The 21st century has been a golden era for British boxing, witnessing the rise of extraordinary talents who have left an indelible mark on the sport.
From world champions to Olympic heroes, the United Kingdom has produced a remarkable array of pugilistic talent.
That said, here’s a comprehensive look at 10 of the best British boxers of the millennium.
Joe Calzaghe
A multiple world champion in two different weight classes and undefeated in 46 professional bouts, Joe Calzaghe’s dominance cements his status as one of the greatest of all time.
The Welshman held the super-middleweight belt for a record 10 years and defended it an impressive 20 times.
Anthony Joshua
An Olympic gold medalist and two-time former unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua’s global appeal and prowess in the ring have made him a boxing icon.
‘AJ’ has been on a redemption mission in 2023 following two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, and he’s tipped to make it three wins on the bounce on December 23 in the Joshua vs Otto Wallin odds.
Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton’s relentless fighting style and passionate fan base made him a beloved figure in British boxing.
The two-weight world champion had a massive impact on the sport’s popularity in the UK, and thousands of fans made the trip across the Atlantic to watch him fight the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury is a force in the heavyweight division, known for his unorthodox style and resilience, exemplified in his victories over Deontay Wilder.
‘The Gypsy King’ is the current WBC champion, and will aim to become the undisputed heavyweight champion when he takes on Usyk on February 14th — a fight Fury is expected to win if you’re looking for a boxing bet.
Carl Froch
A warrior in the super-middleweight division, Froch engaged in several memorable battles, including wins over Mikkel Kessler and George Groves at a sold-out Wembley Stadium.
Known as ‘The Cobra’, the Nottingham native held multiple titles in his weight class — including becoming the unified super-middleweight champion with a victory over Kessler in 2013.
Amir Khan
Bursting onto the scene as a young prodigy, Amir Khan’s speed and boxing acumen helped him capture world titles in multiple weight classes, solidifying his status as a versatile and accomplished fighter.
Khan won the WBA light-welterweight title in 2009 and defended it five times, while also unifying the championship with the IBF light-welterweight belt.
Kell Brook
A skilled welterweight and super-welterweight, Kell Brook’s notable victories include defeating Shawn Porter to capture the IBF welterweight title.
Brook defended the belt three times before losing it to Errol Spence Jr. in 2017. He lost world title fights against Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin (for the WBC, IBF and IBO middleweight titles) and Terence Crawford (for the WBO welterweight title).
Josh Taylor
Josh Taylor climbed up the ranks rapidly. This included winning the IBF light-welterweight title against Ivan Baranchyk, adding the WBA (Super) and vacant The Ring light-welterweight titles to his resumé with a win over Regis Prograis, and defeating Jose Ramirez to become the undisputed super-lightweight champion.
The Scotsman suffered the first defeat of his career earlier this year, losing to Teofimo Lopez to be stripped of the WBO and The Ring light-welterweight belts in New York.
Carl Frampton
The two-weight world champion from Northern Ireland, Carl Frampton showcased skill and determination in a glittering professional career that lasted over a decade.
Mammoth victories over Scott Quigg in Manchester and Leo Santa Cruz at the Barclays Center in New York earned him a well-deserved spot among the top British boxers of the 21st century.
David Haye
A two-weight world champion, David Haye’s charisma and explosive fighting style left a lasting impact on British boxing.
Haye became world champion for the first time in 2007 when defeating Jean-Marc Mormeck for the WBA, WBC and The Ring cruiserweight belts, and he became unified champion a year later thanks to a win over Enzo Maccarinelli. He became the heavyweight world champion in 2009.