Professional Boxing: The State of the Heavyweight Division

With ten or twenty years of significant heavyweight boxing almost lost due to the inconsistency of the sports four existing champions, heavyweight fighting ‘ain’t what it used to be.’ Boxing fans cry out in desperation as the sport thirsts for a star to emerge on the scene. World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Hasim Rahman (41-5-2), has yet to land an explosive performance to catapult his name to the moon. International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Chris Byrd (39-2-1), still remains the slickest of the four, but lacks the punch, intensity and charisma to charm his viewers. Newly crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Nikolay Valuev of Germany (43-0-0), although holds the most impressive record of the group is still an unknown variable. Even with 43 consecutive victories 31 by KO, the location of his fights across seas have blunted his recognition in the US. Last but not least, newly crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Sergei Lyakovich (23-1-0) looked the most impressive after giving preceding champion Lamon Brewster now (33-3-0) more than the imaginable inside of 12 action packed rounds. Unfortunately for Lyakovich, the lack of competition in the division and the corrupted politics of the sport will leave him without many lucrative deals to consider.

There’s a state of panic when the word, ‘heavyweight’ is mentioned in the subject of boxing. All of the attention is being shifted to the lighter weight divisions; primarily anywhere between the range of 126lbs – 168lbs. I myself find it difficult to recognize any clarity whatsoever as long as this division remains this fragmented. I am hoping very soon for a savior to adopt his rank in the division and banish all irrelevant elements. Nothing was more exciting to watch then Mike Tyson crack a guy with those huge biceps of his and watch his opponent curl up like cheap bacon. What about the graciousness and charisma of Muhammad Ali up on his toes firing that ‘pretty’ jab? What about the technicalities and craftsmanship of Evander Holyfield dismantling his prey like lions over antelopes? I hate to say it boxing fans and spectators, but yesterday is gone forever. There’ll never be another like it. We have to get over those days and focus on the here and now.

Luckily, we still have something left over in our savings account; if we could just keep our fingers crossed. Calvin Brock (28-0-0 22 KO’s) looks to be a promising prodigy thus far. Wladimir Klitschko (45-3-0 40 KOs) may have a chin made of porcelain, but he is the most purest and fluid contender all around the board; great height, reach, skill, power.

James Toney (69-4-3 43 KOs) at age 37 and 5 feet 9 inches isn’t getting any younger or slimmer but is very hard to hurt, defensively sound and may actually be the toughest of the clan. Perhaps the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ Samuel Peter (25-1-0 21 KOs) came emerge back on the scene and recapture his place as a key player in the race of supremacy.

I have the utmost faith that something good will turn out from all of this in the end. But if not You can just find me catching Zab Judah and Floyd Mayweather tearing into each other this upcoming Saturday night of April 8th.