legacy.

Nikolai Valuev, with an 85-inch reach — longer than what (I’m pretty sure) the video game Fight Night would even let you create — was no small man. Nicknamed “The Russian Giant,” Valuev was a seven-foot tall imposing figure who held the WBA heavyweight title in two separate reigns. 

Ruslan Chagaev, a technically skilled fighter who never got his due. He may be remembered if countryman Bakhodir Jalolov makes a splash.

Lamon Brewster went from promising to forgotten but was one of the few to beat Wladimir Klitschko.

Corrie Sanders was another. He could punch, but his chin didn’t hold up, with all his losses coming by knockout against big names.

Tier V – The Rising Stars

Bakhodir Jalolov’s resume screams Hall of Fame potential, yet his pro career still feels like it’s stuck in neutral. Jalolov is the only two-time Olympic gold medalist in the super heavyweight division, and oddly, he won both while already a professional fighter. That fact alone has overshadowed his dominance in amateur boxing, where he was considered the best for nearly six years — while also cashing pro checks on the side. Strange, right? At 30 years old, Jalolov boasts a perfect record (14-0, 14 KOs), but his pro career hasn’t taken off the way you’d expect for a fighter with his pedigree. The clock is ticking…

Richard Torrez Jr. carried the torch as the top U.S. heavyweight in the amateurs for many years after the 2016 Rio Olympics. Stands only 6’2″, making him look more like a modern super middleweight than a true heavyweight. He faces veteran Philly journeyman Joey Dawejko on Friday night in a co-main event bout, a step up for his young pro career. Though Torrez has yet to face elite competition as a pro, his amateur credentials suggest he could thrive in the big leagues — except for one glaring memory: In 2019, before the Olympic Trials, Jalolov brutally knocked him out, a moment that still looms large for some fight fans nearly five years later.

Moses Ituama is only 19, but his potential has people talking. Undefeated and being fast-tracked for greatness, he’s on the list for his promise.

Jared Anderson might have lost to Bakole, but he’s not done yet. His future will depend on how he handles the bigger sized fighters in the division as well his motivation around fighting in general.

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.