There are some silky, highly lethal, heavyweight knockout machines on the prowl out there!
By Ed Emeanua
The heavyweight rank of professional boxing is clogged with established and highly prospective fighters of all shades and sizes.
There is no need to beat around the bush; there are some skillful, highly lethal, heavyweight knockout honchos on the prowl out there.
Some of them are silky and lethal. Others are just pure banging hunk of heavyweight kayo artistes. And the remainder are a medley of both ends of the highly lethal bunch.
But, whichever way you turn, and whatever approach you use to figure out who’s who in the meatiest division of prizefighting, one thing is clear; these class of hunks among the hunkiest men of professional boxing, are downright dangerous.
Our concern for now will be on the rising heavyweight prospects from the perspective of potential modern pugilistic matchups.
1. Jared Anderson
Jared Anderson – Familiar for his kayo ability and stunning momentum, he’s rapidly establishing a name for himself.
Notably, the American heavyweight pugilist isn’t on a future schedule for a fight. According to Box.live, likely upcoming foes for Anderson include Tyson Fury, Unified Heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua, Zhan Kossobutskiy and Richard Torrez Jr.
Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank, Anderson’s promoters, said of the 25-year-old American fighter in June, via Sky Sports: “He’s young, he’s got charisma, he’s got a lot of it. He’s got incredible athletic ability. So he’s one of those guys that you put on your radar screen and you say, ‘Let’s see where this goes.’ Because he could be something special.”
Then, Anderson’s injury was well on the mend. “But he’s still young and whenever guys come off injuries you never know what’s going to happen,” DuBoef added.
“Jared, he’s going to have a quick recovery and he’ll be back in action this coming August.”
Fabio Wardley – The British heavyweight is without a loss in his professional career. Wardley has a stellar amateur framework and formidable base.
Parker 36-3-0
VERSUS
Saturday, Oct 25 2025
Wardley has a date with Joseph Parker on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, at The O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom. The fight will be transmitted on DAZN PPV UK in the UK, and DAZN in the United States.
In July, WBO interim champion Parker (36-3-0, 24 KOs) was mandated to challenge undisputed title holder Oleksandr Usyk (24-0-0, 15 KOs).
But, the sanctioning organization have allowed Usyk a 90-day medical leave for rehabilitation to full fitness after his kayo of Daniel Dubois.
As reported by ESPN, The Ukrainian fighter will either face the winner between Parker and Wardley or be compelled to relinquish the title.
But, Parker, who has been on the sideline a long time for a challenge of the title after victories against Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder, and Martin Bakole, believed that Wardley doesn’t have the experience to beat him, ESPN has reported.
“Walking towards the fire? I love the fire. I’ve fought a lot of fighters out there with big punches, and they really been able to get me out of there,” Parker told a pre-fight news conference on Tuesday, September 2, via ESPN.
“We could have waited for Usyk but as fighters are showing we will fight anyone any time. Fighting a person like myself is very different to fighting anyone else he has fought.
“There are levels. I believe with experience I have and what I’ve been working on in New Zealand, I’m excited to see what I can do in the ring.
“I’m a different fighter to the fighters he has fought before.”
According to ESPN, WBA champion Wardley is coming off a huge knockout win over Justis Huni in June and has said the fight (against Parker), could be a turning point in his career.
“Huge moment, defining point [for me] probably,” Wardley said.
“I am committed to that saying of big fights only. I’ve not come here to play around or hang about and wait for things to be handed to me.
“I think I’ve ticked off the right amount of milestones. I’ve got enough experience to take me through in to a top level fight.”
3. Evan Holyfield
Evan Holyfield – Son of legendary fighter Evander Holyfield, he’s demonstrating assurance with his talent and purebred.
4. Daniel Dubois
5. Zhilei Zhang
Zhang Zhilei – The Chinese heavyweight has become an interesting proposition because of his size and skill, making him a dreaded challenger.
His last 5 outings have been spread accross a time-frame of 2 years and 6 months, making him active for close to every 6 months, in a total of 38 rounds, lasting 7.6 rounds on average.
The 42-year-old heavyweight (born on May 2, 1983) was born in China, and will become 43 in a little over 7 months. Zhang debuted professionally in August 2014, making him an over 11 years ring veteran.
Zhang is now 8th by The Ring, 3rd by the WBO, and 10th by the WBC at Heavyweight rankings. He is 6′ 6″ tall (198cm), with a reach of 78 inches, (198 cm). He fights as a southpaw, with a powerful left hand.
According to Box.live, likely future opponents for the Chinese heavyweight fighter include Unified Heavyweight Champion Usyk, Dubois, Tyson Fury, Martin Bakole and Hrgovic. Zhang is currently not scheduled for an event, Box.live reports.
In the UK you can usually stream Zhang’s fights on DAZN PPV.
In the US you can usually stream Zhilei Zhang’s fights via DAZN PPV.
According to Box.live, Zhang has won 3 of his last 5 fight by kayo, but lost his last bout with Agit Kabayel on February 22, 2025, via a 6th round stoppage in their WBC Interim World Heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He defeated veteran American heavyweight fighter Deontay Wilder on June 1, 2024, by 5th round TKO at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh before the Kabayel fight. But Zhang had been beaten by Joseph Parker on March 8, 2024, by majority decision in their WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship fight at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, before his clash with Deontay.
Before taking on Parker, Zhang stopped Joe Joyce on September 23, 2023, in the 3rd round of their WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship fight at OVO Arena Wembley, London, United Kingdom.
He had earlier beaten Joyce on April 15, 2023, by TKO in the 6th round in their WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship fight at Copper Box Arena, London.
6. Joe Joyce
Inside a 2 and half years, 6 period Joyce has fought 5 times, Box.live reports, meaning he has boxed almost every 6 months, with a total of 40 rounds, and on an average of 8 rounds.
The British heavyweight fighter is now 40 years old, with his birth date as September 19, 1985. Joyce was born in the United Kingdom. He debuted as a professional boxer in October 2017, and has been a prizefighter for almost 8 years.
Joyce stands 6′ 6″ tall (198cm), with a reach of 80.3 inches (204 cm), and is an orthodox fighter, with a powerful right hand. According to Box.live, some potential fights in the offing for the British heavyweight include Tyson Fury, Andy Ruiz Jr, Frazer Clarke, Moses Itauma, and Hughie Fury. Joyce isn’t on a fight scheduled currently.
Image credit: Boxing Scene/Box.live
In the UK you can usually stream Joyce’s fights on DAZN UK.
In the US you can usually stream Joe Joyce’s fights via DAZN.
According to Box.live, Joyce has won just 1 of his last 5 fights by kayo. In his last ring outing, he lost by by unanimous decision to Hrgovic on April 5, 2025, in their 10 round challenge fight at Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Before the Hrgovic fight, Joyce had been defeated by Derek Chisora on July 27, 2024, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at The O2 Arena, London. Before that fight, he had stopped by Kash Ali on March 16, 2024, in the 10th round at Resorts World Arena, Birmingham.
Before that, he also lost to Zhang in the 3rd round by kayo on September 23, 2023. The clash with Zhang was over the WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship at OVO Arena, Wembley, London.
He had lost earlier by a 6th round TKO to Zhang on April 15, 2023, in their WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship fight at Copper Box Arena, London.
