Who’s the best heavyweight? Hint: He comes from Manchester

The debate over who is the best active heavyweight will rage until someone emerges as No. 1 in the ring.

Anthony Joshua seems to think that he’s the best heavyweight in the world simply because he holds three of the four major belts.

Not necessarily. We all know that who you beat – and lose to – is more important than what you wear around your waist. The opportunity to fight for titles often has as much to do as your connections as your ability.

With that in mind, here is how I rank the top three big men in boxing.

  1. TYSON FURY
    Record    : 29-0-1 (20 KOs)
    Defeated: Dereck Chisora (twice), Wladimir Klitschko
    Lost to: No one
    Drew with: Deontay Wilder
    Titles held: Lineal, IBF, WBA and WBO
    Background: Fury has by far the most impressive victory among active heavyweights, a wide decision over longtime heavyweight titleholder Wladimir Klitschko to become lineal champion in 2015. The Gypsy King had to walk away from boxing to deal with personal problems, losing his titles as a result, but he came back to draw with Deontay Wilder in an entertaining fight that many observers thought he deserved to win in 2018. I scored it 113-113. In that fight, Fury went down twice and got up twice. That included a hellacious knockdown in the final round that seemed to finish him off. Fury clearly is the best boxer among these three. And, as he demonstrated against Wilder, he’s resilient. Best victory, best boxer, best heavyweight. Of course, Wilder might have something to say about that when they fight again on Feb. 22 in Las Vegas.
  2. DEONTAY WILDER
    Record    : 42-0-1 (41 KOs)
    Defeated: Luis Ortiz (twice)
    Lost to: No one
    Drew with: Tyson Fury
    Titles held: WBC (current)
    Background: The perception that Wilder can’t box is overstated. He certainly boxes well enough to set up the hardest punches in the sport almost every time he steps into the ring. Forty-one knockouts in 43 fights say a great deal. And, for what it’s worth, he boxed well enough to outpoint Bermane Stiverne to win his title by decision in 2015. He has made 10 successful defenses. Wilder also proved in his first fight with Luis Ortiz that he’s tougher than some might’ve expected. The Cuban had him in real trouble but he survived and won by KO in the 10th round. Ortiz outboxed Wilder in the rematch until a huge right put him down and out in Round 7. This is what Wilder does. A lot of people seem to think that the Bronze Bomber’s limited skill set – if that’s what it is – will bite him in the behind one day. Could that day be Feb. 22?
  3. ANTHONY JOSHUA
    Record    : 23-1 (21 KOs)
    Defeated: Dillian White, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz Jr.
    Lost to: Ruiz
    Titles held: IBF, WBA and WBO (current)
    Background: Joshua deserves credit for easily outpointing Andy Ruiz Jr. on Dec. 7 to regain the titles he lost to Ruiz by knockout this past June. The knockout artist turned himself into a safety-first boxer to win by scores of 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109. Great game plan, great execution. The performance wasn’t scintillating but it was thorough. Joshua also deserves recognition for surviving a knockdown to retire a 41-year-old Klitschko in 2017. All that doesn’t mean we can forget what happened in the first Ruiz fight. Joshua didn’t simply get caught by a big punch, which happens in the division. He was put down four times and, in the opinion of many, quit in the seventh round. A victory over a particularly heavy Ruiz in the rematch was only the first step in the process of rebuilding his reputation.