Ranking the Heavyweight Boxers Most Likely to Finally Beat Wladimir Klitschko
On Saturday night in Hamburg, Germany, Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria will enter the ring, attempting to take the world heavyweight title away from Wladimir Klitschko. Since Klitschko beat Chris Byrd in 2006, 16 straight opponents have failed to derail his heavyweight run.
The Ukrainian star has never fully connected with U.S. fans, but there is no denying that few champions in heavyweight history have enjoyed such a long, dominant run at the top. Only Joe Louis and Larry Holmes made more consecutive defenses.
It's possible that the 38-year-old Klitschko could pass both Hall of Famers before he retires. He's already ahead of Holmes when it comes to total, non-consecutive defenses.
10. Vyacheslav Glazkov
1 of 10
I think Olympic medalist Vyacheslav Glazkov is a better boxer than many of the fighters I've ranked ahead of him here. And if this were a strict ranking, based on resume alone, he would clearly belong higher.
But as a prospective opponent for Wladimir Klitschko, I don't like Glazkov's chances against his fellow Ukrainian. Glazkov was far from impressive last August against journeyman Derric Rossy, when he won by majority decision.
Glazkov is a small heavyweight by modern standards and against Rossy, he appeared to struggle with a larger opponent. It should be noted that this fight came at a time when there was heavy fighting near his home city, and he had not heard from his parents in weeks.
But Glazkov also struggled against Malik Scott, a fight that ended in a draw but that I scored decisively for Scott. Scott's jab and lateral movement caused big problems for Glazkov.
Klitschko has very good lateral movement, as well, and his jab is a battering ram. And unlike Scott, Klitschko's straight right is devastating.
9. Tyson Fury
2 of 10
At 6'9" tall, Tyson Fury would be the rare heavyweight who would dwarf Wladimir Klitschko. The English giant has compiled an undefeated record of 22-0, knocking out 16 of his opponents.
So, in theory, he has the length to reach Klitschko and the power to knock him out. But I ultimately don't think Fury is a good enough athlete or technical boxer to seriously challenge the champion.
In Fury's April 2013, Round 7 KO of Steve Cunningham, the big man was knocked flat on his back in Round 2. Cunningham is a cruiserweight, and Fury was eventually able to use his tremendous size advantage to overpower the former 200-pound champion.
But against Klitschko, that same punch Cunningham landed to drop Fury would have ended the fight.
Fury faces Dereck Chisora in a rematch of their 2011 fight on November 29. The winner will very likely get a crack at Klitschko.
8. Dereck Chisora
3 of 10
Dereck Chisora has already faced Wladimir Klitschko's older brother Vitali. He's one of the few men to take the retired WBC heavyweight champion the distance and even managed to back him up in places and win a round or two on the cards.
Klitschko fought in that bout with an injured hand, but Chisora deserves some credit for being a determined, physically aggressive menace. Chisora is a rugged and athletic fighter. His conditioning has been vastly improved in recent years, and he has generally looked like a better fighter.
Fans will find out a lot about Chisora when he faces Fury at the end of this month in a rematch of their 2011 bout, which Chisora lost by decision. If Chisora can exact his revenge upon his fellow Brit, he will likely get a shot at the younger Klitschko brother.
I wouldn't give Chisora much chance of winning against Klitschko. But I'm also interested to see what he can do the second time around against Fury.
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7. Lucas Browne
4 of 10
Lucas Browne of Australia is still a bit off the radar in the United States, but he's hardly out of place on this list. The rugged, 6'4" contender has a perfect 22-0 record with 19 KOs.
Browne transitioned from MMA into boxing in 2009. His opposition hasn't been bad for a fighter of his experience level. He's knocked out veteran journeymen Travis Walker and Jason Gavern, along with fellow unbeaten Richard Towers.
Browne won a decision victory over the legendary, if over-the-hill, James Toney. He also beat undefeated Andriy Rudenko by decision.
Browne is a brawling, sloppy fighter, and Klitschko would likely pick him apart. But he'd almost certainly be willing to sell out, looking to land the big shot on Klitschko.
If nothing else, Browne should end up in some exciting fights in the next couple of years.
6. Anthony Joshua
5 of 10
To be clear, Anthony Joshua is nowhere near ready for a fighter like Klitschko. Denis Bakhtov, who he knocked out in his last fight, and Michael Sprott, who he fights in two weeks, are exactly the kind of tests he should be getting right now.
Joshua didn't even start boxing until 18 and was still extremely inexperienced when he won gold at the 2012 Olympics at the age of 23. That kind of natural aptitude for a sport like boxing is rare.
Now 25, Joshua has knocked out his first nine opponents. I'd hate to see him rushed in against top fighters before he is ready. There's a chance by the time he's ready for a world-title fight, Klitschko will have already retired.
But the 6'6" phenom has also developed at a quick pace so far. He could end up being the fighter who sends the legend into retirement.
5. Bryant Jennings
6 of 10
Bryant Jennings is 30 now and did not start boxing until his mid-20s. Still, he is a Philadelphia native and that is one of the best cities in the world to be in, if you want to learn the sweet science.
The thing I like most about Jennings is that his performances have largely improved as he has stepped up his competition. He's knocked out only 10 of 19 professional opponents but five of his last seven, and all five of those stoppages came against tougher opponents than he was facing early in his career, when he was grinding out decisions.
Jennings is not a big heavyweight by modern standards, standing 6'3" and weighing only about 225 pounds. But he's got an astonishing 84" reach. He's got the arms and shoulders of a 7-foot-tall giant.
That gives him obvious offensive advantages, but it also gives him an oversized guard that is very hard to breach.
At this point, I think he'd be in for a very tough night against Klitschko. But he's quickly putting himself into position to earn a shot.
4. Mike Perez
7 of 10
Mike Perez has not looked to be the same fighter since his tragic victory over Magomed Abdusalamov a little over a year ago. While Abdusalamov made it to the bell in that fight, Perez pounded him badly and the Dagestan fighter had to be placed in a medically induced coma the next day, which lasted weeks.
Causing that type of permanent damage to an opponent can be psychologically devastating to a prizefighter. Perez fought twice this year and looked slightly off in both fights.
Against Carlos Takam last January, he was lucky to escape with a draw. He lost a split decision to Bryant Jennings last July, which would have been a draw, if not for a point deduction in Round 12.
Still, a focused Perez would be one of the most dangerous fights out there for Klitschko. While Perez would be giving up significant height, which is generally an advantage that the champion exploits ruthlessly, I think Perez has the kind of speed and technical skill to slip inside and hammer Klitschko with uppercuts, hooks and short overhand rights.
3. Deontay Wilder
8 of 10
Deontay Wilder has managed to create more enthusiasm than any United States heavyweight in a long time. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist has knocked out all 32 of his professional opponents, with nobody making it beyond the fourth round.
Of course, Wilder's opposition has been second tier and lower. The fact that he's spent so many years slumming it sends out certain warning signs that he might be partly hype.
There is no denying his finishing power. And at 6'7", he is more than long enough to reach Klitschko's chin. But his legs and torso might be too slender to stand up to a true heavyweight punch.
Wilder should fight WBC champion Bermane Stiverne early next year. If he can collect the belt with knockout No. 33, I think we'll see legitimate demand for a unification fight with Klitschko.
From a North American perspective, it would be the biggest heavyweight fight in a generation.
2. Bermane Stiverne
9 of 10
Bermane Stiverne captured the vacant WBC heavyweight title last May, when he knocked out Chris Arreola in a rematch of their April 2013 fight, which Stiverne won by unanimous decision.
Arreola is not exactly an all-time great, but he is tough veteran with a granite chin, and Stiverne's stoppage was extremely impressive. Arreola showed up for the fight in the best shape of his career and won some early rounds behind his jab.
Stiverne stayed patient, waiting for the chance to drop his own heavy right over the top of Arreola's lead left. Once he had the timing down for that shot, Stiverne ended things in a hurry. He landed 17 of 23 power punches in the sixth and final round and dropped Arreola twice before the referee waved off the count.
Arreola's only other stoppage loss had come against Vitali Klitschko in 2009, and that was by late TKO when Arreola retired in his corner. Nobody had ever knocked him silly the way Stiverne did.
Stiverne got a very late start in boxing but is a large, explosive athlete with quickly developing skills. He's got an outstanding, 80" reach on his 6'2" frame. If he can beat Wilder early next year, a unification fight with Klitschko should follow.
Klitschko would have to be a favorite in that fight. But Stiverne has the kind of power and athleticism Klitschko has rarely faced in his career.
1. Kubrat Pulev
10 of 10
I think Kubrat Pulev has to be viewed as a significant underdog against Wladimir Klitschko this weekend. Still, he's next in line for the champion and has some of the tools needed to beat him, so he has to be first on this list.
Pulev is hardly a knockout artist, having stopped just 11 of his 20 opponents. But he definitely has enough power to change the direction of a fight with a flush punch or even end things early.
Most importantly, Pulev is not an opponent Klitschko will be able to impose himself upon physically. Klitschko is going to have to open up his notoriously cautious style or lose the initiative against a hungry and skilled challenger.
I'm already on the record predicting a Klitschko win. But it's an interesting fight on paper, which has not always been the case for a Klitschko defense.
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