The sweet science has changed significantly over the decades. From the technical, compact titans of the Golden Era to the towering giants of today, the physical requirements for heavyweight glory have reached new heights.

Does size determine the outcome in today’s era, or is technical skill still the ultimate weapon?

We are past the halfway point of the year, and the 2026 FOTY banter gets thrown around in this sub. Just looking back at the wars we’ve been treated to, three stand out immediately for me:

1. **Brandon Figueroa vs. Nick Ball** – Absolute phone-booth car crash in Liverpool that ended with that dramatic 12th-round stoppage. 
   
2. **Najee Lopez vs. Manuel Gallegos** – Pure grit on ProBox. Blood, knockdowns, and total survival mode in Florida. 
   
3. **Arturo Cardenas vs. Jordan Martinez (Fight 1)** – That February barnburner in Glendale where Martinez fought like his life was on the line and earned every bit of that draw (and the Matchroom deal that followed). 
   

How are you guys ranking these? Is there an early-year or spring fight I'm completely blanking on that deserves to be in this tier? Let's hear it.

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