Jeamie ‘TKV’ Tshikeva’s upset victory over Frazer Clarke for the British heavyweight title has injected fresh uncertainty and excitement into the UK scene. The 32-year-old entered as the underdog at Derby’s Vaillant Arena but outworked Clarke to win on points, derailing the Olympic medallist’s hopes of fast-tracking towards a world-title challenge. Clarke, 34, now finds himself at a difficult point in his career with two losses in three fights.
Wardley Leads the British Charge
Fabio Wardley remains the country’s top heavyweight after becoming the WBO world champion. The 30-year-old, who started out as a white-collar boxer, has 19 stoppages in 20 wins and was upgraded to full champion after Oleksandr Usyk chose not to face him. A fight with Daniel Dubois is being lined up for early 2026, with both fighters under Frank Warren, making negotiations straightforward. Veteran Derek Chisora has also been mentioned after his trilogy bout with Dillian Whyte fell through.
The most exciting British matchup would be Wardley against rising star Moses Itauma, who is 13-0 with 11 knockouts. But both fighters share promoter Frank Warren and trainer Ben Davison, making that clash unlikely in the near future.
Usyk Running Out of Rivals
Oleksandr Usyk, unbeaten in 24 professional bouts and a champion across two weight classes, still holds the WBA, WBC and IBF titles. But credible challengers are getting harder to find. He has already beaten Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois twice each.
The IBF has ordered a final eliminator between Richard Torrez Jr and Frank Sanchez, a fight that could produce Usyk’s next mandatory challenger. Many contenders have avoided Sanchez, but Torrez may accept.
The most convincing threat to Usyk, according to purists, is Germany’s Agit Kabayel. The unbeaten WBC interim champion faces Damian Knyba on 10 January and has put together five impressive stoppage wins, including against Zhilei Zhang and Sanchez.
Joshua and Fury Still Major Attractions
Anthony Joshua has been out of world-title contention since his loss to Dubois at Wembley 14 months ago. He returns on 19 December against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, a fight aimed more at entertainment than legacy.
Promoters still hope the long-awaited Joshua–Fury showdown can finally happen in 2026. Fury, who insists he is retired, is expected to reveal his future plans soon. Even if both are past their prime, the matchup remains a stadium-filling blockbuster.
TKV’s Options Open Up
Back in the domestic picture, TKV now holds the British title and is attracting attention. A rematch with David Adeleye is likely, given the controversy around their previous meeting. Adeleye fights in Nigeria later this month, but TKV also welcomes a Clarke rematch, saying he’d be happy to run it again in London or even Wembley.
Dave Allen, crowd favourite Johnny Fisher and Solomon Dacres remain credible domestic options. Meanwhile, former cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie and Londoner Richard Riakporhe continue their push toward future world-title contention.
Confirmed Heavyweight Fights
19 December – Miami, USA
• Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua
19 December – Nigeria
• Lawrence Okolie v TBC
• David Adeleye v TBC
10 January 2026 – Oberhausen, Germany
• Agit Kabayel v Damian Knyba (WBC interim title)
24 January 2026 – Manchester, England
• Moses Itauma v Jermaine Franklin
Discussion about this post