Five veteran boxers who could still be dangerous at world level

In boxing, experience is one of the most valuable assets in the sport. Youth is powerful, and many young fighters coming through are fast making a name for themselves, but there are many veteran boxers who remain a threat, despite their advancing years. Here are five who are still dangerous at world level.

Five veteran boxers still dangerous at world level – Deontay Wilder

Deontay Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) was without doubt one of the most feared fighters on the planet. His right hand struck fear into the heavyweight division for several years.

He scored eye-catching wins over Luis Ortiz x2 and Dominic Breazeale. His memorable trilogy with Tyson Fury will go down in heavyweight folklore. Wilder had his moments in the trilogy but ultimately fell short, with a record of 0-2-1. 

Following defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, it appeared Wilder would retire, but “The Bronze Bomber” returned on June 27, stopping Tyrrell Anthony Herndon. Now 40 years old, it remains to be seen what is next for Wilder, but if any of that power remains, he will still be dangerous at world level and would be a popular choice in online sports betting odds.

Anthony Joshua

Next up on our veteran boxers list is Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs). The former unified heavyweight world champion was last in action, losing to Daniel Dubois in 2024. It wasn’t the defeat itself that was most damaging for AJ; it was the nature of the loss, being knocked down four times.

AJ has memorable wins over Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, and, more recently, against Francis Ngannou. 

Joshua carries plenty of power and a strong jab, which would help him compete with many heavyweights. The question marks remain over his desire and punch resistance after the Dubois defeat. A return in 2026 looks likely for the 36-year-old  AJ.

Artur Beterbiev

One of the most fearsome punchers in recent years is the former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs).

The heavy-handed Russian has brutally stopped many opponents, with his ability to cut the ring off and trap his opponents being most impressive.

He holds impressive wins over Joe Smith Jr, Callum Smith, and Tavoris Cloud. More recently, Beterbiev defeated Dmitry Bivol to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion, before losing the rematch by a majority decision. 

A trilogy fight with Bivol was expected, but Bivol recently underwent back surgery, which led Beterbiev to agree to a fight with Deon Nicolson set for November 22. This bout has now been removed from that card, with the 40-year-old’s next move unclear. When he does return, expect an explosive performance from the Khasavyurt-born fighter.

Keith Thurman

The next fighter on our dangerous veteran boxers list is Keith “One Time” Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs). The talented Clearwater fighter is now 36 and returned to action on March 12, stopping Brock Jarvis in three rounds.

He was expected to challenge Sebastian Fundora for the WBC super welterweight title before Fundora suffered an injury, leading to the cancellation of that fight.

Thurman has suffered from inactivity and injuries since his sole career loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2019. It’s unclear how much of the younger Thurman is still there, but he showed flashes of his sharp counter-punching and impressive reflexes against Jarvis. 

Should he get his chance against Fundora or anyone else, he will provide a complex puzzle to solve.

Juan Francisco Estrada

The last name on our five veteran boxers list is the legendary Mexican two-weight world champion Juan Francisco Estrada (45-4, 28 KOs). Estrada is one of the most respected fighters at the lower weights and holds impressive wins over Roman Gonzalez x2, Carlos Cuadras, and Wisaksil Wangek, among others.

In more recent years, he showed he’s still dangerous at the highest level, knocking down Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez before being stopped in the seventh round. He was last seen in action against Karim Arce Lugo, winning by unanimous decision.

Estrada remains a highly skilled operator who punches with impressive precision and intent. He’s adept at controlling the tempo in his fights and punching from varying angles. It remains to be seen if he can compete at the highest level, but the desire appears to be there.