Eighteen-year-old amateur heavyweight phenom Joseph Awinongya Jr. appears to be the next big thing in boxing’s glamor division.

The sport’s leading power brokers are lining up at the 26-time national champion’s door, looking to land a breakthrough by luring the American into a lucrative deal.

But Awinongya, who has a reported record of 165-10, is torn between continuing his amateur career by securing a spot on the United States team at the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles or turning pro with the intent to break Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history at 20 years old.

Either feat could be accomplished in 2028, depending on which door Awinongya opens. And the clock is ticking.

As American boxing desperately seeks its next great heavyweight, the million-dollar question becomes: Which path will Awinongya pick?

“I have some tough decisions to make,” Awinongya told The Ring. “I know I have the talent, skills and what it takes to be the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, as well as a gold medalist for the United States. I just don't know what the final decision looks like for me right now.”

Awinongya is coming off yet another stellar and eye-opening performance by winning the U.S. National Championships in December in Lubbock, Texas.

What made the accomplishment particularly impressive was that Awinongya moved up from 176 to 198 pounds to beat the highly-ranked Malachi Georges by a 4-1 decision. The likes of Dana White and Nick Khan were in attendance to recruit Awinongya and others as they continue to build their relationship with USA Boxing to develop a prospect pipeline for Zuffa Boxing.

Awinongya was born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, and trains out of the nearby Sam Colona Boxing gym. He’s a second-generation fighter of Ghanaian descent who is coached by his father, Joseph Awinongya Sr., a former pro boxer who tallied a record of 12-9-5 between 1994 and 2005.

Awinongya is 6-foot-5 – and he’s still growing. Just five years ago, he was sparring fighters like current lightweight contender Curmel Moton as a 125-pounder. Awinongya's growth spurt, paired with his increasingly growing accolades, has contributed to the massively sized outlook.

“People are showing excessive interest, and my father is taking a lot of calls,” said Awinongya, who started boxing at the age of 5. “So many big names from all of the different promotional companies in the game are showing interest, and it's beginning to weigh on me. I'm not necessarily shopping around, but it's more about building relationships and showcasing myself.

“I could have never imagined that every power player in the boxing world would be looking at me. It proves that all of the hard work I've put in is paying off, and it's fueling me to push even harder.”

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Andre Ward is the last American male fighter to win an Olympic gold medal in any division, a feat he accomplished during the 2004 Summer Games.

The USA's gold medal drought across the heavyweight divisions is far greater and is nearing a four-decade lull. Ray Mercer is the last American heavyweight to win an Olympic gold medal in 1988, and Tyrell Biggs is the last American super heavyweight to win a gold medal in 1984.

The star-studded 1984 United States Olympic team also featured Henry Tillman, who won heavyweight gold. Tillman beat Tyson twice during the Olympic Trials, effectively ending "Iron Mike's" amateur career and pushing Tyson toward a path to turn pro and kick-starting a meteoritic rise that resulted in him becoming the heavyweight champion over a 20-month, 27-fight span by 1986.

After the reigns of Tyson and Evander Holyfield ended, American heavyweights who could carry the country’s flag were few and far between.

Deontay Wilder improbably emerged following a bronze medal run in the 2008 Olympics. Wilder, who picked up boxing at 20, eventually had a WBC title reign that spanned five years and 10 defenses.

Now 40, and his best days clearly behind him, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native is ready to pass the red, white and blue torch to the next generation.

Which makes the decision to remain as an amateur fighter or turn pro even more difficult for Awinongya, who realizes he can become an overnight sensation like Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya if he follows his Olympic dreams and secures gold, especially on home soil.

Awinongya is seemingly in a league of his own when it comes to succeeding Wilder. Aside from Awinongya, hopeful candidates like Jared Anderson have missed the mark in recent years. Then there is 2024 Olympian Joshua Edwards, a 25-year-old from Houston, Texas, who could possibly be up for the assignment. Edwards is signed with De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and turned pro last year. He has scored knockouts in each of his five fights.

De La Hoya recently courted Awinongya in Las Vegas as the teen sparred with cruiserweight contender Robin Safar.

Outside of America, heavyweight upstarts who are well positioned to lead the next generation of the division once Oleksandr Usyk retires is 21-year-old phenom Moses Itauma, a Slovakian-Nigerian based in the United Kingdom who’s already The Ring’s No. 7-ranked contender.

Itauma and Awinongya’s roads will likely cross sometime in the 2030s. Awinongya is already embracing the encounter.

“I love Itauma's fighting style, and I personally feel that I can accomplish everything similarly to how he has if I were fast-tracked,” he said. “He was put on the right path, but I feel that I can do it even better. A fight between Moses and myself is a super fight that fans can start looking forward to down the line.”

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In addition to sporting the stars and stripes and wanting to put American heavyweights back on the boxing map, Awinongya is deeply connected to his Ghanaian roots and proudly represents the African country, just as the likes of Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey did in decades before.

“It's beautiful to say that I have Ghanaian descent and amazing to know that I have my people behind me,” said Awinongya, who’s already received warm welcomes in the country during previous trips.

“I want to help my family level up to the next stage in life with generational wealth, all while helping my people in the Joliette community and Ghana, who are already supporting me. They've helped make me the person who I am today. I want to not only change my life, but the life of others.”

The well-spoken and confident Awinongya is also well advanced and beyond his years outside of the ring. He says he graduated from high school at 13, earned an associate's degree at 15, and a bachelor’s degree in marketing last year while on scholarship at the University of St. Francis in Illinois. Awinongya is now pursuing a master’s degree in business at the same private school.

“I'm so glad I got my education so that I can fully focus on boxing,” he said. “Boxing has always been my No. 1 plan. I wanted to get my education so I can devote as much time as possible to boxing.”

Awinongya describes himself as a versatile fighter who grew up with an appreciation for such stars as Felix Trinidad while admiring the heavyweight division as a whole. Wilder, of course, was the one Awinongya took the most liking to.

As Wilder gives it a final go, Awinongya wants to meet the former champ and even spar with him before the changing of the American heavyweight guard can become official.

“That would be beautiful and amazing. I'd love to meet my heroes and develop alongside them,” said Awinongya, who also has plans to travel across Europe and work alongside other active pros. “I can't lose patience for the path and trajectory that I am on. I realize that I need to take it slow and speed it up when the timing and opportunity is right.”

For the time being, Awinongya patiently wrestles with the biggest fight in front of him – Amateur vs. Pro – as the boxing world awaits his decision.

“It's incredibly amazing," he said, "to be in the position that I’m in as I try to take over the heavyweight division, one day.”

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.