Today marks the 30th anniversary of one special heavyweight’s ascension to the world title: Mike Tyson. Tyson, as fans know, decimated Trevor Berbick to win the WBC crown three full decades ago, and it wasn’t long before the rest of the belts were Tyson’s property. Some experts say Tyson, at just 20, turned in his finest performance on November 22nd, 1986.
Here is a list of the ten finest performances from the ten greatest-ever world heavyweight champions:
In more bad news for the heavyweight division and for Lucas Browne in particular, it has been reported – by Ring and by ESPN.com – that the Australian heavyweight has failed a second drugs test. According to the WBC, Browne – who vehemently insists he did not knowingly take the banned substance clenbuterol ahead of his March fight with Ruslan Chagaev – tested positive for ostarine, a stamina-increasing substance.
Browne enrolled in VADA back in July, insisting he has nothing to hide, but this failed second test looks to have put an end to his WBA-ordered fight with Shannon Briggs for a version of the title (still, the Alexander Povetkin-Bermane Stiverne fight, for the interim WBC belt, is still going ahead, despite Stiverne testing positive for an illegal substance, so you never know).
Yesterday, November 21st, saw the 40th anniversary of the movie premiere of arguably the finest, the best-loved and the most inspirational boxing flick of them all – “Rocky.” All these years (and six sequels) later, “Rocky” is a movie and a fighter to have passed the test of time in style; still standing and way ahead on points.
Fans simply love the Sly Stallone creation, even if some of the more hard nosed film critics enjoy slating the over the top theatrics of the series (having been guilty of totally missing the point). Bottom line: “Rocky” is a great film; as are some of its sequels.
Going into this past Saturday’s big light-heavyweight title fight showdown plenty of people were saying the winner between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev would be deserving of being placed atop the mythical but always hotly debated pound-for-pound rankings. Ward, as we all know, won – at least officially – and we cannot go back on things now.
So is Ward, who was a dominant super-middleweight for a number of years and is now a king at light-heavyweight, the best boxer, pound-for-pound on the planet? On paper, yes, he probably is, although a number of people may choose to rate Kovalev higher than “S.O.G” due to the fact that they felt, and feel, “Krusher” won on Saturday, only to be “robbed.”
Can Andre Ward make it as a heavyweight? After his close, controversial but at times very impressive win/performance over Sergey Kovalev, Ward, the new light-heavyweight king, briefly spoke about how he might – might – be tempted to take a fight at heavyweight one day. Ward hasn’t lost it completely, as he carefully inserted the caveat that the fight would have to be “the right fight.”
It really was 30 long years ago this week (November 22) when a young, soon to peak Mike Tyson made boxing history by becoming, at the age of 20, the youngest ever claimant of a world heavyweight title.
Tyson, who had been a pro for just 20 months, challenged WBC champ Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas and those in attendance witnessed a quite brutal coronation.
The only thing fans are in agreement on regarding last night’s exciting fight between Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward (the winner’s name goes first) is there simply has to be a rematch. The razor-thin unanimous decision awarded to Ward instantly became a topic of huge contention, even before either fighter had left the ring in Las Vegas – some even calling the verdict a “robbery,” some saying it is one of the worst they have ever seen.
There was a rematch clause inserted ahead of last night’s bout, so it seems there is a good chance a return fight will happen and soon. Kathy Duva, promoter of Kovalev, is calling for an immediate return. Kovalev, who says he never lost more than three rounds, is not guilty of having sour grapes; he genuinely believes he won the fight. Many millions of fight fans firmly agree with the now former light-heavyweight champ.
There were plenty of boxing greats in Las Vegas last night to attend the big Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward fight, with big names from past and present on hand to watch the light-heavyweight title showdown. One of these great fighters was living legend Julio Cesar Chavez, the greatest Mexican fighter in history according to most experts and fans alike.
And while he was in town, the former multi-weight king was asked – and not for the first time – how he felt he would have done, in his prime, in a fight with 49-0 master Floyd Mayweather Junior. Chavez, who twice defeated Floyd’s uncle and trainer Roger, smiled as he told Fight Hype how, at 140-pounds, he would have “F****d him up.”
Former undisputed heavyweight king Lennox Lewis says that although the current heavyweight division is “wide open,” Wladimir Klitschko remains the man to beat. Speaking with The New Zealand Herald, Lewis said that with Tyson Fury unable to fight (for well-documented reasons we all know about) Klitschko is “still the man to beat right now.”
Lewis, who of course called it quits on a great career after a win over Wladimir’s brother Vitali, says he “feels bad” for Klitschko, who is unable to try and avenge his decision loss to the troubled Fury.
Last night in his native London, super-middleweight contender George Groves pounded out a wide 12-round unanimous decision over an incredibly tough and game Eduard Gutknecht. Scores were 119-109 twice and 119-110. Groves is now 25-3(18). Gutknecht, really a light-heavyweight, falls to 30-5-1(13).
The unfortunate aftermath to the fight is the most important thing right now, however. The German, who really shipped some heavy shots from Groves, collapsed in his dressing room shortly after the brutal and one-sided fight had ended. BBC Sport reports how the 34-year-old was taken to hospital on a stretcher. At this time, the only thing that matters is the health and well-being of Gutknecht.