By Walter C. Donovan, III

25.07 - There's boxing…then there's heavyweight boxing, a multi-million dollar lottery consisting of big men and even bigger risks. Great risks, great rewards, the ultimate reward being crowned as undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Though Lennox Lewis reigns as king, there are elite contenders among this heavyweight aristocracy who'd love nothing more than to knock the crown off the king's head. Ergo, here is one writer's subjective attempt at evaluating the participants in this lucrative division.

1. Lennox Lewis: Despite his shaky chin, Lewis is the best heavyweight this division can offer right now…until someone proves otherwise. With victories over Razor Ruddock, Evander Holyfield, Ray Mercer, David Tua, Michael Grant, and now Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis has defeated the best and most notable heavyweights of his generation. Along with his pulverizing right cross, Lewis possesses a stiff jab, wicked uppercut, an underrated left-hook, and an uncanny athleticism for a man of his prodigious size. But at nearly 37, how much longer can he perform at this level?

Prognosis: After successfully defending against IBF #1 Chris Byrd later this year, popular demand will force him to face the most dangerous threat to his title: Wladmir Klitschko. Will Lewis be able to turn back the young warrior's challenge when the time comes?

2. Wladmir Klitschko: Forget that he's the reigning WBO champion, or that he lost via late-round exhaustion to heavyweight trialhorse Ross Puritty ions ago. Wladmir Klitschko is a devastating force. What makes him truly dangerous? He throws straight punches, and in combination! Along with Lewis and Jameel McCline, Klitschko has ushered in the age of a new type of heavyweight: the athletic big man, a mass monster weighing over 245 pounds of ripped mass who possesses speed, agility, and power (a long way from the days of Primo Carnera). Owns convincing victories over Chris Byrd, Derrick Jefferson, Charles Shufford, Frans Botha, and became the first man to stop Ray Mercer, a feat neither Evander Holyfield nor Lennox Lewis could accomplish. Though Mercer had clearly faded in the six years since facing Lewis, Klitschko's performance was nonetheless impressive, showing immense poise and patience.

Prognosis: If Klaus Peter-Kohl and company at Universum Promotions are smart, they'd keep young Wladmir out of the ring until the lucrative bout with Lennox Lewis comes off, even if HBO and the WBO have different ideas. HBO likes big ratings, and the WBO wants their champs to fight their mandatory challengers. If Lewis-Klitschko doesn't happen next, Klitschko versus WBO #1 Jameel McCline would be fun to watch.

3. Chris Byrd: Rebounded well after losing his WBO title in a one-sided drubbing to the aforementioned Klitschko, defeating the tough Maurice Harris and always dangerous David Tua. Byrd has always been awkward, but has the boxing ability to make his awkwardness work for him. Has often been referred to as this generation's Jimmy Young, a slick boxer-counterpuncher who makes all of his opponents look bad, save Ike Ibeabuchi and Wladmir Klitschko, the only men to inflict losses on Byrd's record.

Prognosis: Byrd is deserving of his IBF #1 spot, but several court battles and letdowns stemming from his ill-fated attempt to stop Lewis-Tyson may have been unnecessarily taxing. Then again, the experience could prove to be the muse needed to pull off an upset and wrest the title from Lewis. It just doesn't seem likely.

4. Kirk Johnson: Following the career of this gifted heavyweight has been a frustrating experience. Johnson was a polished fighter as early as the mid 90's, but a steady dose of stale competition and poor management stalled his progress. That changed at the start of 2000. A devastating fourth-round blowout of then highly-ranked Oleg Maskaev and a subsequent decision win over Larry Donald in a WBA elimination bout have catapulted Johnson into an elite group, culminating in his crack at WBA champion John Ruiz on July 27th.

Prognosis: Provided he annexes the WBA belt from Ruiz (as he is favored to do), the sky's the limit for Johnson. As the new WBA boss, Johnson will be forced to fight soon-to-be mandatory Evander Holyfield. Johnson-Holyfield is somewhat intriguing, but Johnson's size and strength advantages should propel him to victory over the aging four-time former champion. Johnson has all the ability in the world, along with being a gifted athlete. His jab is solid, and his right hand is lethal. Needs to get past Ruiz and Holyfield before a potential bout with Lennox Lewis can be contemplated.

5. Evander Holyfield: What else can be said of this legendary warrior that hasn't already been said in the form of superlatives. At 39, the unbelievable Holyfield remains a threat, witness his impressive win over former champion Hasim Rahman (even if the bout ended controversially). Nevertheless, certain styles will always give Holyfield problems. John Ruiz gave him fits, as would any rangy heavyweight with good movement (i.e., Chris Byrd, Kirk Johnson). But give Holyfield a guy that will fight with him on the inside and he'll shine. What other surprises does "The Real Deal" have in store for us all?

Prognosis: In line to fight the winner of Ruiz-Johnson. If by some grace of divinity he wins the WBA belt for an unprecedented fifth time, Holyfield may be considered for another crack at Lewis. If that prospect looms, Lewis should do boxing fans a favor and say "no thanks." Lewis convincingly beat him twice already, and would undoubtedly do it again. A better idea? Holyfield versus David Tua. Both have great left hooks. Both fight well inside. More importantly, both need to make a statement. My calendar is already cleared just thinking about it.

6. John Ruiz: This is the case of a decent boxer with limited skills who has made the most of his ability. The way Ruiz rebounded after getting decimated by David Tua in nineteen seconds in front of a worldwide HBO audience in March 1996 is a comeback story worthy of Hollywood. Ruiz is well-respected on that feat alone, but the WBA titlist isn't taken too seriously when mentioned with the likes of Lewis, Wladmir Klitschko, or even his next opponent, Kirk Johnson. Ruiz showed how difficult and cagey he can be in his three bouts with Holyfield, and possesses a decent enough jab/right hand wallop to make any fighter think twice about walking in on him. But his inability to take a heavy shot will prove to be his demise, eventually booting him out of this elite group.

Prognosis: His luck will probably run out against Kirk Johnson this Saturday. After that? Unfortunately, few people will care.

7. David Tua: Two words: left hook. Two more words: always dangerous. Just ask Fres Oquendo, who was shutting Tua out through eight rounds before Tua found the sweet spot and finished Oquendo off in the ninth. Tua will always be a threat to anyone and everyone he fights. But he's only dangerous if he can connect, which he couldn't do in losing a one-sided decision to champion Lennox Lewis in November 2000. A decision loss to Chris Byrd followed, obliging skeptics to question whether or not Tua had seen better days. But the "Tuaman" is back, and is a force once again.

Prognosis: Is slated to battle comebacking former champion Michael Moorer August 17th on HBO. Tough to pick a winner. Both hit hard and both want to win badly. This may be a test of chins. If so, Tua should win. Moorer has suffered ten knockdowns in his heavyweight career. Tua? None. We'll find out what happens next month.

8. Fres Oquendo: One of the most ambitious fighters in the division. After bursting onto the scene with an eighth-round stoppage of then-undefeated Clifford "The Black Rhino" Etienne (rated #4 by the WBC before their fight), Oquendo could've rested on his laurels with immense satisfaction, falling in love with his new world ranking. Did he? Absolutely not. He went on to impressively beat Obed Sullivan in eleven rounds for the NABF title, and bulldoze perennial contender David Izon (who once gave David Tua all he could handle) in three rounds. Still, it wasn't enough for the gutsy Oquendo. He took a huge risk by fighting David Tua, and came up on the losing end. Oquendo had the right idea.

Prognosis: Though he doesn't possess extraordinary skills, Fres Oquendo is a sound boxer with a stinging jab, decent movement, and a positive attitude. Must undergo the rebuilding process necessary after suffering a such a tough loss. Two or three wins against nondescript opposition, and another against a fringe contender (i.e., Shannon Briggs, Tim Witherspoon) should do the trick.

9. Hasim Rahman: The former champion must still be licking his wounds after the crushing knockout defeat in losing the title to Lennox Lewis, and the heartbreaking, closely-contested technical decision loss to Evander Holyfield. These clearly haven't been the best of times for "The Rock." Nevertheless, Rahman will always be marketable based on his being a former champion, and being one of two men to flatten Lennox Lewis. He has decent skills, and is an underrated boxer with a fine jab. Tends to get lazy at the wrong time during fights, and often brings his punches back slowly, paying the price against Holyfield and Lewis.

Prognosis: Has the right-hand power to pull off a few more surprises. Is still rated by the major sanctioning bodies, and is deserving of a rematch with Holyfield. If he keeps winning, maybe the WBA champion, or even Lennox Lewis, will opt for Rahman as a voluntary defense. A bout with the Tua-Moorer winner would be interesting, as would a match with any other world class heavyweight. In other words, Hasim has plenty of options.

10. Mike Tyson: Though he absorbed a frightful beating from Lennox Lewis, Iron Mike has enough one-punch power to be, like Tua, always dangerous. During his heyday, Tyson possessed amazing combination punching ability and lightning-quick hand speed. Now at 36, Tyson is a faded former champion who offers little more than one punch at a time with occasional head movement. But what a punch he has!

Prognosis: His glory days long gone, Mike Tyson remains a huge draw as a result of his long-standing mystique as the "baddest man on the planet." Hence, a series of fights overseas against soft opposition would keep his wallet fat while risking little. He may never fight for a title again, but when you're name is Mike Tyson, you don't need to. The big paydays will be there.

11. Vitali Klitschko: Ever since he quit against Chris Byrd in surrendering his WBO title, most are hard-pressed to forgive Vitali Klitschko. Instead, most of the boxing community (including yours truly) only pays attention to his younger brother, Wladmir. But Vitali, like his brother, has terrific power. He starched Herbie Hide in two rounds, and destroyed Ed Mahone in three before losing to Byrd. Against Byrd, Vitali displayed sharp boxing skills, dominating Byrd on the scorecards before quitting after round ten. Since then, TKO victories over Orlin Norris, Ross Puritty, and Vaughn Bean (who went the distance with Michael Moorer and Evander Holyfield in title bouts) have strangely catapulted Vitali into the WBC's #1 spot.

Prognosis: Was scheduled to battle Larry Donald in Germany, but had to pull out due to a back injury. Provided the match is rescheduled, a win over Donald will only help Vitali Klitschko's credibility. Somewhere along the line, either Lewis or the WBA belt holder will be ordered to give this man a shot.

12. Jameel McCline: Rounding out the top twelve is "Big Time" McCline, a 6'6" 265 pound behemoth of an athlete who just may have what it takes to rule this division in the coming years. Has showed amazing improvement since his days of fighting on Cedric Kushner's "Heavyweight Explosion" cards, defeating former top ten contender Lance "Mount" Whitaker and former title challenger Shannon Briggs via convincing decisions. What's even more amazing is McCline doesn't have an amateur background, learning as he has progressed in the professional ranks. Has terrific movement for a man of his size and exceptional stamina due to his hardcore training methods. Is beginning to put punches together well behind a sharp jab, but has a tendency to drop his left hand. McCline would be rated higher if not for his lack of quality opposition, which will be proven incidental with time. Lots of ambition here.

Prognosis: He's still learning, which means he'll only get better. This isn't good news for the world's best heavyweights. His management has yet to arrange his next bout with HBO. Whoever it is, it will be a step up from the likes of Shannon Briggs. McCline is ranked #1 by the WBO, which would set the stage for a bout with the devastating Wladmir Klitschko. Is he ready? No one will know until he steps into the ring