4th September 2017. At the sound of the bell, two fighters emerge from their respective corners and begin to circle one another, eyes focused and feet moving with finesse. Watching a boxing match between two professionals at the top of their game is like nothing else; the amount of technical skill on display for those who know what to look for is staggering. Yet as a sport, boxing, particularly heavyweight boxing, has had many ups and downs over the years. With several major sanctioning bodies running fights all the time, and each crowning multiple "champions" of their own even within the same weight class, it can be confusing to follow even for the experienced. Boxing has also been dominated by an "old guard" of veteran fighters for some time now. Today that is changing, as new talents such as Anthony Joshua continue to rise, endure, and even win some pretty harrowing fights. For the uninitiated, though, what do you need to know about world heavyweight boxing to understand and enjoy the sport? What are the new developments with fighters like Joshua that are so interesting they're bringing more attention back to the title of "world champion"? Let's start by breaking down how things work and the workings of boxing's sanctioning bodies.

 

How does world heavyweight boxing work?

 

The first factor that is essential to understanding how boxing works today is the concept of the boxing organisations. In modern boxing today, four major organisations exist to certify fighters and stage fights at the championship level. These four organisations are the WBO, the WBA, the WBC, and the IBF. Fans of boxing lend different levels of credence and respect to different organisations, but for all intents and purposes, they are independent and equal to one another. However, that does not mean there is parity between the fighters each league proclaims as a "champion" ? and even that title comes with plenty of confusing baggage. Each organisation sets its own criteria for what constitutes a champion and how often those champions must fight designated opponents in defence of their titles. Some go a step further, with the WBA proclaiming a "super champion" who has successfully defended multiple titles repeatedly. At the same time, there can still be WBA-sanctioned "champions" and even a lower level of "interim champions." In reality, these are just titles ? they signify accomplishments, but not always major ones. As a result, it is tough to say who is the "heavyweight champion of the world." You'd first need to specify which org and what kind of champion. For most boxers, though, the most coveted belts today come from the WBC. From time to time, you might hear about a "unification" bout or a "unification" title, or even the words "unified heavyweight champion." This happens when a boxer seeks to solidify their position by winning titles from two or more different divisions. Unfortunately, it?s often difficult to do, both due to the internal politics of the sanctioning bodies and due to a lack of opponents willing to agree to the match. Previously, it was possible for there to be one winner above all else, back in the days of fewer sanctioning bodies. It has been almost 20 years since there was an undisputed world heavyweight champion. The last man to clinch that title was British fighter Lennox Lewis, who subsequently retired in 2004 after achieving the feat in 1999.

 

A brief history of heavyweight boxing

 

Before Lewis, though, and the intrusion of too much politicking into the sport, world heavyweight boxing had a thriving scene of big-name champions fighting headlining bouts. This rich history goes back more than a century, to the last big bare-knuckle fights in the USA. After boxing adopted a more formalised structure in the early 1900s, fights became one of the most popularly watched sports in North America. It was especially true in the 1920s, which produced one of the first major all-time boxing greats. Jack Dempsey, a world heavyweight champion, defeated an Argentine champion to claim the title and secure a place in history. By the 1960s, the sport had standardised even further. With two sanctioning bodies now, both the WBC and the WBA began to compete with each other's boxers. However, they continued to proclaim undisputed champions, and many rose to fame in this period ? including, of course, Muhammad Ali. By the 80s, though, more of an effort was made to monetise boxing on a large scale. 1983 saw the creation of the IBF, and the WBO was born in 1988, giving rise to the crowded world stage of the current day. With each passing year without a unified victor, many wonder if the days of one man occupying a heroic-like role as the world champion have come to an end. Is that true, though, or is there finally a shift occurring that could lead to a new global heavyweight champ?

 

Anthony Joshua: the brightest of today's rising stars

 

If there is one person who would like to see a return to a true "undisputed" status as champion, it's Anthony Joshua. The newest unified champion, Joshua owns titles from the IBF, IBO, and the WBA (as the Super Champion). He also recently defeated heavyweight powerhouse Wladimir Klitschko with an eleventh round TKO. For those keeping score, that means that all 19 of his current victories have come from TKO or KO. Not only is that an impressive feat on its own, but Joshua has shown an ability to control the fight and suffer through hits that might floor another man. As if this wasn't enough, he also captured the gold heavyweight medal at the most recent Summer Olympics. While the state of boxing today is unlikely to return to the former method for determining champions, there's no doubt that Joshua stands at the top of his game right now. What's more, his youth, energy, and outspoken personality continue to draw tonnes of interest from avid boxing fans in both North America and Europe. As a result, he seems poised to become one of the first of the latest class of greats. With members of the old guard like Klitschko ageing and close to retirement, it's about time for the sport to have a new major name pushing forward for glory. Joshua himself has made it clear in media interviews that he understands the impact his presence has, stating he believes he is positively influencing young people.

 

The future of heavyweight boxing around the world

 

Anthony Joshua isn't the only young gun making a headlong charge into heavyweight fighting, though he is certainly the most successful and visible right now. Other contenders, like Tyson Fury, have already shown they have the chops it takes to compete at the highest levels ? Fury defeated Klitschko for a title as well. It's fighters like these men, and others like Joseph Parker, that are infusing much-needed energy into a sport that is no longer as popular in the mainstream. Many of them exhibit an important trait, too: the hunger for greatness that drives their desire to fight others at the highest calibre. Joshua, for example, has already set a Klitschko rematch on the books. While undisputed champions like Ali and company may be a thing of the past, Anthony Joshua's securing of a unified title is a major step into the future. It's not just about the visibility of younger fighters, either: it's about the energy and ferocious nature they bring into the ring with them. Anyone who witnessed Joshua going the distance with Klitschko, bouncing back after some rough middle rounds, knows that. For those who haven't paid much attention before, now is a good time to start!

 

Nothing beats the raw adrenaline of a championship fight

 

Though it can be tricky to understand the way heavyweight championships work at first, it all falls into place once you begin following the sport. With big names putting on show-stopping performances and going round after round with the best in the world, it offers just as much excitement as any other sport. Joshua could also signal the resurgence of youth in the game, something desperately needed as many of the older greats begin to hang up their gloves for good. Will Joshua become the true undisputed heavyweight champion of the world? It remains to be seen, but we can be sure there are exciting times ahead for boxing.