OF GYPSIES, COSACKS, BOMBERS AND STARS PHAM || FIGHTHYPE.COM

Unfortunately, it’s not so unusual anymore, but the United States will have a very small role in the top tier of heavyweight next year.

WBC champion Tyson Fury is said to be unable to enter the US due to a possible relationship with Irish gang leader Daniel Kinahan. Meanwhile, mutual disinterest between the US and IBF/WBA/WBO boxer Oleksandr Usyk, ensures that heavyweight title action won’t be near the land of Ali, Frazier, Marciano, Louis, Holyfield and Tyson.

Of course, this is not to say that this is all the more important in the boxing big picture.

Fury and Usyk will be fighting at some point in 2023 and it looks like sooner or later as the March date has been rolled out to the public. The winner will become the first fully unified heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. That’s a pretty big deal for boxing. Although the lament “we need a champion in every division” is overblown, it WILL benefit the sport if there is a single world champion in the only division with real mainstream appeal.

The bad news in this Fury-Usyk merger is that, no matter which side wins, the US won’t get anything positive out of the aftermath. If Fury wins, there will be a charismatic king, attracting the media– who can’t get into this country. If Usyk wins, no one in the country will care about anything he does. Lose-lose for the United States.

But, again, boxing isn’t just what makes the US scene thrive. It would still be great for the entire sport to have a true unified champion.

Deontay Wilder looms over the division’s immediate future. His powerful punch, kill or be killed style and the fact that he fought hard in both of his Tyson Fury defeats made up for tired rifts about his lack of skill and words. lame excuses after failure. The bronze bomber is arguably the hottest boxer in the weight class at the moment and boxing is better with him.

With so many options laid out before him– Andy Ruiz, Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, and a shot at Usyk if he beats Fury to become unified champion– Wilder has plenty of chances. Earn big money and redeem career instantly.

Talking about Anthony Joshua’s redemption, charisma and relationships will give him every chance possible to claim the glory a third time. In fact, AJ will most likely contest the world championship at the end of 2023. That assumes, of course, that he doesn’t stumble against anyone placed in front of him as a construction opponent. rebuild/reassemble. That’s not guaranteed, though. Joshua is still a tank with heavy artillery at his disposal, but the tank commander controlling that large machine is wobbly, fragmented, and increasingly unable to mobilize his forces to refit. is very much needed.

Andy Ruiz has proven that, at his peak and most focused, he can beat anyone on any given night. The problem is that he’s not always at his best. The first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent looked tough and capable in his win over Luis Ortiz in September. Unfortunately, being solid and capable won’t be enough to reclaim the throne. A hotly debated matchup with Deontay Wilder would be interesting and provide a ladder back to winning yet another title.

Joe Joyce is facing great opportunities. Forget the meaningless temporary WBO belt he has, “The Juggernaut” is a good round of negotiations (or a canceled Fury-Usyk showdown) to stay away from the world title. His job calls for “legitimate,” but at 37, there’s not much time to waste when it comes to seizing opportunities. He is likely to hit big in the second half of 2023.

In a perfect world, the best left in the department would go head-to-head to determine the next real contender. The horses are there to run that race, to join a killer unofficial tournament. Names like Dillian Whyte, Frank Sanchez, Luis Ortiz, Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic (among several others) are all possible next-tier boxers who can engage in escalating clashes entertainment. However, in this not-so-perfect world of boxing, these guys will probably just sit back and wait for a well-earned title to fall into their hands, not wanting to risk their place in the fray. .

Jared Anderson, 23, will continue to improve and achieve the fame he deserves in 2023. Big, strong, agile and increasingly versatile, the Toledo, Ohio native has also proven to be. I am a charismatic character. He represents America’s best chance to bring the heavyweight throne home for a long time at some point in the future.