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1. Vitali Klitschko
Title: WBC
Ukraine
43-2-0 (40 KOs)
Title: WBC
Last Fight:TKO 10 Tomasz Adamek, Sep 10
A strong case can be made for Vitali's ranking. He's won 43 of 45 bouts and has amassed 40 KOs. His four year hiatus from the sport hurt his ranking in the past but his impressive one-sided win over the Adamek (then No. 3) was enough to catapult him to No,1 . While his brother has beaten better opposition, Vitali is so much more impressive. In his last eight fights, he's barely lost a round and his only two loses were due to injuries he sustained during fights he was winning. With former World Boxing Association champion David Haye announcing his retirement "Dr. Ironfist" should fight Robert Helenius next. Vitali has the highest knockout-to-fights ratio of any heavyweight champion in history, 88%.
2. Wladimir Klitschko
Titles: THE RING, IBF, WBA Super, WBO and IBO
Ukraine
56-3-0 (49 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 12, David Haye, Jul 2
Next Fight: Jean Marc Mormeck, Dec 10
While some believe he's not a proven champion, his record and résumé say otherwise. Aside from his brother, he's defeated the best contenders during the last six years, is recognized by Ring Magazine as the heavyweight champion and holds three major titles. Wlad has slipped to No. 2 because his brother, while not quite as accomplished, is far more dominant. A convincing win over Jean Marc Mormeck in December will not improve his ranking.
3. Robert Helenius
Finland
16-0 (11 KOs)
Last Fight: TKO 9 Sergei Liakhovich, Aug 27
OK so he's had only 16 pro fights... But he has KO wins over Sergei Liakhovich (2011), Sam Peter (2011), Attila Levin (2010) and the very tough Lamon Brewster (2010). He's also 6′6˝″ - not a bad height for a modern heavyweight. Still, not much is known about Helenius. He's KO'd four tough, quality heavyweights without looking vulnerable. Although Helenius doesn't "dominate," he appears to have a quiet confidence. Even after losing rounds, he doesn't lose his composure. Helenius takes a good punch and is defensively sound. He was impressive in August in beating a focused and revitalized Sergei Liakhovich who came to fight. Is he ready for the Klitschko Brothers?
4. Alexander Povetkin
Russia
22-0-0 (15 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 12 Ruslan Chagaev, Aug 27
Next Fight: Cedric Boswell, Dec 17
On January 26, 2008 Povetkin defeated Eddie Chambers by unanimous decision to become the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko. However, Povetkin withdrew from the fight against Klitschko due to an injury. Povetkin looked good, but vulnerable, in his points win over Ruslan Chagaev in August. He's No. 4 because Helenius was far more impressive against Liakhovich and has defeated better opposition.
5. Tomasz Adamek
Poland
44-2-0 (28 KOs)
Last Fight: (Lost) TKO 10 by Vitali Klitschko, Sep 10
With David Haye retired, Adamek moves to No. 5. A former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, "Goral" has beaten Chris Arreola, Michael Grant, Vinny Maddalone and Kevin McBride at heavyweight. He fought valiantly in losing to the bigger, stronger Vitali Klitschko but failed to make the fight competitive. Will we see him back at cruiserweight?
6. Eddie Chambers
USA
36-2-0 (18 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 12 Derric Rossy, Feb 11
Next Fight: Tony Thompson, Oct 28
His only loses are to Wlad Klitschko (No. 2) via a 12th Round KO and Povetkin (No. 4) by decision. "Fast" Eddy has beaten Alex Dimitrenko, Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock and Dominick Guinn. In less than two weeks, he fights fellow American Tony Thompson in an IBF title eliminator. Although Chambers is ranked slightly higher than Thompson, he doesn't match-up well (stylistically) against the big southpaw. The winner of Chambers vs Thompson will catapult to the top 5.
7. Tony Thompson
USA
36-2-0 (24 KOs)
Last Fight: TKO 3 Maurice Harris, May 27
Next Fight: Eddie Chambers, Oct 28
Thompson gave a good account of himself in his 11th Round KO loss to Wlad in 2008. His only other defeat is irrelevant, as it happened 11 years ago shortly after he turned pro. Thompson scored an impressive 3rd Round TKO of Maurice Harris earlier this year. Look for the determined southpaw to defeat fellow American Eddie Chambers in October and guarantee himself another title shot.
8. Alexander Dimitrenko
Ukraine
32-1-0 (21 KOs)
Last Fight: KO 12 Albert Sosnowski, Mar 26
Next Fight: Michael Sprott, Sep 24
This 6'7" heavyweight has KO'd Albert Sosnowski (2011), Luan Krasniqi (2008) and Derric Rossy (2008). It would be nice to see him matched-up against Alexander Povetkin or Helenius. His only loss is a close majority decision to Eddie Chambers. Dimirenko looked "pretty good" against a tough-and-gritty Michael Sprott last month but his showing wasn't good enough to place him higher on the list.
9. Chris Arreola
USA
33-2-0 (28 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 10, Friday Ahunanya, Jul 9
Next Fight: Alonzo Butler, Nov 5
Arreola has stayed busy in 2011 but hasn't beaten anyone good enough to justify this ranking much longer. He must step-up in competition before he falls off the radar. Arreola should strongly consider fighting Tyson Fury, Juan Carlos Gomez, David Rodriguez, Cedric Boswell, Monte Barrett or David Tua. He vowed to take training more seriously - And its paying off! But he must beat a top 20 opponent by March to remain on this list.
10. Cedric Boswell
USA
35-1, 26 KO
Last Fight: UD 10, Kertson Manswell, Jun 4
Next Fight: Alexander Povetkin, Dec 3
Boswell has been around for quite some time and has waited patiently for his opportunity to fight another elite fight. His first and only big chance came way back in 2003 when he was stopped in ten by Jameel McCline. Since then, though, Boswell has won fourteen fights in a row, including an impressive TKO victory over a highly touted Roman Greenberg (then 27-0) in 2008 and a points win over former champion Oliver McCall earlier this year. Don't be fooled by his age, he's a "young and fresh" 42 and is a very capable fighter. His fight against Povetkin will, no doubt, tell us a lot more about both fighters.
Honorable Mention
Tyson Fury
United Kingdom
16-0, 10 KOs
Last Fight: Nicolai Firtha, Sep 17
Next Fight: Neven Pajkic, Nov 12
Young Tyson Fury looked good and answered some questions in his fight against Chisora - But how good is Chisora? With only 15 fights and just one win against a quality opponent (whose skills are still suspect), Fury remains out of the Top 10 for now. Fury looked good against Firtha last month but how good is Firtha? Like Arreola, Fury needs to beat a top 20 contender to be considered an elite heavyweight. A win over Pajkic won't be enough to propel him to the top 10 unless someone drops ou
Title: WBC
Ukraine
43-2-0 (40 KOs)
Title: WBC
Last Fight:TKO 10 Tomasz Adamek, Sep 10
A strong case can be made for Vitali's ranking. He's won 43 of 45 bouts and has amassed 40 KOs. His four year hiatus from the sport hurt his ranking in the past but his impressive one-sided win over the Adamek (then No. 3) was enough to catapult him to No,1 . While his brother has beaten better opposition, Vitali is so much more impressive. In his last eight fights, he's barely lost a round and his only two loses were due to injuries he sustained during fights he was winning. With former World Boxing Association champion David Haye announcing his retirement "Dr. Ironfist" should fight Robert Helenius next. Vitali has the highest knockout-to-fights ratio of any heavyweight champion in history, 88%.
2. Wladimir Klitschko
Titles: THE RING, IBF, WBA Super, WBO and IBO
Ukraine
56-3-0 (49 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 12, David Haye, Jul 2
Next Fight: Jean Marc Mormeck, Dec 10
While some believe he's not a proven champion, his record and résumé say otherwise. Aside from his brother, he's defeated the best contenders during the last six years, is recognized by Ring Magazine as the heavyweight champion and holds three major titles. Wlad has slipped to No. 2 because his brother, while not quite as accomplished, is far more dominant. A convincing win over Jean Marc Mormeck in December will not improve his ranking.
3. Robert Helenius
Finland
16-0 (11 KOs)
Last Fight: TKO 9 Sergei Liakhovich, Aug 27
OK so he's had only 16 pro fights... But he has KO wins over Sergei Liakhovich (2011), Sam Peter (2011), Attila Levin (2010) and the very tough Lamon Brewster (2010). He's also 6′6˝″ - not a bad height for a modern heavyweight. Still, not much is known about Helenius. He's KO'd four tough, quality heavyweights without looking vulnerable. Although Helenius doesn't "dominate," he appears to have a quiet confidence. Even after losing rounds, he doesn't lose his composure. Helenius takes a good punch and is defensively sound. He was impressive in August in beating a focused and revitalized Sergei Liakhovich who came to fight. Is he ready for the Klitschko Brothers?
4. Alexander Povetkin
Russia
22-0-0 (15 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 12 Ruslan Chagaev, Aug 27
Next Fight: Cedric Boswell, Dec 17
On January 26, 2008 Povetkin defeated Eddie Chambers by unanimous decision to become the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko. However, Povetkin withdrew from the fight against Klitschko due to an injury. Povetkin looked good, but vulnerable, in his points win over Ruslan Chagaev in August. He's No. 4 because Helenius was far more impressive against Liakhovich and has defeated better opposition.
5. Tomasz Adamek
Poland
44-2-0 (28 KOs)
Last Fight: (Lost) TKO 10 by Vitali Klitschko, Sep 10
With David Haye retired, Adamek moves to No. 5. A former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, "Goral" has beaten Chris Arreola, Michael Grant, Vinny Maddalone and Kevin McBride at heavyweight. He fought valiantly in losing to the bigger, stronger Vitali Klitschko but failed to make the fight competitive. Will we see him back at cruiserweight?
6. Eddie Chambers
USA
36-2-0 (18 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 12 Derric Rossy, Feb 11
Next Fight: Tony Thompson, Oct 28
His only loses are to Wlad Klitschko (No. 2) via a 12th Round KO and Povetkin (No. 4) by decision. "Fast" Eddy has beaten Alex Dimitrenko, Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock and Dominick Guinn. In less than two weeks, he fights fellow American Tony Thompson in an IBF title eliminator. Although Chambers is ranked slightly higher than Thompson, he doesn't match-up well (stylistically) against the big southpaw. The winner of Chambers vs Thompson will catapult to the top 5.
7. Tony Thompson
USA
36-2-0 (24 KOs)
Last Fight: TKO 3 Maurice Harris, May 27
Next Fight: Eddie Chambers, Oct 28
Thompson gave a good account of himself in his 11th Round KO loss to Wlad in 2008. His only other defeat is irrelevant, as it happened 11 years ago shortly after he turned pro. Thompson scored an impressive 3rd Round TKO of Maurice Harris earlier this year. Look for the determined southpaw to defeat fellow American Eddie Chambers in October and guarantee himself another title shot.
8. Alexander Dimitrenko
Ukraine
32-1-0 (21 KOs)
Last Fight: KO 12 Albert Sosnowski, Mar 26
Next Fight: Michael Sprott, Sep 24
This 6'7" heavyweight has KO'd Albert Sosnowski (2011), Luan Krasniqi (2008) and Derric Rossy (2008). It would be nice to see him matched-up against Alexander Povetkin or Helenius. His only loss is a close majority decision to Eddie Chambers. Dimirenko looked "pretty good" against a tough-and-gritty Michael Sprott last month but his showing wasn't good enough to place him higher on the list.
9. Chris Arreola
USA
33-2-0 (28 KOs)
Last Fight: UD 10, Friday Ahunanya, Jul 9
Next Fight: Alonzo Butler, Nov 5
Arreola has stayed busy in 2011 but hasn't beaten anyone good enough to justify this ranking much longer. He must step-up in competition before he falls off the radar. Arreola should strongly consider fighting Tyson Fury, Juan Carlos Gomez, David Rodriguez, Cedric Boswell, Monte Barrett or David Tua. He vowed to take training more seriously - And its paying off! But he must beat a top 20 opponent by March to remain on this list.
10. Cedric Boswell
USA
35-1, 26 KO
Last Fight: UD 10, Kertson Manswell, Jun 4
Next Fight: Alexander Povetkin, Dec 3
Boswell has been around for quite some time and has waited patiently for his opportunity to fight another elite fight. His first and only big chance came way back in 2003 when he was stopped in ten by Jameel McCline. Since then, though, Boswell has won fourteen fights in a row, including an impressive TKO victory over a highly touted Roman Greenberg (then 27-0) in 2008 and a points win over former champion Oliver McCall earlier this year. Don't be fooled by his age, he's a "young and fresh" 42 and is a very capable fighter. His fight against Povetkin will, no doubt, tell us a lot more about both fighters.
Honorable Mention
Tyson Fury
United Kingdom
16-0, 10 KOs
Last Fight: Nicolai Firtha, Sep 17
Next Fight: Neven Pajkic, Nov 12
Young Tyson Fury looked good and answered some questions in his fight against Chisora - But how good is Chisora? With only 15 fights and just one win against a quality opponent (whose skills are still suspect), Fury remains out of the Top 10 for now. Fury looked good against Firtha last month but how good is Firtha? Like Arreola, Fury needs to beat a top 20 contender to be considered an elite heavyweight. A win over Pajkic won't be enough to propel him to the top 10 unless someone drops ou
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