Dr. Z's top 15 heavyweight prospects

[Dr. Z]

You're welcome to all. I will say the depth of heavyweight prospects not been this to good in 20 years! I think there will be one better champion better than Fury the from the mix of prospects. Maybe two. Is there another prospect who willl prove to be a good champion, fighting 8 or more ranked top ten contenders like Kiitschko or Lewis among the mix? One could hope so.

For now I say that Hrgovic of Jalolov is that man who will be better than Fury.

[Hotsauce91]

Dr. Z


What you think of Richard Torrez???

[Dr. Z]

[QUOTE=Hotsauce91;n31874347] Dr. Z


What you think of Richard Torrez???[/QUOTE

Richard Torrez jr. 5-0 5 Ko's. 6'2" 220 pounds. The silver medalists in the Tokyo Olympic games flashed quick hands and good power as a professional. A high IQ fighter for sure and one with an aggressive style. There is something there. Fairly impressive in his last outing.

Torrez is very smart and educated young man. Well for a fighter he is! But he is a 6'2 220 pound heavyweight operating in the world of 6'5" 240+ poundc men some of which have very good skills too. He is going to give up a lot of height and reach, not to mention weight. He is going to need very good to excellent power when he steps up and faces one of them. I don't think he has that type power, nor does he have a very good to excellent chin. His power level is merely good. Attributes such as very good power are rare and a very good and having a very good to excellent chin even more uncommon. Being Amercian born he can be future cash cow for a promtoter especially if they market his silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics which IMO had something to do with his draw.

I like fellow prospect Mark Petrovsky a little better becasue he has that type of very good to excellent power, and based on what I have seen a very good to excelllet type of chin. They are simlar sized guys. These to are the best of the smaller heavyweight prospects IMO.

I wish him well.

[Dr. Z]

Q3 updated 2023 heavy weight prospect rankings.

To qualify for the list of prospects, you must be under the age of 35 ( sorry Joyce you are too old) and have not fought for a WBC/IBF/WBA/WBO title.

You must also be undefeated. Okay, everyone got it? I have seen each person at least once. My rankings are a mix of results to date pro potential and accomplishments. Almost everyone is a super heavyweight, some with good skills. The game has changed to big out fighters with long reaches and a lot of power.




1 ) Philp Hrgovic ( Rated inside the top ten by ring magazine ). Age 30 16-0 13 KO's

He's big. 6'6'' has a great reach 82" and weighs about 245 lbs. He can take a punch. In fact, he took some real zingers from guys who can hit in the amateurs and pro and didn't even have to clinch. Chins are best tested when they are hit by punchers, and how you react to it when it tells you a lot. Good skills, good hand speed, and very good power. Good heart for battle too. Very accurate punching. A good body puncher too. He can in-fight and likes it. Fresh off his victory over Zhang, who would beat most on this list. He was off in that fight. He is ready to graduate from this list as he's now the IBF mandatory. Very likely to be the next champion. Recently beat Mekean, this is his 5th undefeated fighter's scalp! I think he'll beat Fury within a year and would TKO Wilder a declining Wilder in short order. A world title belt awaits. We shall see if Usyk meets him for the IBF title! Hunter, Ruiz, and Parker already passed on him.


2 ) Bahkhodir Jalolov Age 28. 6'7" tall with an 81" reach. 250 pounds 13-0, 13 Ko's. . Oh what potential! Jarolov is a big southpaw who uses a punishing left . His straight left is the best in the game. Top end power is perhaps the second best on the list, which says something. He moves extremely well on legs of steel and keeps his range. Not an in-fighter, though. But with his length, power, speed and skills he doesn't have to be. The type of fighter who uses his legs, height and reach for offense and defense. The gold medal winner of the recent Tokyo Olympics is a grade A prospect, which is why I rate him 2nd. He won the world amateur super heavyweight tournament in May 2023 recently. In a year, or less he can be the #1 prospect. Man is he talented!

3 ) Sanchez ( Rated inside the top ten by ring magazine ) Age 30 22-0 15 Ko's.

He's fast-handed and can fight well. He is not a knock-out artist, though, his power is average. 6'4" with a 78" reach he's good enough these days, but the so-so chined Pero beat him three times in the amateurs so he's not an elite level boxer, rather he's is good one. Good on defense, which is semi-rare for a heavyweight these days. I don't view his potential as a pro as good as the two fighters below him, but I'm listing him here for now because he has fought some competition.

4) Arslanbeck Makhmudov Age 33. 6'5" 1/2 " 80" reach 260 pounds. 17 -0 16 KO's. Makmudov is a scary-looking dude and a rare puncher. When he hits guys they are immediately hurt, and unable to clinch or move out the way for the most part. Such are the marks of a true puncher regardless of who he is facing. He has the best power in the game. And he's intimidating. Skills are only okay. He owns a sick uppercut. His power is so great that he has more than just a puncher's chance. He is 34 now, so he should be moved quickly.


5 ) Gurgen Hovannisyan Age 23 6'7" 270 pounds 81" reach. 4-0, 4 KO's.
Who's very big, looks like a bouncer, has natural charisma outside the ring , uncanny accuracy in the ring, and fast hand's. Oh he can hit hard too. And in-fight or outfight. And his stamina is good, and man can this guy move well for his size. No, I'm not talking about Grossberger from the movie Stir Crazy. The answer is Gurgen Hovannisyan. A former fat boy who achieved a fair amount in a short time in the amateurs, he has transformed his body and really opened my eyes. You just don't see guys string together combinations fluidly as he does at heavyweight. Deceptively flexible. He has been moved quickly and earns my high ranking based on how he has looked. Get to know him! He needs to fight soon!



6 ) Jared Anderson Age 22 6'4" 1/2 " 78 1/2" reach/ 245 pounds. 16-0 15 Ko's. The best American young Heavyweight in years. He's big, skilled, and can punch. Being moved fairly quickly. The promoters are salivating over him. Unless I miss my guess, he's going somewhere. Lacks big time amatuertuer sucess. Reminds me a bit of Rid**** Bowe. I think he's the best American prospect in a long time. Look for him to move up the prospect list in a year. Lack of defense needs improvement. Expect him to receive a title shot befoer he earns it.


7 ) Justis Huni 6'4" 245 estimated reach of 77" 245 pounds. 7-0, 4 Ko's. Age 23 The World Olympic junior champion. This kid is not your typical limited Samon slugger. He is, in fact, a good boxer with average power. He is quick and young. Skilled he can box. He is not likely to go beyond the top 4 due to his power level.

8 ) Agit Kabyle. Age 29. 6'3" tall, 235 pounds. Not that big ( by today's standards ) not the fastest, and not that strong, he's your perfect opponent for a title match because he a low risk type. His upside rates lower than most on the list on potential, but he was more accomplished than most. Hence he ranks 6th for now. Other guys below him have more professional upside. He will side down the list in time.. I think.

9 ) Vlad Sirenko Age 27 6'3 1/2" estimated reach of 79". This good looking fighter's standard has both fast hands and power. He stepped up to his competition lately and did just fine. In the amateurs, he was stopped twice, and he does not have a good chin. However, he can get favorable marketing based on his offense and good looks. He looks to be sliding down as a prospect as others other contenders impress more than he does.


10 ) Mark Petrovski Age 23 6'1 estimated to reach 76". 215 pounds. The young Petroski recently went pro ( 6-0 4 ko's ) after winning the world super heavyweight amatuer championship. He's a little small for a heavyweight, about 6'1" and 220 pounds, but he can fight and punch. And he's got a good chin and heart. He has a moving/unloading style when he gets inside. He's got quick and accurate hands. Not one to take a step back. He has the right style for his size, but I wonder about his upper potential as a pro vs. the best big men who are all skilled super heavyweights that feature natural height, range, and power these days. Appears to be fast tracked with good match making, a sign he is going somewhere.

11 ) Basir Abalrov Another 6'5" 247 lbs guy. 31 years old. Estimated reach is about 79". The well muscled Abarlov has quick hands, a body type where a shell defense / guard works due his big arms and high guard. He has a lot of power. He goes to the bodywell. And he moves his feet well. He is impressive. Did next to nothing before he was pro. A talent to mold.

12 )Frazier Clake 5-0, 5 Ko's 6'6 " 80" reach 270 pounds. 31 years old.
He beat quality competition as an amateur. He was only stopped once in 93 fights and that one was by Jalolov. He's big, he can box and he can take a punch. This man is going places.


13) Richard Torrez jr. 6-0 6 Ko's. 6'2" 220 pounds. The silver medalists in the Tokyo Olympic games flashed quick hands and good power as a professional. A high IQ fighter for sure and one with an aggressive style. There is something there. Fairly impressive.


14 ) Arslan Yallyev . 14-0, 9 Ko's. 6'5'' 245 lbs with an estimated reach of 80" This young Russian big man has been making some noise lately. There must be a factory for these big eastern europeans somewhere. Not a true power hitter though.


15 ) Oleksandr Zakhozhy. Age 29, 6'9" 18-0 14 ko's. The big man has rolled over some of the usual suspects, either knocking them out or easily out-pointing his opponents.

Amatuer stand out: Svetoslav Teterin. This thick Russian fighter is built like a bear, not a bodybuilder. The young man features unusually fast hands for his build, good power and a confronting type of style. Likely has a good chin based on his sturdy build, never being stopped and is tough to move around when hit. He has not gone pro yet. If you think I missed anyone you can nominate him here.


- Dr. Z

A man who has an eye on heavyweight talent.

[Dr. Z]

Fantastic list and evaluations of all the guys. However, imagine being a prospect in your late 20's and early to mid 30's? What is taking these fighters so long to develop? Is it no one wants blemishes on their record so they dont lose marketability? I see a lot of European's on the list, are the styles of today's fighters just not good enough? Opinions?

I will update this list in Q4.

We have a new grade A talent in Zokirov. His father is training him and was a good amateur himself. He is unlike any heavyweight prospect I have seen. Only 20, and still growing, this big man has rare in-fighting skills and features an uppercut and body punching. He also has top and power and moves people when he lands, watch below and judge for yourself. If that is not enough for his opponents, he is also a southpaw!

Jakhongir Zokirov is listed at 6'8"" tall with an 81" reach..



My new quarterly ratings will include new fighters and an educated guess as to how far each project will go. Regional talent. Top 50 box rec talent ( their ranking ) , top 15 box rec talent ( Their ranking ) , or World champion ( WBA, WBC, IBF, or WBO ) We are going to see some new heavyweight champions from the list in 2024!

Boxing is teeming with quality prospects. There are so many I might expand the list of 20 heavyweight prospects.

[buge]

the biggest problem with adding a bridgerweight is that it won't be guys who are 201-220, it'll be 240lb guys who can't win the HW belt boiling down to make weight, then back at 240 again for the fight

[eco1]

ftw!!!!