Has time finally come for Boswell?

By Wes Moore

29.07 - Promoters, fighters, fans, and money all complicate the chess game that is the heavyweight division. Young, upcoming fighters are often blamed for padding their records with non-descript opponents when they often have no control over their destiny. Leveraging a fighter's value is very important and any misstep could eliminate any chance of that one big payday or title shot. But sometimes a fighter waits and waits for that big money fight until the wait becomes ridiculous. The wait has been long and arduous for heavyweight "prospect" Cedric Boswell but it seems that he may have finally found a quality opponent that will step in with him. It appears that he will clash with Kirk Johnson on the October 4 card featuring James Toney versus Evander Holyfield.

The story of Boswell as a professional fighter started much like that of any heavyweight. He debuted in 1994 at the age of 25 and continued fighting no major threats but making an impression as a solid prospect. In 1999, he beat Terry Porter and then came the major disruption. Boswell did not fight again until August of 2002, yes 2002. A dispute with his then promoter, Don King, led to the long layoff.

The dispute was eventually resolved and Boswell returned. He signed with Goosen-Tutor promotions and the opportunities were expected to follow. The next big opportunity came when Boswell had secured an ESPN2 date earlier this year and he issued an open challenge to all quality heavyweights to meet him on that date. This date eventually proved null for the Boswell camp as they accepted the biggest challenge-the one they had been waiting for in Vitali Klitschko.

In a strange sense of irony, the main event was to be Lennox Lewis defense against Kirk Johnson but then came another twist. As we all know, Johnson was injured and pulled out which eventually led Klitschko pulling out of the Boswell fight to take the title shot. When no suitable opponent could be found on short notice, Boswell did not fight. Who knows what Boswell will do when given the opportunity to fight a top-flight opponent? The wait has been too long to see what he can do but this is not uncommon when it comes to a very visible hand that controls the division.

This situation is unfortunately an all too common occurrence especially in the heavyweight division when one promoter is pulling the strings for too many fighters. A stranglehold of power can corrupt the product. We, the boxing public, are sometimes subjected to underqualified, overhyped fighters who make it to television or pay per view simply because they work for a certain promoter but mostly we are deprived of quality heavyweights who don't make it because they cross the all powerful puppet master. It is good to finally see other promoters and promotion companies making headway into the heavyweight division to open up the playing field and it's good for fighters like Boswell. Finally the undefeated fighter gets his chance to prove his worth. Good luck to Cedric and all other fighters who have to overcome promotional problems.

On a side note, this is my first article back after more than a six-month layoff and I am happy to beback. I believe that I am ready once again to be a regular contributor to East Side Boxing.com. I hope that I can provide all East Side readers with quality, pull no punches articles about the Heavyweight division. You can reach me at largedog@bellsouth.net and until next time watch out for the upper cut behind the jab.