Who are the best up-and-coming British heavyweights to watch out for in 2023?
Boxing is an explosive sport that has given us many great fighters over time, and many legendary contests to remember. Perhaps the category in boxing that still attracts the most headlines in 2023, though, is the blue ribbon heavyweight division.
When it comes to the heavyweight class, British boxing should not be forgotten about and has given us some iconic athletes to enjoy watching. This is certainly true in the present day and sees people like Tyson Fury flying the flag for British heavyweights on a global scale. It has also given people in the UK who like to bet on boxing some top, homegrown names to back. This not only makes watching any heavyweight clash involving them more exciting but also helps you get closer to the sport.
While we might know about famous heavyweight boxers from Britain, such as Fury or Anthony Joshua, who have already reached the top in 2023, it is worth looking past them to see which fighters in this division from the UK are rising stars in the sport. But who might these boxers be?
Daniel Dubois
Of all the up-and-coming British heavyweight’s, Daniel Dubois is one who stands out in 2023. Still just 25, this Londoner is known for his awesome punching power. This has seen him win the vast majority of his bouts via knockout – 18 KOs from 19 victories – and he has become something of a crowd-pleaser. With just one loss on his record, (to fellow British heavyweight Joe Joyce in November 2020) the Greenwich man has bounced back with four straight KOs – in rounds 1, 2, 3 and 4 – against opposition with a combined career record of 89-6, including winning the WBA Regular World heavyweight title on away soil in America against unbeaten champio Trevor Bryan in June 2022. He defended that title in December against Kevin Lerena.
Now, the 25-year-old is in the midst of negotiations with unified heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk.
Fabio Wardley
One name that is currently lighting up the list of top-ranked British heavyweight boxers is that of Fabio Wardley. He is heading into his peak years as a boxer and this is starting to show in the performances he is putting in – plus the titles he is picking up. This includes a recent WBA Continental Heavyweight belt in April 2023 and the British Heavyweight title in November 2022.
His exploits in the ring also see him highly rated by organizations such as the WBC and IBO. With a perfect 15 wins from 15 fights to date, all this should see him continue to stand out in the heavyweight division moving forward. Look out for a possible rematch against Gorman to set British boxing alight, or bigger bouts on the global heavyweight scene in future.
Nathan Gorman
While Cheshire-born Gorman might have been around heavyweight boxing since 2015, it is fair to class him as a boxer who is fast rising in the sport. Due to his hard work on a national level and an impressive win over Tomas Salek to take the IBF International Heavyweight crown in June 2022, we could well see him making his mark on a more global scale.
Of course, Gorman will still want to dominate the British and Commonwealth scenes – although a loss against Fabio Wardley for the British heavyweight title in late 2022 was a stumbling block to this. Ably trained by boxing icon Ricky Hatton, Gorman certainly has the backing to continue his rise in the heavyweight class during 2023.
Top rising names in British heavyweight boxing for 2023
All boxing fans know the huge names that have made Britain a top force in the heavyweight division over time. They will also know box-office names like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, who dominate the scene in terms of British fighters, but what about the next generation of fighters who could help British heavyweight boxing thrive? The list here shows that there is a glut of talented British fighters waiting to break through and show everyone just what they are made of.
Top 10 Heavyweight Prospects
Frazer Clarke
David Adeleye
Solomon Dacres
Johnny Fisher
Tommy Welch
Moses Itauma
Matty Harris
Franklin ignatius
Steve Robinson
Jeamie TKV