Super Series finalist, Beterbiev's teammate and the ninth number of the WBO ranking: who represents Russia in the heavyweight division

For many years, Alexander Povetkin remained the strongest representative of Russia in the category over 90.7 kg.

During his phenomenal career in professional boxing, he won 25 victories, was the interim WBC world champion, won the WBA regular title, and also fought twice for the world title.

However, in 2021, the Athens Games gold medal winner decided to hang his gloves on a nail, and therefore the place of the strongest domestic heavyweight became vacant.

And at the moment there are a number of candidates who can replace the Russian Knight in this status.

Murat Gassiev (28-1)

For less than five years, it is the native of North Ossetia who has been considered the most promising Russian boxer, regardless of weight categories. This was largely due to the sensational victory over Denis Lebedev in December 2016, which allowed him to win the IBF first heavyweight title, as well as receive an invitation to participate in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS). There, he alternately knocked out strong Krzysztof Wlodarczyk and Yuniel Dorticos and only in the final could not cope with an opponent. Gassiev lost by unanimous decision to Alexander Usik and lost the chance to become the absolute champion.

Subsequently, the undefeated Ukrainian expressed a desire to go to heavy weight, and the Russian decided to follow him. True, unlike his counterpart, the start of Gassiev's career in the most prestigious division was repeatedly postponed. Injuries, problems with promoters and refusals from potential opponents, who were not eager to fight with the famous puncher, interfered with the entry into the ring in turn. As a result, the pause between performances stretched for more than two years, but this did not affect the level of expectations placed on him.

And this is not surprising.

Gassiev not only has the hardest blow, which is confirmed by 21 knockout victories, but is also very young by the standards of heavy weight.

It is believed that its representatives reach their peak after 30 years, while Murat will only turn 28 in October. He has more than enough time to settle into a new category for himself and to take a leading position.

Questions are raised perhaps not by the most outstanding anthropometric data by the division's standards.

The growth of the Russian is 192 centimeters - noticeably less than that of the current belt holders.

Anthony Joshua is 6 centimeters taller, and Tyson Fury is 14. Of course, this is not a guarantee of success, but it still gives a serious advantage to opponents.

Especially if they know how to use it.

Evgeny Romanov (16-0)

Despite his regalia and popularity, Gassiev is just starting his way in heavyweight and is not yet included in the top ten of the ranking of any of the prestigious organizations. Unlike Evgeny Romanov, whom the WBO has already put on the ninth line in the list of potential contenders for the belt. And there is a reason for that. During his five-year professional career, the Russian won 16 victories, 11 of which he won by knockout, and did not suffer a single defeat.

Yes, unlike Gassiev, he has never defeated extra-class fighters.

Romanov spent all his fights at home, and began to fight with serious opponents only from the end of 2020.

First, he was organized a duel with ex-world champion Sergei Lyakhovich, and then with Dmitry Kudryashov.

True, he passed in a new division - bridgerway, as a result of which he could hardly have a positive effect on his position in the table of ranks.

One way or another, 36-year-old Romanov has the potential to get into the top five in the future, and subsequently compete for the title.

The only question is whether he is interested in continuing to fight in the most prestigious category.

Given his height (183 centimeters), bridgerwaite can be an ideal option for him in terms of career development.

Fortunately, he is already a mandatory contender for the vacant WBC title.

Arslanbek Makhmudov (12-0)

Unlike Romanov, the native of North Ossetia is unlikely to decide to go down the category below.

The 197cm boxer has an ideal build for heavy weight and makes great use of it during fights.

At the moment, his unbeaten streak is 12 fights, and he won all of them ahead of schedule.

In nine cases, the Russian solved all the questions already in the first round and only once spent more than nine minutes in the ring.

In May 2019, during the seventh stretch, he knocked out American Jonathan Rice.

It is worth noting that in terms of career development, Makhmudov took an example from his partner in the camp, Artur Beterbiev. In 2017, he moved to Quebec and signed a contract with the local promotional firm Eye of the Tiger, after which he began to conquer America. Over the past four years, Arslanbek managed to fight in the largest cities of Canada, and in July 2021 he got out to Mexico. At the moment, he owns two regional belts at once - the North American Federation and the association (WBC-NABF and WBA-NABA, respectively), and has also established himself well in front of the local public.

And gradually Makhmudov is being promoted at the expense of the once famous and renowned boxers - a standard tactic both in Russia and abroad.

In December 2019, he was given a fight with ex-world champion Samuel Peter, and on September 23 he will have a fight with Ercan Teper.

The 39-year-old of German descent cannot boast the same stellar status, but has previously dated many bright heavyweights.

He will hardly be able to resist Arslanbek.

But letting him add another big name to his track record is quite.

And at such a pace, already in the middle of 2022, a domestic athlete can try his hand at battles with a really worthy counterpart.

Arslan Yalyev (12-0)

Yaliyev can also be added to the list of potential heavy-weight stars.

By the age of 24, he managed to win a dozen battles, but at the same time he practically did not fight with high-class rivals.

It would be a stretch to include only the Argentinean Victor Emilio Ramirez, who had time to measure his strength with Lebedev and Marco Hook.

As for the rest, he beat only Jornimens, which makes it difficult to assess his prospects.

In June, Yaliyev was supposed to meet with ex-UFC fighter Fabio Maldonado, but two weeks before the tournament he was injured and was forced to withdraw.

According to ex-world champion Grigory Drozd, the athlete injured his shoulder, and the recovery time is estimated at six months.

Thus, the next appearance of Arslan in the ring should be expected no earlier than 2022.

Sergey Kuzmin (15-2)

The former WBA Intercontinental World Champion should not be completely discounted either. Yes, Sergei Kuzmin could not win in the last two fights, but in both cases he covered the entire distance and lost only on the judges' cards. And if he lost to Michael Hunter quite big, then he fought almost on equal terms with Martin Bacole. And this is a very decent result, given the fact that the Congolese spars Usik in preparation for the battle with Joshua.

As far as we know, Kuzmin's next fight is scheduled for October, but neither the exact date of the fight, nor the opponent is known. Currently, he is training camp in the Elbrus region in the company of the WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. Of course, one victory is unlikely to help Sergey close two defeats in a row and significantly improve his position in the ranking, but it will demonstrate that he is still able to compete on equal terms with the strongest opponents.