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World Boxing Information ranks the final quarter of a century of unified heavyweight champions earlier than the millennium change.
From 1998 when Lennox Lewis took the bull by the horns and cleaned out, to the snoozefest reign of the Klitschko brothers, the highest division at all times has eyeballs.
The glamor has pale over the previous couple of years, although, regardless of the very fact there have been two unified heavyweight champions ruling.
WBN appears again on the final eight of these and the person who loved the longest reign of the earlier decade – Anthony Joshua.
Unified heavyweight champions – 1998 to 2023
Oleksandr Usyk – 2021 – current
Holding the title of Pound for Pound King and unified heavyweight champion, Usyk may very well be the highest canine for a very long time.
Two dominant wins over Anthony Joshua gained’t inform the entire story. Nevertheless, relieving the superlative Ukrainian of his titles will take quite a bit.
RANK: 4th.
Anthony Joshua – 2016 to 2021
The Briton, additionally a two-time title holder, has held a couple of title on and off from 2016 to 2021. For some years, Joshua was as soon as revered as among the best UK abilities.
A record-breaker, Joshua has achieved huge quantities within the numbers sport. In latest instances, he was smashing boundaries between informal and common followers on house soil.
Other than shedding his titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. on his United States debut, it took Usyk to humble AJ after holding all however one of many world straps for 5 years.
Joshua had some massive footwear to fill, however defeating a type of fighters throughout his tenure actually elevated him to new heights – a pale Wladimir Klitschko.
RANK: seventh.
Andy Ruiz Jr – 2019
Andy Ruiz Jr. beat Joshua merely on account of his Eye of the Tiger and complacency the primary time. Holding the belts for six months, Ruiz didn’t practice sufficient within the rematch to offer himself any probability.
It may very well be a trilogy that opens doorways to a future world title shot, offered each are in the correct situation. RANK: Ruiz would are available ninth
Tyson Fury – 2015
Fury’s time on the high was lower brief on account of a mass of purple tape and a subsequent profession blackout. Fury as soon as once more took his mantle because the king when defeating Deontay Wilder.
Joshua must face his British nemesis sooner or later to say his legacy earlier than retirement totally. RANK: sixth.
Wladimir Klitschko 2008 to 2015
Klitschko was on high for a decade till Joshua’s rival, Tyson Fury, got here calling in 2015. Eighteen months later, Joshua ended the semi-retired Ukrainian’s profession in an epic brawl.
It should most likely go down as Joshua’s best evening. It was the top of a five-year journey from a gold medal at London 2012.
Klitschko’s three-time, 23-title protection run places him effectively above Joshua in achievement. RANK: fifth.
Lennox Lewis – 1999 to 2002
Tons have been written about Lewis. One factor is for sure, his frailties – when hit on the chin – don’t come near diminishing his achievements.
Lewis had a meditational psychological state which helped him throughout massive challenges as he put away the Holyfield and Tyson eras single-handily. RANK: 2nd.
Hasim Rahman – 2001
Like Andy Ruiz Jr., Rahman was an opportunist who may make the most of an off-night for the champion then. Lennox Lewis was the sufferer, however Rahman wasn’t as unhealthy as a few of his losses counsel. RANK: eighth.
Evander Holyfield – 1990 to 1992 / 1993 to 1994 / 1997 to 1999
A two-weight undisputed all-time legend, there aren’t many fighters on the planet who may very well be in contrast with Holyfield.
Paradoxically, a champion immediately is bidding to equal Holyfield’s unbelievable achievements – Oleksandr Usyk.
Holyfield had an incredible chin, superb will, and a champion’s coronary heart – seemingly from beginning. He’s actually the primary on account of his cruiserweight and heavyweight standouts.
RANK: 1st.
Mike Tyson – 1987 to 1990
It’s exhausting to say a lot in regards to the mid-Nineteen Nineties Mike Tyson as a result of lack of actual opposition till his match-ups with Holyfield and Lewis.
A Eighties Tyson is a far simpler measuring stick. However that’s not what we noticed when he got here out of jail. Tyson additionally had psychological struggles to take care of.
Shallowness points in the end led to Tyson’s second downfall and put the New Yorker away, killing any probability of including to his legacy. RANK: third.
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