The Shadow Emperor Looking To Get His Proper Respect

Janne Romppainen

25.03 - 47 victories without a loss, 37 opponents beaten inside distance. 23 title defences. The linear champion of his division for almost six whole years . Won also a title in a higher division. Few man in the boxing world have accomplished more than him, yet he is still pretty unknown outside the boxing fans and has never been considered even the best man of his own division. Who is this guy?

The guy is of course Dariusz Michalczewski, the WBO light heavyweight champion of the world. In the 29th of March he is making his 24th defence of his belt when he faces the American contender “Royalty” Derrick Harmon in Hamburg, Germany. The fight is scheduled for twelve rounds and it will take place in front of a sold-out crowd on a Color Line Arena.

Michalczewski is a worthy subject for any article himself, but still it seems like there can not be one that would not mention his bitter rival Roy Jones Junior. This one is no exception from that genre. The situation of the light-heavyweight division in the recent years has reminded me of the Cold War in the political fields some decades earlier. There are two fighters standing well above the rest of the others. Both have a rightful claim to be the champion as one of them has all the title belts and recognition in the USA while the other one has the linear title and he is very popular in Europe. They both have been throwing challenges for each other for years but neither has really pressed to make the fight happen.

Now Jones has taken a step further by rising to the heavyweight division. With a dominating performance against John Ruiz he showed that he has a rightful place in the top five of the big boys and he also made a clear separation between himself and other light-heavies including the WBO-titlist. Now the division would be wide open for Michalczewski to rule, yet he has in turn turned his eyes towards a possible heavyweight showdown with Jones. Although it might sound a little paradoxical it is quite understandable. Even if Jones was not going to fight in his old division anymore, he will still be the champion there too in the eyes of many. Few are interested about his successors even if they were good (and Dariusz indeed is). To be remembered and to get his proper due universally Michalczewski simply has to get to fight his better-known rival even if he can’t win him. It is not anymore about the title, it is only about Jones.

But before he can look any further to his future he has top get over his upcoming challenger. Derrick Harmon brings on a solid record of 23-3 with eleven knockouts. His only losses have been against Jones himself, Montell Griffin and Greg Wright on a split decision and he clearly is one of the better contenders available. Harmon is best-remembered for his brave performance against Jones in 2000. The fight was not actually a close one but then again, few Jones’ matches are. After a fairly equal first round Harmon was basically whipped by Jones but he managed to land some punches himself and never went down nor gave up trying before his corner stopped the contest after the tenth round. Harmon is no longer a young fighter so he knows that this might be his last chance to rise to the very top of the division. That is why I expect him to be very hungry and willing to win. Is that enough to defeat the veteran champion remains to be seen. Personally I don’t think so.

Many spectators have been quick to declare that Michalczewski is in the downslide of his career and he is ready to be taken by the fresher challengers. Usually this argument is based on his two tougher-than-expected fights against Richard Hall in 2001 and 2002. What should be remembered though is that style has a lot to do with how the fights turn out. Roy Jones made Hall look very bad with his incomparable speed and technique. However, Hall’s style of fighting which includes not much movement but hard counterpunching was tailor-made for an aggressive inside fighter such as Michalczewski. Derrick Harmon is not a puncher-type but rather a cute boxer. I don’t think he has the power to stop the champion’s relentless attack.

The peculiar situation of the division can also be seen from the choice of opponents that Michalczewski has made. Derrick Harmon will be the fourth common opponent between him and Jones. Besides the already-mentioned Richard Hall there has been Virgil Hill whom Michalczewski outpointed over twelve rounds back in 1997 a year before Jones knocked him out in four rounds. Then there was also Montell Griffin who won Jones via disqualification in 1997 before being flattened in one round in the rematch. Dariusz on the other hand stopped him in four rounds in 1999.

I expect Harmon to be the next man who has lost to both of the champions. How is it going to happen that remains to be seen but my guess would be a unanimous decision. It the result turns out that way, Michalczewski will again strengthen his position in the division and he will be the man to beat for Antonio Tarver, Eric Harding or any other upcoming challenger out there if Jones is not coming back down. Still, I don’t think Michalczewski will stand and wait for the new comers. He is a fighter from the bottom of his heart, he has to continue his crusade searching for respect. And he knows there is only one man standing out there who can give it to him.