Could there be another threat to the Heavyweight division around the corner?

The answer is yes according to Kronk Gym’s Javon “Sugar” Hill who is currently molding unbeaten 31 year old 🇷🇺Apti Davtaev (20-0-1, 19KO) of Russia. Hill, who also trains Lineal/WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury is high on Davtaev, going so far as to say that his power is three times that of unified Light-Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev.

Davtaev was off to a fast start in 2020, knocking off Keith Barr in three rounds on the Claressa Shields-Ivana Habazin undercard in January, then went home to Russia a month later where he dispatched John Napari in two rounds. Before the coronavirus put a halt to sports globally, the next fight he had in the works was as a replacement for Otto Wallin against veteran heavyweight Lucas Browne.

Hill has a goal to bring Davtaev together with Fury for sparring sessions in the future to further his development. At 6’5” Davtaev stands tall along with the other crop of big Heavyweights, but he also takes on the little guys in the gym to help him adapt to different speed and movement, which he can translate to the heavyweights he faces. Davtaev is worth adding to your watch list once boxing gets underway again.

Apti Davtaev
Record: 20-0-1, 19KO
Heavyweight
Age: 31
From: Puzevo, Russia
Height: 6’5″
Reach: 78 1/2″
KO%: 90
Promoter: Dmitry Salita