The heavyweight division is entering a pivotal stretch.
Back during the reign of Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko, the division had grown stagnant. Dominated. Predictable. Locked down.
Today, it’s the opposite.
In just a few weeks, several fights will clarify career trajectories, confirm some… and likely shatter others.
In the heavyweight division, cycles are short.
And when decline begins, it doesn’t warn you.
Here’s my take on the upcoming fights:
Photo: WBA Boxing – Moses Itauma
March 28 — Co-op Live Arena, Manchester
Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin
Itauma embodies the new wave: explosive, disciplined, already tactically mature.
Franklin is solid. Durable. He’s shared the ring with real names.
But this fight is about the ceiling.
If Itauma dominates clearly, he moves from prospect to serious contender.
He won’t be “the future” anymore. He’ll be the present.
Franklin has never been stopped.
If Itauma manages it, it won’t just be a win. It’ll be a statement.
I believe he has the tools.
His speed and precision should make the difference.
Photo: Queensberry – Dereck Chisora (to the right)
April 4 — O2 Arena, Greenwich
Deontay Wilder vs. Dereck Chisora
I’ll be direct.
The best years of both men are behind them.
Especially Wilder’s.
But one thing never disappears: his right hand.
What does erode, though, is timing. Confidence. Mental sharpness.
Chisora has never been a stylist.
He comes forward. He imposes himself. He wears opponents down. He makes fights ugly.
Against a less explosive Wilder, that pressure can become toxic.
If Chisora neutralizes the right hand, he’ll take physical control of the fight.
I see Chisora winning.
And I see him winning by knockout.
Photo: Spiegel – Tyson Fury (to the left)
April 11 — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham
Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov
For “Big Mak,” this is the opportunity of a lifetime.
But Fury is still Fury.
Mobility. Variety. Control of tempo. A technical puzzle.
The real question is no longer technical.
It’s mental.
Does he still have that fire?
His last three performances weren’t at the level we’ve grown used to.
Makhmudov brings pressure and power.
If he cuts off the ring effectively, he can force Fury to box more than he’d like.
A disciplined Fury makes for a long night for Arslanbek.
A distracted Fury makes the fight dangerous.
The bookmakers favor Fury.
But some chapters are written in chaos…
Photo: BBC – Lawrence Okolie
April 25 — Adidas Arena, Paris
Lawrence Okolie vs. Tony Yoka
A chess match in the making.
Okolie is long, unconventional, hard to read. Sometimes frustrating.
Yoka is more textbook, more structured — but he still has to prove himself, again and again.
I’d like to see a Frenchman come out on top.
But I see Okolie using his reach, neutralizing the exchanges, and winning on points.
A controlled fight.
Not necessarily a memorable one.
Photo: BBC – Fabio Wardley (to the left)
May 9 — Co-op Live Arena, Manchester
Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois
This one is explosive.
I don’t see this fight going the distance.
Dubois has faced adversity. He’s learned.
Wardley comes in with momentum and confidence.
The key? Focus. The one who weathers the storm while staying composed will land the decisive shot.
Dubois is probably the more complete fighter.
But Wardley is always dangerous.
My instinct says Wardley by knockout.
Logic says Dubois.
Photo: BeIN SPORTS – Oleksandr Usyk (to the right)
May 23
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven
I could say nothing at all.
This fight feels more like a spectacle than a logical matchup.
But Usyk deserves it — and let me tell you why…
He has never chosen the easy road.
The last time he faced a clearly inferior opponent was back in 2016 against South African Thabiso Mchunu.
Usyk is the most sophisticated technician in the division.
Rhythm. Angles. Ring IQ.
Verhoeven is powerful, used to big stages — but boxing is a very specific sport.
Usyk will control the distance.
He will control the fight.
Clear victory.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Arslanbek Makhmudov (to the left)
And what’s next?
If my predictions hold true:
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Itauma takes the next step
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Chisora wins
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Fury stays on top (according to the experts)
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Wardley surprises…
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Usyk continues to reign
Then I want to see:
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Usyk vs. Agit Kabayel — he deserves his shot
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Wardley vs. Itauma — the new generation collides. A monster fight in the UK
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The winner of Fury vs. Makhmudov facing Okolie
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And maybe, finally, a well-earned retirement for Chisora
The heavyweight division is in motion.
Some legends are nearing the end of their cycle.
And the new guard is already knocking at the door.
